Tokyo Trilogy (David Peace)
Inspired by finally getting round reading "The Damned
United", based purely on my liking of Michael Sheen's performance in the
film adaptation, I soon learnt that The Yorkshireman also likes writing about
Tokyo - the city where he has lived for many years - as well as Yorkshire and
1970s football managers.
My main reason for reading the trilogy, however, was the recently
released final instalment "Patient X", based on the life of Ryunosuke
Akutagawa. I can't particularly say it was based on my enjoyment of Peace's
writing style. The repetitive nature of "The Damned United" placed
one firmly in the head of Mr Clough, though it isn't exactly classic
literature. This style, however, could also be applied to the life of the
troubled writer and is perhaps equally controversial.
But let's start at the beginning. "Tokyo Year Zero" starts
off with Tokyo at its most low. The year after the end of the Second World War,
Tokyo is a city destroyed in every which way. Detective Minami is a man
disillusioned with everything around him, hating his job, his bosses, the
occupying Americans, everything. Tasked with the near impossible cases of
murdered young women found on wastelands, it's perhaps the final straw, left to
hunt invisible people in dead surroundings. As the case progresses, Minami's
own problems become more apparent: having an affair and never seeing his
family; addicted to drugs; and a murky secret from his days in China during the
War.
Where "Tokyo Year Zero" works is in creating the sense of the
hopelessness of the city and its people following the War. Minami's case
represents Tokyo at the time: seemingly impossible to see how the mess will get
resolved. Minami can only see the vile, with little hope for a bright future. The
repetitiveness, however, which walks a fine balance in "The Damned
United", is again apparent and makes you wonder what you're paying for (1p
on Amazon + P&P, I think I remember). Creating the sense of deja vu may
heighten the character's "madness", but does also make you feel like
you know what is coming on the next page. I've already read this, and so,
things could be cut down...which would do wonders for my days per book average.
The fractured writing style also grates a little in the second
instalment: "Occupied City". While focused on one specific event, the
Tokyo bank robbery resulting in the deaths of twelve employees in 1948, each
chapter focuses on a different character involved in the case, bringing its own
style with it. Diaries, newspaper cuttings, personal letters, reports all
feature, leaving you wondering as to what the actual story is any more.
"Occupied City" is a book it is easy to get lost in - and not in a good way - with its ever-changing style. While this may keep things interesting, you fail to get
absorbed in any of the characters or the event itself. Laszlo Krasznahorkai can
do this to wondrous effect, but works more to an underlying theme, rather than
different angles for one event. Here, too many angles leave you unable to see
the wood for the trees, with the off button gradually switched in my mind.
A series of "shorts" is again used in "Patient
X"; luckily here to greater effect. Akutagawa is the Japanese author of
great repute, written about and studied to great extent and his name given to
awards. This perhaps makes him a good figure to analyse based on the rich pool
of sources, but also requires a new angle to be taken.
In chronological order, various stories from Akutagawa's life are
included in an attempt to paint a picture of the man of many layers. His
childhood and upbringing, his development in his early career and relationship
with Natsume Soseki, right through to his increasing illness and death.
As with
any collection of shorts, it can be an inconsistent ride in terms of quality.
There is often a tendency to break from the main subject, with stories within
stories focusing more on others than the titular character. This can again
cause one's mind to drift as the characters change when consistency is
expected, but this is a definite step up in terms of keeping engagement from
"Occupied City".
However, "Patient X" seems more to give an
impression of the people around Akutagawa, rather than Akutagawa himself. His
deteriorating health well documented, this is an interesting collection, though
perhaps some gaps in the story of Akutagawa are felt throughout. Though, as
with many of the lives Peace's work has focused on, writing based on source
material rather than actual experience of the man will always make the task a
difficult one.
So, what do I make of Peace? The four pieces (Peace's?) I have read are
based on true events and lives, and so are fictionalised versions of fact
rather than case examples, which is something that sits a little uneasy with me
in terms of the authority of the author.
But that pre-existing knowledge is where the intrigue is created, and
as such, the controversy is a draw that definitely makes them worth reading.
But Peace's style is flawed throughout. The repetitive use of repetition
becomes tiring, making you can believe you can read without thinking. This
"madness" of repetition perhaps reflects some of his subjects, but to
read can become a bore. His unconventional sentence structuring also makes it
feel a little simplistic and easy, considering the ambition in his choice of his subject matter.
His ideas are interesting and make you take notice, and are indeed
worth the read. But, perhaps like "Match of the Day": you get some
highlights, but don't get a complete picture, and already know the result.
Tokyo Year Zero
Days to read: 15
Days per book: 14.9
Occupied City
Days to read: 14
Days per book: 14.9
Patient X
Days to read: 14
Days per book: 14.9
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