Instruments of Darkness by Nancy Huston

I described my interest in Nancy Huston's careerpath in my review of her Slow Emergencies. In fact, the bio at the back of this book says "Nancy Huston was born in Calgary but has lived in Paris since 1973". I'm not entirely sure why that 'but' is so funny to me, as if it is apologizing for Calgary and crying "don't worry! She is in Paris now!".

Instruments of Darkness is the novel that won her numerous prestigious literary awards, and I can see why. She writes in an inventive, courageous way, with absolute confidence that we will follow the all the twists and turns of her avant-garde style. It is a bit of a gloomy read though, and even says as much and apologizes for it. I'm never quite sure what to make of books that complain about themselves. Not necessarily a book to read when pregnant (as I've just done) since there is lots of abortion and child murder and general female angst, so oops for that.

We are basically reading two things, the author's journal as she writes and her manuscript about a French maid who was sentenced to death and accused of witchcraft in 1712. The two stories intertwine and neither is especially uplifting or comfortable or humorous. But there is a certain structural beauty to it all and a surprise ending. So I dunno really - it is a good book but might appeal to other people more than me. Full of female truths that make one say, oh yes, I was hoping to ignore that issue, bummer, the world can be so unfair, damn ... [JL]

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