Ingenious Pain (Harvest Book)

Rating:
Summary: BRILLIANT AND ORIGINAL
Review: James Dyer was born without the ability to feel either pain or emotion. As such, he lacks empathy, the epitome of all human qualities. What happens when James undergoes a radical transformation forms the central questions this novel poses--Is it pain that defines our humanity and lies at its heart? Does a surfeit of pain destroy humanity as effectively as does its absence? How do we achieve the necessary balance between empathy and self-destruction? Ingenious Pain encompasses a brilliantly original premise, almost faultlessly executed. Andrew Miller has created complex and believable characters of tremendous emotional depth in a setting true to its times. His extraordinary use of language paints a word picture that reaches both the depths of despair and the heights of hope, ending on a note of both tragedy and joy. The juxtaposition of the unfeeling Dyer against images of astounding richness creates metaphors of striking beauty and pain. The book's only fault lies in its lengthy backstory. Miller spends far too much time detailing Dyer's childhood, time that could have been better and more interestingly spent detailing Dyer, the man. (The sections with Gummer and Mr. Canning, in particular, seemed to serve no useful purpose and did nothing to enrich the book.) Although slightly less than perfect, Ingenious Pain is still astounding in its brilliance; a novel whose theme and symbolism will haunt you with questions for years to come.

Rating:
Summary: A curious, though interesting,book.
Review: The main character in this novel can literally feel no pain (until a curious incident towards the end of his life). This inability aids him through his life as he moves from childhood poverty, through various ordeals. His lack of feeling (and empathy) allows him to become a successful surgeon - he's not too squeamish to experiment - but eventually arrogance gets the better of him. He joins a competition to inoculate the Russian
Czarina of the day, which entails a hazardous trip across 18th Century Europe. It is the failure of this quest which finally moves him to feel pain, and thereafter he spends a period in a lunatic asylum, event though released he seems a much reduced, more ordinary figure.

I liked the book for its descriptions of 18th Century life. It gives a feel for the emergence of Scientific method, which is beginning to break away from superstition and faith-based beliefs. It gives a convincing view of the type of person who would drive this search for scientific knowledge as ruthless and willing to break through social norms. On the downside the book feels like an vehicle to be used to discuss various social and historical themes and settings. I did not feel much empathy for the main character (maybe this is intentional), and my main sympathies were for the secondary characters - much of the story is told by way of their descriptions of the action, rather than in direct description.

In general a cerebral exercise, illuminating for those who are perhaps interested in the history of the times.

Rating:
Summary: Dr Dyer, the ultimate 18th century hero.
Review: This book has a curious idea, which is treated surprisingly well. It seems to me Miller really knew what he wanted to write about and also possesses the necessary talent. Unlike some other readers, I didn't feel that James Dyer's lack of feelings made him a despisable or repulsive character. I was quite impressed by the way Miller describes his silent self-assurity. I think this novel can be read in many ways. Maybe it tells about how the cruel world can break even the strongest of souls. Dyer didn't die a happy man. He was beaten and destroyed, a shadow of his former self. This is a sad but beautiful book.