December 10–17, 1998

book quarterly

Bookquicks

The Intuitionist

By Colson Whitehead

Anchor, 255 p., $19.95

Colson Whitehead's debut novel reads like an ominous, epic nightmare. Lila Mae Watson, a "colored" elevator inspector living in an east coast metropolis (New York?), is mired in the cloak-and-dagger politics of "vertical transportation." In this universe, a battle ensues between two factions of elevator inspectors: the Empiricists, whose faith lie in testing the nuts and bolts, ratchets and drivers; and the Intuitionists who rely on, well, their intuition. Lila Mae is an Intuitionist who—by virtue of her race, sex and intuitive talent—becomes the scapegoat in a union election dogfight playing out in the world of elevation. Though Whitehead never states a time period, antiquated terms like "homburg" (as in hats), "safeties" (as in haircuts) and "colored" (as in people), suggest the conservative first years of the '60s.

From the outset, it's easy to realize where this noirish tale of union corruption and underhanded mob dealings is heading—both literally and metaphorically. Nothing in this story's commentary on racism is particularly inventive or shocking (perhaps that's part of the commentary). What is fresh in this novel is Whitehead's eloquent and authoritative style. He has an unerring sense of human nature and the havoc it can wreak. The author's clever phrasing, coupled with the introspective and bittersweet beauty of his writing, bears up a rich contemplation on the seedy aspects of working-class thugs, intolerance and professional politics.

-Joy Malinowski

The Daiquiri Girls

By Toni Graham

University of Massachusetts Press, 198 p., $24.95

The Daiquiri Girls are four reoccurring semi-tragic heroines who appear in this collection of four thematically-related short stories. These protagonists don't know each other, but would probably get along if they did. They all seem familiar, and one almost wishes one knew them (though one might not accept their call at four a.m.). Graham's writing abounds with wry, sly cultural references, and not just to San Francisco, where the stories are set. The observations are dead-on, in a disarming, half-baked way: "I often tell people at parties that I am going to buy a Jaguar and get personalized license plates that say 'CRYING'," explains one of the women. The narrator makes us privy to the inner life of smart, interesting, "mighty real" women who are war-torn veterans in the misadventures of love. The four main characters blend together in an intriguing way, each offering different nuances to this group portrait. Their separate stories have in common a demure daiquiri, a "girl drink" which allows them to divulge their raw pain and heavy baggage. One caveat: the endings are bafflingly clunky compared to the crisp prose that precedes them. But I hardly noticed as I moved quickly with anticipation from one tale to the next. The final one is startlingly powerful. The book is undeniably well built. The efficiency and the elliptical style work well. The Daiquiri Girls is satisfying, like a crying jag or a fit of uncontrolled laughter.

-Scott Shrake

Mr. Darwin's Shooter

By Roger McDonald

Grove/Atlantic Press, 384 p., $25

A good historical novel is a glorious thing, and Roger McDonald has given us a story worthy of high praise. His fictionalized history of Syms Covington—the sailor who traveled with Charles Darwin and shot the famous finches of the Galapagos—is a novel rich with violent debate. Set in the adventurous and often bawdy world of the sea, the book is thick with nautical and naturalist detail drawn from various sources, including Covington's diary. Barely an historical footnote, Covington emerges as an intricate figure who was raised on the Bible and feels both pride and shame for helping Darwin on The Origin of Species. Covington was only 12 when he joined preacher John Phipps to study God's word and work as a sailor on a survey ship's crew. After a tumultuous and jolly coming of age, Covington is assigned to the Beagle and to be Mr. Darwin's aide. But as his skill and understanding of Darwin's work grows, Covington is faced with the paradox of believing in both science and God as the truth. He's devoted to both and spends his life attempting to reconcile the two. While the book starts slowly, it is well worth the effort to be immersed in this exhilarating world. -Kristin Keith