By Its Cover is my completely independent book review column. Selections are made based entirely on the book's cover. I'm testing the old saying in my quest to find new authors.
Title: The Wasp Eater
Author: William Lychack
I chose a smaller book this time, simul-reading this with The Godfather, not sure I'd be able to finish both in the loan time.
The story tracks that of a young boy and his parents after his mother finds out his father cheated on her. She throws him out the house. The remainder of the book has the boy feeling torn between the adults, wanting them back together, wanting to be with one or the other and feeling guilty.
For as simply told as The Godfather was, this was far more lyrical. It seems to skip along like a rock on a pond, dipping into feelings and the scenery of the moment before sailing off again. In those contact points it was brilliant. The cover said it 'is at one time lucid and dream-like'. But it's confusing, how it would jump between thought sequences, the future and reality...which was really happening?
The father as the best drawn character. I felt sorry for him, rough and tumble guy who appeared to momentarily lose his way. I really wanted him to get his family back. I wanted his wife to forgive him.
There also felt like there were things left unsaid in hopes that the reader would infer them. It didn't really work. There was just too much missing...or it was too short, too conflicted to feel real.
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