Pilinszky, János : Conversations with Sheryl Sutton - The Novel of a Dialogue

Translated by Peter Jay and Eva Major.

It is fortunate for readers that this novel, a conversation between a poet and an actress, is just over 100 pages long because repeated readings are necessary to understand it. In traditional fashion, the reader tries to connect chapters into a coherent whole--sometimes unsuccessfully. Some sections are individual essays about art and reality, or about the role of dialog and silence on the stage, or about how art, reality, dialog, and silence relate, especially in Robert Wilson's play, Deafman Glance. Other sections contain ordinary descriptions of everyday activities, although under the surface the hapless reader suspects heavy symbolism that surely connects to other parts of the text, but how and in what ways? And then there is mention of love, Auschwitz, Simone Weil, and Durrenmatt. A curious book, very fascinating and challenging, that is seemingly within our grasp; but the more we deconstruct it, the more insecure we may feel. Suitable for academic and large public libraries. - Olivia Opello, Onondaga Cty. P.L., Syracuse, N.Y.