- The Actual: A Novella

by Saul Bellow

Other authorsJoseph O'Neill (Introduction)

Paperback, 2009

Status

Available

Call number

813.52

Genres

General Fiction

All Topics

Fiction

Collection

Wishlist

Publication

Penguin Classics (2009), Edition: Reprint, Paperback, 96 pages

Description

"Harry Trellman doesn't belong. Not in the Chicago orphanage where he is sent by his mother, not in high school (too brainy), not even on the streets. Human attachments? Yes, he has them, but they are like everything else in his life, singular and irregular. People who know him say that he "drowns his feelings in his face," and that he has a Mongolian "masked look." But though Harry stands apart, he has always been a most keen observer, listener, recorder and interpreter, and none of this is lost on the Chicago billionaire, Sigmund Adletsky, who takes Harry into his "brain trust." He retains Harry to advise him. They discuss ordinary things - they gossip together. Old Adletsky has set feelings aside while he amassed his vast fortune. The old man is so apt that he divines the secrets behind Harry's mask, and brings him together with the one person Harry has loved dumbly for forty years." "Amy Wustrin has not exactly stood apart from the sexual revolution while waiting for Harry to come wooing. Far from remaining the static object of his fantasy, she has moved about in the real world, from one marriage to another, from rich to broke, from hot high-school girl to correct matron. Still, in Amy, Harry sees what he calls his "actual." Harry has had his opportunities with Amy, but it is not until he finds himself at the cemetery with her for the exhumation and reburial of her husband that he feels free to speak out."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member asallan

A novella from Bellow's later years, somewhat trite, but an enjoyable short read.

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LibraryThing member rossryanross

The Actual is minor-Bellow, a story about reconnection between old lovers and the memories of the aging elite in 1990s Chicago. Still, though, Bellow's minor works are better than most books.

LibraryThing member jgoitein

The Actual: a novella is Nobel Laureate Saul Bellow'sophisticated, witty remembrance of Harry Trellman's youthful first love, Amy Wustrin, or as he recounts his "love object" when he was a smitten boy of twelve. As part of the same Chicago social set from the early days of middle school to four

decades later, Harry still has a warm spot for Amy in his heart despite their own individual failed marriages and life journeys. Bellow examines young love from the perspective of a mature, experienced male, yet successfully captures Harry's youthful feelings of longing, desire and his innocent, spontaneous awkward gestures of sexual awakenings towards his first girlfriend. A precocious reader will joyfully gain insight into the egotism of youth, and observe the self-assurance that many young males, who may not be classically handsome, pursue their desire of affection through brain power and tenacity. Bellow employs a self depreciating style of writing here reminiscent of a Woody Allen movie: humorous but ironically tragic as well.

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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna

As a reading experience, this one was mixed. The writing was good - interesting and thought-provoking. As a story it was odd - past and present intermixed with no clear, discernible point - and I didn't care for the characters much. I did like the idea of the individual as something unique and not

able to be duplicated.

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LibraryThing member Krumbs

Ok, I tried. This novella is only about 100 pages long, but I got 10 pages in and I'm just not in any way interested. He's not Chinese, but he sort of looks like he's Chinese, so he goes to China for five years, but returns to Chicago to be near a woman he hasn't seen in 15 years because he's never

been able to stop thinking about her, but then he's told he looks like he's Japanese, and gosh that's true! so he cuts his hair to look more Japanese, and he goes to a dinner party with rich people, then runs into the woman he's been pining over for 15 years and doesn't recognize her, and I just couldn't go any further. Another one off my shelf!

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LibraryThing member BookConcierge

Harry Trellman is a man who just doesn’t belong. Raised in an orphanage (despite having two living parents), and possessed with an impassive face, he lives on the edge of society. Yes, he’s successful in business and has many acquaintances, but he doesn’t really connect with anyone,

maintaining an observer’s distance. And he IS a keen observer. It is this skill that leads multibillionaire Sigmund Adletsky to hire Harry; and it is through Sig that he is thrown together with his first love, Amy Wustrin, whom he still loves and has loved silently for forty years.

Through his omniscient narrator, Bellow allows the reader insight into the thoughts, feelings, flaws and strengths of the characters.

Bellow is a wonderful writer but this slim little volume just didn’t do it for me. I appreciated it, but I didn’t love it. In fairness, I have to admit that I was reading it when I was sick and having trouble concentrating for more than a page or two at a time. As a result, a book that should have taken me just a couple of days, took me nearly a week to complete. I’m sure my enjoyment of this work suffered as a result, but there you have it.

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LibraryThing member ivanfranko

A flat little story, best left alone if reading pleasure is important.

LibraryThing member MarilynKinnon

Ageing affairs of the heart described through thoughts of chinese looking guy finally popping the question at the graveside of his life long love's former husband. A simple read but Bellow's style is clear.

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