The Mezzanine introduces the idea that every object has its own spectacular beauty and unique story. While most people ignore the mechanics behind staplers or straws, Howie, our narrator, somehow finds the most minute details that have you recognizing the amount of effort that goes into creating simple objects. In addition, this book explores the human consciousness and its ability to formulate its thoughts while also examining the silliness of human interaction and its effect on society. The combination of intense detail and absurd ramblings of the narrator form a novel that not only shines a new light on ordinary objects, but it provides a commentary on daily life
Personally, this acute attention to details amazed me. The narrator’s voice found a story within every aspect of his life and explored the implications of past actions and their current effect on life. This especially clicked with me since I often find myself wondering similar things (like the design of automatic doors and how they decide which way they swing/slide, the benefits of a revolving door compared to the typical shape, and how does the automatic revolving door benefit the disabled?). Right from the beginning, Howie hits us with a chapter based fully on the design of the straw and its lid. He raises questions that I had never considered. How did they design a cap to hold a straw in place? Why did we even create the straw? Is there certain disadvantages to the current design of the straw? No matter the answer, the ability to create the question perfectly captures the curious personality of the narrator and encourages the reader to wonder with him.
Similarly, his internal monologues on daily interactions with humans is very relatable. Everyone has experienced, at one point or another, the moment of indecision when someone must take a phone call and you must decide whether to wait for them to finish or go about your business. Throughout the novel, we find similar passages that highlights how much etiquette affects our decisions just like how the design of an object affects how it is used. In one scene, we find Howie delving into the world of bathroom etiquette; normal interactions that are expected to be known by everyone (e.g. acknowledging other bathroom users or ignoring strange noises heard in the stall). If these rules are ignored, you risk offending everyone in the room.
Overall, the rambling yet fascinating style further pushes the idea of the strange implications small objects and human communication have on our lifestyles. While human thought may be a fluid thing, the ability to actually process a thought/idea and come to a full conclusion, like this novel does, proves that our society as a whole is built on the small details and perfectly captures what it is to discover something within the masses. Nicholson Baker’s The Mezzanine may be perceived as an ordinary ride on an escalator but it’s story tells so much more.
