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Novel George Singleton 9780156030915 Books

Download As PDF : Novel George Singleton 9780156030915 Books

Novel George Singleton 9780156030915 Books

See review for Work Shirts for Mad Men which I enjoyed more.


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Novel George Singleton 9780156030915 Books Reviews

Upon the accidental death of Rebekah Aker's last surviving relatives, she uses the proceeds of the estate to start the business of her dreams, a weight-loss clinic, the Sneeze 'n' Tone, in Gruel, South Carolina, suggesting at the same time that husband Novel quit his job driving the Viper-Mobile. In this vehicle, Novel goes from town to town, displaying to interested parties a variety of reptiles. What Bekah doesn't know Novel has a second job, writing speeches for politicians, notably lieutenant-governors. What Novel doesn't know Bekah has a few secrets herself.

The couple eventually separates and Bekah closes the Sneeze 'n' Tone, which Novel reopens as The Gruel Inn Writer's Retreat. The paying writer-residents are offered a complimentary continental breakfast from Maura-Lee Snipes, owner of the Gruel Bakery and a former successful client of the Sneeze 'n' Tone. Maura-Lee is doing well with her specialty bread prepared with Jesus crust. But Novel hasn't the patience for these pseudo-writers, continental breakfast aside, and closes down the Writer's Retreat to live there himself, working on his autobiography...but that's another story.

When his writing experiment is less than successful, Novel accepts a position as the official Gruel Historian, working from his office at Gruel Normal School, a windowless silo filled with shelves of newspaper clippings. While doing his research, Novel addresses questions about Gruel that have nagged at his subconscious, but never imagines the whole picture. Then Bekah steps in, convincing her husband to protect his own self-interests.

There is a cast of characters in this book that would shake any family tree to its roots Bekah's parents, wealthy entrepreneurs who engineer a constant supply of industrious orphans; Larry and Barry, the town housepainter-geniuses; and James and Joyce, Novels' adopted siblings. Then there is "Jeff the owner", proprietor of Roughhouse Billiards; Victor Dees of the Army Surplus store; Novel's pot-smoking, yoga-practicing parents, Ted and Olivia Akers, who believe themselves infertile, and a variety of inter-related families "Your family should have named you Short Story, if anything, or Poem".

Novel is constantly distracted by a surplus of curiosity and paranoia concerning his Gruel neighbors, Singleton's protagonist the perfect foil for the quasi-nefarious dealings of Gruel, ever hopeful and disinclined to cynicism unless pushed to the edge of believability. It takes a vivid and warped imagination to create a tale with broad comic strokes, but more than enough humanity to make us root for these weirdos. Most families have skeletons in the family closet, but Singleton fearlessly rattles each and every one as they perform their macabre burlesque. Anything's possible in Gruel, South Carolina. Besides, any novel titled Novel, with a picture of a jackalope on the cover has to be worth the price of admission. Luan Gaines/2005.
The thing I enjoyed most about this book-besides the new take on humor-was that it actually moves along at a fine reading pace. So often nowadays writers are overly in love with their own writing and their editors seem to lack the stuff to make them stop. A good novel is always about the writer and the reader sitting down together and getting a story told. It was a real joy to get into this book and my only regret was that it could have been longer.

Singleton is mistakenly branded a Southern writer but in the same context is John Irving a New York writer or Robert Parker a Boston writer? Many of the passing references to southern idioms seem genuine and add flavor,like tabasco to the chili,but chili is still chili. I would say this is a unique voice telling a good story without dragging it out or overly embellishing it. Like the best stories it is spoken in the first person familar.

First and foremost almost every page has a unique spin offered on something ordinary-and like a homespun tapestry-there is a larger purpose but those stitches are important. There are a number of fresh images-like sneezing to lose weight-or the hilarious image of a cheetah allergy-that keep the work and the reader on the mark.

This is the effort of a talented writer who wants to tell you a story and he will not give you something conventional,filtered and regurgitated so you can relax. Unlike so many other books the reader is pulled into the details of the telling so the story becomes your own. There is always a subtext of the funny going on that is not canned or spammed-this alone merits critical review.

I found myself wanting to remember certain images and idioms for they had unique value. Add it all up and the book is a good solid,fresh read and an even finer job of unique story telling.

I don't buy that many books but I enjoyed this enough to write a review of it and buy a copy for a friend.
See review for Work Shirts for Mad Men which I enjoyed more.