A good friend recommended Fifth Business by Robertson Davies to me. I had read, and my friend reminded me, that Fifth Business had been an inspiration to John Irving in writing A Prayer for Owen Meany. He had read both novels and told me that I would find numerous parallels between them. He was interested at my reaction in reading Fifth Business so soon after Owen Meany.
I really enjoyed Fifth Business. I didn't love it. I think that I had Owen Meany, a novel I loved, in the back of my head while reading Fifth Business, and my impression of Fifth Business necessarily suffered as a result. Plus, Davies is CANADIAN. Freaking CANADIAN. So he wrote in Canadian English ("honour" with a "u") for example.
The novel takes the form of the memoir of its fictional narrator, Dunstan Ramsey, written at the time of his retirement as a teacher. The action begins with an episode involving two children, Ramsay, and his childhood friend, Percy Boyd Staunton, who is a fixture throughout Ramsey's life. The episode involves a snowball thrown by Staunton at Ramsay, and what happens with that snowball shapes the rest of Ramsey's life.
I viewed some of the predominant themes from Owen Meany through the lens of Fifth Business, and vice versa. It actually has the makings of a decent college term paper. Lord knows I could have used some good term paper ideas back then.
Fifth Business suffered from my Owen Meany experience primarily because I enjoy Irving's style, language and wit. Davies protagonist and style are more stiff and makes for a read that's not as fun as reading Irving.
Fifth Business is the first novel in Davies' Deptford Trilogy, and I definitely intend to read the other two novels. Despite my quibbles, Fifth Business is well written and made me think. It stayed with me between readings and stays with me still.
Take a look at the sidebar regarding my reading list, if you care.
Live long, read and prosper. We'll leave the light on for you.
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