The Book Against God is a debut novel written by James Wood, a famous book critic. This book portrays Thomas Bunting’s life. This 26-year-old man is married to Jane, a famous pianist. Thomas is supposed to write a Ph.D. in philosophy. However, he started it seven years ago and he still has not finished it. He is in fact a man that is unable to finish something that he has begun. Instead of finishing it, he has started writing another book, The Book Against God (BAG). This is his private project, as he says, in which he “copies out apposite religious and anti-religious quotations, and develops arguments of his own about theological and philosophical matters.” This quotation shows that he is an atheist and that he wants to write a book about it, which he considers to be his “life’s work”. Thomas has also many other bad habits like lying, never paying bills, no earning money, being unclean (“[…] I was no fan of bath or shower.”), etc. All this leads finally to a separation with his wife.
However, whenever reading, given it is a book or an article on the internet, the reader should always be critical and not believe everything that is there in black and white. He should always keep that in mind. This essay will specifically treat about that critical reading: Is the narrator reliable or not? Can the reader trust him or is he a real liar? The argumentation will be based on several examples in order to be more explicit.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- The Book against God: Reliable or Lies?
- Critical Reading and the Unreliable Narrator
- Reliability and the First-Person Narrator
- Thomas Bunting: A Confessed Liar
- Thomas Bunting: A Habitual Liar
- Lying to His Wife
- Lying to His Father
- Lying to His Friends
- Thomas Bunting: A Victim or a Liar?
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to analyze the reliability of the narrator in James Wood's novel, *The Book Against God*. The primary objective is to determine whether Thomas Bunting, the first-person narrator, can be trusted or if his account of events is unreliable. The key themes explored in this analysis include:- The nature of unreliable narration
- The role of lying and deception in shaping character
- The impact of dishonesty on relationships
- The relationship between self-perception and reality
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
This section will provide summaries of the chapters excluding the conclusion.The Book against God: Reliable or Lies?
This introductory chapter sets the stage by introducing Thomas Bunting, the protagonist and narrator of the novel. He is a 26-year-old man struggling to complete his Ph.D. in philosophy, instead devoting his time to writing a book against God. His personal struggles are described, including his tendency to lie, avoid responsibility, and engage in self-destructive behavior.Critical Reading and the Unreliable Narrator
This chapter delves into the concept of reliability in narrative, defining it and exploring different types of narrators. It highlights the ambiguity of first-person narration, where the narrator's perspective may be unreliable due to factors such as psychological states, limited information, or dishonesty.Reliability and the First-Person Narrator
This chapter specifically examines the implications of first-person narration. The chapter emphasizes the importance of critical reading and raises the question of whether the reader can trust the narrator's account.Thomas Bunting: A Confessed Liar
This chapter provides evidence of Thomas's self-professed status as a liar. It examines instances where he explicitly acknowledges his dishonesty, highlighting examples of fabricated stories and deceptive behavior.Thomas Bunting: A Habitual Liar
This chapter explores the pervasiveness of lying in Thomas's life. It examines how his tendency to lie has become a habit, raising further questions about his reliability as a narrator.Lying to His Wife
This chapter focuses on Thomas's interactions with his wife, Jane. It reveals how his lies extend to his closest relationships, including his wife, who is increasingly aware of his dishonesty.Lying to His Father
This chapter examines Thomas's relationship with his father. It highlights instances of lying to his father, revealing a pattern of dishonesty that extends to his family.Lying to His Friends
This chapter explores Thomas's interactions with his friends, particularly Max. It reveals his tendency to lie to his friends and his inability to be honest about his feelings towards them.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work examines the complexities of unreliable narration, focusing on the protagonist's deceptive behavior and its impact on his relationships. The main keywords and focus topics include: unreliable narrator, first-person perspective, lying, deception, critical reading, character analysis, narrative theory, and the relationship between honesty and trust.- Arbeit zitieren
- Marylise Thill (Autor:in), 2009, Critical reading: "The Book against God" by James Wood - Reliable or Lies?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/188038
