Customer Reviews

The Torturer's Apprentice: Stories

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a lovely collection of finely crafted stories, each different from the next in tone, pace, place, and length. Characters are richly drawn, with unique and true voices which I find lingering long after I put the book down. Images linger, too: Lola framed in her lover's window, a rose-red sunset observed with indelible clarity at the moment of awful discovery, the fading image of a Jewish infant on a grave marker in a dark German cemetery, talking heads on pikes? Great images--I think the storyteller has more than a dash of the poet in him. Given the considerable range of these stories I found it hard to read this book straight through, as one would a novel. I enjoyed pausing to reflect, consider, and shift gears. But I couldn't leave it alone for long.

This is an outstanding collection. Somehow I am reminded of Isaac Bashevis Singer in the parable-like stories such as "A Plague of Toads", "A Vulgar Soul", and "Gregory's Fate"; and yet other stories in the collection, such as the domestic tales "Lunch With My Daughter", "Fatherhood", and "An Open Curtain" are reminiscent of Irwin Shaw or even John Cheever. But make no mistake, Biguenet is his own man and for my money this is the best story collection published so far in 2001.

Reading John Biguenet is truly a humbling experience. His magnificent command of language allows him to send his readers gliding smoothly, almost effortlessly, through story after story and yet, his narratives ultimately have a sledge hammer impact. You realize that the characters have become all too real as you accompany them on their journeys of awakening to the sharp, often bitter, realities of life. I can only echo reviewer Parker King's comparison of Biguenet to Somerset Maugham, for its aptness is quite undeniable. Both Biguenet and Maugham are easily accessible to readers with a calm, quiet style that belies the stunning aftershock that their stories imprint indelibly on each reader's psyche. As your tongue will constantly return to the jagged edges of a broken tooth, so too will your mind return to these stories, these characters, these scenarios and actions that seem so commonplace, yet so foreign. Stories such as "Rose," "Never Come Up," and the self-titled "The Torturer's Apprentice" seem to have gained the most attention, but each story in this wonderful collection is a jewel just waiting to be caressed and treasured for its own worth. From the lingering destructiveness of "I Am Not A Jew" to the shape-shifting surrender of "Do Me" to the blatant hopefulness of my personal favorite, "The Open Curtain," Biguenet has shared with his readers the blinding wonder of common worlds and everyday events. I bow to his genius and eagerly await more from this extraordinary talent. You owe it to yourself to savor this treat of a book!

As a big fan of short stories, I'm constantly looking for new books and "The Torturer's Apprentice" kept showing up wherever I looked. The book has a near perfect 4 1/2 out of 5 stars rating, so I decided to take the plunge.

This is John Biguenet's first short story collection and he has since published a novel Oyster: A Novel, which I have not read.

This collection has 14 short stories, my favorites were -

"The Vulgar Soul" a man named Tom Hogue begins to bleed for no apparent reason. He gradually realizes that his wounds are remarkably like stigmata, and he becomes an object of inspiration for religious seekers, though he himself remains unmoved by his condition

"I Am Not a Jew," a cautionary tale, explores a man's unwilling self-examination after an encounter with Nazi skinheads in a Jewish cemetery

"A Plague of Toads" a man has proof that a town once existed as the capital of a country (unnamed), only to be overrun by a plague of toads and their toxic slime, the capital was then moved to another city, will anyone believe him

"Gregory's Fate" Gregory can transfrom into other things, animals, but each time he does, it takes longer & longer to return to his "original" form

"A Battlefield in Moonlight" the only survivor of a bloody battle wakes up among piles of dead men

"Do Me" a man can't belive it when his girlfriend wants him to hit her when making love, he later is the one saying "again"

"And Never Come Up" a father and son battle a near unstoppable force in a marsh near the Gulf when fishing, after thier boat runs out of gas

For fans of short stories, you'll find alot of enjoyment here.

Highly recommended!

Enjoy~

The notes on the jacket of this slim but impressive volume let the reader know that this is John Biguenet's first book of fiction -- I certainly hope it's not his last. These stories are incredible -- small miracles of creation, blossoming before the reader's eyes to reveal incredible depths for works so short.

Without accusing the author of being in the shadow of other writers, I am reminded in some places of the best works by Fuentes, Garcia-Marquez, Calvino and other authors who have shown themselves to be masters at creating a world on the printed page. Biguenet is capable of the same feats of creation, but in his own unique style -- it's wonderful to see a 'new' American author working on this level.

His characters live and breathe -- the worlds in which they live are there for us to experience by feel, smell, taste, touch and sound -- and the thoughts and emotions of the inhabitants of these created worlds are ours to know as well.

Every single work in this volume is a gem --- any of them alone would be worth the price of this book. If Mr. Biguenet can write short stories like this, I wonder what kind of novel he could write...? But only if he isn't tempted to give up work on the short form -- short story writers of this calibre are rare in today's America. I look forward to reading more of his carefully crafted writing.

Stunning. Marvelous. These short stories are the finest examples of the craft. I was stunned by "The Vulgar Soul", realized I was into something very special reading "Rose", had my heart torn out and handed to me by "Lunch with My Daughter", and marvelled at the incredible descriptive power of "The Open Curtain". There are no turkeys here, John Biguenet has become a master of this genre early, reminding me of the wit and wisdom of a much older Somerset Maugham. Please read this book!

John Biguenet captures the imaginations of his readers better than anyone I've read in a long time. I was pleasantly surprised at the accuracy and vividness of his description of the bayou in "And Never Come Up." You see, I was a resident of the area in which this story was set, and he has captured the spirit of that southern Louisiana atmosphere with incredible skill. I can't wait for the release of his next novel, Oyster.

This is a brilliant book. Its title is "The Torturer's Apprentice." To the man who gave this book a two-star
review because it was too dark and depressing: just what the hell did you expect with a book titled "The
Torturer's Apprentice," the cover of which was covered with various instruments of torture? Did you think
it was going to be a walk in the summer rain? A picnic in Paris? A country club dance? Ah, humanity.

This is a brilliant book.

The stories in The Torturer's Apprentice are beautifully written and well-crafted. Biguenet has the ability to draw the reader into his unique and thought- provoking universe; allowing each tale to reveal uncharted emotional territory. Although a quick read, readers will find themselves pondering the questions raised by the author long reading the last word.

This is a book of short stories that are tied together by the subtle way they address the disparity between the world we want and the world we have and the humanity that lies, like an itch, just under the surface of our daily life. It explores human motivations that are rarely so well communicated.