Customer Reviews

Not Wanted on the Voyage

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is an incredible book. I've read most of Findley's other novels (see my review of _The Telling of Lies_ for more on the author and his other books), and none measures up to this one ... but few OTHER writers' novels do, either.

God is tired, and depressed. He gets no respect any more, so he decides to do away with himself; hence, the flood. (This was back in the days of unicorns, fairies, and elves.) But before destroying everything, God tips off his devoted servant Dr. Noyes, who is, not to put too fine a point on it, a total jerk: obsessed with God's law and with doing what is right in God's eyes.

The real hero of the story is Mrs. Noyes, an alcoholic who stows bottles of gin about the house and talks to animals. Part of the story is narrated by her cat, Mottyl. God's lovely fallen angel Lucifer senses that something big is up and transforms himself into a beautiful woman in order to hook up with Ham and make it onto the ark. (Another of Noah's sons tried to run away, fell in with some bandits who threw him in a pot and tried to eat him, and he was lucky to escape with his skin permanently turned blue.)

Power blocs form and struggle on the ark, secrets are kept and revealed, and what seems like a quirky, amusing fantasy inexorably transforms itself into an apocalyptic horror. The language is simple and spare, but the imagery and the plot it relates is unbearably rich.

There isn't one superlative I wouldn't lavish on this book. You should do your utmost to find a copy for yourself (It took my wife four months to secure a copy with the intent of trading it away at a "book gift" party she intends to throw at our house; the book made her cry.)

I was a naive 20 year old when I was told to read this book before I graduated by a fellow university student. Being a lover of all types of fiction, I devoured this book and have never stopped reading anything Findley puts out. However, this is his most creative and compelling novel. Maybe it's a bit like Kurt Vonnegut where the first of his novels will always be your favorite, but I just think everyone in the world should read this. It is sad and beautiful and the story of Mrs. Noyes' talking cat broke my heart. Good stuff!!

Beautifully written with colourful images and heart tugging scenes, Timothy Findley spins a twisted fairy tale about the first time the world ended in, Not Wanted on the Voyage. The story is complete with unicorns who are destined for a grotesque death, faeries who are forgotten in the rain, and intelligent talking animals who show more emotion and spirit than some of the main characters. In his catastrophic version of Noah's Ark, Findley twists the expected roles of God and Noah showing just how arbitrary powerful figures can be in their justice. And as the rain pours down in colourful splashes admist a mythical setting one cannot help but fall gently in love with figures such as Lucifer, Mottyl the blind cat, and sweet Mrs Noyes, Noah's wife. Altogether, Timothy Findley's Not Wanted on the Voyage is a wonderfully written saga that opens one's mind to the complexities of religion, patriarchal society, and the importance of myth. It combines both the world of fairy tales with the violent realities of survival in the primary world. It can be read purely for entertainment or it can be read for a little bit of enlightenment. Either way it is a brilliant and unforgettable novel.

This is fiction at its best (and not just Canadian fiction)!! It's usually hard to try to get me to read a book in which animals talk, and characters are mythical / Biblical; however, this was such a captivating read. The best books make its readers feel: and this one certainly does. Images from its pages became branded onto my mind for a long long time. Findley's strength comes in truly sympathizing with all living things. E.g. I started to get choked up as the fairies hovered around the ark, getting weaker and weaker as they see their chance for salvation diminish. This book IS mythical, but it's also very real: Findley's sense of social justice, his views against autocracy and mindless, blind followers of authority are clearly shown. This book mourns the cruelty that is humanity, but it also celebrates heroism, bravery, and loyalty.

I read this story when I was 20, and have recommended it to my friends. It tells a tale of Noahs' Ark and his relationship with God. The story shows how power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I found it an easy book to read, it provokes a lot of discussion. I believe people that are offended by it are far to thin skinned to accept a purely fictional book for what it is, fiction. A well woven tale, by a master weaver. If you enjoy this book you may also enjoy "The Flounder" by Gunter Grass. It takes a while to get into it, but is an exceptional read.

Not Wanted on the Voyage was part of my fried's English Lit. OAC Class at school last year (the teacher was big on Canadian Literature...) and she recommended it to me. I loved it. Findley is an absolutely beautiful writer, and this novel is no exception. The character development is very well done; the characters themselves, and thus the ways we perceive them, change completely through the story, and the reader becomes quite involved in their lives. The story itself may be offensive to a christian reader, but only if he/she misses the point: Findley is commenting on the sad abuse of power, and not on christianity itself. Not Wanted on the Voyage is an incredible book, and i'd recommend it to anyone who is interested in a beautiful story with an interesting twist.

This is a terrific book for discussion - Findley's portrayal of Noah, his family, and God, combined with the attitudes presented make for lively interaction. Just make sure you have lots of time! As a result of our Reading Groups' varied reaction to Not Wanted On The Voyage we wrote to Timothy Findley for clarification on some of his ideas. He answered us immediately. This is our #1 book recommendation

I choose this book for an English 30 novel study, thinking it to be another religious book on how great God was. Wow, was I wrong. This book makes God look like an old man and Noah his old fool companion. Like all of the books by Timothy Findley I have read, this one has amazing word choice and describes everything in vivid detail. A few parts of the book are disturbing, but they set the scene for the rest of the story and comliment the characters. (Compliment not always being a good thing though). I would recommend this book for someone with an open mindd, not one who is very set in their beliefs.

I discovered this text in a bookshop in Stratford Canada where I go yearly to attend the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Mr. Findley was a performer there, long ago, and his plays have been produced at the Festival. Knowing nothing about his fiction I picked up the book because of its intriguing premise. I was not disappointed! Mr. Findley has created a world, that due to his prowess with the tools of magical realism, seems utterly believable. From an androgynous devil, to the explanation of the disappearance of unicorns, the text is an enjoyable exercise on the nature of patriarchy, deity worship, the virtues of curious and scientific thinking, and the dangers of power. The character of Mrs. Noyes is a drunk, a battered wife, a loving mother, a choir leader, a pessimist, an optimist, and a devastatingly real human. She is all of us, and is by the far the novel's best creation. If you can find a copy, check online, then you should pick up this novel. It is an excellent piece for a book club. Knowledge of the Bible enhances the text, but is not needed to appreciate it.

As a grade 12 student, I had no choice whether to read this book or not because it was a requirement for my English course. At first, I found it rather boring, but later on in the book (around page 90) I became VERY interested in it. I was amazed at how far Mrs. Noyes went to bring her blind cat on board the ark, and how she stood up for her cat's rights. It really makes you add detail to the Biblical story of Noah and The Flood. Right now, my English class has to write an essay on the thesis of 'the abuse of power and the distruction that results from it'. I feel that Noah should not have mistreated his family and took advantage of them the way he did. But I also feel that it was an act of obediance to God. Noah might have felt that the only way he could obey God's command(and possibly become a disciple) would be to make sure that NOTHING went wrong. That's why it appeared that he was abusing the power given to him. Comments anyone??