takes that to a new level because this one has nothing to do with fantasy or fairy tales or even really imagination. It's starkly real and painful and tragic with only the human spirit shining through.First, let me tell you something that the summary on the back keeps secret for some reason -- one of the two narratives in this book is about a gay man and his friends. I'm not sure why this is masked but I really wasn't expecting it at all. Anyway, this novel alternates between two stories that happen simultaneously in the small New England town of Thebes. Tabitha Scales is a slightly dim-witted but beautiful delinquent teen who is forced to grow up after her born-again mother becomes incapacitated by a falling statue of the Virgin Mary in the basement of the local Catholic church. Jeremy Carr is the gay choir director of that Catholic church. He is nursing a years old broken heart and dealing with a close friend's terminal AIDS struggle. The reader is dragged through these messy and mostly unrelated narratives that depict a few short months of heartbreak and transformation, all against the backdrop of religion and sexuality.
With a bit of humor and loads more humanity, Maguire brings us into the lives of these seemingly average small-town residents. The most fascinating characters (and certainly the most lovable) are the unexpected Sisters of the Sorrowful Mysteries -- a group of lonely, elderly nuns in a local convent. In fact, there is so much of the unexpected in this novel that I don't want to say any more about the plot or characters. The strength of this story is in the way that it unfolds and develops. It is quite irreverent and sometimes profane and most of the characters are only mildly likable at best. And yet it is a compelling story that sucked me in, educated me and left me exhausted but thoughtful at the end.
In awe of the author,
K
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It is quite irreverent and sometimes profane and most of the characters are only mildly likable at best. And yet it is a compelling story that sucked me in, educated me and left me exhausted but thoughtful at the end.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a book I would like to read. The only book of Maguire's I've read so far is Wicked so I'd like to see how he handles non-fantasy.
I've really wanted to try something by this author and it sounds like this might be a good starting place. Great review ... I'm intrigued.
ReplyDeleteTracy - I think the only thing this has in common with Wicked (and some of his other books) is the bleakness of parts of it. Otherwise, it hardly seems like it's by the same author!
ReplyDeleteJenners - If you aren't into the fantasy aspects of some of his other books, this would definitely be a good place to start. I also recommend his book Lost.
OMG! How did I miss that he had a new book out?!? He is one of my faves!! I have to check this one out!!!! I know that I can always rely on you!! :)
ReplyDeleteTif - This one was first released last year as part of a special project where it had limited numbers and readers were encouraged to make a donation and then pass the book on. I tried to get a copy to no avail but now it's finally been released widely. It's so different from his other books but I think it has a lot of his true self in it.
ReplyDeleteI have not heard about any of this, but I love it! I am definitely adding this one to my list! I love Maguire's works and when I met him a number of years ago (around his release of Mirror, Mirror), I was so impressed by him!
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