Lemon Slice Moon

by Kevin Polman

Lemon Slice Moon is a contemporary novel about married couple Gordon and Esperanza and their dog Jack. Everyday problems pertaining to all stages of their lives are mixed with elements of magical realism and spirituality.

Paperback

Published July 13, 2021

About the author

KEVIN POLMAN does his writing in Fort Worth, Texas. He is the author of three contemporary novels: THE EXTRA KEY (2016), SOMETHING (2017), and LEMON SLICE MOON (2021). Kevin has many years of experience as a research scientist and as an instructor of science and math, but he's also been paid for these other services to mankind: lawn worker, fast-food cook, busboy, guitar instructor, house roofer, car painter, hardware store clerk, furniture refinisher, nurse's aide, and music director. The four Earth creatures closest to his heart are Cindy, Leslie, Allyson, and Jack.

Reviews

[Amy S.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry is the star in Polman's novel Lemon Slice Moon. Polman pulls you into interesting ideas, thoughts, and philosophical concepts in the poetry scattered throughout the story, especially in the first third of the novel. The book seems to be split into 3 parts. Part 1: Gordon's present, Part 2: Gordon's past, and Part 3: Gordon's future. Granted, I may have been misreading those parts, but I like the idea of it. The book follows the life of a "normal" man. I appreciate that there did not seem to be anything special about Gordon, yet he affected the lives of everyone around him in some way or another. Polman reminds us there are good people and bad people in this world and we will constantly be in contact with these people as we move through life, and we will be those people in life. It is a quick read, with a refreshing minimalist writing style.

[Matthew Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lemon Slice Moon is a book about life. Through both reality and Gordon’s coma-induced dream world, we follow him and his wife, Espy, through all stages of life. Gordon, a smart, quiet kid who doesn’t want any trouble, has trouble handed to him on a platter and eventually takes in a mouthful or two. Espy, his highly devoted and protective partner, acts as Gordon’s main source of stability - his God-given guardian angel. Gordon almost reminds me of the main character in Dostoevsky's The Idiot, Prince Myshkin. They are both portrayed as kind-hearted innocents who are surrounded by people who only want to take advantage of them. If only Prince Myshkin had used those experiences to build a backbone like Gordon, or have an Espy to watch over him.

Polman’s writing style is both quirky and smooth, catching you off guard with perfect sense. He often uses italics to separate characters’ thoughts from their spoken words, or two parts of reality from the other. The story is told in a series of vignettes that are hardly ever connected to each other, but form an overarching narrative that gives the reader just enough information. Polman trusts his readers. Overall, this was a tale that captured the breadth of human experience, from heartache to joy, from weakness to strength. Gordon’s life shows us that there are always “bad” people in the world, and that they will always be part of our lives; they may make our lives worse, or even end them. But what matters is how we treat the damaged who damage us. Even in a coma, Gordon believed they were worth saving.