Barney's Version (Movie Tie-In Edition)

Many times authors don't bother to develop characters (see: Danielle Steele), or if they do, then the characters are overwrought with detail and too large (see: Ayn Rand).In this case, the author makes the central character Barney just large enough to be believable and realistically vulgar enough to be human. There was also a lot of attention paid to details that made you believe that he was writing a biography. Examples:1. His mother had what may have been Alzheimer's disease, which is known to have a genetic component. The main character shares the same fate at the end of the book. There are (to my recollection) no direct scenes with the characters' mother, and she could have been eliminated with no damage to the book. But she may have been there just to establish that link.2. The pace at which the character starts to forget things increases throughout the book, foreshadowing his collapse into Alzheimer's at the end.3. The accurate/ humorous portrayal of what really became of a lot of the black militants, portrayed through the character of Cedric. And his observations of the belligerence of the feminists.4. The use of the epilogue (Barney's son), and real historical references, such as newspaper clippings to provide an air of believability to the novel.

Barney's Version is really an incredible novel. While it reads like the memoirs of a cranky, elderly Jewish Canadian who seems to hate most everything (except his last wife and their three kids), it also serves as an interesting analysis of life in Montreal over the last fifty years for the English-speaking minority, especially the enclave of its (once harassed) Jewish residents.While the characterizations of Barney and his friends/family are top notch it is Richler's flair for biting satire and sarcastic wit which leaves the most lasting impression of Barney's Version. Joseph (Catch-22) Heller wrote novels with similar style and humour. Yet Richler's Barney has a more worldly, français feel about him compared to Heller's Brooklyn-based characters.Bottom line: Richler presents a character that is larger than life; it's hard to believe Barney doesn't really exist. Strongly recommended.

I just finished reading the (very good) Italian translation of Barney's Version. It was a long time, since I found a novel written so cleverly and with so strongly, all-round depicted characters (maybe from Bellow's Herzog?). You can't ignore Barney--you must love him, or hate him. No half-measures.

This book is an intelligent, tremendously entertaining read. Mr. Richler assumes the reader is well-read, and this is challenging for some (me). Barney deserves everything he gets in life, except perhaps the final cruelty imposed upon him, as it unfolds in relation to Boogie. Still, I finished this last night, and now find myself missing Barney's perverse dissertations. Damn, Damn, Damn . . . I'm off today to buy "St. Urbain's Horseman"!

I have been reviewing books for 25 years and I must admit that I can count on both hands the number of books I would recommend as "must reads."But "Barney's Version", by Mordecai Richler, is definitely one of them.As a reader the same age as Barney, I laughed and cried over this wonderful character, and will love him till the day I die.Barney is a 68 year old Jewish gentleman who has been married three times, widowed once, divorced twice, though still in love with "Miriam, my heart's desire." He had a gay (in the old meaning) youth gallivanting around Europe, then settled in America where he somehow gets charged with and tried for murder. I am a mystery buff, these chapters alone rate those five stars.This novel is Barney's version of the dastardly deeds he has commited throughout his lifetime, and he will keep you laughing and crying and loving through the pages and through the years.A bonus in the book is the contribution of Barney's son, Michael, who finds it necessary to footnote the book, correcting Barney here and there, as Barney's memory isn't as good as it used to be. He can never remember such important issues as the last two of the seven dwarfs, the name of that thing you drain spaghetti in, which of the big bands played "In the Mood" and who was that gorgeous brunette in Lil Abner? (You don't remember? Read the book!) Just recalling the book tempts me to re-read it. I strongly advise you to buy a copy; don't borrow one, for you will never be able to bring yourself to part with it. Enjoy!Teresa Bloomingdale [email protected]