Lying Low – Diane Johnson
One has certain expections from the author of Le Divorce, L’Affaire, and all those other les nouvelles — or should I be correct and say les autre nouvelles? You know, a wry skewering sense of humor, deft characterization … It’s far from flufff, but all les nouvelles have a certain lightness of touch. Lying Low, on the other hand, is completely different.
Written in 1978, Lying Low seems to be written by another person entirely. It’s really very interesting. There’s no question the novel is dated; it was rather like reading Alison Lurie. Still, it has a power all its own, and though I’m not going to say I liked reading it (it was really quite painful), it was also discovering the origins of a voice: more pensive, more concerned with the “life and death” matters.
The novel is about four people who share a house in a dusty California college town. Theo and her photographer brother Anton. Ouida, a South American woman dodging immigration, and Lynn (an assumed name) who has been roaming the country anonymously ever since she blew up a lab and killed a scientist.
Lynn is, of course, the lynchpin of the story: we follow as her separate identities start merging together and she realizes that the limbo she lives in is unsustainable. at the same time, however, she’s not the only person in hiding; instead, she is in some way emblematic of them all. The end is truly shocking, and I’m still not sure what to make of it.
One final musing: I wonder if Dana Spiotta read this before writing Eat the Document
Comments
Eat the Document is based on a true story. The characters had to perform according to reality. Was Lying Low? Doesn’t sound like it.
I didn’t know that it was based on a true story; thanks for the info. Uh, have to ask this: Did you mean to be sarcastic? Or was it just one of those cases where something is lost in online communication?
Interesting. Will keep an eye out for it.
A blast from the past for me to find your blog today Zia. I knew you when you lived in Romania. You went to school with my sister Tara. I sent her a message tonight with your blog info. I’m sure you’ll hear from her.
I am greatly enjoying your blog!
Zia, I had the same exact reaction when I read one of her earlier books, The Shadow Knows. I thought, this can’t be by the same author! But it is! I didn’t particularly like it, and will stick with her later, lighter offerings. In fact, I’ve been thinking about her recently, that she’s due for a new book soon. Let’s hope it’s something fun again.
Yeah, let’s hope. Maybe her early stuff was all life and meaning and stuff, and she’s gotten over it. As we all do.