THE MICHIGAN DAILY SUNDAY, MAY 12, 1935 IN THE WORLD OF BOOKS FIULKNER- Pylon Is Story Of A Gibbons Does Not Expect His Flying Tangle . . .""j B k T Beom e A Best §llJr - - - - ---- - - - I - - - - I I PYLON. Smith and Haas. $2.50 bound to be aroused in the reader, nor BY SIGMUND PROCTOR did he give any indication that he (Of The English Department) himself was moved by these feelings. Mr. Faulkner's new novel - the The reader was left to bear alone the second he has published since Sanc- burden of disgust. Mr. Faulkner con- tuary brought him fame - takes its fessed, after the book's publication, title from the towers on an aviation that he had set out to shock his pub- field that mark a prescribed course of lic. The shock lay not so much in the flight. The setting is New Valois (New material as in the treatment - in the Orleans) at the Mardi Gras, and the very absence of any implication of action centers about a quartette of the author's attitude. The situation characters who have come to the city is different in Pylon. Here the re- that two of them may compete in the porter acts as a resonator of the flying circus. There are Roger Schu- feelings evoked by the plight of the mann, the pilot of an outdated fast other characters, and the reader is plane; a parachute jumper; Laverne, able to assume that the author shares who is nominally Schumann's wife with him the emotions called forth but who belongs to- the jumper as in turn by the reporter's plight. A well; and Jiggs, the mechanic. There feeling of compassion is diffused is also the small child of Laverne's. through the story. While the barn- But the story is really that of the storming aviator group cannot be nameless reporter through whose said to feel real compassion for each eyes we follow most of the action. other, they do, with the possible ex'- He finds himself obsessed with these ception of the woman, manifest a strange creatures from another certain rough kindliness and toler- world, who, -living from hand to ance in their relationships. month, are beset by one exigency af- Thus there is in Pylon some ter another. In particular he is drawn measure of interpretation, some indi- to Laverne, and comes to love her in cation of values. But the interpre- a half sensual, half purely protective, tation is not such as to give the work but wholly futile fashion. During the high significance. The story ends' three days of the story he devotes with the reporter giving vent to cyni- himself night and day to looking out cal disillusionment and making off to for her and her companions, only to find the oblivion of drink. This solu- have his efforts miscarry and to be tion is a comment on the life of our rudely dismissed. age, but it is now too familiar a one Pylon represents a yet further re- for the reiteration to have such im- move, than did Light in August from portance. the hard quality of Sanctuary. In Had the novel been written a dec- Sanctuary the author provided no ade ago its very realism would have channel within the story for the been important. Now however, the discharge of the feelings which were serious reader is in no danger of CI Y S i ,I omitting from his account of things the degradation and futility that lurk behind the conventional facades of lives. He demands something other than what has ceased to be more than mere representation; he asks for an interpretation that betters his adjust- ment ,to reality either by providing him an experience of authentic trage- dy (with its sense of reconciliation) or by organizing in him a coherent protest against forms of social or- ganization that blight human poten- tialities and that cannot be accepted as irremediable or unchangeable. Against this failure of Mr. Faulk- ner's to create a significant whole there is to be set his brilliant achieve- ment in rendering the parts. His is inquestionably one of the finest tal- ents in our literature. He manipu- lates with originality and force and beauty narrative methods which Joyce and others initiated. While at certain moments his descriptive effects ap- pear artificial or even ludicrous, on the whole they are informed with a fine poetic energy and they serve to cast over the reader the peculiar spell of a uniquely real world of human feeling and action. Pylon, despite the fact that it has nothing new to say, is an important book for the aspiring writer and for all readers concerned with keeping abreast of the American novel. But one is moved to regret that the shin- ing instrument of Mr. Faulkner's style (taking that word in its widest sense) should be employed to no bet- ter purpose than the rendering of es- cape from one futility into another. L a Z. \w.7 c" v w w ., IS THIS AMERICA? By John Gibbons. (Dutton). devil-may-care, explains why he left New York at once, went to New Or- By JOHN SELBY leans, and then worked himself back "Every Englishman, of course, who to New York the cheapest way pos- ever voyages to America secretly ex- sible. He had been advised to go any pects amply to reimburse himself for direction but south, which is why he his passage money by the profits of chose that district. the book which he will presently write k6 This America? is one of the most on his brave adventures in this far- delightful travel books ever turned away and unknown land, and on the out on America, for the reader with a curious and laughable customs of its sense of humor. When he wishes, Mr. natives who will be his hosts, and if I Gibbons can be as devastating as Mr. add one name more to the glorious Priestley. The difference is that he but already rather long list of ex- turns his irony on England quite plorers, I have at least the excuse that as often as the other way about. He mine need not pretend to be much of seems actually anxious to tell the a book. For being neither a famous I facts. He made, through the south, politician nor a famous prizefighter, I hundreds of what the advertising nor indeed a famous anything at all, fraternity calls "contacts," and ap-- I had my doubts, you see, about be- parently the people "contacted" liked coming a best seller, and had there- him, for they talked freely and were fore taken the precaution of paying as hospitable. Mr. Gibbons' book will, little passage money as possible." not please the pink and red reviewers This is an Englishman (really an because he quotes no Marx, draws no Irishman) starting a book called "Is long-winded social maxims. This America?" It does not sound much like one; Mr. Gibbons admits that he came third class in the next H. W. CLARK paragraph. He adds that he doesn't English Bootmaker have much money, that the publishers 534-536 Forest are always cutting down on his ad- Jockey Boots from $4.95 vances, and he is even willing to take English Riding Boots digs at his fellow countrymen. from $6.50 This tolerance, and a certain Irish - - ---.------- -i i h. THE SCRE ;EN 11 AT THE MAJESTIC "GO INTO YOUR DANCE" Another musical picture! More new songs! More dancing! Hundreds of chorus girlsand boys! And Al Jolson, this time with Ruby Keeler, in a com- monplace story about a play boy actor whom Broadway producers refuse to back because he is undependable, but who comes back by himself (with gangster and female complications). That is "Go Into Your Dance." Al sings several songs, the best of which are "She's A Latin from Manhattan," "Go Into Your Dance," and "About A Quarter to Nine." Each one features Mrs. Jolson (Miss Keeler to the un- informed) with her rhumbas, tangos, waltzes, taps, and bedroom eyes. It's the same old stuff without a single new twist of the hips or an original idea. There is the customary climactic show opening which suffers the usual financial difficulties. And the villain- ess, Helen Morgan, gets her just de- serts along with all the opposing forces. This show is commendable only to those who never tire of mildly excit- ing rhythm (done in Hollywood's most grandiose style), Broadway playboy stuff,ssweet young heroines U whose sugary expressions melt the hearts in the hairiest of chests, mam- my soqgs (there is only one herein, however), and love - - that wonder- ful thing that creeps in at the most unexpected, incongruous, and (in the movies) picture-saving moments. -C.B.C. EXPERT PLANNING INCREASES THE -JOY$ OF TRAEL The trip that is well planned gives you the most for every dollar spent * You want the maximum for your time and money-let us, as experts, prepare a few plans for your consideration " Consult us for travel anywhere. Absolutely no charge for our service. No obligation on your part. FREDERICK S. RANDALL Travel Service GIFTS of All Varieties for GRADUATION Ivory and Wood Work Silk Robes Linens 12 Nickels Arcade Phone 6040 III P i MAY FESTIVAL Brass and Many Novelties. Other It ORIENTAL GIFT SHOP 300-B South State 1. Wednesday, May 15, 8:15 P.M. Artist Concert. Festival debut of HELEN JEPSON, Metre- politan Opera Soprano. World premiere of "Drum.Taps." Howard Hanson, composer, conducting. The Chicago Sym- phony Orchestra, The Choral Union, Frederick Stock, Con- ductor. Ili I I _ 2. Special Sale! Thursday, May 16, 8:15 P.M. Artist-Choral Concert. Festival debut of MARY MOORE, coloratura soprano, of the Metropolitan. "King David" by Honegger. Ethyl Hayden, soprano; Myrtle Leonard, con- tralto; Paul Althouse, tenor; Paul Leyssac, narrator. Choral Union, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Earl V. Moore and Frederick Stock, Conductors. 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Symphony concert. JOSEF LHEVINNE, pianist. Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Frederick Stock, Conductor. 6. Saturday, May 18, 8:15 P.M. "Boris Godunof" in English by Moussorgsky. MAXIM PANTELEIEFF of the Russian Grand Opera as "Boris." Myrtle Leonard, contralto; Paul Althouse, tenor; Wilbur Evans and Theodore Webb, baritones. Choral Union, Chi- cago Symphony Orchestra. Earl V. Moore, Conductor. SEASON TICKETS, if May Festival coupons from Choral Union tickets is returned, $2.00, $3.00 and $4.00, otherwise $5.00, $6.00 and $7.00. SINGLE CONCERTS $1.00, $1.50 and $2.00, on sale at the School of Music, Maynard Street. TiheYcollege BookShop MYRON E. SLATER 322 SouthState Phone 6363 .t m .......... . J11 iJ S 74' l v