Small Press Reviews
Reviews of books published by small and independent presses
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Theatre of Incest
Alain Arias-Mission's short novel Theatre of Incest presents a man who
indulges in a lifetime of incest with his closet female relatives. As
an apprentice being introduced to the dark art of incest, the narrator
learns the ropes of control and submission from his mother - a delineation
chronicled in the first part of the novel. In the subsequent part, we
witness how the narrator takes on his own incestuous apprentice -
his daughter - and initiates her into a world of unbridled, graphic
sexual acts. The final part then shows our sexually intrepid narrator
find a strong counterbalance, both mentally and physically, in the form
of his sister, whom he deems his 'sweet witch.'
The term 'witch' appropriately channels the tone of the novel, whose
back cover copy calls a 'primeval fairy tale' that 'burns with
icy passion.' To be honest, Theatre of Incest is a read best
suited for lovers of poetic language, and, more importantly, for readers
who honesty possess open minds. Arias-Mission's words dance on the
page as his narrator shares his life with us - sans dialogue or multiple
perspectives. This approach could lead some readers to wonder if the
narrator is indeed an unreliable one - but the author's words are so seductive
and the twisted, erotic world he crafts so beautiful and
shocking, that the reader will often be caught up in the flow of events
instead of wasting too much time judging the man.
Since Arias-Mission's approach to his subject matter does not pretend
to pass a moral verdict upon his narrator, or hint that the man's
actions are in any way mitigated by mental illness, one may seek to
understand why he wrote this book. Perhaps the author is inverting Freud's
tired-and-true 'Oedipus Complex' in a working metaphor applicable
to our contemporary, complex family relations. Instead of repressing
sexuality, a la Freud, in an emotional mishmash with his mother, daughter,
and sister, the narrator, then, freely transgresses these boundaries
in his attempt to understand these women better. However, in the absence
of sexual repression, jealousies still arise, and the eternal power
struggle between men and women is continued on a sexual stage Arias-Mission
at one point literally presents as exhibitionist theatre. Likewise,
he may be telling us that the various roles we may hold in our life
as children, siblings, and parents will always confuse and delight us
in manner that is more intimate than our most intense sexual relations.
Just as Arias-Mission does not offer easy answers concerning his character's
actions, it is probably fitting that this reviewer refrain from further
trying to theoretically troubleshoot this sexually and emotionally daring
novel.
Review by Tom Powers