zumbador reviewed Trader (Newford) by Charles de Lint
Review of 'Trader (Newford)' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This book is a sort of fantasy equivalent of Kafka's Metamorphosis: A Max Trader, a well respected instrument maker, wakes up in the body of another man. The man who's body and life Max now inhabits is Johnny, the human equivalent of a cockroach; a nasty loser who cheats, steals and treats everyone around him with contempt. An Johnny has taken over Max's body and life.
The story follows Max's attempts to make sense of what happened to him and to regain his old life. He has to deal with the people who despise him, thinking he is Johnny, and face some hard truths about himself. Several people get drawn into the vortex created by Max and Johnny's struggle, complicating the story.
This book has some interesting themes, such as the links between body, mind and personality. How much of who we are is determined by chance, and how much …
This book is a sort of fantasy equivalent of Kafka's Metamorphosis: A Max Trader, a well respected instrument maker, wakes up in the body of another man. The man who's body and life Max now inhabits is Johnny, the human equivalent of a cockroach; a nasty loser who cheats, steals and treats everyone around him with contempt. An Johnny has taken over Max's body and life.
The story follows Max's attempts to make sense of what happened to him and to regain his old life. He has to deal with the people who despise him, thinking he is Johnny, and face some hard truths about himself. Several people get drawn into the vortex created by Max and Johnny's struggle, complicating the story.
This book has some interesting themes, such as the links between body, mind and personality. How much of who we are is determined by chance, and how much by choice? To what extent are we shaped by other people's perceptions of us?
The most powerful section for me was Max's experience as a homeless person, how quickly he changed from a "citizen" to one of the invisible and ignored.
