Frost

hello Gentle Reader

Frost by Thomas Bernhard, is more of a rant by a old man who has gone crazy rather then a linear story. however it is good, if you are willing to put up with it. Sometimes it can be difficult, sometimes not so difficult. One this is for certain with this novel is that it is certainly full of bitter, cynical, vicious, critical, pessimistic, and acidic prose.

The first few lines show the reader what they are in for:

“A medical internship consists of more than spectating at complicated bowel operations, cutting open stomach linings, bracketing off lungs and sawing off feet; and it doesn’t just consist of thumbing closed the eyes of the dead and hauling babies out into the world either.”

The story opens with a young medical intern, sent away under the orders of his superior surgeon to go observe and examine, (and report back to the surgeon) about his brother the painter named Strauch.

As the novel progresses we soon learn that Strauch is well -- in my opinion at least -- insane or on the brink of madness. he has had no contact with his borther the surgeon for quite sometime, and now the surgeon wants to know -- through interloping and espoinage it appears -- how his brother is doing.


through the stay at the village of Weng, where the painter Strauch is, the narrator is left to listen to the absurd, profund, suprisingly lyrical and of course -- bitter, nasty, misanthropic, misongist, critcal, vicious, ferociouse -- rants of the painter. the very man who he i sent to watch and to observe and report on. The very man that one cannot help but see a friendship -- however strange it maybe -- growing between he too.

not much can be siad on this novel. in fact the lacking of a coherent plot makes it difficult to review. But the musing's (typical of Thomas Bernhard fiction) are amazing and often absurd and sometimes there is a mixture of a dark grotesque humor, that makes you laugh.

a novel i would recomend to people who can stand the style of Samuel Beckett, as well as a novel for those who like the absurdity of life and to read about crazy old men rant and rave about just how pathetic life is and the very mistake of being born, and how it in itself is a tragic accident.

take care Gentle Reader
Thank-you for reading
stay well read

M.Mary