Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry

Spoiler Alert:  It has nothing to do with the volcano.  Actually there are two volcanoes and by page 85, I was hoping that one or both would erupt violently and put everyone in the book and the reader out of our collective misery.

Not since Lord of the Flies have I cared so little for the people in a book.

The three lead characters in Under the Volcano are caught in the tattered web of what may or may not have once been a lovers’ triangle but who can really tell?  The tragic hero’s favorite word appears to be “mescal” and his story is told through his alcohol-soaked perception.  The other two have no chemical excuse.  They are just pathetic people who whine throughout the book.  All three spend page after page wondering about some stupid question that they should ask but never do.

They don’t have conversations.  They make speeches at one another, or perhaps to themselves as not one of them listens to another.  They are all selfish, vain and dull.  None of them are the least bit interesting.  While some of their dialogue strives to be witty and clever, it falls well short of the mark, especially since it has nothing to do with the setting, the characters, the plot, etc.  Lowry writes like he is trying to channel Noel Coward.

On the Big Island at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

There is no plot.  I wish I could elaborate but I can’t.  There is nothing happening that passes for a plot.   Geoffrey drinks.  Geoffrey and Yvonne reunite and talk.  Yvonne and Hugh meet and talk.  Geoffrey drinks.  Yvonne and Hugh ride horses and talk.  Geoffrey drinks.  Geoffrey drinks and talks with Hugh.  Hugh and Yvonne talk while Geoffrey drinks and ignores them.  They all drink and argue about three different things at the same time.  Geoffrey drinks some more and then goes and gets himself killed. (Oops!  I guess I should have said “Spoiler Alert” again.)  I don’t really know what happens to Hugh and Yvonne.  Don’t really care either.

While Under the Volcano is set in Mexico, it could have just as easily been set in Africa, India or Cleveland.  A bad story is just as bad regardless of how exotic the setting.  I actually read somewhere that Under the Volcano was a fantastic book for giving insight to life in Mexico.  Sure…if you like your insights condescending and racist, it’s great.  Kind of like Gone with the Wind showing how great the antebellum south was.

Lowry does do a good job of describing the scenery.  Actually, the first chapter (relating to the rest of the book told in flashback) isn’t too bad but it is very misleading.  It gives the reader a sense that something ominous happened years back.  Take my word for it, nothing happened.

One popular internet source says the book “…needs reading and then rereading …” to understand.  Maybe I’m being naïve but how is that the mark of a great author?  Shouldn’t the writer be able to express his point the first time around?  The book is supposedly full of symbolism but the writing just seems to be the ramblings of a drunk.  Maybe that’s not surprising as many sources call Under the Volcano semi-autobiographical. 

I have no idea how Under the Volcano made it to the Great Novels List (???). I don’t even know how it got published.  In case I’m not clear, let me spell it out…do not waste your time with this book.  Now, if you will pardon me, I’m going to have a drink.

Next Week:  Something better, I hope.