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The Song of Daniel
Philip Lee Williams makes the tale of a cemetery groundskeeper come alive with his lyrical storytelling.
In the tradition of his award-winning novel The Heart of a Distant Forest, Philip Lee Williams give us another lyrical and compassionate tale, and his most fascinating protagonist to date.
The Song of Daniel is a story of innocence, of a young man who has pushed away his darkest memories to live a simple life as a groundskeeper in a cemetary. Daniel exults in his world and in a few close friends at the trailer park, where he lives with his beloved dog Toggle. Daniel's world is changed when he meets Rebecca Gentry, an English professor at a university near the cemetary. Rebecca, recently divorced, self-absorbed and cynical, is struggling to write the life of a poet she cannot fully understand.
Rebecca and Daniel are both transformed when they meet, each bringing gifts of joy and sorrow to their days. But a shattering experience from years' past comes back into Daniel's life, threatening both his new love and his happiness. Finally, in a complex clash of innocence and experience, Daniel's childlike life becomes clear and Rebecca discovers a long hidden part of herself–and the key to the poet who so fascinated and eluded her.
This is a story about homeplace, about love and loss of family, about an innocent man's journey towards experience. Williams, a masterful storyteller, has once again written a beautiful and deeply moving novel.
In the tradition of his award-winning novel The Heart of a Distant Forest, Philip Lee Williams give us another lyrical and compassionate tale, and his most fascinating protagonist to date.
The Song of Daniel is a story of innocence, of a young man who has pushed away his darkest memories to live a simple life as a groundskeeper in a cemetary. Daniel exults in his world and in a few close friends at the trailer park, where he lives with his beloved dog Toggle. Daniel's world is changed when he meets Rebecca Gentry, an English professor at a university near the cemetary. Rebecca, recently divorced, self-absorbed and cynical, is struggling to write the life of a poet she cannot fully understand.
Rebecca and Daniel are both transformed when they meet, each bringing gifts of joy and sorrow to their days. But a shattering experience from years' past comes back into Daniel's life, threatening both his new love and his happiness. Finally, in a complex clash of innocence and experience, Daniel's childlike life becomes clear and Rebecca discovers a long hidden part of herself–and the key to the poet who so fascinated and eluded her.
This is a story about homeplace, about love and loss of family, about an innocent man's journey towards experience. Williams, a masterful storyteller, has once again written a beautiful and deeply moving novel.
- GenresFiction
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1989
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 26, 2019
3.5/5
touching and heartfelt
After completing Williams’ exuberant novel Jenny Dorset, I set out to read one of his earlier novels - a touching piece entitled The Song of Daniel.
The Song of Daniel was a very heartfelt and sincere story about a young man named Daniel Mitchell, living in a world of his own. It was a peaceful life - an escape from reality that he created for himself, after he had been exposed to unspeakable violence in his early childhood. This realm of Daniel’s remains untouched, until he meets worldly and somewhat cynical Rebecca. As a result, they learn much from each other.
In this masterpiece, Williams has conveyed Daniel’s thoughts, vulnerabilities, and deepest fears with such an indescribable intricacy that puts us in his shoes. Finally, Daniel deals with the uprising of his past in his own way. I really enjoyed this book.
touching and heartfelt
After completing Williams’ exuberant novel Jenny Dorset, I set out to read one of his earlier novels - a touching piece entitled The Song of Daniel.
The Song of Daniel was a very heartfelt and sincere story about a young man named Daniel Mitchell, living in a world of his own. It was a peaceful life - an escape from reality that he created for himself, after he had been exposed to unspeakable violence in his early childhood. This realm of Daniel’s remains untouched, until he meets worldly and somewhat cynical Rebecca. As a result, they learn much from each other.
In this masterpiece, Williams has conveyed Daniel’s thoughts, vulnerabilities, and deepest fears with such an indescribable intricacy that puts us in his shoes. Finally, Daniel deals with the uprising of his past in his own way. I really enjoyed this book.
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February 2, 2012I only made it through 90 pages of this book and had to put it down. Despite such lovely reviews I found it just too disturbing. Why? I'm not sure how I feel about a grown educated woman wanting to, "...mother, hold, and make love to..." a man who basically is mentally, cognitively, and socially a child. It just put me in too weird of a place and the story was not enough to want me to finish the story.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews