The Business of Fifth Business

I’m more than half way through Fifth Business now with plans to finish up by next weekend; so I thought it was time for me to get out some of my thoughts…


-I despise Boy Staunton. He is a pompous dick. I also hate his name – before and after he changed it. Initially I felt sorry for Leola, but she made her bed; though I may be biased because I also disliked her character – she just seemed so weak and I have no tolerance for people who cry about their situation but don’t do anything about it. However, I believe that this was a true reflection of many women at that time. Regardless, I wanted to punch her (as I’m sure did Dunny) when she suddenly wanted him to love her after she finds out that Boy’s been cheating on her. Idiot!

-Speaking of the time, I’m enjoying the time setting, as well as the location setting… mainly because it’s so close to home. I also very much relate to Dunny’s love-hate relationship with Deptford and the way in which he describes small town life. I think it’s interesting that not much has changed – people are very small-minded; those who leave hate coming back and those who stay wish they’d left; everyone knows everyone else’s business; and religion is very much a defining factor of the citizens, as well as a source of conflict.

-I’m enjoying Dunny’s narration and sometimes forget that he’s relaying this story to the headmaster, then Davies reminds me every once in a while and all is well. I think that Davies paints a good picture where he can and the narration is very realistic in that Dunny is clearly not all-knowing. For example, he tells stories of Leola and Boy fighting, a period in between and then jumps to a part where everything appears to be well though he doesn’t actually know how the couple gets there. I think this is both true to Dunny’s character/the narration as well as the time period, again, where private matters of the sort were brushed under the rug. But perhaps that was part of Leola’s downfall? Discuss.

-Despite the fact that I am enjoying Dunny’s narration and aspects of the story, parts of which leave me wanting more (e.g. regarding Paul Dempster who I’m sure will reappear in another book, if not again in this one), it’s sort of falling flat for me. I’m wondering if I just had high hopes because I remember enjoying it in high school but thought I’d get more out of it years later. Either way, it’s like a mediocre meal – it satisfies well enough but I wouldn’t call home about it. At this point in the first novel, I’m just wondering what the point is, I guess. But, I also recognize that this is the first of three books so perhaps like many firsts, it’s just an intro.

-One other thing I don’t like about the storytelling is that Dunny will jump ahead with a pertinent piece of information that I’m not ready to know yet – like how he just casually says that he takes care of Mary Dempster until she dies. I realize that she will likely die, but since she’s still alive at that point in the chronology and I assume he will return to her character, it just comes as a shock when it’s told in that way.

-Other things to discuss: the ordeal with Mary and the tramp (wtf?!) and Mary in and of herself. Actually on that note, I think Davies’ biggest strength in this novel is his character development. They’re all so complex and some are shrouded by mystery that I want to uncover. I’m definitely more interested in the characters’ intricacies than the actually story, so perhaps THAT’S the point. Huh – epiphany-worthy? Maybe a minor one.

-As both a contrast to Boy and a character unto himself, I really like Dunny. Lots to discuss on him and his business of saints and his obsession with Mrs. Dempster – because of guilt, love, pity? And speaking of the former, why doesn’t Boy feel any guilt?! He’s the one who threw the snowball! Just another reason to dislike him if you ask me.

I think this book has more depth than I realize. It isn’t hard to read, but it’s dense and we’re definitely going to need a potent Ontario wine to accompany our upcoming discussion, if for nothing else than to aid the discussion… as long as we stay on topic and don’t drift away to the Fountain of Youth again. Onward Davies!