97. The Sheltering Sky Chapters 1 – 10

I don’t get it. I really don’t get why, in the Preface to the 50th anniversary edition of his novel, author Paul Bowles spoiled the whole thing by telling readers of a major plot twist before we even read the book? And I’m talking MAJOR plot twist. I won’t spoil it and tell you what it is. If you read this book I don’t want to be the one to ruin the whole thing by knowing what’s going to happen half way through the book.

But there it is.

I read the preface and now I know. Remember that first time you saw the Sixth Sense, you didn’t know what the twist at the end would be, and please, don’t even tell me that you figured it out half way through. No one did, it shocked people, it ticked people off; but it was a surprise and it made it an enjoyable the movie.

Even watching it a second time, with the knowledge of the twist, you can still watch it remembering how you didn’t know and tease yourself with – how didn’t I see it coming?

Now imagine that you know all along the plot twist in Sixth Sense and then watch the movie. You’re going to sit there the whole time just waiting for it. You don’t know the story, you don’t know how it’s going to be presented but you know it’s coming eventually.

So why am I talking about the Sixth Sense, instead of The Sheltering Sky? Because I don’t want to give away what I know is going to happen later in the book – in a part I haven’t even gotten to yet.

Skip the Preface – that’s all I can say.

Skip the introduction by Tennessee Williams – he gives it away too.

Or locate a copy that’s not this edition!

And moving on...


The Sheltering Sky takes place in post WWII North Africa, chronicles the journey Port Moresby, a "member of New Yorks intelligentisa" to quote Tennessee Williams from the Introduction, "who became weary of being such a member and set out to escape it in remote places."

I’m starting to get the feeling that this isn’t so much a list of '100 books to read before you die', but a list of 100 books about white Anglo-Saxon males with a sense of self entitlement and their shocking realizations that the world doesn’t think it owes them shit.

Wow, that sounded bitter. Still, in Sheltering Sky we have yet again a male protagonist who treats his wife crappy – sleeping with an Algerian Whore (his words, not mine, pg.31) while she sits by herself in the hotel room. He is jealous when he comes back from the whore and discovers his best friend in her room (she’s completely innocent, but not naive) Then takes off in a car with some random nutbar, he mets in the bar, to some boondock village in the middle of nowhere North Africa, leaving his wife an friend to follow on a train. The car ride will take about 5 hours, the train 11 – his wife hates trains.

I know I'll offend someone it the literary world by saying this but: Port Moresby, Frank Chambers, Sebastian Dangerfield and George Amberson are all pretty much interchangeable in their personalities. They all act the same way towards the people around them - contempt, condescension,  or with a begrudging respect because they want something thing from them. Only the situations change, but the character is the same.

So far, not so much love to be had for the Sheltering Sky, but maybe it’ll get better after Port *insert verb here*. We shall see.

I could be wrong in my thoughts on the list, after Sheltering Sky the next book is Sophie’s Choice – no! I’m still not reading it - and then Under the Net, by Iris Murdoch. A female main character and then a female AUTHOR! It’s about freakin’ time. Two women authors in a row actually, Jean Rhys after that. YIPPEE!

I haven’t done much research into the history of The Sheltering Sky yet, so I don’t know where it stands on the banned book lists or why it’s been put on this list. That will happen though... I’m sure.

And yes, Sheltering Sky has been made into a movie starring John Malkovich, try to remember that ok?