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Vine: An Urban Legend
Amateur theatre director Stephen Thorne plots a sensational production of a Greek tragedy in order to ruffle feathers in the small city where he lives. Accompanied by an eccentric and fly-by-night cast and crew, he prepares for opening night, unaware that as he unleashes the play, he has drawn the attention of ancient and powerful forces.
Michael Williams' Vine weds Greek Tragedy and urban legend with dangerous intoxication, as the drama rushes to its dark and inevitable conclusion.
Michael Williams' Vine weds Greek Tragedy and urban legend with dangerous intoxication, as the drama rushes to its dark and inevitable conclusion.
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2012
3 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Michael Williams
40 books75 followersMichael Williams was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and through good luck and a roundabout journey through New England, New York, Wisconsin, Britain and Ireland, has ended up less than thirty miles from where he began. Over the past 20 years, he has written a number of strange novels, from the early WEASEL'S LUCK and GALEN BEKNIGHTED in the best-selling DRAGONLANCE series to the more recent lyrical and experimental ARCADY, singled out for praise by Locus and Asimov’s magazines. TRAJAN'S ARCH (to be re-released in 2019) and VINE (2018)(Blackwyrm, 2010 and 2012), two recent novels, have been revised and re-issued by Seventh Star Press as part of the new City Quartet. DOMINIC'S GHOSTS (2018) and TATTERED MEN (to be released in 2019) will complete this large and multi-faceted work.
Williams has a Ph.D. in Humanities, and teaches at the University of Louisville, where he focuses on European Romanticism and the 19th century, the Modern Fantastic, and 20th century film. He is married, and has two grown sons.
Of TRAJAN'S ARCH, he says:
“This is a story that kept entering other stories, like rooms opening into rooms in some big, unwieldy gothic mansion, both hard and necessary to tell. It takes a press with venture and backbone to bring it forth, and I believe I’ve found that press in BlackWyrm.”
VINE, a combination of Greek tragedy and contemporary urban legend, was released this summer by BlackWyrm. In this new novel, Greek Tragedy meets urban legend, as a local dramatic production in a small city goes humorously, then horrifically, awry.
Williams has a Ph.D. in Humanities, and teaches at the University of Louisville, where he focuses on European Romanticism and the 19th century, the Modern Fantastic, and 20th century film. He is married, and has two grown sons.
Of TRAJAN'S ARCH, he says:
“This is a story that kept entering other stories, like rooms opening into rooms in some big, unwieldy gothic mansion, both hard and necessary to tell. It takes a press with venture and backbone to bring it forth, and I believe I’ve found that press in BlackWyrm.”
VINE, a combination of Greek tragedy and contemporary urban legend, was released this summer by BlackWyrm. In this new novel, Greek Tragedy meets urban legend, as a local dramatic production in a small city goes humorously, then horrifically, awry.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 3, 2013
When I first signed up to be a part of the Vine Blog Tour I was really excited. I love Greek mythology and I love seeing different authors take on it. Vine sounded like an interesting book and I was intrigued by it. However, after reading it this book just wasn't for me.
I have said this before and I'll say it again: I am a fast paced kind of girl. I need for the book to jump out and grab me on page one and not let me go until the final page. I know there are people that enjoy slow developing plots, I am not one of those people. I have a short attention span so if you don't have almost non-stop action I am going to get bored and quick! Unfortunately for me, Vine is one of those slow developing stories. There isn't any non-stop action and the book never did reach out and grab me.
One of the things that I think hindered me from really enjoying it was the writing style. It was written in a play-like manner. This disconnected me from the story and the characters.
The story is very well written but like some other very well written I have read I just couldn't get into the story. I couldn't relate to the characters and I wasn't anxious to see how the story ended. I don't think that Vine isn't a good book because I could tell that there is substance there and that the writing was very good. Vine just wasn't a good book for me. My experience with Vine was a lot like my experience with Chime by Franny Billingsley. And yes, Chime was a National Book Finalist which just proves that there are some good books out there that just aren't for me.
I would recommend this book for anyone that loves the slow developing plot lines and especially to those interested in Greek Mythology. However, if like me you love some fast paced action, you may want to skip this one.
I have said this before and I'll say it again: I am a fast paced kind of girl. I need for the book to jump out and grab me on page one and not let me go until the final page. I know there are people that enjoy slow developing plots, I am not one of those people. I have a short attention span so if you don't have almost non-stop action I am going to get bored and quick! Unfortunately for me, Vine is one of those slow developing stories. There isn't any non-stop action and the book never did reach out and grab me.
One of the things that I think hindered me from really enjoying it was the writing style. It was written in a play-like manner. This disconnected me from the story and the characters.
The story is very well written but like some other very well written I have read I just couldn't get into the story. I couldn't relate to the characters and I wasn't anxious to see how the story ended. I don't think that Vine isn't a good book because I could tell that there is substance there and that the writing was very good. Vine just wasn't a good book for me. My experience with Vine was a lot like my experience with Chime by Franny Billingsley. And yes, Chime was a National Book Finalist which just proves that there are some good books out there that just aren't for me.
I would recommend this book for anyone that loves the slow developing plot lines and especially to those interested in Greek Mythology. However, if like me you love some fast paced action, you may want to skip this one.
December 10, 2012
"If you string together a set of speeches expressive of character, and well finished in point and diction and thought, you will not produce the essential tragic effect nearly so well as with a play which, however deficient in these respects, yet has a plot and artistically constructed incidents." - Aristotle, Poetics
in Louisville, mortals and gods conspire together and/or apart from each other as the production of The Bacchae , a Greek tragedy by the Athenian playwright Euripides goes underway.
reading Michael Williams' novel was both a strange and exhilarating experience from start to finish. the story is populated with an assortment of characters that are either made of flesh and blood or of divine origin.
the author's writing style is unconventional yet wonderfully executed. he uses contemporary language and combines prose and poetry with shifting points of view resulting in a surreal mesmerizing drama.
i did find the story difficult to follow at times. nevertheless it had its own appeal that continued to pique my curiosity until the last page.
overall, this book is a unique fusion of urban legend and Greek tragedy that may not be for every reader but it informs, entertains and never disappoints.
in Louisville, mortals and gods conspire together and/or apart from each other as the production of The Bacchae , a Greek tragedy by the Athenian playwright Euripides goes underway.
reading Michael Williams' novel was both a strange and exhilarating experience from start to finish. the story is populated with an assortment of characters that are either made of flesh and blood or of divine origin.
the author's writing style is unconventional yet wonderfully executed. he uses contemporary language and combines prose and poetry with shifting points of view resulting in a surreal mesmerizing drama.
i did find the story difficult to follow at times. nevertheless it had its own appeal that continued to pique my curiosity until the last page.
overall, this book is a unique fusion of urban legend and Greek tragedy that may not be for every reader but it informs, entertains and never disappoints.
January 13, 2022
Boring
From the beginning it was boring. I don't call this book a book but a play and wasn't my cup of tea.
I wouldn't recommend this book unless you like plays.
I chose this rating because it truly was not what the description has said.
From the beginning it was boring. I don't call this book a book but a play and wasn't my cup of tea.
I wouldn't recommend this book unless you like plays.
I chose this rating because it truly was not what the description has said.
December 4, 2012
I am going to be honest… I can’t give this book a rating. I gave it 5 stars on goodreads because I don't have the option of "not rating it" and I didn't want to leave it blank because that doesn't reflect my thoughts.. here is why
I don’t think I was able to fully appreciate what Williams accomplished because I am somewhat culturally illiterate; my Greek mythology and knowledge of ancient Greek literature is way too rusty to help in my understanding of the story. I was able to grasp the author’s intent, but it reads to much like something I would have read in college, which is why I went into the sciences. I don't think I am the demographic he is trying to reach because I found it work to read and understand. While the book was entertaining in its premise, it requires picking apart and analyzing (like in school) to truly appreciate it... a great choice for a book club. It needs your full attention and I like to think it was more my metal laziness than my intellectual failings that created the great WHOOSH sound I heard as parts went right over my head. (Kalpar: Weakling! Analyzing books makes you strong like Kalpar! That is how we do it in the old country!)
Williams wrote a Greek tragedy set in modern times, but he wrote it in the classical Greek play format. There is a large cast of characters including a host of narrators and a chorus giving commentary on the events. The author also has an amazing grasp of language and a vocabulary that had me looking up definitions at least twice per page (thank goodness for the dictionary function on the kindle!) I understood the basic premise of the story and even got some of the clever hidden layers of meaning woven through out, especially when Williams compares the gods’ petty and vengeful behavior to man’s and shows that they are the same and things haven’t changed since ancient times.
I liked how Williams used the play within a play, like in Hamlet, as a vehicle to prove how alike the gods and man are. The protagonist, Stephen, is directing Euripides’ tragedy The Bacchae and the cast is also unknowingly playing out the story in real life as the ancient gods manipulate them for fun and for vengeance. The principals in the cast are also being manipulated in the same way by a vengeful game master, who behaves in the same manner as the gods, at their weekly D&D RPG. Like a vicious ironic circle of petty behavior.
I've read other reviews by people who are familiar with Greek literature and they are all impressed with the technical brilliance of the story and able to throw around words like allegory, metaphors and sub context… Oh, My! And they are right, it is all impressively there, but this story isn't for everyone. I am glad I read it. I feel a little smarter for it and learned some new words I will definitely be pulling out at parties .
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2012/12/vi...
I don’t think I was able to fully appreciate what Williams accomplished because I am somewhat culturally illiterate; my Greek mythology and knowledge of ancient Greek literature is way too rusty to help in my understanding of the story. I was able to grasp the author’s intent, but it reads to much like something I would have read in college, which is why I went into the sciences. I don't think I am the demographic he is trying to reach because I found it work to read and understand. While the book was entertaining in its premise, it requires picking apart and analyzing (like in school) to truly appreciate it... a great choice for a book club. It needs your full attention and I like to think it was more my metal laziness than my intellectual failings that created the great WHOOSH sound I heard as parts went right over my head. (Kalpar: Weakling! Analyzing books makes you strong like Kalpar! That is how we do it in the old country!)
Williams wrote a Greek tragedy set in modern times, but he wrote it in the classical Greek play format. There is a large cast of characters including a host of narrators and a chorus giving commentary on the events. The author also has an amazing grasp of language and a vocabulary that had me looking up definitions at least twice per page (thank goodness for the dictionary function on the kindle!) I understood the basic premise of the story and even got some of the clever hidden layers of meaning woven through out, especially when Williams compares the gods’ petty and vengeful behavior to man’s and shows that they are the same and things haven’t changed since ancient times.
I liked how Williams used the play within a play, like in Hamlet, as a vehicle to prove how alike the gods and man are. The protagonist, Stephen, is directing Euripides’ tragedy The Bacchae and the cast is also unknowingly playing out the story in real life as the ancient gods manipulate them for fun and for vengeance. The principals in the cast are also being manipulated in the same way by a vengeful game master, who behaves in the same manner as the gods, at their weekly D&D RPG. Like a vicious ironic circle of petty behavior.
I've read other reviews by people who are familiar with Greek literature and they are all impressed with the technical brilliance of the story and able to throw around words like allegory, metaphors and sub context… Oh, My! And they are right, it is all impressively there, but this story isn't for everyone. I am glad I read it. I feel a little smarter for it and learned some new words I will definitely be pulling out at parties .
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2012/12/vi...
December 28, 2012
Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from the author as part of a virtual book tour. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Review: Dear Mr. Williams,
You don’t know me, but there are some things I’d like to tell you before I review your book. You see, reading VINE was like kismet, it was as if you’d written this book just for me, as if you’d reached into my past, my internal story, and decided you’d sing directly to my muse. If you can’t tell, your writing has touched me deeply.
You see, my training is in theatre. Not just theatre, but classical theatre. I studied the Greeks extensively, wrote my thesis on Euripides and even worked as the dramaturg for a retelling of the Bacchus using Odessa Indian Dance. (For those of you not in the know about what these words mean, you can take the leap of faith I’m a big nerd.) I also did extensive research into post-modern playwriting and found all kinds of inspiration from retellings of cannon classics such as Jocasta (a retelling of the Oedipus story from his mother’s POV)
So not only have I lived in the world you write about, I’ve studied the exact premise you use to tell your story, and I feel pretty confident in saying what you’ve created is nigh onto perfection.
For those reading this who haven’t had the pleasure of reading VINE, you should know that this is not a conventional story. The structure is neither that of a novel nor that of a play. However, Williams uses the technique implemented by Greek Classics: each chapter is from a different point of view. This includes the main characters, the allegory perspective of secondary characters, but most importantly the use of narration via a chorus. The chorus is made up of the muses, a Greek personification of inspiration. Each sister has a specific personality and perspective, and through them, you are told a story that weaves in and out of reality.
It sounds a little heady at first, but once you get into the groove of the story, it flows seamlessly. Williams’ insight into the world of ageing off off Broadway theatre is accurately depressing as is his ability to capture the inner life of Manhattan.
While I don’t think VINE is a book that will appeal to everyone, mostly because of it’s literary and academic nature, I do think it’s a piece that should be read. In fact, I’m going to send my copy to my college mentor, I think she’ll get quite a kick out of it.
Thank you Mr. Williams for writing a piece that both repulsed and seduced me, for bringing the classic style I love so much relevant to the modern world.
Sincerely
Pav
Review: Dear Mr. Williams,
You don’t know me, but there are some things I’d like to tell you before I review your book. You see, reading VINE was like kismet, it was as if you’d written this book just for me, as if you’d reached into my past, my internal story, and decided you’d sing directly to my muse. If you can’t tell, your writing has touched me deeply.
You see, my training is in theatre. Not just theatre, but classical theatre. I studied the Greeks extensively, wrote my thesis on Euripides and even worked as the dramaturg for a retelling of the Bacchus using Odessa Indian Dance. (For those of you not in the know about what these words mean, you can take the leap of faith I’m a big nerd.) I also did extensive research into post-modern playwriting and found all kinds of inspiration from retellings of cannon classics such as Jocasta (a retelling of the Oedipus story from his mother’s POV)
So not only have I lived in the world you write about, I’ve studied the exact premise you use to tell your story, and I feel pretty confident in saying what you’ve created is nigh onto perfection.
For those reading this who haven’t had the pleasure of reading VINE, you should know that this is not a conventional story. The structure is neither that of a novel nor that of a play. However, Williams uses the technique implemented by Greek Classics: each chapter is from a different point of view. This includes the main characters, the allegory perspective of secondary characters, but most importantly the use of narration via a chorus. The chorus is made up of the muses, a Greek personification of inspiration. Each sister has a specific personality and perspective, and through them, you are told a story that weaves in and out of reality.
It sounds a little heady at first, but once you get into the groove of the story, it flows seamlessly. Williams’ insight into the world of ageing off off Broadway theatre is accurately depressing as is his ability to capture the inner life of Manhattan.
While I don’t think VINE is a book that will appeal to everyone, mostly because of it’s literary and academic nature, I do think it’s a piece that should be read. In fact, I’m going to send my copy to my college mentor, I think she’ll get quite a kick out of it.
Thank you Mr. Williams for writing a piece that both repulsed and seduced me, for bringing the classic style I love so much relevant to the modern world.
Sincerely
Pav
December 7, 2012
When I heard that Michael Williams, who co-wrote many of the books in the Dragonlance fantasy series, had a new book out, I was very interested to read it. I really enjoyed reading the Dragonlance books in the 80s, and looked forward to seeing how Williams' personal writing style read.
Vine: An Urban Legend, is nothing like Dragonlance, but that is not a bad thing. Vine interweaves characters from Greek mythology with the story of a modern retelling of the story of Dionysus, god of wine and excess. At the start of the novel, the characters are released from their slumber and begin inserting themselves into the lives of the actors, their friends and family. Real-life tragedy ensues as the discontented and disenfranchised are swept up in the wild bacchanalia of the gods.
Is there a moral here? I'm not sure, but while I found the book a little unsatisfying, I loved reading it all the same. The words ebbed and flowed like poetry in my mind. See what you think:
"What Stephen does not see -- what only a goddess herself would notice, her eyes expectant on a green, half-imagined glade behind the car-- is the shadow rising over the pond, indistinguishable at first from the reflection of new leaves and the shade cast by the dip of the sun below the high hill that Stephen's car is now ascending. That darkness slowly resolves into something more solid. Dead branches, impervious to the new spring, bend before a stronger, invisible power, their reflections stirred by something surfacing into expectant dusk."
Vine: An Urban Legend, is nothing like Dragonlance, but that is not a bad thing. Vine interweaves characters from Greek mythology with the story of a modern retelling of the story of Dionysus, god of wine and excess. At the start of the novel, the characters are released from their slumber and begin inserting themselves into the lives of the actors, their friends and family. Real-life tragedy ensues as the discontented and disenfranchised are swept up in the wild bacchanalia of the gods.
Is there a moral here? I'm not sure, but while I found the book a little unsatisfying, I loved reading it all the same. The words ebbed and flowed like poetry in my mind. See what you think:
"What Stephen does not see -- what only a goddess herself would notice, her eyes expectant on a green, half-imagined glade behind the car-- is the shadow rising over the pond, indistinguishable at first from the reflection of new leaves and the shade cast by the dip of the sun below the high hill that Stephen's car is now ascending. That darkness slowly resolves into something more solid. Dead branches, impervious to the new spring, bend before a stronger, invisible power, their reflections stirred by something surfacing into expectant dusk."
November 3, 2012
Michael William’s Vine is an ambitious work, masterfully executed. The story, centered on a rag-tag community theatre production of Euripides’ tragedy The Bacchae, is told in the form of a Greek tragedy, with the narrative of the characters interspersed with chapters from the meddling Muses, and others from a chorus making pithy barbs of insight into the darker side of society and human nature. The use of metaphor becomes hypnotic, before shocking the reader back into the lives of the misfit characters. Because of the form of the novel, it is not a book I would recommend for everyone, but for those who enjoy classical theatre or the allegorical nature of the musings of the Muses, Vine is an excellent read. Well done!
November 2, 2012. I have to amend this review. It's been a couple weeks since I finished Vine, and still find my mind wandering back to the characters and the structure of the story. The way Williams' merges the past and the present is magnificent.
November 2, 2012. I have to amend this review. It's been a couple weeks since I finished Vine, and still find my mind wandering back to the characters and the structure of the story. The way Williams' merges the past and the present is magnificent.
October 5, 2012
Vine is a Greek tragedy framed in a modern context. Just like in his previous novel, Trajan's Arch, Michael Williams hints at the interconnectedness of things beyond our control. Williams uses fascinating examples about how, tragically, both gods and men are doomed by their frailties. One of my favorite examples of this theme is when the teens are playing D&D and Aaron, the DM, kills off Jack's character because he is jealous of Jack's relationship with Maia. This parallels other examples in the book in which the gods, at their whims, are directing the characters as if they are marionettes, or, sadly, how the adults are influencing their children down paths they are most comfortable with, often not allowing their children to grow into what they are destined to become. All in all Vine is a highly successful follow up to Trajan's Arch. Fans of stories that make you think long after you put down the book will enjoy this tale as well as those who love tragedies. TWO THUMBS UP!
December 17, 2012
This is a book that defies description. It is part retelling of The Bacchae, part urban legend, the line between the two often blurring in this mind-bending read.
Written in the style of a Greek play, this work may look a little foreign to the eye of the average reader; who in most cases, has not seen such since high school or college. Don't let the arrangement of the text deter you from what is truly a wonderful story.
At it's heart, this is a story that shows what can happen when the works of man inspire the interest of long quiet gods. I would not go so far as to label this work a morality play as such, although it does show how one's failings can lead to one's downfall in both the realm of the divine and the mortal.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
THis review can be found here: http://www.wtfareyoureading.com/2012/...
Written in the style of a Greek play, this work may look a little foreign to the eye of the average reader; who in most cases, has not seen such since high school or college. Don't let the arrangement of the text deter you from what is truly a wonderful story.
At it's heart, this is a story that shows what can happen when the works of man inspire the interest of long quiet gods. I would not go so far as to label this work a morality play as such, although it does show how one's failings can lead to one's downfall in both the realm of the divine and the mortal.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
THis review can be found here: http://www.wtfareyoureading.com/2012/...
August 17, 2012
If you get intoxicated with words, VINE: AN URBAN LEGEND is the book for you.
The characters are clear and distinct, but multiple points of view show each one from different perspectives. Wine -- or any alcohol -- is sort of famous for blurring your vision and judgment, and there's something of that in VINE. Does that mean what I think it does? Did that really happen? Please tell me that isn't what it looks like.
I volunteered with Shakespeare In Central Park in Louisville, Kentucky, many long years ago, the stage on which VINE is set. Michael Williams has captured his setting both realistically and artistically; if you've never been to Fourth and Oak, you will have been once you read VINE.
I'll be reading this one again.
The characters are clear and distinct, but multiple points of view show each one from different perspectives. Wine -- or any alcohol -- is sort of famous for blurring your vision and judgment, and there's something of that in VINE. Does that mean what I think it does? Did that really happen? Please tell me that isn't what it looks like.
I volunteered with Shakespeare In Central Park in Louisville, Kentucky, many long years ago, the stage on which VINE is set. Michael Williams has captured his setting both realistically and artistically; if you've never been to Fourth and Oak, you will have been once you read VINE.
I'll be reading this one again.
September 26, 2014
Very hard book to categorize. A little bit American Gods, a lotta bit Euripedes, complete with classical Greek structure and a mixture of narrative and dramatic format. Really I'd like to give it 4.5 stars. It'd be a 5 if you liked reading the Greek plays and a 4 if they weren't your bag.
Lots of great stuff in here though. Thought-provoking insights on life and the little gods and goddesses we make of ourselves and one another, wrapped up in a plot that takes a while to get going but is thrilleresque once it does. The book carries the Greek gods to Louisville and brings with them all their thunder, horror, and majesty.
Lots of great stuff in here though. Thought-provoking insights on life and the little gods and goddesses we make of ourselves and one another, wrapped up in a plot that takes a while to get going but is thrilleresque once it does. The book carries the Greek gods to Louisville and brings with them all their thunder, horror, and majesty.
Read
January 5, 2013This story had a unique concept as it reads like an ancient play, not a novel. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to connect with the set-up, or the characters.
I felt that the story jumped around without a central plot. Just as I was beginning to understand and become interested in a specific character’s story, the book jumped away to someone else entirely and seemed to start over. This disconnect led me to give up on reading the book.
I felt that the story jumped around without a central plot. Just as I was beginning to understand and become interested in a specific character’s story, the book jumped away to someone else entirely and seemed to start over. This disconnect led me to give up on reading the book.
December 30, 2012
This book is an amazing work. This is a intelligent, well written, entertaining tale. It is a Greek Tragedy set in a modern day urban legend. Many people have tried this but Williams has succeeded. The way he told the story was wonderful. I enjoyed the structure of the book and how the story unfolded. This book is for people who love plays, history, mythology.
August 22, 2021
Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include VINE- AN URBAN LEGEND by MICHAEL WILLIAMS in the library of Awesome Indies'
Badge of Approval
recipients.
December 27, 2012
Review will be posted after publication at Free Book Dude on Dec. 29
Read
June 4, 2017I will begin by stating that the author is quite literate, in at least two fundamental ways.
The first is that he writes wonderful prose, a delight to read, often a challenge to my vocabulary; there are very few editorial errors. When he gets the grammar "wrong" it's always in dialogue, capturing the way the speaker mangles the language. He is an excellent writer in that regard.
The second sense in which he is literate is that he displays a sweeping knowledge of dramatic repertory, from Sophocles to Broadway; he sometimes seems to expect as much from his readers, but I admit that I was several steps behind him--I've read Sophocles, but not the play on which the story is focused; I saw Our Town, but long enough ago that I remember only the odd use of one character's soliloquies. I was able to follow the story despite the gaps in my knowledge, so he does provide enough information for the reader to keep pace.
I was also impressed by his weaving together of Greek mythology with the modern world, knowing the names of nine Muses who are involved as slightly more than spectators as the Greek gods become involved in the production of a play about them, much to the detriment of the lives of those producing and performing that play. The I Ching is also brought into the story, as one character frequently consults it and attempts to unravel its riddles and apply them to his life.
However, the story seemed disjointed in quite a few places--I was not certain what was happening or how it all connected. I am still not certain what happened to a couple of the characters, although it may be that the author's intent is for us to wonder (one of them was playing the guitar on stage in a thunderstorm, and apparently simply vanished never to be seen again). Parts of the story are told by an alcoholic derelict who sleeps in the open-air theater, and we can never be certain whether some of his accounts, such as the giant snake that consumed the director, are accurate or hallucinatory, or somewhere between the two. On that, the mixing of the material and the supernatural is very well done, and he is to be credited for this.
I'm not entirely certain exactly what the story was, but it was quite a tale well told, and I enjoyed reading it.
The first is that he writes wonderful prose, a delight to read, often a challenge to my vocabulary; there are very few editorial errors. When he gets the grammar "wrong" it's always in dialogue, capturing the way the speaker mangles the language. He is an excellent writer in that regard.
The second sense in which he is literate is that he displays a sweeping knowledge of dramatic repertory, from Sophocles to Broadway; he sometimes seems to expect as much from his readers, but I admit that I was several steps behind him--I've read Sophocles, but not the play on which the story is focused; I saw Our Town, but long enough ago that I remember only the odd use of one character's soliloquies. I was able to follow the story despite the gaps in my knowledge, so he does provide enough information for the reader to keep pace.
I was also impressed by his weaving together of Greek mythology with the modern world, knowing the names of nine Muses who are involved as slightly more than spectators as the Greek gods become involved in the production of a play about them, much to the detriment of the lives of those producing and performing that play. The I Ching is also brought into the story, as one character frequently consults it and attempts to unravel its riddles and apply them to his life.
However, the story seemed disjointed in quite a few places--I was not certain what was happening or how it all connected. I am still not certain what happened to a couple of the characters, although it may be that the author's intent is for us to wonder (one of them was playing the guitar on stage in a thunderstorm, and apparently simply vanished never to be seen again). Parts of the story are told by an alcoholic derelict who sleeps in the open-air theater, and we can never be certain whether some of his accounts, such as the giant snake that consumed the director, are accurate or hallucinatory, or somewhere between the two. On that, the mixing of the material and the supernatural is very well done, and he is to be credited for this.
I'm not entirely certain exactly what the story was, but it was quite a tale well told, and I enjoyed reading it.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews