Customer Reviews

History of Luminous Motion

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The History of Luminous Motion is compact and clear as a diamond, as beautiful and strange as its title. Phillip is an eight-year-old psychotic genius, attempting through science, philosophy, action, abstraction and the glittering poetry of his narrative to make sense of the world he inhabits. No easy solutions here; there's no way of knowing what is "real" and what isn't, and the glib jargon of the policemen, psychologists and Juvenile Correction Officers at the end serves merely to emphasise the mystery of Phillip's condition. Reading this book, I was reminded of several others, notably Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle and Arthur Machen's story "The White People" - both of which weave beauty, insanity and youth into their heroines' dark, potent and obsessive autobiographies. But The History of Luminous Motion, while it may be more closely related to these works than to much else, is unique in its evocation of a mind at once more-than-adult in its intellectual capacity and infant in its emotional solipsism; the philosophical conversations Phillip holds with his friends Rodney and Beatrice are among the funniest and most deeply disturbing parts of the book. Perhaps most remarkable of all is the seamlessness of both the character and the story - you never forget for a moment that Phillip is only eight years old, any more than you forget the power, the sensitivity or the sickness of his mind. The ending is sudden, elliptical and heart-rending. Buy it and be haunted.

To say that this book changed my life would be a gross understatement; If anyone hungers for the exquisitely unique voice of the California school of contemporary fiction, this is unequivocally it. Bradfield drags you through the abject solitude of his protagonist, Philip, with amazing vision and depth, and in the end leaves you winded with sighs of recognition for the dynamic state of childhood we all remember. The lucidity of Nicholson Baker, coupled with the poetry and darkness of Poe. Phenomenal.

It's been a while since I read this book, but there are a couple of things that really stand out:

1. The book opens up with exquisite beauty. Bradfield is a world-class writer possessing a full array of literary talent. I'm talking Denis Johnson-esque here.

2. There are moments of dialogue between the main character and one of his friends (I think it was a girl) that's just totally whacked out. Their conversation is very high-leveled -- philosophical and highly intellectual. Totally out of sync with the real world as we know it, yet totally in sync within Brafield's world.

I recommend this book wholeheartedly. It's weirdly moving, an occasion always worthy celebration in my book.

I accidentally found this book while browsing the stacks of a local bookstore and was really surprised that I hadn't heard of the book or the author. Not many writers have the ability to startle me with such a wonderful writing style coupled with a zesty storyline. This is one of those books whose words are placed together with great feeling and care, resulting in a sharp, clear and sometimes painful book.

This is truly an exceptional and unexpected book - one that leaves a strange, haunting feeling with the reader...something like what one experiences after having read "The Stranger" (Camus) ...although it actually shares more striking similarities with "Story of The Eye" (Bataille). The strange worldliness of the children in this book, while disturbing, seems somehow natural...and the writing is fluid, learned and simple - a very fulfilling read.

I began this book while waiting for my maseusse to arrive to relieve a bad migraine and was upset she was coming. I did not want to put it down. I have given over a dozen copies away and read it five times. It is perhaps the most exquisite writing I have read in contemporary terms, not to mention handling such dark territory. Absolutely superb.

I did not give this book five stars because of the great literary techniques, use of grammer, or subject matter. This book did not chang my life, perspective, and I could not, in fact, really relate to it. These facts didn't stop me from excitedly turning each page. I saw this book to be essentially a cheap thrill, and what a great cheap thrill it is. It is chocked full of drug use, mental problems, and best of all, 8 year old homocidal dimestore philosophers who talk and act like the most seasoned articulate junkies out there. Pure escapism. I loved it. Pick it up for a captivating read.

i bought this book in prob. 1990. on the upper west side of nyc. i lived downtown, but whatever, the cover of the paperback grabbed me and i recommended it with intention to SO many friends. i'm a californian. i know this story. it's not my story, but the story as told is poetic and real and visceral and scary as hell. and beautiful. a wonderful debut. i just sent a copy to a friend. i hope he can handle it. it is intense. go you. great work. xo.

The use of language and the unbelievible accesibility to heavy intelectual concepts (e.g. cultural theory, metaphysics, and subjectivity) will make a lot of creative writing students a tad bit envious. I read the book and one night and after reading it I felt like I took the craziest drug possible, minus the brain damage. This novel is f-ing nuts, sick and disturbing, and yet you can't possibly not fall in love with its brilliance.

I picked this book up from a remainder stack at a local bookstore because I liked the title... I'm keeping this book because it took me for a ride that few contemporary works of fiction have. A thoroughly enjoyable read, full of startling twists and intelligent writing.