Scan barcode
A review by catdad77a45
Travelling in a Strange Land by David Park
5.0
4.5, rounded up.
Now here is a 'stream-of-consciousness' novel by a Northern Irish writer worthy of some hoopla (... and major awards). At almost exactly half the length of that OTHER notoriously boring mediocrity, THIS book is a thousand times more compulsively readable & enjoyable, and has everything the other one lacks: gorgeous prose by a master poet; a complex, yet understandable plot; three dimensional characters that one can relate to and CARE about; a satisfying ending that packs an emotional wallop (yeah, I'll admit it - I got a bit misty-eyed, with a huge lump in my throat several times).
A few minor quibbles preventing a full 5 stars: although Park weaves his story with incredible ease, doling out his revelations with vigilance and heedfulness, the final divulgence of what has caused the rift between Tom and Daniel, and the fate of the latter is ... rather pedestrian, and a foregone conclusion (sorry, no spoilers here!). Secondly, the denouement is largely dependent upon a knowledge of the iconic 'Angel of the North' statue near Sunderland, that I lacked (mea culpa, but easily remedied by a quick Google/Wikipedia search). Thirdly, the author helpfully provides links to both a list of the major songs noted within the text (that I didn't really need), and also one to a portfolio of seven photos inspired by the book. These, although striking in their own right, I found to have almost NO connection to the book itself. Regardless, this is a beautifully rendered work that should be getting much more attention.
Now here is a 'stream-of-consciousness' novel by a Northern Irish writer worthy of some hoopla (... and major awards). At almost exactly half the length of that OTHER notoriously boring mediocrity, THIS book is a thousand times more compulsively readable & enjoyable, and has everything the other one lacks: gorgeous prose by a master poet; a complex, yet understandable plot; three dimensional characters that one can relate to and CARE about; a satisfying ending that packs an emotional wallop (yeah, I'll admit it - I got a bit misty-eyed, with a huge lump in my throat several times).
A few minor quibbles preventing a full 5 stars: although Park weaves his story with incredible ease, doling out his revelations with vigilance and heedfulness, the final divulgence of what has caused the rift between Tom and Daniel, and the fate of the latter is ... rather pedestrian, and a foregone conclusion (sorry, no spoilers here!). Secondly, the denouement is largely dependent upon a knowledge of the iconic 'Angel of the North' statue near Sunderland, that I lacked (mea culpa, but easily remedied by a quick Google/Wikipedia search). Thirdly, the author helpfully provides links to both a list of the major songs noted within the text (that I didn't really need), and also one to a portfolio of seven photos inspired by the book. These, although striking in their own right, I found to have almost NO connection to the book itself. Regardless, this is a beautifully rendered work that should be getting much more attention.