Henrietta Rose-Innes Chats to Michiel Heyns at the Launch of Invisible Furies
The launch last week of Michiel Heyns’ latest book, his sixth novel, Invisible Furies, was a glorious event held at Kalk Bay Books. Fellow Sunday Times Fiction Prize shortlistee, Henrietta Rose-Innes joined him in a delicious and witty exchange. Heyns has also been shortlisted for the prestigious UJ Creative Writing Prize and Rose-Innes wished him all the very best in this “most lucrative” award.
Rose-Innes reflected on the character Christopher in Invisible Furies, a South African who arrives in Paris on a mission to retrieve the son of an old friend. There he finds himself facing his own preconceptions about the city, about life and beauty, only to arrive at an ambivalent conclusion. “Paris is the very important centre of the book,” she said to Heyns, who travels there regularly. “Why Paris? What does it mean to you?”
Heyns’ reply contains his inimitable wry understatement. “The main reason is I love Paris, which is not a very original sentiment. Thematically, it is a city that is immensely beautiful, but it is a challenging and ambiguous kind of beauty. To many it seems impenetrable. It is so complete, so finished… compared with Joburg, Cape Town. Other cities seem ragged at the edges by comparison. That lends itself very well to my theme.”
The duo of authors chatted across a range of topics: the bridges, the terrific cover design by Michiel Botha that sums up the city’s brittle brilliance, roller skaters, and the author’s knowledge (or lack thereof) of the fashion industry! Rose-Innes read an exquisitely lyrical passage that conveyed the sense of beauty that permeates the pages of this book.
A thoroughly enjoyable encounter was had by all, and a fun question and answer session concluded the evening.
Liesl Jobson tweeted from the launch using #livebooks:
Intimate gathering @kalkbaybooks celebrates Michiel Heyns. Ann Donald welcomes everyone who braved the cold & dreadful roadworks. #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
Two Sunday Time shortlisted writers – @HenriettaRI & Michiel Heyns. Wonderful writers. Excellent books. #livebooks.
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
The cover sums up the brittle brilliance of the Parisian light that the book deals with. He wanted something more noire. #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
HRI: Paris seems such a polarising place. Was there three days, hated it. What did it mean to you? #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
MH: Paris became a character in novel, metaphor for achieved beauty lacking in so many other cities. Think on Joburg!#livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
MH recalls the bridges, the smell, people who sleep underneath them. Something so graceful and useful, containing dark underside. #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
#livebooks HRI reads an extraordinary praise that goes from heights of beauty to lows of depravity. Heyns explores “beauty”. #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
HRI didn’t notice none characters were French but all belonged to international clique of beautiful people. Heyns didn’t either! #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
Heyns wanted to call the novel “The Claqueur” – based on the guy who is paid to go to fashion show & applause heartily. #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
HRI says she wants more claqueurs in the literary world. The audience generously obliged with hearty round of applause. #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
HRI says Christopher is a constraint kind of character that makes seduction of beauty more tempting, more tragic. #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
Henrietta hated Paris. She says it was hot. It was expensive. I was with completely the wrong man. Snap! says Heyns. #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
HRI: moves at snappy pace. Delightful perceptions. Very funny. Heyns says Henry James is hilarious. Most don’t understand him. #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
Heyns: asks if he was arrogant to write this. Read about fashion world, but suspects he ispresumptuously following Henry James. #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
Q&A starts. Small audience. When in Paris, where do you stay? Stays on the Left Bank. Hotel features in previous novel. #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
Lovely discussion. Subtle, funny, understated writers. Terrific duo. Thanks to Leopard’s Leap wines for sponsorship. #livebooks
— Liesl Jobson (@LieslJobson) May 25, 2012
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Book details
- Invisible Furies by Michiel Heyns
EAN: 9781868425099
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Verdict: carrot
Uitspraak: stokkie
Apr
