The Peak, Simon Fraser University's Student Newspaper since 1965, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6, e-mail: epeak@mail.peak.sfu.ca, phone: (604) 291-3597 fax: (604) 291-3786
Volume 96, Issue 10 July 7, 1997 Arts 

Whale Music

review by elizabeth mckay

Whale Music by Paul Quarrington Vintage Canada

Every animal has a vulnerable spot which it guards: the dog, its throat; the turtle, its underside; the whale, its blow-hole; humans, our bellies, hearts, and minds. To protect these soft spots, humans often guard their actions, thoughts and speech from themselves and from others. Perhaps this is why the protagonist of the novel, Whale Music, is so appealing. Rather than employing insincere, inner defense mechanisms as a means of protection, Desmond Howell physically bars himself within his bed, his music- room, and his home, thus leaving his muddled thoughts, eccentric actions and garbled speech naked and exposed.

I was not too far into the novel when I realized that Desmond really is naked. After following the twists and turns of the narrative, I came across this fact quite haphazardly:

"'Attire,' says I, 'is one of the hallmarks of civilization.'

She is yawning. 'you should talk,' she mentions in the middle of her yawn.

I am without a bathrobe. I wonder where it might be."

Desmond is described on the book's back cover as a former rock'n roll star who is working on his Whale Music. "Great," I thought, envisioning a rock-star: "Ego prancing around as Art."

However, the novel is anything but pretentious. The author, Paul Quarrington, describes the sixties rock'n roll personalities in fictional sketches which mock history with light-hearted originality. For example, Elvis viewing the Beatles on Ed Sullivan: "GEORGE, said the screen. 'Hey Georgie-Porgie,' cackled Elvis. 'Whyn't you get a hair cut, son?' RINGO. 'Well what in the name of Heaven is that there?' JOHN. "He looks like he could be all right. Looks a little bit mean that one there." Like the Beatles, Desmond and his brother Danny revolutionize rock'n roll with their classic songs, "Torque-Torque" dedicated to car machinery and "Kiss Me Karen," -the song's chorus is comprised of nothing but these three words.

What carries the inane lyrics of the band, The Fabulous Howell Brothers, is the music. Macleans notes how, "Quarrington has the reader straining to hear the chords, anticipating the concert, cheering for Des to complete his lonely suite." The music, like the enormous mammals it is dedicated to, is free of insincerity.

It is the whale music that allows Desmond to eventually overcome his defenses against pretenses. While working on the Whale compositions, Desmond begins a relationship with Claire, a space alien, and eventually comes to terms with his self-interested friends and family. By the end of the novel Desmond no longer epitomizes vulnerability, yet remains entirely genuine. Whale Music took me to the heart of vulnerability and incited me to reach beyond it.


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