Comment

PrimaGigi
Jul 19, 2015PrimaGigi rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
At the age of twelve, Joel Knox is summoned to meet the father who abandoned him at birth. When Joel arrives at a decrepit mansion on Skuly's Landing, his father is nowhere to be seen. What Joel does found is a sullen stepmother who's main hobby is killing birds: an uncle with the face -and heart- of a debauched child: and a willful young girl named Idabel who may be the chance for Joel to finally feel loved. The book is mostly formulaic. It's Truman's first published work, even thou it's very paint-by-numbers (this character said this and now is doing that) Truman's wit and verb slowly come together, he's learning and growing: trying to find his voice. Joel is that voice, Joel is Truman. Idabel Thompkins is Harper Lee, she reminds me a little bit of Scout Finch. It's said there is a bit of yourself in each character you make, but I imagine this is what Truman was like as a boy. Truman's world was, colorful, vivid, and beautiful, a vague depiction of what his life was like in the South and his friendship with Harper Lee. The use of color is this novel is pervasive, it seems Truman wishes to have you read the story, the way an artist sees the world. Through a plethora of colors. The Story is unfinished and passages are confusing after the first part. Clarke's thought are scattered. The last two parts make no sense to the story and I was left wondering why, who and where was the meaning behind the entire tale.