I had always imagined that my life story, if and when I wrote it, would have a great first line: something lyric like Nabokov's "Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins"; or if I could not do lyric, then something sweeping like Tolstoy's "All happy families are all alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
Opening to Firmin, by Sam Savage.
There use to be a bookstore in San Francisco's Tenderloin called A Dirty, Poorly Lit Place for Books. Sandwiched between adult bookstores and the sort of liquor stores that kept all the goods behind bars, the store was packed to the gills with the bottom rung of second hand books. Whatever you found there, you found through luck or determination or both. The shelves held labels that promised a kind of order they often failed to deliver. Those brave enough or lost enough to enter the neighborhood faced dust and darkness that kept the faint of heart and the allergic away. If A Dirty, Poorly Lit Place for Books held any treasures among the refuse that made up the bulk of its stock, I never found any of it. And I looked.
The title character of Sam Savage's novel Firmin is born in the basement of just this sort of bookstore, in this case Pembroke Books of Scollay Square, Boston circa 1960. Firmin is the youngest of 13. Abandoned by his family at an early age, he soon discovers books can be read as well as eaten. Firmin is a rat who longs to become human. He spends his days observing the bookstore owner's interactions with the customers and his nights watching old movies in the theater next door, until midnight when the theatre switches to more adult fare.
A rat's life is short. Firmin spends his short life devoted to reading, to watching movies, and to observing human interaction. He lives long enough to see the bookstore emptied in preparation for the building's demolition. His is the life many book lovers sometimes claim they long for. Rejected by rat society due to his small size and his human-like behavior, he is alone with his books and his movies, free to read and to watch all day long. Every day.
His story almost becomes a cautionary tale.
In the end, I found myself moved by Firmin. Not saddened exactly, but touched, haunted. Those of us who love nothing more than spending an afternoon digging through the piles of books in a store like A Dirty, Poorly Lit Place for Books pay a price for our obsession.
Firmin's is a story I'll remember for some time.
9 comments:
I have had Firmin on my shelves for ages, but it never seems to make it to the top of the pile. Thank you for reminding me that it exists and that it is special :-)
Wow, it almost sounds depressing. I've been in a dirty dark bookshop in San Francisco that this sounds like! but I didn't stay long, it was too creepy how the floorboards creaking ominously and how dusty and smelly the poor books were. I couldn't stomach digging through them all for the one scant treasure I might find.
I'm glad to see other book bloggers picking this up. It was an enjoyable, if somewhat sad read. I definitely think it has been far too overlooked and I was so happy to have a friend recommend it to me, otherwise I would have missed it too.
I would have never considered reading a book about a rat until I fell in love with Ratatouille. Before then they were just the body parts that showed up on my back doorstep.
Dude, I almost let out a sob while reading this. (OK, I'm leaning toward over the top dramatics...but for realz, I was at least biting my lower lip while reading your quick review).
You especially had me heart clenched at "A rat's life is short". This sounds so depressing and the total opposite of warm fuzzy. I believe that the story might tempt me, my histrionics will keep this off of my shelves.
And also, lolz at Sandy and the body parts.
(It really is amazing what saddens me and humors me all at the same time).
I HAVE to now read this book LOL In fact Ive just downloaded it as it was only £3! Thanks for the review.
I was like surprised Fermin was a rat :)
Well I must say the only rat -tale I have really liked is - Ratatouille, i loved that movie. But this one is interesting, I will look for it anyway. I was just thinking about the last lines you wrote, very true and haunting.
Farmlanebooks, Firmin is a rat who lives almost entirely in his head. His is an unusual story.
Jeane, There are treasures in Pembroke Books, according to Firmim at least.
Amy, I think it's going to end up on my favorite reads list at the end of the year. I'm still thinking about it over a week after finishing it.
Sandy, We don't have a cat. I deliberatly gave both dogs collars with dog tags that make noise as they walk about. No body parts on our doorstep, please.
Christina, I'll take all of that as a compliment. ;-)
Jessica, I hope you enjoy it. It's an odd book to be reading on an e-reader.
Veens, I choose to believe it's worth the price.
I read this book about a year and a half ago and was surprised how the tale of a rat could have such an emotional impact. I plan to re-read it sometime when I have a bit more free time.
Post a Comment