What do you think?
Rate this book
Delivering Virtue: A Dark Comedy Adventure of the West
Didier Rain is broke, lovesick, and just off a three-day whiskey binge. And yet, The Church of the Restructured Truth has been told in a vision that he's the man to fulfill their Holy Prophecy. He must deliver Virtue - a blue-eyed infant - 1,000 miles along the western pioneer trail to their prophet's stronghold as his child bride-to-be. Savages, zealots, and wildfire all stand in Rain's way, not to mention a list of thou-shalt-nots designed to thwart any man's most basic comforts. But there's something holy about the job - something, Rain suspects, that might just turn his sorry life toward a better path.
In Delivering Virtue - Book One of The Epic of Didier Rain - Brian Kindall takes the classic novel of the West and turns it on its head. Grandiloquent humor and wit, pathos, and a cast of absurd, depraved characters all come together in an American Frontier world inspired by myth and legend, creating a surreal and disarmingly poignant adventure.
In Delivering Virtue - Book One of The Epic of Didier Rain - Brian Kindall takes the classic novel of the West and turns it on its head. Grandiloquent humor and wit, pathos, and a cast of absurd, depraved characters all come together in an American Frontier world inspired by myth and legend, creating a surreal and disarmingly poignant adventure.
264 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2015
34 people are currently reading
292 people want to read
About the author
Brian Kindall
9 books28 followersBrian Kindall is an author living in the mountains of Central Idaho, a world with long winters perfectly designed for holing up and writing novels. His books range in diversity from classically written middle-grade novels - Blue Sky, Pearl, and Sparrow - to the ongoing adult fiction series, The Epic of Didier Rain novels, Delivering Virtue and Fortuna and the Scapegrace, to his most recent adult novel, Escape from Oblivia – One man’s midlife crisis gone primal. His accolades include gold medals in children's literature at the Moonbeam and Global Book Awards (Sparrow), a finalist for ForeWord Reviews literary novel of the year award (Delivering Virtue), A Seal of Excellence awarded by Awesome Indies (Delivering Virtue), and Editor’s Choice at the Historical Novel Society (Delivering Virtue). Twisted humor is a given in Brian’s work, as those long winters mentioned earlier tend to drive a writer slightly mad.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 4, 2019
Delivering Virtue by Brian Kindall is a first book of the Didier Rain Epic series. The plot is based on an adventurous journey where the faith of the world depends on a girl. It's historical fiction. I like the thought process behind the cover page.
The main character is Didier Rain. He is a deliverer, poet, and a broken man. He got a task to hand over an infant named Virtue to the City of Rocks. The girl is considered as a prime part of a prophecy, and she has to tie the knot with Prophet Nehi. The journey starts with a hope soon turns into violence, death, grief, and endless encounters which questions humanity and Rain's intentions.
The story revolves around Rain's fantasy and his past incidents clearly affect his present life decisions. He developed a parental feeling towards Virtue, but with the time the story turns upside down. The characters feel torture and nuisance. This brings them close to each other. After a certain point, the readers can predict the few parts of stories because the male protagonist has a thing for beautiful women. Brian Kindall involves fairytales, biblical stories, American Indians and their traditions which make the story more gripping and fast-paced. I will not reveal the climax, but the end left lots of questions which leads the reader to its second book.
The characters are dark and shady, but at the same time, they have light in their heart. The author portrays the passage in a compelling way, but I feel at some place it is unnecessarily stretched. The story narrates by Rain's POV. Virtue's character is dull and clumsy. While the other characters especially horses and a woman named Turtle Dove played a significant role. As an author, Brian knows how to play with words. The selection of vocabulary is praiseworthy. The writing is flawless. This novel is a mixture of dark humor and fantasy of a man which leads him to an unexpected journey full of twist and turns. If you like to read dark fiction, this book is perfect for you.
Blog Pinterest Twitter Instagram
The main character is Didier Rain. He is a deliverer, poet, and a broken man. He got a task to hand over an infant named Virtue to the City of Rocks. The girl is considered as a prime part of a prophecy, and she has to tie the knot with Prophet Nehi. The journey starts with a hope soon turns into violence, death, grief, and endless encounters which questions humanity and Rain's intentions.
The story revolves around Rain's fantasy and his past incidents clearly affect his present life decisions. He developed a parental feeling towards Virtue, but with the time the story turns upside down. The characters feel torture and nuisance. This brings them close to each other. After a certain point, the readers can predict the few parts of stories because the male protagonist has a thing for beautiful women. Brian Kindall involves fairytales, biblical stories, American Indians and their traditions which make the story more gripping and fast-paced. I will not reveal the climax, but the end left lots of questions which leads the reader to its second book.
The characters are dark and shady, but at the same time, they have light in their heart. The author portrays the passage in a compelling way, but I feel at some place it is unnecessarily stretched. The story narrates by Rain's POV. Virtue's character is dull and clumsy. While the other characters especially horses and a woman named Turtle Dove played a significant role. As an author, Brian knows how to play with words. The selection of vocabulary is praiseworthy. The writing is flawless. This novel is a mixture of dark humor and fantasy of a man which leads him to an unexpected journey full of twist and turns. If you like to read dark fiction, this book is perfect for you.
Blog Pinterest Twitter Instagram
November 18, 2018
When Didier Rain, a broke scoundrel, is approached to fulfill a prophecy foretold by the The Church of the Restructured Truth, the offer is too good to pass up. He must transport the baby Virtue, the church’s prophet’s child bride, over a thousand miles across the western pioneer trail. During his journey, he meets many peculiar and interesting characters, and he just so happens to learn something about himself along the way.
Delivering Virtue is an 1854 Western historical fiction, a fantasy, an adventure, an allegory. It’s definitely a genre-bender. Readers need to approach this book with an open mind. I have to admit there were a few times I was taken aback, because I thought I’d known where the story was going (and I’d clearly had no idea). This is a book that you can’t read too literally. There are quite a few WTF moments, but you just have to remember it’s allegory and try not to be too traumatized by what Didier does.
Didier is an engaging and funny main character. As the novel progresses he is depicted as a scoundrel who is trying to do the right thing. As he makes questionable decisions and does despicable acts, I found it hard to decide if I loved or hated him. He was equally charming and grotesque. I love characters that make you question everything. I’m still having a hard time deciding if I met him on the street in real life, whether I would invite him for a cup of coffee or punch him in the face.
Didier meets plenty of other distinctly eccentric characters throughout his journey “delivering Virtue”. Some are more interesting and three-dimensional than others, but they all contribute in some way to Didier’s character development and growth.
Kindall’s writing style is fluid and impeccable, with plenty of imagery and whimsical description. While literary, it’s a fast read. Kindall has found a fine balance between exploring vocabulary and experimental prose and keeping the text readable.
I recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a literary read that isn’t too heavy. However, are some parts that can only be described as “depraved” (although not too detailed), so readers should go into this with a trigger warning.
* Thank you to Brian Kindall for sending me a copy to review! *
Delivering Virtue is an 1854 Western historical fiction, a fantasy, an adventure, an allegory. It’s definitely a genre-bender. Readers need to approach this book with an open mind. I have to admit there were a few times I was taken aback, because I thought I’d known where the story was going (and I’d clearly had no idea). This is a book that you can’t read too literally. There are quite a few WTF moments, but you just have to remember it’s allegory and try not to be too traumatized by what Didier does.
Didier is an engaging and funny main character. As the novel progresses he is depicted as a scoundrel who is trying to do the right thing. As he makes questionable decisions and does despicable acts, I found it hard to decide if I loved or hated him. He was equally charming and grotesque. I love characters that make you question everything. I’m still having a hard time deciding if I met him on the street in real life, whether I would invite him for a cup of coffee or punch him in the face.
Didier meets plenty of other distinctly eccentric characters throughout his journey “delivering Virtue”. Some are more interesting and three-dimensional than others, but they all contribute in some way to Didier’s character development and growth.
Kindall’s writing style is fluid and impeccable, with plenty of imagery and whimsical description. While literary, it’s a fast read. Kindall has found a fine balance between exploring vocabulary and experimental prose and keeping the text readable.
I recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a literary read that isn’t too heavy. However, are some parts that can only be described as “depraved” (although not too detailed), so readers should go into this with a trigger warning.
* Thank you to Brian Kindall for sending me a copy to review! *
March 1, 2018
A must-read amusing, complex and elegant epic story.
In the American West, Missouri in 1854, Didier Rain has a long list of occupations. Poet, philosopher, a gentleman in the making and a low-life rogue. In desperate need to have money, Rain accepts to become a Sacred Deliverer and take a baby girl named Virtue to the Prophet Nehi in the City of Rocks for her to become his wife. Even though he feels this is way over his head, he accepts and starts a long journey filled with dangerous encounters, new friends, new enemies and difficult choices. Will they make it?
This is a novel that readers can read several times and never get tired of it. It’s a complicated, intriguing story that is seen and lived through the eyes of Rain, a man will flaws that faces his past and his own conflicts throughout this journey.
The style of writing is poetic, elegant, philosophical at times and very engaging. The author Brian Kindall delivers a witty dialogue that mixes both vulgar and philosophical language and ideas, creating rich interactions. He also manages to blend both human and religious themes that give relevance to the story and the feeling the reader gets as the adventure proceeds. From the trials of fate, the fragility of the human mind to religious beliefs and ultimate love, Kindall revealed himself a master of story-building and character development. A lyrical style that pulls the reader deep into the plot and its characters and leaves a long-lasting impression. This is a novel to remember.
There are quite a number of characters in the novel and each contributes one way or the other for the growth of the characters. Some encounters are symbolic which adds a wonderful spark to the story. Rain is a grand main male lead. He’s both despicable and lovable and his misadventures are both hilarious and heartfelt. It’s impossible not to connect with him, feel for him and understand his actions. Deep down he proves to be a man of pure heart, good intentions and able to forgive and forget just for the sake of his mission. He proves to be a better man than Nehi and his followers. In addition, his instincts are the only thing that saves him from tight situations and places. He’s a complex character, haunted by his past that both repulses and attracts the reader. The best part is that the reader always ends up learning something with him, both with his victories and failures. Virtue, the female protagonist, is a silent spectator that also manages to leave a lasting impression and teach a few good lessons too. She’s not a normal child, as she grows at an incredible rate during the journey from babyhood to womanhood. Her relationship with Rain is touching and to read about their growing complicity, how they complement each other is one of the many highlights of the story.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It’s the type of novel that changes something in the reader, that holds on and when it’s over leaves a feeling of longing. I will definitely read it again.
I want to thank the author Brian Kindall for reaching out and sending me a paperback version of his novel in exchange for an honest review.
In the American West, Missouri in 1854, Didier Rain has a long list of occupations. Poet, philosopher, a gentleman in the making and a low-life rogue. In desperate need to have money, Rain accepts to become a Sacred Deliverer and take a baby girl named Virtue to the Prophet Nehi in the City of Rocks for her to become his wife. Even though he feels this is way over his head, he accepts and starts a long journey filled with dangerous encounters, new friends, new enemies and difficult choices. Will they make it?
This is a novel that readers can read several times and never get tired of it. It’s a complicated, intriguing story that is seen and lived through the eyes of Rain, a man will flaws that faces his past and his own conflicts throughout this journey.
The style of writing is poetic, elegant, philosophical at times and very engaging. The author Brian Kindall delivers a witty dialogue that mixes both vulgar and philosophical language and ideas, creating rich interactions. He also manages to blend both human and religious themes that give relevance to the story and the feeling the reader gets as the adventure proceeds. From the trials of fate, the fragility of the human mind to religious beliefs and ultimate love, Kindall revealed himself a master of story-building and character development. A lyrical style that pulls the reader deep into the plot and its characters and leaves a long-lasting impression. This is a novel to remember.
There are quite a number of characters in the novel and each contributes one way or the other for the growth of the characters. Some encounters are symbolic which adds a wonderful spark to the story. Rain is a grand main male lead. He’s both despicable and lovable and his misadventures are both hilarious and heartfelt. It’s impossible not to connect with him, feel for him and understand his actions. Deep down he proves to be a man of pure heart, good intentions and able to forgive and forget just for the sake of his mission. He proves to be a better man than Nehi and his followers. In addition, his instincts are the only thing that saves him from tight situations and places. He’s a complex character, haunted by his past that both repulses and attracts the reader. The best part is that the reader always ends up learning something with him, both with his victories and failures. Virtue, the female protagonist, is a silent spectator that also manages to leave a lasting impression and teach a few good lessons too. She’s not a normal child, as she grows at an incredible rate during the journey from babyhood to womanhood. Her relationship with Rain is touching and to read about their growing complicity, how they complement each other is one of the many highlights of the story.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It’s the type of novel that changes something in the reader, that holds on and when it’s over leaves a feeling of longing. I will definitely read it again.
I want to thank the author Brian Kindall for reaching out and sending me a paperback version of his novel in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2019
Reading “Delivering Virtue” can probably best be described as an “experience”. What begins as a genuinely amusing and light-hearted read starts to change tone as it progresses, into something potentially much darker and more macabre. The real star of this book is Brian Kindall himself. He is, quite simply, a tremendous writer – and a fantastic wordsmith – with prose which flows like poetry; the language he uses throughout feels authentically frontier, is genuinely quite stunning, and his words are a delight to read. His imagination, however, sometimes not so.
It is, in some ways, a road tale, simple in premise, about a chancing courier in frontier-era America, who is hired to transport a baby, destined for marriage, to her Mormon suitor. Of course, this in itself should tap a few warning bells, but I was far from expecting the turn the book took. As Didier Rain and his unusual caravan of Virtue, a couple of horses and a goat, find themselves in ever-more bizarre and distasteful situations, I did start to genuinely fear where this book was going to lead me.
Despite the simple storyline, Kindall does more than enough to infuse a real air of mystery, as the strange events increasingly hint at miracles of a mystical nature. You find yourself equally engaged by the enigma that is Virtue, as by the continually emerging dark side of Rain’s nature. He is an arguably despicable character – a self-interested anti-hero - with a disturbing backstory which emerges to reveal more about his deviant behaviour; throughout, there is an undertone to “Delivering Virtue”, which could become either benign or malign – I found myself opining the latter. The situations they find themselves in are perhaps equally dark – so much so that the book actually becomes quite unpleasant to read a times. The clever, highbrow humour – which sets its own pace, allowing you a moment to catch it up – starts to dissipate, as you gradually turn against Rain.
Virtue’s confusingly and bizarrely rapid ageing is a huge hint at the degree of metaphor in this book, which you start to suspect from very early on. When the reveal of Virtue’s truth finally does come, it is in some ways too brief, but in a way does satisfyingly trim away the confusion – however, I did feel it could be quite easy to miss, if not reading on the author’s wavelength. This book’s genre is perhaps the biggest mystery of all, though I am not by any means saying that is a bad thing.
None of this subjective perception by the reader can take away from the brilliance of Brian Kindall’s pen – he is simply excellent, never once slipping from his first-person character, and the book is written and crafted to perfection. Had “Delivering Virtue” been written by another author, I’m not sure it would have worked at all, but Kindall’s quality alone was more than enough to make it very entertaining, and I flew through it in a day – just be prepared for what kind of book is ahead (I rarely read the blurb before picking up an ARC – perhaps, in this case, I should have). The tale itself may have left me a little non-plussed (and I won’t mention the goat), but the quality of this writer is undeniable.
It is, in some ways, a road tale, simple in premise, about a chancing courier in frontier-era America, who is hired to transport a baby, destined for marriage, to her Mormon suitor. Of course, this in itself should tap a few warning bells, but I was far from expecting the turn the book took. As Didier Rain and his unusual caravan of Virtue, a couple of horses and a goat, find themselves in ever-more bizarre and distasteful situations, I did start to genuinely fear where this book was going to lead me.
Despite the simple storyline, Kindall does more than enough to infuse a real air of mystery, as the strange events increasingly hint at miracles of a mystical nature. You find yourself equally engaged by the enigma that is Virtue, as by the continually emerging dark side of Rain’s nature. He is an arguably despicable character – a self-interested anti-hero - with a disturbing backstory which emerges to reveal more about his deviant behaviour; throughout, there is an undertone to “Delivering Virtue”, which could become either benign or malign – I found myself opining the latter. The situations they find themselves in are perhaps equally dark – so much so that the book actually becomes quite unpleasant to read a times. The clever, highbrow humour – which sets its own pace, allowing you a moment to catch it up – starts to dissipate, as you gradually turn against Rain.
Virtue’s confusingly and bizarrely rapid ageing is a huge hint at the degree of metaphor in this book, which you start to suspect from very early on. When the reveal of Virtue’s truth finally does come, it is in some ways too brief, but in a way does satisfyingly trim away the confusion – however, I did feel it could be quite easy to miss, if not reading on the author’s wavelength. This book’s genre is perhaps the biggest mystery of all, though I am not by any means saying that is a bad thing.
None of this subjective perception by the reader can take away from the brilliance of Brian Kindall’s pen – he is simply excellent, never once slipping from his first-person character, and the book is written and crafted to perfection. Had “Delivering Virtue” been written by another author, I’m not sure it would have worked at all, but Kindall’s quality alone was more than enough to make it very entertaining, and I flew through it in a day – just be prepared for what kind of book is ahead (I rarely read the blurb before picking up an ARC – perhaps, in this case, I should have). The tale itself may have left me a little non-plussed (and I won’t mention the goat), but the quality of this writer is undeniable.
September 30, 2021
This book was sent to me by the author to give an honest review. I honestly hated this book. The main character was very unlikable and the plot was pointless. I felt like I wasted my time reading this book and probably should have just put it down. But I kept reading, hoping that the ending would make up for the lack of plot. It didn’t.
The author was trying to use all these big words throughout the book that just made it sound like nonsense. The book justified the act of bestiality due to having a past trauma and had rape scenes included that were not necessary.
I wouldn’t recommend this book.
The author was trying to use all these big words throughout the book that just made it sound like nonsense. The book justified the act of bestiality due to having a past trauma and had rape scenes included that were not necessary.
I wouldn’t recommend this book.
August 19, 2019
Delivering Virtue is a historical fiction about Didier Rain. He is chosen by the Church of the restructured to fulfill a Holy Prophecy; however, Didier is not your average hero. He is given a mission to deliver a blue-eyed child, Virtue to the Prophets as a bride to be, and on the way, he has a few hurdles to deal with.
Rain is given a goat for milk and has to learn how to take care of a baby traveling through harsh conditions, and in return, he is to be rewarded with money.
This is the first book of its series, and yet it delivered so much content and had a strong foundation. The story is set in 1854 and was filled with historical references. The main character was fascinating. His personality was not something you would like at first but grew on you as you read along.
The literature was written with a detailed description. The journey Didier and the little girl take is filled with horrors, and yet the author still manages to keep it light and add humorous content keeping the story intriguing to read.
I believe the book suits people who are interested in horror, dark comedy, and historical tales.
Rain is given a goat for milk and has to learn how to take care of a baby traveling through harsh conditions, and in return, he is to be rewarded with money.
This is the first book of its series, and yet it delivered so much content and had a strong foundation. The story is set in 1854 and was filled with historical references. The main character was fascinating. His personality was not something you would like at first but grew on you as you read along.
The literature was written with a detailed description. The journey Didier and the little girl take is filled with horrors, and yet the author still manages to keep it light and add humorous content keeping the story intriguing to read.
I believe the book suits people who are interested in horror, dark comedy, and historical tales.
January 23, 2018
This novel comes from another one of my review requests from author Brian Kindall and it's called Delivering Virtue. This is the first work of his I read, and if I could come up with only one word to describe this book, I think it'd be whimsical. I knew when I began the book that I'd be in for a journey of sorts, but I wasn't quite sure what that would entail. It was quite the adventure.
Didier Rain has been chosen for a special mission. Entrusted by The Church of The Restructured Truth to care for and guide a tiny baby by the name of Virtue across the American Wilderness where she will then be passed off to her betrothed, the Prophet Nehi, Rain feels in over his head, but up for the challenge. The pair are in for a treacherous journey, but as the reader, I couldn't help but learn from Rain's triumphs and pitfalls.
As they make their way west, I got a sense of the inner workings of Didier's mind. As Kindall describes, he's had an Oedipal upbringing, which drives him to act the way he does in the face of danger or any sort of obstacle. He longs to be a gentleman, to be a poet, and have a sense of right and wrong, but when stuck between a rock and a hard place (pun intended, I suppose), he always seems to go with his baser, animal instincts. At points throughout the tale, I had to wonder where he would draw a line when it came to his feelings and urges, but I waited for nothing. Without giving too much away, I can't help but say that I was torn between being appalled and yet enchanted by Didier.
He and Virtue encounter quite a number of characters throughout the course of their journey, and each one contributes to molding the characters into what we are left with in the end. I was amazed by Virtue's silent resilience, and found myself learning a lot from such a small child.
All-in-all, this book had a bit of everything for me. While I'm not religious by any means, I couldn't help but be fascinated by the more spiritual aspect held within the pages. Parts of this story had a hint of cultish behavior which, admittedly, I'm obsessed with learning about. Mix that with an epic journey much like those we all read about in our World Lit classes, an elegant and almost lyrical writing style, and some seemingly philosophical poetry, and you've got yourselves one hell of a book.
I can't say quite what I was expecting when I took this one on to review, but I'm thrilled I was given the chance to experience such a fun, wild, and engrossing story!
Didier Rain has been chosen for a special mission. Entrusted by The Church of The Restructured Truth to care for and guide a tiny baby by the name of Virtue across the American Wilderness where she will then be passed off to her betrothed, the Prophet Nehi, Rain feels in over his head, but up for the challenge. The pair are in for a treacherous journey, but as the reader, I couldn't help but learn from Rain's triumphs and pitfalls.
As they make their way west, I got a sense of the inner workings of Didier's mind. As Kindall describes, he's had an Oedipal upbringing, which drives him to act the way he does in the face of danger or any sort of obstacle. He longs to be a gentleman, to be a poet, and have a sense of right and wrong, but when stuck between a rock and a hard place (pun intended, I suppose), he always seems to go with his baser, animal instincts. At points throughout the tale, I had to wonder where he would draw a line when it came to his feelings and urges, but I waited for nothing. Without giving too much away, I can't help but say that I was torn between being appalled and yet enchanted by Didier.
He and Virtue encounter quite a number of characters throughout the course of their journey, and each one contributes to molding the characters into what we are left with in the end. I was amazed by Virtue's silent resilience, and found myself learning a lot from such a small child.
All-in-all, this book had a bit of everything for me. While I'm not religious by any means, I couldn't help but be fascinated by the more spiritual aspect held within the pages. Parts of this story had a hint of cultish behavior which, admittedly, I'm obsessed with learning about. Mix that with an epic journey much like those we all read about in our World Lit classes, an elegant and almost lyrical writing style, and some seemingly philosophical poetry, and you've got yourselves one hell of a book.
I can't say quite what I was expecting when I took this one on to review, but I'm thrilled I was given the chance to experience such a fun, wild, and engrossing story!
Read
May 6, 2016This provocative, wholly satisfying novel is a Western adventure told in the language of magic realism. It skillfully blends historical insights, moments of fantastical humor, stories of travel through exotic climes, and references to European poetry, Homeric mythology, and even Oedipal psychology.
The story opens in Independence, Missouri in 1854, where Didier Rain struggles toward sobriety following “an epic bout of debauchery.” Somehow, in his depleted state, he manages to obtain a contract to deliver an infant girl to a settlement of breakaway Mormons in Utah, where she has already been committed to an improbably arranged marriage.
Thus begins a picaresque story told by Rain himself. First appearing to be an aimless layabout, he is full of surprises. Unexpectedly fluent in a variety of languages, he gradually reveals depths of learning that first appear in casual asides: quotes from Shakespeare and English Romantic poets, along with offhanded mentions of Hieronymus Bosch and the lagoons of Venice. So unusual is he, in fact, that the author (as an in-joke perhaps) has him quoting T.S. Eliot many decades before that poet’s birth.
Eventually, he reveals a past even more tangled than the present journey, partly justifying both himself and the misanthropic cynicism he often displays as the tale meanders along.
Author Brian Kindall delivers it all with crisp dialogue, well-developed characters and a steady, relentless pace. He expertly juggles a multitude of elements in a story marked by violence, human frailty, natural hardship, and religious excess — all finally and surprisingly redeemed by love. While the story is focused mostly on Virtue, the infant who miraculously grows to young womanhood in the course of the journey, there are contributions along the way from an Indian maiden they encounter and even from the horses they ride.
By its end, all the revelations, disclosures, surprises and their aftermath bring the novel to a gratifying and rewarding end. If it raises more questions than it answers, the questions are surely worth the asking.
The story opens in Independence, Missouri in 1854, where Didier Rain struggles toward sobriety following “an epic bout of debauchery.” Somehow, in his depleted state, he manages to obtain a contract to deliver an infant girl to a settlement of breakaway Mormons in Utah, where she has already been committed to an improbably arranged marriage.
Thus begins a picaresque story told by Rain himself. First appearing to be an aimless layabout, he is full of surprises. Unexpectedly fluent in a variety of languages, he gradually reveals depths of learning that first appear in casual asides: quotes from Shakespeare and English Romantic poets, along with offhanded mentions of Hieronymus Bosch and the lagoons of Venice. So unusual is he, in fact, that the author (as an in-joke perhaps) has him quoting T.S. Eliot many decades before that poet’s birth.
Eventually, he reveals a past even more tangled than the present journey, partly justifying both himself and the misanthropic cynicism he often displays as the tale meanders along.
Author Brian Kindall delivers it all with crisp dialogue, well-developed characters and a steady, relentless pace. He expertly juggles a multitude of elements in a story marked by violence, human frailty, natural hardship, and religious excess — all finally and surprisingly redeemed by love. While the story is focused mostly on Virtue, the infant who miraculously grows to young womanhood in the course of the journey, there are contributions along the way from an Indian maiden they encounter and even from the horses they ride.
By its end, all the revelations, disclosures, surprises and their aftermath bring the novel to a gratifying and rewarding end. If it raises more questions than it answers, the questions are surely worth the asking.
April 16, 2018
It’s 1854. Some people would call Didier Rain a foolish rake with a sinful desire for both liquor and women of ill-repute. Didier would prefer if people considered him a gentleman poet and true bon vivant, a lover of the finer things in life. No matter what, Didier is the unlikely hero of Brian Kindall’s delicious mix of western and fairy tale in the novel Delivering Virtue.
Didier is chosen by a secretive Mormon sect to be a Sacred Deliverer of an angel haired baby girl named Virtue to the bride of the Prophet Nehi in the City of Rocks. Didier knows very little about taking care of babies but after being offered a princely sum of $30,000 Didier is only too happy to take on this task. How hard could it be? Didier is about to find out.
Outfitted with a few supplies and completely in over his head, Didier faces challenging enemies and encounters who want nothing more than to keep Didier from completing his colossal journey. But he also meets true allies like a Native American woman whose lactating breasts keep Virtue fed and growing oddly at a very fast rate. And all of these elements make Delivering Virtue one heck of a tale, with twists and turns that kept me riveted.
Are some of Didier’s actions a bit questionable? Well, yes. A lot of people wouldn’t approve his love of booze and brothels. But for the most Didier’s heart is in the right place and as Delivering Virtue unfolds you view Didier as a man of honor, a true hero, even if this knight in shining armor has a few rusty spots.
Delivering Virtue is hard to sum up in a review. My only advice is read it to fully capture it fantastical tale is a delicious blend of Louis L’Amour western, Brother’s Grimm fairy tale, Tim Burton film that hasn’t made its way to the silver screen and one really weird LSD trip (not that I know what an LSD trip is like).
Author Kindall has a magical way with words. His prose has a visionary quality; he truly shows while he tells this story. His use of dialogue is funny, thoughtful, bawdy and entirely entertaining. Every single character in Delivering Virtue is necessary and intriguing who move the story forward and the book closes with a fully-satisfying denouement.
If you’re wondering why I haven’t given the plot of Delivering Virtue away too much in this review it’s because I believe it needs to be read to be truly enjoyed. I can’t truly sum this book up in one little review. I want the reader to experience the book like I did.
Though I finished reading Delivering Virtue a few weeks ago; it is still with me. I think it would make a great film and I keep thinking of actors who would make the perfect Didier (sadly, Paul Newman is no longer with us). 2018 isn’t even half-way over, and already Delivering Virtue is one of the best books I’ve read this year. And I do hope it’s not the only adult-oriented book Brian Kindall has in him (he’s written several books for young adults). He’s immensely talented and I hope for more great work from him. He’s definitely a writer to watch out for.
Originally published at The Book Self:
https://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com...
Didier is chosen by a secretive Mormon sect to be a Sacred Deliverer of an angel haired baby girl named Virtue to the bride of the Prophet Nehi in the City of Rocks. Didier knows very little about taking care of babies but after being offered a princely sum of $30,000 Didier is only too happy to take on this task. How hard could it be? Didier is about to find out.
Outfitted with a few supplies and completely in over his head, Didier faces challenging enemies and encounters who want nothing more than to keep Didier from completing his colossal journey. But he also meets true allies like a Native American woman whose lactating breasts keep Virtue fed and growing oddly at a very fast rate. And all of these elements make Delivering Virtue one heck of a tale, with twists and turns that kept me riveted.
Are some of Didier’s actions a bit questionable? Well, yes. A lot of people wouldn’t approve his love of booze and brothels. But for the most Didier’s heart is in the right place and as Delivering Virtue unfolds you view Didier as a man of honor, a true hero, even if this knight in shining armor has a few rusty spots.
Delivering Virtue is hard to sum up in a review. My only advice is read it to fully capture it fantastical tale is a delicious blend of Louis L’Amour western, Brother’s Grimm fairy tale, Tim Burton film that hasn’t made its way to the silver screen and one really weird LSD trip (not that I know what an LSD trip is like).
Author Kindall has a magical way with words. His prose has a visionary quality; he truly shows while he tells this story. His use of dialogue is funny, thoughtful, bawdy and entirely entertaining. Every single character in Delivering Virtue is necessary and intriguing who move the story forward and the book closes with a fully-satisfying denouement.
If you’re wondering why I haven’t given the plot of Delivering Virtue away too much in this review it’s because I believe it needs to be read to be truly enjoyed. I can’t truly sum this book up in one little review. I want the reader to experience the book like I did.
Though I finished reading Delivering Virtue a few weeks ago; it is still with me. I think it would make a great film and I keep thinking of actors who would make the perfect Didier (sadly, Paul Newman is no longer with us). 2018 isn’t even half-way over, and already Delivering Virtue is one of the best books I’ve read this year. And I do hope it’s not the only adult-oriented book Brian Kindall has in him (he’s written several books for young adults). He’s immensely talented and I hope for more great work from him. He’s definitely a writer to watch out for.
Originally published at The Book Self:
https://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com...
June 7, 2018
A Daring and Entertaining Novel
Near the very end of this fascinating and provocative novel, our narrator Didier Rain ruminates: “I wondered about all the people in America – both young and old – the Mormons and the gentiles and the Indians, too – with all of their thirsts and their hungers.” Thirsts and hungers, indeed. Delivering Virtue by Brian Kindall captures a mid-Nineteenth Century American West in all its beautiful vastness, its brutal violence, and its perverse isolations. Rain and a peculiar cast of characters are largely overwhelmed by the unforgiving landscapes even as they play out their roles. That is except for the preternaturally astute Virtue, an infant (and ultimately young girl) whom Rain is hired to lead across the harsh and treacherous countryside and to deliver to the prophet of The Reconstructed Truth, a fringe Mormon sect.
The journey Rain and Virtue take is more disturbing and harrowing than the average picaresque. A good measure of the wretchedness derives from Rain himself, since debauchery and misery seem to cling to him like a rare contagion. And yet, Delivering Virtue is a funny and entertaining novel. Much of that comes from the skills of Kindall as a writer, since he is prone to wit and deft turns of phrase. For all his faults (and they are legion), Rain is a narrator who never fails to engage and amuse: “At any rate, it seemed like the kind of map that could, if followed too closely, lead a man to becoming profoundly and most hopelessly lost.” The journey itself is a wondrous odyssey, including bison stampedes, severe storms, grizzly bear attacks, and the forsaken community of Ablutia.
Along the way, Rain has what can be loosely described as romances, particularly with Delight Tuttles and Turtle Dove. Without giving too much away, let’s just say Rain has troubling conditions and issues, many of those developed in an adolescence that makes Huck Finn’s look like Lord Fauntleroy’s. Little wonder that the broken, wounded, oddly dressed Rain finds Virtue a stabilizing force. “Virtue led me onward, urging my haste. Who now, I had to ask myself, is delivering whom?” On one level, Delivering Virtue serves a satire of a pilgrimage, rife with Biblical allusions intermingled with references to poets ranging from Homer to Shakespeare to Shelley to (anachronistically) Eliot.
Right to the very end, Delivering Virtue takes many surprising twists and turns; some are downright shocking. Interspersed are disarming scenes of poignancy: Rain’s “conversations” with his horses (truly traveling companions) are marked by unexpected tenderness. Ultimately, Kindall’s Delivering Virtue challenges the reader to reconsider the America psyche. That Kindall has written a daring and lively novel in the process makes for a very satisfying read.
Near the very end of this fascinating and provocative novel, our narrator Didier Rain ruminates: “I wondered about all the people in America – both young and old – the Mormons and the gentiles and the Indians, too – with all of their thirsts and their hungers.” Thirsts and hungers, indeed. Delivering Virtue by Brian Kindall captures a mid-Nineteenth Century American West in all its beautiful vastness, its brutal violence, and its perverse isolations. Rain and a peculiar cast of characters are largely overwhelmed by the unforgiving landscapes even as they play out their roles. That is except for the preternaturally astute Virtue, an infant (and ultimately young girl) whom Rain is hired to lead across the harsh and treacherous countryside and to deliver to the prophet of The Reconstructed Truth, a fringe Mormon sect.
The journey Rain and Virtue take is more disturbing and harrowing than the average picaresque. A good measure of the wretchedness derives from Rain himself, since debauchery and misery seem to cling to him like a rare contagion. And yet, Delivering Virtue is a funny and entertaining novel. Much of that comes from the skills of Kindall as a writer, since he is prone to wit and deft turns of phrase. For all his faults (and they are legion), Rain is a narrator who never fails to engage and amuse: “At any rate, it seemed like the kind of map that could, if followed too closely, lead a man to becoming profoundly and most hopelessly lost.” The journey itself is a wondrous odyssey, including bison stampedes, severe storms, grizzly bear attacks, and the forsaken community of Ablutia.
Along the way, Rain has what can be loosely described as romances, particularly with Delight Tuttles and Turtle Dove. Without giving too much away, let’s just say Rain has troubling conditions and issues, many of those developed in an adolescence that makes Huck Finn’s look like Lord Fauntleroy’s. Little wonder that the broken, wounded, oddly dressed Rain finds Virtue a stabilizing force. “Virtue led me onward, urging my haste. Who now, I had to ask myself, is delivering whom?” On one level, Delivering Virtue serves a satire of a pilgrimage, rife with Biblical allusions intermingled with references to poets ranging from Homer to Shakespeare to Shelley to (anachronistically) Eliot.
Right to the very end, Delivering Virtue takes many surprising twists and turns; some are downright shocking. Interspersed are disarming scenes of poignancy: Rain’s “conversations” with his horses (truly traveling companions) are marked by unexpected tenderness. Ultimately, Kindall’s Delivering Virtue challenges the reader to reconsider the America psyche. That Kindall has written a daring and lively novel in the process makes for a very satisfying read.
February 19, 2019
This novel of literary fiction is a ribald and adventurous mixture of humor, magical realism, Old West historical fact, and dream-like self-reflection. It’s quite difficult to categorize this book. But author Brian Kindall skillfully unspools a literary tale worth reading. There’s a reason it was selected as a Finalist for Literary Fiction in the 2015 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.
Didier Rain—the unruly yet kind protagonist—is hired to deliver a baby named Virtue to a Mormon prophet, who has been chosen as his future bride. (!!!) Rain’s proclivities for alcohol and sex are dashed when he is instructed to not partake in these dalliences during the long trip. He is accompanied by two horses—Brownie and Puck—and a helpful goat that remains sadly unnamed. At first, the animals are imagined by Rain to speak, but then are gradually personified into full-blown characters. Virtue miraculously grows into a young woman during the trip, this unusually magical transformation rendered as a normal occurrence. The group enlists an abandoned Native American woman named Turtle Dove and encounter a variety of miscreants and curious onlookers during their trek. Rains exploits are both comical and unexpected. His proclivity to give into his unrelenting carnal desires or poetic indulgences reveals to his thoughtful introspection, which is mined more fruitfully with his backstory.
The narration is pitch-perfect to the period of the 1850s while Rain’s observations, inquisitiveness, and creative indulgences are mesmerizing. He quickly grows close to Virtue the baby while he cares for her on the rough trip as well as to his animal cohorts, which endears him to the reader. I found myself laughing out loud a few times at the predicaments Rain fumbles into and wasn’t surprised at the magical elements that liberally occurred throughout, as Brian Kindall masterfully revealed these elements in the most seemingly natural of ways. As Rain reveals his past to his cohorts as well as to the reader, his cynicism becomes justified. He has an unsavory past, yet his abhorrent history gives way to his loving care for the young woman Virtue as well as the animals under his watch.
Go buy this book right now! You’ll be glad you did. Highly recommended! The sequel to this novel, Fortuna and the Scapegrace, is on my to-read list.
Didier Rain—the unruly yet kind protagonist—is hired to deliver a baby named Virtue to a Mormon prophet, who has been chosen as his future bride. (!!!) Rain’s proclivities for alcohol and sex are dashed when he is instructed to not partake in these dalliences during the long trip. He is accompanied by two horses—Brownie and Puck—and a helpful goat that remains sadly unnamed. At first, the animals are imagined by Rain to speak, but then are gradually personified into full-blown characters. Virtue miraculously grows into a young woman during the trip, this unusually magical transformation rendered as a normal occurrence. The group enlists an abandoned Native American woman named Turtle Dove and encounter a variety of miscreants and curious onlookers during their trek. Rains exploits are both comical and unexpected. His proclivity to give into his unrelenting carnal desires or poetic indulgences reveals to his thoughtful introspection, which is mined more fruitfully with his backstory.
The narration is pitch-perfect to the period of the 1850s while Rain’s observations, inquisitiveness, and creative indulgences are mesmerizing. He quickly grows close to Virtue the baby while he cares for her on the rough trip as well as to his animal cohorts, which endears him to the reader. I found myself laughing out loud a few times at the predicaments Rain fumbles into and wasn’t surprised at the magical elements that liberally occurred throughout, as Brian Kindall masterfully revealed these elements in the most seemingly natural of ways. As Rain reveals his past to his cohorts as well as to the reader, his cynicism becomes justified. He has an unsavory past, yet his abhorrent history gives way to his loving care for the young woman Virtue as well as the animals under his watch.
Go buy this book right now! You’ll be glad you did. Highly recommended! The sequel to this novel, Fortuna and the Scapegrace, is on my to-read list.
October 31, 2017
Real life ecstatic prophets, itinerant swindlers, and incorrigible gadflys created the atmosphere of the rough and tumble western frontier of mid-19th century America -- not to mention the yet unmarred backdrop of majestic rocky peaks and wild raging rivers. In Brian Kindall’s DELIVERING VIRTUE, the vagabond in question is poet-come-mercenary courier Dider Rain in 1854 Independence, Missouri.
While drying out from a debauched chapter of his life, Rain stumbles upon an arduous proposition: deliver the small and beatific baby Virtue to a remote Mormon offshoot sect many sprawling miles away, all for the enticing sum of $30,000. Rain, saddled with little more than a merry band of mammals and spartan gear, comes upon a collection of larger-than-life characters and quests during his journey. From perilous brushes with brutish beasts to interludes of a more carnal nature, Rain’s rhapsodic adventure is big and brash, bringing him nearer to both his past and destiny.
Kindall is a deft wordsmith, capable of creating painterly description and scenes molded from the rich substance of classic literary allusions. The novel’s pace is spry and driving, making it a quick yet satisfying read. While Kindall is clearly capable of drawing up beautiful imagery and compelling scenes, some of DELIVERING VIRTUE’s characterization and action is a bit problematic.
Yes, the reader can chalk some dicier plot points or questionable character type casting to the ribald context within which protagonist Rain finds himself. However, one wonders whether some scenes are drawn with less than a discerning sense of the trauma within them.
Questionable plot points notwithstanding, DELIVERING VIRTUE is a fine piece of writing, churning with the energy and magic of a land just coming into its own. Kindall is adept at creating compelling wordplay, thoughtful plot nuance and an elevated yet readable diction throughout. Surely DELIVERING VIRTUE is a fluid and entertaining examination of where the real world ends and the dream world begins.
While drying out from a debauched chapter of his life, Rain stumbles upon an arduous proposition: deliver the small and beatific baby Virtue to a remote Mormon offshoot sect many sprawling miles away, all for the enticing sum of $30,000. Rain, saddled with little more than a merry band of mammals and spartan gear, comes upon a collection of larger-than-life characters and quests during his journey. From perilous brushes with brutish beasts to interludes of a more carnal nature, Rain’s rhapsodic adventure is big and brash, bringing him nearer to both his past and destiny.
Kindall is a deft wordsmith, capable of creating painterly description and scenes molded from the rich substance of classic literary allusions. The novel’s pace is spry and driving, making it a quick yet satisfying read. While Kindall is clearly capable of drawing up beautiful imagery and compelling scenes, some of DELIVERING VIRTUE’s characterization and action is a bit problematic.
Yes, the reader can chalk some dicier plot points or questionable character type casting to the ribald context within which protagonist Rain finds himself. However, one wonders whether some scenes are drawn with less than a discerning sense of the trauma within them.
Questionable plot points notwithstanding, DELIVERING VIRTUE is a fine piece of writing, churning with the energy and magic of a land just coming into its own. Kindall is adept at creating compelling wordplay, thoughtful plot nuance and an elevated yet readable diction throughout. Surely DELIVERING VIRTUE is a fluid and entertaining examination of where the real world ends and the dream world begins.
February 24, 2019
Before anything at all, the book has a really great cover. Different, somewhat comforting and surely one that’ll make you read the book as soon as possible. But does the book itself lives up to the cover, or is it something even better? Let’s find out!
Since the very beginning, the author tries to take his readers along on a magical ride of a plot of dimness, art, and heartful characters. He uses elements of fairytales and turns them into something you couldn’t have imagined. And as promised, his writing delivers humour backed by twists as real as humanity.
The pace of writing was well and with smartly placed elements in the plot, you never really disconnect from it until you are finally done reading it. The plot is build up of various emotions, from thrill, humour, innocence to wonder, and pure heartbreak. What I really liked was that even after having a number of characters to look up to, each of them got their needed time to grow in the book.
Our protagonist is Rain, and if you are like most of the people, you will connect with it really easily. And all his actions are the ones made up of relatable humour and emotions. And coming from the book’s name itself, Virtue is the female protagonist in the plot, the one who’s a unique character in herself, giving a whole new level to the book.
Yes, I can’t really give away the plot in this review but it’s something that I would love to discuss. Also, there’s a chance of an interview with which I would like to find out the story behind the book from the author himself.
If you want to read something you didn’t think one can imagine, loaded with a plot which is unique, dark and hilarious; this is the book for you.
Since the very beginning, the author tries to take his readers along on a magical ride of a plot of dimness, art, and heartful characters. He uses elements of fairytales and turns them into something you couldn’t have imagined. And as promised, his writing delivers humour backed by twists as real as humanity.
The pace of writing was well and with smartly placed elements in the plot, you never really disconnect from it until you are finally done reading it. The plot is build up of various emotions, from thrill, humour, innocence to wonder, and pure heartbreak. What I really liked was that even after having a number of characters to look up to, each of them got their needed time to grow in the book.
Our protagonist is Rain, and if you are like most of the people, you will connect with it really easily. And all his actions are the ones made up of relatable humour and emotions. And coming from the book’s name itself, Virtue is the female protagonist in the plot, the one who’s a unique character in herself, giving a whole new level to the book.
Yes, I can’t really give away the plot in this review but it’s something that I would love to discuss. Also, there’s a chance of an interview with which I would like to find out the story behind the book from the author himself.
If you want to read something you didn’t think one can imagine, loaded with a plot which is unique, dark and hilarious; this is the book for you.
February 15, 2018
I was not sure what to expect from this book. The premise sounded interesting, so I was happy to give it a go. I am so glad that I did. The first thing that struck me was the tone of the writing. It is quite dry and witty and a few pages in I was pulled in by Didier Rain, the narrator.
Rain is charged with delivering the infant Virtue to the Prophet Nehi to be his bride and is given a strict set of rules to abide by. The generous reward is enough to make him take this most unlikely of charges on.
Didier’s observations of his own actions and those of others feel really lighthearted and refreshing and make for an entertaining read. Even when serious events are broached, like rape and murder, they are glossed over by Rain’s whimsical version of affairs. With his carnal urges and defying of the rules he has been given it is clear he is not exactly a good man and yet it is hard to dislike him. He tries so hard to be a good man, but the rogue inside him always seems to win out.
Then there is Virtue, the infant, the bride of the Prophet. For a character that does so little, she has such a big impact on those that encounter her, and on the reader. Her story is handled so well, without any fanfare. Her extraordinariness is mentioned in passing, but never dwelt on.
The book is not perfect, and I am sure its dry wit and at times maybe too lighthearted a tone, may not be for everyone, but Delivering Virtue a cleverly written novel that I found very easy to read and enjoy.
Rain is charged with delivering the infant Virtue to the Prophet Nehi to be his bride and is given a strict set of rules to abide by. The generous reward is enough to make him take this most unlikely of charges on.
Didier’s observations of his own actions and those of others feel really lighthearted and refreshing and make for an entertaining read. Even when serious events are broached, like rape and murder, they are glossed over by Rain’s whimsical version of affairs. With his carnal urges and defying of the rules he has been given it is clear he is not exactly a good man and yet it is hard to dislike him. He tries so hard to be a good man, but the rogue inside him always seems to win out.
Then there is Virtue, the infant, the bride of the Prophet. For a character that does so little, she has such a big impact on those that encounter her, and on the reader. Her story is handled so well, without any fanfare. Her extraordinariness is mentioned in passing, but never dwelt on.
The book is not perfect, and I am sure its dry wit and at times maybe too lighthearted a tone, may not be for everyone, but Delivering Virtue a cleverly written novel that I found very easy to read and enjoy.
April 3, 2019
This review first published on Oh Just Books.
I really enjoyed this book I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this. Not even one that comes close. It's..different. It's well written, surreal, evocative, whimsical, and lovely.
I loved the writing style and description, as well as the characterizations of every single soul, human and non-human alike.
Didier Rain is an amalgam of disparate characteristics. How this character was sketched out, I cannot imagine. But he is amazing. His story, personality and history slowly unfurls through the course of the book. His 'visions' are altogether a thing of joy. You will vacillate in your feelings towards him, but at the end of the day, what is he if not only human? As we all are. With our flaws and foibles and vices. With our desolation and insecurity and loneliness. With our moments of joy and gratitude and wonder. All that, and more, is what makes us. And makes Didier.
It is the kind of book you want to read fast because you love the story and the pacing, but it is also the kind of book that makes you slow down.
For me, there were two main reasons for slowing down (whenever I did).
Read the rest of the review here.
*A review copy was provided to Oh Just Books by the author in exchange for an honest review*
I really enjoyed this book I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this. Not even one that comes close. It's..different. It's well written, surreal, evocative, whimsical, and lovely.
I loved the writing style and description, as well as the characterizations of every single soul, human and non-human alike.
Didier Rain is an amalgam of disparate characteristics. How this character was sketched out, I cannot imagine. But he is amazing. His story, personality and history slowly unfurls through the course of the book. His 'visions' are altogether a thing of joy. You will vacillate in your feelings towards him, but at the end of the day, what is he if not only human? As we all are. With our flaws and foibles and vices. With our desolation and insecurity and loneliness. With our moments of joy and gratitude and wonder. All that, and more, is what makes us. And makes Didier.
It is the kind of book you want to read fast because you love the story and the pacing, but it is also the kind of book that makes you slow down.
For me, there were two main reasons for slowing down (whenever I did).
Read the rest of the review here.
*A review copy was provided to Oh Just Books by the author in exchange for an honest review*
May 12, 2018
Lately I’ve been in a rut of putting down books and not picking them up again because I lost interest at one point and just never continued. This was definitely not the case with this book, “Delivering Virtue” by Brian Kindall. From the very beginning of the book we are drawn into this complex and strange world that is almost like a darkly comedic alternate reality --- I am hard pressed to think of another book that combines so many cool literary elements, from being provocative, snarky, historical, ‘western’ feeling (hey there are horses), spiritual/religious, philosophical, perverse and angelic… Funny and disturbing… and have the story unfold with a series of unexpected dramas and crazy escapades. While the writing style employed by Kindall is fairly unorthodox (lots of narrative that almost feels like stream of consciousness a lot), it works here and the action flowed seamlessly from one page to the next, and was unpredictable and bizarre enough to make me just *have* to see what would happen next. Not formulaic or cookie-cutter at all, and I liked how flawed and imperfect Rain was. I enjoyed Kindall’s spunky and elegant writing style that feels almost old-fashioned, but fits. This strikes me as the type of book that either the reader will ‘get it’ and enjoy it, or it will go over their head and they will be bored. Glad I’m in the former category.
May 27, 2018
this book was hard for me, as I like so many of the elements individually, but together it is almost too much to take. Magic realism-meets-historical western-meets-impossible. I quite like magic realism, but I'd say this story goes too far because I had the hardest time really believing and supporting Rain’s actions. I'm willing to suspend disbelief, but I just couldn’t consistently here. I tried… but for me it was too way out and some things he does don’t make any sense to me. His narrative was too long-winded. It would take him a whole page to express a single thought and he just feels too self-indulgent. The problem is I don’t feel the character growth from his we are supposed to. Fell flat. This book redeems itself with the strong writing in the sense that it flows gracefully and with lovely lyrical rhythm and an impressive vocabulary. So in that sense it almost works against Rain because it makes him seem more refined and intelligent than he acts. So there is a disconnect there. The supporting cast/side players were entertaining and I did like Virtue… but not until about ½ way through. I think Kindall has talent and had a really good concept, it just failed to resonate with me in the way that’s I’d hoped. Not a bad book, not my favorite. However, there will be fantasy-lovers out there who will enjoy this tale of magic and mayhem.
October 25, 2017
“Versifier, word collector, and would-be entrepreneur.” And now, according to prophecy, Diedier Rain can add Deliverer to his list of occupations. Though skeptical of the prophecy, Rain accepts the task of delivering the foretold child-bride to the prophet Nehi of The Church of the Resurrected Truth, a Mormon sect, figuring the fee generous until he learns the bride is the infant, Virtue. His need for money outweighs his commonsense, and he accepts. Thus begins the epic pilgrimage of the hapless Didier Rain to deliver Virtue to her destiny.
Rain is a despicable, lovable rogue. He is philosopher, poet, thief, debaucher and low-life who, even in the depths of debauchery, retains a self-awareness that seems pure compared to the prophet Nehi and his followers who have commissioned him to deliver an infant bride to their compound. At his most humiliated, Rain has empathy for his tormentors, an ability to turn the other cheek that seems above the call of duty. He is a complicated character, and the reader feels sympathy for him despite his many failures
Brian Kindall has the ability to both amuse and appall in this hilarious, heartbreaking and irreverent novel – a rare talent that is most appreciated by this reader.
Rain is a despicable, lovable rogue. He is philosopher, poet, thief, debaucher and low-life who, even in the depths of debauchery, retains a self-awareness that seems pure compared to the prophet Nehi and his followers who have commissioned him to deliver an infant bride to their compound. At his most humiliated, Rain has empathy for his tormentors, an ability to turn the other cheek that seems above the call of duty. He is a complicated character, and the reader feels sympathy for him despite his many failures
Brian Kindall has the ability to both amuse and appall in this hilarious, heartbreaking and irreverent novel – a rare talent that is most appreciated by this reader.
November 10, 2017
Didier Rain, gentleman poet and courier in the American West, has been hired - no, Chosen as a Sacred Deliverer - to take a baby girl named Virtue to the Prophet Nehi in the City of Rocks, to be his bride. Adventures, hijinks, and difficult choices ensue, as Virtue grows rather faster than might be expected, and as she and Rain encounter a wide range of companions, enemies, and creatures on their journey. At the end, Rain and Virtue have to make the most difficult choice of all...This is a complicated, intriguing, and entertaining book, told in an elegant prose that covers a core that's sometimes vulgar, sometimes philosophical, and occasionally both. There's more to the story than there seems to be, especially as the troubles encountered on the journey lead Rain to face his own internal conflicts and the crises of his past. It's also quite funny in parts, as, while Rain really does mean well, he has a tendency to get in over his head and end up in bizarre and comic situations. If you're looking for a realistic depiction of the American West, or a traditional Western, this is not the book for you - but if you want a book that's engaging and thoughtful, with a wry, tongue-in-cheek prose style, this will fit the bill admirably.
July 25, 2020
I have a small cache of my very favorite books and Delivering Virtue by Brian Kindall as well as Book 2 Fortuna and the Scapegrace have been added to that stash. I tried to decide how Delivering Virtue and Fortuna and the Scapegrace might fit into this rather broad category of favored books. It came to me that the main thing I appreciate about all of these books isn't so much the characters as it is the shape of the story, the hairpin turns, the unexpected twists that leave you wondering what just happened. Didier Rain finds himself in more than two handfuls of sticky situations. Although this is true I also appreciated the acutely quirky poet Didier Rain and all the creatures he meets on his travels. His problems usually stem from the conflicts of his person … that he is clever and too clever. As Didier's earthy adventures stretch from France to the South Seas with more than a few plot switch backs in the middle, he is cunning, but duped; primal, yet courteous; suave, but dirty; educated, yet street wise. The list could go on … But most of all he wants to be loved and to love.
April 16, 2021
Why do so many people begin their reviews with a summary of the plot? I can read the dust jacket or the back of the book or find the plot in a thousand different places. Why start a review with what generally sounds like the beginning of a Junior High book report? Explain what you thought...what moved you....what was right and wrong...
I think there is a lot to associate and unpack with Delivering Virtue and I've only skimmed the topmost layer. This is a book that, at least I, need to sit back and ponder over for a bit to make more of the connections. There are associations with fairy tales and Greek tragedies and much more.
I really enjoyed Mr. Kindall's writing and the shifts in the book from the lighter side of human nature to the darker and back again. Really well done.
I think there is a lot to associate and unpack with Delivering Virtue and I've only skimmed the topmost layer. This is a book that, at least I, need to sit back and ponder over for a bit to make more of the connections. There are associations with fairy tales and Greek tragedies and much more.
I really enjoyed Mr. Kindall's writing and the shifts in the book from the lighter side of human nature to the darker and back again. Really well done.
August 21, 2021
Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include DELIVERING VIRTUE (The Epic of Didier Rain, #1) by BRIAN KINDALL in the library of Awesome Indies'
Seal of Excellence
recipients.
November 10, 2017
Delivering Virtue reminded me of the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?," which also follows a flawed hero on a humorous, epic Homeric odyssey. Despite this comparison and many others that could be made, author Brian Kimball succeeds at crafting a unique, memorable protagonist in Didier Rain, who has a distinct manner of pontificating and poeticizing -- I can only imagine the fun Kimball had with a thesaurus while writing this. His gift of creating humor through wordplay was one of my favorite aspects of the book.
The story combines Western action sequences such as a buffalo stampede with striking moments of magical realism. The supporting cast includes surreal, mythical characters who are also befitting of the Western setting.
Rain's voice, backstory and self-awareness make him a likable rogue, and his self-involvement in his first-person narration of events helps explain why the major female characters surrounding him aren't fully developed beyond what they symbolize to Rain. The plot was never predictable or slow, though I was a bit disappointed at how hurriedly things seemed to be wrapped up in the end.
The story combines Western action sequences such as a buffalo stampede with striking moments of magical realism. The supporting cast includes surreal, mythical characters who are also befitting of the Western setting.
Rain's voice, backstory and self-awareness make him a likable rogue, and his self-involvement in his first-person narration of events helps explain why the major female characters surrounding him aren't fully developed beyond what they symbolize to Rain. The plot was never predictable or slow, though I was a bit disappointed at how hurriedly things seemed to be wrapped up in the end.
November 15, 2017
I love anything to do with the Wild West but I wasn't 100% sure how much I would like this novel. Didier Rain, the main character, considers himself a gentleman poet but in actuality, he is anything but this. Having his hand in a variety of activities around town, Rain is known to be a rough around the edges type of character. However, his life changes a little when he is asked to help fulfill a prophecy by delivering Virtue to her future husband. He doesn't believe in the prophecy itself but definitely needs the money. What happens next is one of the wildest adventures the west has ever seen and Rain runs into some of the best and worst characters ever seen in a book. This book is the epitome of a page turner and even though the book is fantastic, it would not have survived on just the story itself. The characters make this story. It's important to note that there are a few scenes that aren't for the young reader and even they made me blush a little. Overall, however, this is one of the better books I've ever read and I look forward to reading more by Brian Kindall.
December 31, 2019
Both perverse and profound, Delivering Virtue by Brian Kindall is a difficult book to classify. Part historical fiction, part magic realism, this dark comedy follows the journey of Didier Rain who travels the old west to deliver a baby girl named Virtue to a Mormon comunity in Utah. In doing so he hopes to earn a considerable fortune to begin a new life; however, fate has more in store for him.
I highly recommended the book to those looking for an original read with one caveat - the humor can sometimes be beyond bawdy (I would give an example but am too much of a lady to do so). Nevertheless, the sometimes questionable humor will not prevent me from putting the next installment Fortuna and the Scapegrace: A Dark Comedy South Seas Adventure on my to-read shelf.
I highly recommended the book to those looking for an original read with one caveat - the humor can sometimes be beyond bawdy (I would give an example but am too much of a lady to do so). Nevertheless, the sometimes questionable humor will not prevent me from putting the next installment Fortuna and the Scapegrace: A Dark Comedy South Seas Adventure on my to-read shelf.
November 7, 2017
True Grit meets Wonderland
A beautiful weave of fairy tale charm with harsh Western realism, Delivering Virtue brings to readers the often eccentric but lovable tale of rogue debaucher Didier Rain fulfilling his ultimate destiny that would prove to change him more than any other life circumstance by delivering the would-be child bride Virtue to a Mormon sect to marry their prophet. As readers, we can't help but to adore the questionable antics and ethics of this character but are astounded to see how he grows into a maturer man and also rekindles the passion of youth's innocence and wonder again. While the plot may at times takes odd detours that can be somewhat aberrant and bizarre, Didier Rain and Virtue will nonetheless have you reflecting on your own moral compass and their story will stick with you for much time to come.
A beautiful weave of fairy tale charm with harsh Western realism, Delivering Virtue brings to readers the often eccentric but lovable tale of rogue debaucher Didier Rain fulfilling his ultimate destiny that would prove to change him more than any other life circumstance by delivering the would-be child bride Virtue to a Mormon sect to marry their prophet. As readers, we can't help but to adore the questionable antics and ethics of this character but are astounded to see how he grows into a maturer man and also rekindles the passion of youth's innocence and wonder again. While the plot may at times takes odd detours that can be somewhat aberrant and bizarre, Didier Rain and Virtue will nonetheless have you reflecting on your own moral compass and their story will stick with you for much time to come.
July 7, 2018
Enter the world of 1854 and the hero(?) Didier Rain, who excepts a most usual request to take a young babe, named Virtue, far off to be the bride of the Prophet Nehi of the Church if Restructured Truth (offshoot of the Mormons). Laughable and dangerous as it is, Didier, Virtue heads to the City of Rocks to deliver the child.
Being the American West, life is not easy as it seems. Many interesting characters pop up in the road to Nehi. Most interesting is Turtle Dove, a Native American, who Didier falls in love with. Bad guys, Didier's own back story,weather, and a dangerous buffalo stampede are only just a small part in this quest.
It's a quirky story, to be sure, but in the end...well read the book for that.
Would like to see Didier continue is his quest to find himself.
Being the American West, life is not easy as it seems. Many interesting characters pop up in the road to Nehi. Most interesting is Turtle Dove, a Native American, who Didier falls in love with. Bad guys, Didier's own back story,weather, and a dangerous buffalo stampede are only just a small part in this quest.
It's a quirky story, to be sure, but in the end...well read the book for that.
Would like to see Didier continue is his quest to find himself.
October 31, 2017
I have a soft spot for heroes who engage with literature, but it has to be well-written. Badly-placed Shakespearean references can ruin a book - likewise, a poet protagonist who doesn't truly master words is a complete waste of characterisation. Happily, Kindall comes through in Delivering Virtue - the entire book is brilliantly crafted, masterfully playful and clever.
The story, the plot, and the characters are all exceptionally real, and all relatable. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read, and one of the best books I've read this year - I highly recommend it.
The story, the plot, and the characters are all exceptionally real, and all relatable. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read, and one of the best books I've read this year - I highly recommend it.
October 26, 2017
Kindall effectively mixes magic, Mormonism and a poetry-spouting cowboy without sacrificing the hurtling action that is a staple of the Western genre. Unlike other writers who traffic in mythical symbolism, Kindall doesn't hit the reader over the head with what each character represents. As a result of his light touch, the reader can appreicate what the author is trying to do: to describe a Western through the language of the fairy tale/mythical genre.
October 31, 2017
A quirky comedy
“Delivering Virtue” is an epic tall tale set in the American Frontier. Didier Rain is a fascinating character with an Oedipus complex and a penchant for quoting poetry. Author Brian Kindall’s distinctive voice manages to make Rain’s many unethical actions seem oddly sympathetic which is no easy feat. Not everyone will enjoy Rain’s adventures, but for those who appreciate offbeat humor and quirky characters, “Delivering Virtue” will hold much appeal.
“Delivering Virtue” is an epic tall tale set in the American Frontier. Didier Rain is a fascinating character with an Oedipus complex and a penchant for quoting poetry. Author Brian Kindall’s distinctive voice manages to make Rain’s many unethical actions seem oddly sympathetic which is no easy feat. Not everyone will enjoy Rain’s adventures, but for those who appreciate offbeat humor and quirky characters, “Delivering Virtue” will hold much appeal.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews