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Going To See the Elephant
by
Rodes Fishburne (Goodreads Author)
On a windy September day, twenty-five-year-old Slater Brown stands in the back of a bicycle taxi hurtling the wrong way down the busiest street in San Francisco. Slater has come to “see the elephant,” to stake his claim to fame and become the greatest writer ever. But this city of gleaming water and infinite magic has other plans in this astounding first novel—at once a lo...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
December 30th 2008
by Delacorte Press
(first published December 15th 2008)
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Slater Brown with a trunk of classic novels on hand, goes to San Francisco to become a great writer because he believes in himself. He hunkers down at a local bar and fills yellow notebooks with words of self-help. His goal: "to be a writer people would remember." He studies the great authors and is sure he can become one. But.......along the way he takes some shortcuts. As he is struggling to find employment and down to his last quarter, he is riding the bus home and through a tra...more
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it was a delight from start to finish. Slater Brown is an unlikely hero, a writer convinced he could be the world's best writer if only he could get the right works on the page in the right order. He considers himself well-read, though his efforts are limited to the first sentences of great books from which he extrapolates the quality of the rest of the unread work. Despite his many eccentricities, Slater Brown's love for San Francisco, for the rh...more
I picked this up in an airport bookstore because I was wooed by the humor and fun style of the narrative. That's definitely this book's greatest strength. At times I laughed out loud at the clever descriptions and observations. The plot was mostly a coming-of-age tale with an enjoyable, quirky "magic technology" element. Where the book lost me was the attempt to weave in the POV of the genius scientist who's the smartest guy in the world and wow look at all the amazing things he de...more
Going To See The Elephant by Rodes Fishburne is a pleasant and readable first novel with colorful characters and interesting ideas. However, it lacks depth and a consistent tone that would have made it a truly great book.
Going To See The Elephant follows Slater Brown, a budding writer who has traveled to San Francisco to launch his career. He winds up writing for a long-standing but third-rate newspaper, gaining scoops through a unique and strange method.
Brown becomes a l...more
Going To See The Elephant follows Slater Brown, a budding writer who has traveled to San Francisco to launch his career. He winds up writing for a long-standing but third-rate newspaper, gaining scoops through a unique and strange method.
Brown becomes a l...more
While it is by no means the work of genius some of the blurbs claim it to be, Going to See the Elephant is a thoroughly enjoyable novel steeped in joyful silliness, which--as it turns out--is a good thing. Slater Brown arrives in San Francisco to establish himself as the great writer that he knows he is. With very little money and down on his luck, Slater takes a job at The Morning Trumpet, a newspaper that is equally down on its luck. Soon, Slater and the Morning Trumpet become the toast of the...more
A very fun, light read. I like books with plot lines and narratives that don't take themselves too seriously... you know, sometimes. Ha, but yes, if you're looking for a fun read sprinkled with San Francisco references, some really beautiful descriptions of place, and some delightfully ridiculous characters, then you should pick up Going to See the Elephant. I loved when the mayor went nuts and started gorging himself on all the city's best food, the old silly men at TKs bar watching Giants game...more
Another book I didn't care much for, and yet tried to write a tactful review for in Library Journal:
Verdict: One’s appreciation of this debut novel will depend entirely on a tolerance for a story that could be described as zany, irrepressible, and whimsical. Best suited for larger fiction collections....more
Background: To a fictionalized San Francisco, resplendent with daily newspapers, none of which is named the Chronicle, wide-eyed innocent Slater Brown arrives with a trunkful of books
I do love a novel chock-full of good quirkiness. And Going To See The Elephant delivers - sometimes, in excess. It took me a while to actually finish this book, because until Callio, the champion female chess player, becomes a more featured part of the story, I didn't care as much about Slater Brown, our atypical hero of the action. He's fun, harmless, and affects a lot of quirks, but compared to the Mayor or the other newspaper reporters, or even the landlady, his quirks are forced. I understa...more
Fans of absurdist fiction will find much to admire in "Going to See The Elephant."
Aspiring writer Slater Brown comes to San Francisco with a large number of books he's never read, and aspirations of becoming famous. Shortly after spending his last 50 cents, he is hired as a reporter for the Morning Trumpet, a newspaper that is doing so poorly that it is published thrice a week on paper so thin that you can see through it. Unfortunately for Brown, he has no contacts from...more
Aspiring writer Slater Brown comes to San Francisco with a large number of books he's never read, and aspirations of becoming famous. Shortly after spending his last 50 cents, he is hired as a reporter for the Morning Trumpet, a newspaper that is doing so poorly that it is published thrice a week on paper so thin that you can see through it. Unfortunately for Brown, he has no contacts from...more
There was so much going on with this book, it is hard to even know where to begin. Let's start with the characters: Slater Brown is a writer newly arrived in Seattle with a burning desire to be remembered, not just read. His character is quirky and idealistic with not a lot of realism built in. That being said, it was what I liked the most about Slater. It was easy to want him to find the success he wished for. Tucker Oswell is the corrupt and sleazy mayor who eats as if there is no tomorr...more
Going To See The Elephant is a hilarious, quirky, and very full of great little details. It felt to me that the story was set in an alternate universe San Fransisco. For the life of me I couldn't figure out what time period it takes place in and I loved it for that. It's truly original.
The characters in this book are priceless. A sleek young reporter that somehow always has the biggest scoop, the crazy over-eating Mayor, the genius of everything that decides he wants to produce his o...more
The characters in this book are priceless. A sleek young reporter that somehow always has the biggest scoop, the crazy over-eating Mayor, the genius of everything that decides he wants to produce his o...more
I had to read this for a graduate class, and half way through I was confused. The plot is a bit slow, even though it is an easy read. There's only one interesting character in the book, and that character is the love interest. Her role becomes predictable towards the end due to plot twist. Ironic for a novel to be based in San Francisco, where the city happens to take on the role of a character itself, that you so zero gay people. The novelist even wrote the novel based on his time living in San...more
I'm always cautious when reading a book about a writer, but this was one of the better ones. Of course, many of the parts I found amusing and ironic will be missed by any one who hasn't worked extensively with young writers and their many misconceptions. The cyclical element at the end of the book was a nice touch, and I liked that while we were given a window into Slater's life after the main story arc Fishburne didn't spell anything our for us or feel the need to hit us over the head. It was a...more
From the moment I opened this book, the characters jumped to life for me. Fishburne’s main character Slater Brown is the likeable newspaper writer, who has a unique way of discovering stories. The one going story of Slater Brown and his writing along with his love interest keep the pages turning for me. The one character I wish there was more interaction and development of was Milo Magnet, who I pictures as a modern Einstein. Overall, Fishburne created a novel that invites the reader in to g...more
A silly, silly waste of time. I was bored enough to consider not finishing it. I don't think it would have made much of a difference if I hadn't.
Slater Brown goes to San Francisco to seek his fortune as a writer; ends up writing for a newspaper; meets a girl; discovers himself along the way. Oh yeah, and there are tornadoes. I discovered that I didn't much care.
A few notable images caught me -- the grime-encrusted Trumpet (the newspaper) building with its clock that s...more
Slater Brown goes to San Francisco to seek his fortune as a writer; ends up writing for a newspaper; meets a girl; discovers himself along the way. Oh yeah, and there are tornadoes. I discovered that I didn't much care.
A few notable images caught me -- the grime-encrusted Trumpet (the newspaper) building with its clock that s...more
I can assure you, there is nothing better than coming upon a book, after so many tried and faulty reads, that actually is an honest one. Going to See the Elephant is an ingenious work of art, a colorful innocent tapestry of The City and what can happen if you listen to your intuition inside of it. Fishburne's Slater Brown is a wickedly funny character that wound me around his little finger so neatly, I couldn't help loving the little bugger.
Slater's journey began when he emerged...more
Slater's journey began when he emerged...more
"Going to See the Elephant" feels like Rodes Fishburne read Thomas Pynchon's "The Crying of Lot 49," found it quirky but too weird, and wrote a more accessible translation. The quirkiness remains (it is the guiding strength of Fishburne's first novel) and because the story is less rooted in LSD, it comes off as far more whimsical yet simplistic. For example, "Elephant" protagonist Slater Brown writes for The Daily Trumpet, certainly a reference to the Trystero mut...more
I enjoyed this and it was a super fast read. There were some geographical mistakes that he made, but if you aren't picky about that it won't bother you too much (I used to take the 9 bus to work everyday and at no point does it go down Van Ness, just an example of what I mean). Since alot of the locations he refers to are fictional anyway, I guess it doesnt really matter. Anyway, Slater Brown is a really likeable character and the book made my morning commute seem faster, so I am giving it 3 sta...more
An aspiring writer, cable cars, a recluse genius, newspaper scoops, a ravishing chess player with a protective father and a mayor with an insatiable appetite all contribute to the tale of Going to See the Elephant with San Francisco as its backdrop. I thought this book had a lot of potential and I did enjoy the main character's narrative through most of the book and particularly liked the character of his landlady.
Unfortunately, I think that the numerous plot lines failed to captur...more
Unfortunately, I think that the numerous plot lines failed to captur...more
1.5 *shrug* A low quality coming-of-age first novel about a youngish man wanting to write. Too many premises to make this a single world and too many characters without interiors. I enjoyed the idea of miniature weather but not much else. My beloved San Francisco is here as told by a name-dropping 2nd year transplant. The writing is passable and the imagination is almost there, it's really a shame that this was published and not just unknown student work.
fishburne does an excellent job with this book and i could totally see this on the big screen - i think it would translate well. it took me a bit to warm up to the main character, but following his senses and notes about the city of san francisco was a total delight. particularly being familiar with the place and discovering SF myself years ago, you can appreciate his point of view.
aside from the main character, his girlfriend, the chess player phenomenon and milo the incredible gen...more
aside from the main character, his girlfriend, the chess player phenomenon and milo the incredible gen...more
I loved this book, even more than the book the proceeded it (the fantastic and better-than-the-movie No County For Old Men). I will admit that after the first several chapters, I was convinced that the rest of the book would be pedantic wanna-be literature, but I was wrong. It skewers would-be literature while at the same time embracing "real" literature, and much of this book is brilliantly written. The characters are fascinating, the locale (San Francisco) is itself one of the main c...more
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This was a fun read, but mostly because it's set in San Francisco. As with most books set in SF, it's jarring how quickly the characters leap from neighborhood to neighborhood, but it also captured a lot of the inherent quirkiness that SF residents take for granted.
I don't have much else to say -- the story was angel food cake, and the ending was not a satisfying last bite.
I don't have much else to say -- the story was angel food cake, and the ending was not a satisfying last bite.
Maybe not terrible, but I couldn't get into it. It bothered me that I couldn't clearly pin down the time the book was set, and that I didn't know anything about the protagonist; immigrant, emigrant, white, black, tall, short? I think that says a lot about me, but I couldn't get past it. Also there were long digressions that I wasn't sure were fact or fiction. Put it down about 50 pages in.
I loved this book. Crazy characters, interesting names and takes place in CA; just where this might happen. A story about a man who wants to be a writer. By accident, he becomes an ace reporter and falls in love with a chess player named after a muse. Lots of twists and turns with an uncertain climax to keep you reading.
A young man moves to San Francisco to be a writer and finds... Life?
Wow. I was not expecting anybody's first novel to be this good. What an excellent, funny, and uplifting story. In particular I like the fable-like, simple style and characters. This one was easy to be into, and I'll look forward to anything else by RF.
Wow. I was not expecting anybody's first novel to be this good. What an excellent, funny, and uplifting story. In particular I like the fable-like, simple style and characters. This one was easy to be into, and I'll look forward to anything else by RF.
I won this book in a pre-release give away. I was excited to get it, read it, and review it. The book did have a VERY interesting storyline and I like that the author seemed to be writing about those periods in your life that seem to be a pivot point from where your life moves off in a new direction. Those opportunities that seem to open up for you and close again, never to be opened again. My only issue with the book (the reason for three stars) is that I didn't immediately identify with the...more
Merry Christmas to me, what a sweet and graceful story this was. So much of it reminded me of the voice of Armistead Maupin (which makes sense since he was serialized in the San Francisco Chronicle), but there was a note of magical realism about the whole thing, too--a magical realism that discarded a lot of technology that a writer might have to deal with in the real San Francisco. After so many apartment fires in the City recently it was hard to get closer to the ending, but I could understa...more
This wasn't exactly an easy-read book, although the plot and storyline wasn't complicated. What I liked most was that the characters were just on this side of bizarre and the locations chosen by the author, while not necessarily unknown places, weren't the typical San Francisco backdrop. Some of this imagery would be interesting to make in movie form, although I'm not sure how the whole story would play on screen.
I really liked the tone of the book and it's sense of humor, but I thought the plot was somewhat weak and didn't really understand how everything really tied in. I have a sense that it is meant to be allegorical, but I think it was just lost on me.
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Rodes Fishburne is a writer living in San Francisco.
His first novel is “Going to See the Elephant.”
His essays and articles have been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, and Forbes ASAP, where he was the editor of the “Big Issue,” an annual magazine of literary essays from leading writers and thinkers including: Tom Wolfe, Kur...more
More about Rodes Fishburne...
His first novel is “Going to See the Elephant.”
His essays and articles have been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, and Forbes ASAP, where he was the editor of the “Big Issue,” an annual magazine of literary essays from leading writers and thinkers including: Tom Wolfe, Kur...more
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