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A review by beth_diiorio
Stranger Will by Caleb J. Ross
4.0
Stranger Will grabbed my attention because it seemed like quite a different take on literary fiction than I typically read. After reading the cover blurb I remember thinking...carrier pigeons? Joining what exactly? Why would it be hard to leave the group?
Author Caleb Ross engagingly and consistently uses rich descriptive language throughout the novel..."William saunters through the mudroom door, the engine of his bioremediation cleaning van still ticking in the driveway. He flicks a spent cigarette filter deep into the weeds overtaking the house's north wall. Seen through romantic eyes the abode could be a cottage, but William suffers from universal practicality..."
The novel is centered around provocative social issues such as societal and personal pressures couples feel to reproduce and have children of their own, abortion, and the idea of a society of "perfect human beings." "William continued, however, using magazine articles, newspaper headlines, tabloid clippings, medical journals, and bar graphs all supporting his theories regarding the eminent turmoil associated with 'bringing a child to term in a world like ours.'"
Main characters in Stranger Will were chock full of human character traits --
William: Serious, depressed, mundane husband with emotional baggage from his own childhood, employed as a stain removal specialist, self-designated sleuth with stolen paper messages.
Julie: Quietly resilient wife, former waitress, chock full of maternal instinct, somewhat lazy.
Mrs. Rose: Elementary school principal, keeper of messenger pigeons, ambitious, demanding, opinionated, and controlling "adoption" advocate.
Frank - Fellow stranger - "It sounds like a title the way he says it: Stranger -- with a veiled mysticism. It comes out as a tactile breath, heavy, built with smoke."
In actuality, this book hooked me from the beginning and absolutely held my attention. I loved the quirkiness and excellent writing. This book will appeal to readers who like unpredictable books, psychological/horror, or odd characters (by "odd" I mean Geek Love by Katherine Dunn).
Teasers:
For a second William hears footsteps decrescendo, but they stop. Then, breaking the sky, the raccoon soars back over the fence and hits William on the cheek before falling into the stained grass. He tastes decay.
The bell rings and the children infiltrate the playground like maximum coverage is an inborn reaction. They cover sand pits and the soccer field, swings and the concrete basketball court in three frames of an instructional slideshow: Empty. Full. Organized.
Paul, the tapeworm.
Author Caleb Ross engagingly and consistently uses rich descriptive language throughout the novel..."William saunters through the mudroom door, the engine of his bioremediation cleaning van still ticking in the driveway. He flicks a spent cigarette filter deep into the weeds overtaking the house's north wall. Seen through romantic eyes the abode could be a cottage, but William suffers from universal practicality..."
The novel is centered around provocative social issues such as societal and personal pressures couples feel to reproduce and have children of their own, abortion, and the idea of a society of "perfect human beings." "William continued, however, using magazine articles, newspaper headlines, tabloid clippings, medical journals, and bar graphs all supporting his theories regarding the eminent turmoil associated with 'bringing a child to term in a world like ours.'"
Main characters in Stranger Will were chock full of human character traits --
William: Serious, depressed, mundane husband with emotional baggage from his own childhood, employed as a stain removal specialist, self-designated sleuth with stolen paper messages.
Julie: Quietly resilient wife, former waitress, chock full of maternal instinct, somewhat lazy.
Mrs. Rose: Elementary school principal, keeper of messenger pigeons, ambitious, demanding, opinionated, and controlling "adoption" advocate.
Frank - Fellow stranger - "It sounds like a title the way he says it: Stranger -- with a veiled mysticism. It comes out as a tactile breath, heavy, built with smoke."
In actuality, this book hooked me from the beginning and absolutely held my attention. I loved the quirkiness and excellent writing. This book will appeal to readers who like unpredictable books, psychological/horror, or odd characters (by "odd" I mean Geek Love by Katherine Dunn).
Teasers:
For a second William hears footsteps decrescendo, but they stop. Then, breaking the sky, the raccoon soars back over the fence and hits William on the cheek before falling into the stained grass. He tastes decay.
The bell rings and the children infiltrate the playground like maximum coverage is an inborn reaction. They cover sand pits and the soccer field, swings and the concrete basketball court in three frames of an instructional slideshow: Empty. Full. Organized.
Paul, the tapeworm.