Going to See the Elephant

All right, right from the get go I have to say that I loved this story, but it bears absolute no resemblance to San Francisco. Still, it's funny in a witty way, interesting as all get out and impossible to put down. I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it. Mr. Fishburne has totally remade the City by the Bay, pulled it whole cloth right out of his imagination and what a stark raving wonderful job he's done. He's also done a stark raving wonderful job with his story people, especially with all of the personal at the Morning Trumpet, but of course his main creation is his best creation and that would be young Slater Brown who has this phobia about turning twenty-nine and being past his prime. By his way of thinking, if you haven't made your mark a year before your thirtieth, then you're not going to. Slater gets a reporter's job at the Morning Trumpet, but the job hinges on whether or not he can get a headline grabbing story. During his wandering around Frisco he chances upon the answer man, a kind of paranormal spooky guy, who gives Slater a radio that picks up things no other radio on this earth can get. The radio is Slater's entry into the gossipy private lives of the rich and famous, also into the gossipy corrupt life of the city's mayor. With his secret radio Slater gets the scoops, gossipy and otherwise. And when he starts spilling stories the mayor would like to keep buried away, he might be getting himself in a bit of trouble. Meanwhile the moribund Trumpet is selling like hotcakes. Now, can Slater keep his radio a secret? How long can he keep taking credit for the radio stories? If he gets rid of the radio will he be all washed up before thirty? So many questions. Such a crazy, zany story. Wanna go see the Elephant? I do.

Reading this book is like being on a raft floating down a winding river in an unusual and occasionally fanciful countryside: the view is so good you don't care how long it takes and every turn brings something new and interesting. Slater Brown is a young man who comes to San Francisco with all the conceit and self-confidence of the young and idealistic. He wants to be a writer, but not just any writer: he wants to write something that will last forever so people will remember him. He writes constantly in his notebook - thoughts, impressions, descriptions, conversations - but never actually starting a novel. He is also obsessed with needing to make his mark before age 29. After his money runs out, he applies for and gets a job at a dying newspaper. Sent out to get a story, he writes an overblown literary-ish piece on the sounds of the city. Both his eccentric appearance and his writing style are borrowed. A gift pocket radio from a part-time "Answer Man" changes Slater's career and life and he becomes the star of the newspaper and then the city; everyone reads his news articles. Two other characters' stories intersect with Slater. His first scoop involves the recent mayoral election and the mayor becomes obsessed with getting rid of Slater, which leads to some very funny passages in the book. The city's resident genius, Milo Magnet, is also obsessed; but with inventions, not Slater. Milo's obsession takes him on a collision course with Slater, the woman Slater loves, and the mayor. The results are fanciful, amusing, and a bit sentimental. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot is entertaining and the writing is very good. I caution you not to be too literal-minded when reading this book. You will miss a lot of the fun if you spend time worrying about whether something could or would actually happen. Just go with the flow and enjoy the ride.

After all the depressing headlines and heavy bookclub books, Going to See the Elephant is the perfect light, funny, smart novel to dive into. The characters, setting and writing are delicious. The USA Times book critic Jocelyn McClurg may have said it best: "Going to See the Elephant is not a circus novel, although it's delightfully whimsical. The title refers to the California Gold Rush, or chasing dreams. Slater Brown, 25, turns up in contemporary San Francisco hoping to be the next Great American Novelist. What begins as a ho-hum I'm-finding-myself story takes a wonderfully eccentric turn as Slater the dreamer becomes a star scribe at the wacky Morning Trumpet. He falls for a girl, a chess player. Rodes Fishburne has no interest in front-page realism -- magic realism is more his thing. He's a fantacist, and his sweet comic novel is as light as a bright balloon, and just as appealing." I highly recommend it!

Fishburne, Rodes. "Going to See the Elephant", Delacorte Press, 2008. Finding Fame and Having Fun Amos Lassen Slater Brown at 25 came to San Francisco to "see the elephant". He wants to be the greatest writer but the city by the bay has a different plan for him. He faces reality when he realizes that he is out of money and job prospects. He finally gets a job at a dying newspaper and at the same time receives a gift from a mystic. He discovers that he has the exclusives on every story and he manages to bring the paper, "Morning Trumpet" back to life. He falls in love with the woman who is to become his muse; he infuriates the corrupt mayor and tangles with Milo Magnet, an inventor and a man with an obsession for harnessing the weather. Because he searches for the truth, Slater becomes a pawn and a savior as well as the hope for the city in which he lives and that needs him so badly. This is a book that is pure fun and a wonderful achievement for a first novel. You sense the innocence of the author and his ambition and you may even see yourself here. I smiled as I read and I wished that Fishburne had been nearby so I could let him see me enjoying his book. It is comedy, love story and a fable for the modern world. There is great silliness and I loved that. It is an accomplishment for a young writer and he has every reason to e proud.

It is hard to believe that this is Rodes Fishburne's first novel; Going to See the Elephant possesses the wit, wisdom and exceptional prose of a veteran writer. What I Loved - This novel is set in modern times, yet often takes on a feel of something set more in the 20s or 30s. This can be attributed to many things, including The Trumpet's (the newspaper the main character Slater works at) resistance of technology, Slater's attire, the cast of old-fashioned characters, and lack of pop-culture references. - The magical realism aspect of inventor and genius Milo Magnet's character. Some would argue that it's not magical realism, it's just an acute understanding of science. Whatever it may be, Milo's inventions and scientific visions are fascinating and fantastic. - The love story between Slater and Callio is endearing. It's not a love story saturated with sappy sweetness or unnecessary graphic sex scenes, it's a love story about two people that truly are meant to be together. - The mayor, and his staff, are hilarious. The man is determined to bring down Slater and The Trumpet, in the process becoming morbidly obese and paranoid. - The writing is superb. There really is no other way to describe it; Fishburne draws you in with his smooth, descriptive (but not overly so) style. - Fishburne doesn't fall into the trap of making a coming-of-age story cliche, as so many first time writers do. Slater is undoubtedly on a journey of self-discovery, he is trying to find his place as a writer and in relationships. He tastes success and failure, he feels confused and he learns. Yet there is no sense of complete closure at the end; he is still discovering what he's meant to do with his life. Problems - It ends - There are no other Fishburne novels to currently read Amusing, smart and entertaining- definitely worth it.