Diatomaceous Earth or The Humdrum Life of the Lackadaisical Barry: A Field Guide for the Birds

by H. Williams

Summer is winding down and strange days have hit the town of Needles, Massachusetts. Barry Drinkwater, a pool-boy for his parents, is unsure how to proceed when cryptic messages land in his lap while floating in the backyard. Whenever Barry thinks he is alone, he catches someone spying on him from behind shrubbery, gazing at him from around the corner, or peering at him over a newspaper. Then, one day, he happens upon a peculiar help wanted ad: an open position for a Courtroom Abstract Artist via Mirro Enterprises. Meanwhile, his guilt-ridden, morbid, and eccentric friend, Wayne, is obsessed with preparing for the impending apocalypse and introduces Barry to a fantastical realm – a realm that raises more questions than answers. While pursuing the truth, Barry finds himself haunting the local cemetery, wandering through an abandoned mental hospital, and exploring a mysterious highway off-ramp. Important questions remain: Can Barry exist as a pool boy forever? Will Wayne perish as he fears? Will their fates intertwine? And, most importantly, what is the story behind Exit-Thirty-Three-B?

292 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2016

About the author

H. Williams (19?? - ) lives in Massachusetts. He likes to write short stories and books that involve abandoned places, cemeteries, the deep dark woods, and anything else that suits his fancy.

You should probably check out Diatomaceous Earth or The Humdrum Life of the Lackadaisical Barry: A Field Guide for the Birds.

Your curiosity shall serve you well.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to finish this book, but after several start-and-stop aborts, I finally had a chance to complete the book. While the writing is good and the characters entertaining, I still had a bit of trouble getting into the plot because the book was not at all what I expected. That is not necessarily a bad thing and many readers will enjoy reading this story. As a rule, I don’t divulge plot points in my reviews because I prefer to let the author tell his or her story without my interpretation influencing the experience of another reader. Some may wonder why I gave this book 4 stars if I had trouble getting into the plot. My reason for doing so is that the book is well-written and that won’t change whether or not the reader gets “into” the plot easily or with difficulty.

[Lulu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't the type of book I'm usually attracted to, and I wasn't sure what to make of it at first. Once I got going, I was really drawn in by all the curious details. There was a lot of humor, and characters unlike any I've read before. The interview scene in the Mirro building gave me a little anxiety. It was so relatable as an exaggerated version of every interview or meeting I've attended in a new location. I'm still not sure if I understand exactly what happened at the end, but I have a few theories. If you're looking for something different, I'd recommend giving this a shot. Between the pet monkey and the French Canadian brothers, you'll probably find something that interests you.