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A review by bookdrag0n
Clay Tongue: A Novelette by Nicholas Conley
5.0
In this short novelette, a 10-year-old Jewish girl named Katie loves her grandfather. But his once story-telling brain is now all jumbled up after he suffered a stroke 2 years ago and now lives with aphasia, unable to talk or write. Even so, Katie is able to communicate with him just as well as before, as she herself is not much of a talker. In fact, her parents and other adults are constantly pushing her to talk more… When Katie catches a glimpse of her grandfather’s half-finished story of his younger years and reads about his dalliance with a Golem just through their backyard in the woods, Katie decides to set off and see if it’s true. Because if it is, the Golem will be able to grant her grandfather his voice back.
Nicholas Conley does an amazing job of setting the stage as a little girl would see it. Simple words and fantastical imagination abounds in this story, just as if we readers were young kids again, seeing the world anew. But even with this childish view, the story is still oh-so compelling to me, and adult. It opens up a little girl’s fear of speaking up, especially as everyone around her is incessantly pushing and shoving for her to talk more, talk louder. It sets her apart from everyone, including her parents, except for her grandfather… The only one who cannot ask tell her anything.
The entire story seemed so real, so lifelike, that I found myself wanting to go out and search my own woods! Perhaps I could find a cave with a Golem in there myself! And then what would my one wish be? Would I be as selfless as Katie, or would I choose something to suit more of my needs?
This story was so heartwarming, for all the characters involved, and when I finished it, I yearned for more. It was so simple, so gentle, something that we tend to lack in our hectic everyday lives. The book made me want to strive to be as good as Katie, to watch how I speak to people.
Overall, this was an amazing story. A little bit of Jewish folklore, a dash of love, and a smidgen of fantastical realism, all wrapped up in an easily–and quickly–read 54 pages. I didn’t know so much emotion and mental awareness (with real problems!) could be said in so little pages. I definitely recommend anyone and everyone to read this! I mean, what’s to lose? It’ll only take an hour to read, and your life could be changed for the better because of it. 🙂
Nicholas Conley does an amazing job of setting the stage as a little girl would see it. Simple words and fantastical imagination abounds in this story, just as if we readers were young kids again, seeing the world anew. But even with this childish view, the story is still oh-so compelling to me, and adult. It opens up a little girl’s fear of speaking up, especially as everyone around her is incessantly pushing and shoving for her to talk more, talk louder. It sets her apart from everyone, including her parents, except for her grandfather… The only one who cannot ask tell her anything.
The entire story seemed so real, so lifelike, that I found myself wanting to go out and search my own woods! Perhaps I could find a cave with a Golem in there myself! And then what would my one wish be? Would I be as selfless as Katie, or would I choose something to suit more of my needs?
This story was so heartwarming, for all the characters involved, and when I finished it, I yearned for more. It was so simple, so gentle, something that we tend to lack in our hectic everyday lives. The book made me want to strive to be as good as Katie, to watch how I speak to people.
Overall, this was an amazing story. A little bit of Jewish folklore, a dash of love, and a smidgen of fantastical realism, all wrapped up in an easily–and quickly–read 54 pages. I didn’t know so much emotion and mental awareness (with real problems!) could be said in so little pages. I definitely recommend anyone and everyone to read this! I mean, what’s to lose? It’ll only take an hour to read, and your life could be changed for the better because of it. 🙂