Diary of a Bad Year is an experimental novel (historical fiction) in which non-fiction and fiction are juxtaposed within the same novel. Each page is divided into two or three parts. The novel takes the form of a series of essays that the protagonist is writing for a collection, tentatively called Strong Opinions. These essays take up the first part of the page. Beneath this, are diary entries, both by the central character, and by his young typist, recounting the developing relationship between the two. Thus, the second and third sections contain two narratives: one told from the Señor C’s (the protagonist’s) point of view and the other from his typist’s (Anya) point of view.
One: Strong Opinions: 12 September 2005 – 31 May 2006
“On the origins of the state,” “On anarchy,” “On Machiavelli,” and “On democracy” deal with state politics and governance. They deal with how people choose to enter into the protection of the state in order to avoid internecine warfare; how the concept of democracy is limiting but necessary to forestall civil war; and how people choose to be passive or quiet to the abuses control and enslavement of the state. On the subject of terrorism, he argues in “On terrorism,” “On Al Qaida” and “On guidance system,” that the irrationality of terrorists can be compared to state terrorism, masterminded by western states as a means of oppressing the rest of the world. Consequently, suicide bombing could be a way to combat American sophisticated guidance systems. In “On University,” he decries the cutting of university funds, despite the increase in professors’ works.
The next four essays further criticize the state especially in relation to its use of torture. The next five essays deal with a miscellany of issues from child pornography to the limits of probability.
He returns to the question of politics in “On raiding,” “On apology,”“On asylum in Australia,” “On political life in Australia,” “On Left and Right,” “On Tony Blair,” and “On Harold Pinter”.
The last set of essays handles different serious issues. In “On Music,” he discusses different kinds of music, and how Africans in the new world colonize former colonizers with their soulful music. In “On Tourism,” he recounts how he toured the same places that Ezra Pound toured and was not as inspired as he expected to be. In “On English usage,” he decries the declining standards of English, particularly, the use of prepositions. “On authority in fiction” expresses admiration for Tolstoy’s masterly building of authority in fiction and “On the afterlife” criticizes the Christian notion of the afterlife.
Two: Second Diary
The second diary is called soft opinions, and according to the letter in Señor C’s narrative, they were written after Anya had left, implying that they were typed by someone else. They cover a wide variety of topics ranging from emotion, religion, the city to children and music.
The two narratives
There are two narratives of the experiences of Señor C and Anya while they are working on the Strong Opinions book, told from each person’s point of view. It begins when Señor C spots Anya in the laundry room dressed in a provocatively short red dress that exposes her seductive behind. Anya is aware of his eyes on her and decides to seduce him by wiggling her behind. Señor C falls for it, and shortly afterwards, approaches her with a proposal for her to type his “strong opinions” for a book he has been commissioned to contribute to by a German publisher. As the work progresses a strange kind of romantic relationship develops between Señor C (70 years) and Anya (29 years). They start by arguing about some of the opinions. Anya argues that from her experience in the 21st century, when a man rapes a woman, the shame is on the man. Señor C argues that the shame still sticks on the woman like bubble gum, because things have not changed completely. Anya also discusses her boyfriend, Alan, with Señor C. In the course of the discussion, Anya realizes that Alan has been spying on her by stealthily reading Señor C’s opinions. She confronts him and he admits that he had installed a spyware on the old man’s computer and so knows everything that is in it. He proposes that they steal his money but Anya refuses. After learning of Señor C’s opinions, Alan dismisses them as issues far removed from the present times, especially present day Australia. He thinks Señor C is mentally and psychologically stuck in Africa where there are still big issues in politics.
When the work is done, Señor C organizes a party for three of them to celebrate its completion – himself, Anya and Alan. Alan agrees to go despite his suspicions about the old man’s motives. At the party they are surprised to find that they are the only guests. Alan however gets drunk and begins to talk too much. He accuses the old man of running after his girlfriend, and informs him that he had wanted to steal his money but Anya saved him. Anya is mortified by this behavior and when they leave, she vows never to forgive Alan. They break up and Anya goes to live with her mother. The book is eventually published and Senor C sends a copy to Anya. Though it is in German, she promises to keep it as a memento. She writes a long letter to Señor C in which, among many other things she admits her feelings for him and appreciates the fact that he was a kind and respectful gentleman.
