Book: The Body

Author: Hanif Kureishi
Publisher: Scribner 2004

I stumbled upon The Body by sheer accident, an impulsive need to spend on over-priced books if you will. After perusing through the various titles at a popular bookstore for quite a while (much to the chagrin of my ‘historically’ inclined friend and the painfully tolerant salesperson) I settled for Hanif Kureishi’s ‘fabulous new book,’ as pointed out by someone not too long ago. So without expecting too much from the author I began reading only to be pleasantly surprised at the end of it all.

Kureishi’s ‘fabulous new book’ is quite fabulous indeed, starting off with the novella aptly titled ‘The Body’ which is about an aging but hugely successful playwright Adam, unable to come to terms with the steady decline of his physical condition. So when he finds out about a revolutionary new clinic that transplants one’s brain into a younger, agile body; a body that he gets to choose just the way one would pick a dress or a life partner, Adam gives in to temptation all too willingly. With a lifetime of experience and the physical ability to do the things that he always wanted to, Adam decides to travel all over Europe and encounters several interesting characters that ‘broaden’ his perspective so to speak. But since all good things must come to an end, Adam’s euphoria fades for he realizes that he wants his old life and body back more than ever. Of course one cannot ignore the impossibility of the scientific procedure mentioned above but the philosophical premise of the story makes it hard to put the book down. Kureishi attempts at separating the body from the mind and Adam’s ‘existence’ proves that if given the opportunity they can survive as separate entities. However Adam’s desire to go back to his old body discredits this notion – at some level we are defined by the physical boundaries that have been laid out for us.

Of course ‘The Body’ is not the only story that deserves mention here for there are seven other short stories to choose from, each of which deal with different themes – from the friction that exists between parents and children and couples to the futility of finding true love. For instance ‘Goodbye Mother’ focuses on the love-hate relationship between Harry and his eccentric, melodramatic mother, which unfolds when the son takes her to visit his father’s grave. Kureishi switches between Harry’s confused childhood and the present to account for the skewed yet oddly close relationship. And nothing says it better than Harry and his father’s trips to a shrink in London because the latter is depressed and wants to be ‘saved’ where Harry surprises and infuriates his father because he thinks, “there is no cure for living!”

Be it ‘Goodbye Mother’ or ‘The Real Father,’ Kureishi’s characters seem determined to change both physically and spiritually. They all have a past, which they wish to run away from only to realize that facing their fears holds the key to their escape. And once that realization dawns, the transformation becomes painless and almost acceptable. The focus however is on men, who are the protagonists of all stories. Kureishi tries to delve deep into the male psyche in a bid to point out the dilemma that is their post-modern, urban lifestyle. It is indeed a confusing time to be a man.

Kureishi is no Shakespearean genius, which is exactly why I am quite in love with his writing. His sentences are simple and brief and his descriptions are no-nonsense and minimal, which leaves ample room for imagination. Indeed it is the intensity of his writing that forces one to spend a tear or two and his emotionally detached and cruel observations make for a depressing albeit refreshing read.