War of the Encyclopaedists

March 9, 2015
Robinson and Kovite’s debut novel is an uneven bromance set in 2004; Bush has just secured his second term in office, and the Iraq war is in full swing. Seattle hipsters and best friends Halifax Corderoy and Mickey Monterey are both accepted to graduate programs in Boston, but Monterey’s plans are interrupted when he is called up for military training before being shipped off to Iraq. The duo stay in touch via their Wikipedia page, “The Encyclopaedists,” about an ironic art collective they organized to highlight the absurdity of modern art. The pair’s love interests, Mani, an artist, and Tricia, a student, read as two-dimensional characters. The four come across as too naive; their clichéd conversations about art and literary theory make the reader feel trapped in an earnest but dull graduate school class. When the action shifts to Baghdad, questions turn from Foucault to the plight of Iraqis, especially the translators who worked for the Americans, making the latter part of the novel a gripping, thoughtful read. Despite the slow start, Robinson’s and Kovite’s novel is ultimately moving and memorable.

Robinson and Kovite's novel documents a year (2004-2005) in the life of a quartet of American hipsters, some of whom go to war in Iraq. The book is beautifully written. Its occasional indulgence in literary virtuosity that does not further the plot is consistent with the characters' worldview. The authors narrate their own audiobook together--trading off scenes and voices. Although not professional performers, they are excellent readers. Their narration is well paced, and they have strong, clear voices. As with many ensemble performances, there's added energy when two people read to/with each other. The evolving online encyclopedia entry, which appears like a chorus, works well even though it requires the narrators to read repetitive Internet code. F.C. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine