Philip Farrugia Randon

I have known Alex Mizzi and his father Lawrence for many years but I never knew Alex was also interested in writing like his well-known father. So I was surprised when I found out he published a book of short stories in Maltese, Mhux Bilfors Hekk (Not necessarily so). I was even more surprised when I read the book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It is only 120 pages long and contains 14 short stories. None of them have a title but are merely numbered consecutively.

Alex has a penchant for everyday normal common actions, which, however, give colour when extracted from their humble origin. Just like an apple does when Cezanne ennobles it on the canvas or when Chardin depicts a most humble object. There is no act so humble that cannot accompany a heightened experience. An example: In one of his incisive stories, a priest who after many years of service, feels lost in a world which seems to have become so alien to his conservative principles, even starts questioning what he dared never think about. He is saved by a woman who confides that he had saved her from her dire misery when she heard him preach on God's mercy. He too finds the Lord again in His mercy. The next day the priest heard that this poor woman died. Alex avoids overreacting. The priest hurriedly leaves home to bless this woman but as soon as he is leaving he hears the kettle whistling so he turns back to switch it off. Ands the story ends there. This kettle detail is so unnecessary but so real that I suddenly felt the physical pull of the imaginary. Only a good storyteller would juggle with this detail.

Alex relates all his stories in the first person singular. He changes from one character to another, all so different in nature, background or creed. He is the 50-year-old man who passes through a depressing period and relives some forgotten fears. He is the one who, after helping a certain Baskal, receives an oversized hen in return. This enormous hen accompanies his plate in different forms for too long a time so when Baskal asks him for another favour, he simply runs away to avoid receiving another similar gift. Or he is the one who starts dating an ex-maid of his family. Would class considerations take over? I will not divulge. In another story his girlfriend gets pregnant and they hasten to get married but after a few months she loses the child. They try for another child but this time it is an uphill experience. They even consult a doctor and tests prove his fertility count is very low, which sets him doubting whether the first child was his. Then after a short time his wife calls him home urgently. The writer then presents us with a very original experiment. He asks us whether we prefer to finish the story ourselves or keep on reading. I must say I fell for this ploy and gave my own ending... then continued reading ... and it was different. This could be a very novel way to write stories. Interactive literature. Other stories include different surprises.

I augur Alex Mizzi success with this new venture and hope he regales us with more stories.

 

'Mhux Bilfors Hekk...'

By Alex Mizzi

Klabb Kotba Maltin