Tortoise

by James Lewelling

Fiction. TORTOISE enacts a kind of prodigal son story gone bad. Having received a mysterious telephone call summoning him home, the protagonist flies half-way around the world to hear what he believes will be the final words of his "accursed progenitor" (as Beckett would have it). Somewhat in the manner of W. G. Sebald, the narrative is driven simultaneously by the journey and the protagonist's increasingly urgent ruminations on the facts of his life and current predicament.

Genres: Fiction

124 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2008

Reviews

[James Grinwis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tortoise has some wonderful writing about what I took to be North Africa while in the midst of a travelogue to what I took to be Arizona. Plus a quietly modern/ surreal family dynamic. The countries/ places remain nameless and indistinct but fascinating, in a kind of Borgesian arena of thought. And they brought back vivid memories. A lyrical/ metrical pattern to the plot progression I think hindered the novel down at times, but overall I really enjoyed savoring this book. Like a cross between Tolstoy "Death of Ivan Illych" and Paul Bowles Sheltering Sky, for instance.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in a manner that reminds me of Dave Eggers, which there is nothing wrong with. Quite a great tale.

[Lauren DeLong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll echo the similarities to Beckett and Borges that others have put forth - engrossing, beautiful prose and story.

[J.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

review forthcoming at Big Other