Geek vs Life

Big surprise this summer, the movies suck. One could get into a debate about if summer movies have all sucked since the summer of seventy five, but that is a discussion for the forums and not “The Printed Word.” So in place of sucky movies what could we do to replace serialized storytelling? One could suggest television, but aside from some slash and burn “reality television,” it is all reruns. What is left for the story? Anyone? <insert the sound of crickets chirping.>

Okay that is fair this summer. Everyone knows Harry Potter Seven is coming out. Everyone will be reading that book. I like the series. It is ending, and when it does end, you needn’t go back to crappy movies. In fact, one can read, and experience any kind of story. I, myself, am tired with the lack of “meaningful stakes.” Sure Decepticons, Silver Surfer, and their ilk will destroy the world, but really who cares? If Hollywood can’t make us care about the characters, why should we care about what happens to them? One could argue that these movies are about comics books and toys, so no need for a plot or characters. The rebuttal would be comics and toys can have both. Who has not read comics that have done so? (Look for a review of a particular comic coming soon from me.) Or as children, told great stories with toys?

I’d take a story with character right now. Since this is my inaugural reviewing debut, I choose a small character piece that has life at stake. It may not be “geeky,” but I imagine all geeks will have to deal with the issue at hand. In a nutshell, death, which means one is really talking about, is life. The novel in question is Leo Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilych.”

The novel starts with a bridge game, goes to the funeral, and then to flashbacks of Ivan Ilych’s life. It is not strong on plot, but it does have character. Ilych is in the upper middle class of Russian society, he makes choices which simplify life and make it easier for advancements of career and society. He doesn’t lead a terrible life, nor does he lead a grand life. It could be most people’s life. It is a simple. “Ivan Ilych’s life had been most simple and most ordinary and therefore most terrible.” (Leo Tolstoy) Mediocrity is a cruel punishment that awaits most of us this life. We see how superificial Ilych’s life is, but we all see people’s reaction to death.

Mostly how society ignores death. Death is always something that happens to other people. Especially in this throng of would be summer block busters. In the most extreme of cases, this summer will tackle how death can overcome. The book examines how painful death is…and in general how getting older is scary, as one’s bodies get more infirm. It shows and tells the messiness of death. How people need help going to the toilet. Or how people ignore a loved one who is dying.

I would love to say the book is hilarious, liks Fyodor Dostoyevsky is, but that wouldn’t be true. It does have astute characterization. It has modern inner monologues. It has real people, people who are not saints, people who are not redeemed at the end. You may not end up like Ivan Ilych, but you understand him, and comprehend where the character is coming from.

It is a gripping tale of what matters. Death is final, but true compassion makes life easier. Yet, how rare finding that true compassion really is. It may even point to how to live a good life. There are no easy answers. So it is just like the Harry Potter books without the magic…and you know young male protagonist…and you know the evil antagonist…and well the point has been made. It is a good book. It has also, already stayed with we me longer than most of these summer movies.