false 832531 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 832531 6 818169 8 2002 The Heaven of Mercury: A Novel total:114|5:20|4:41|3:29|2:18|1:6| 114 393 169 16 231380 3.57 168 20 65735452 907978 1488972 0393324656 9780393324655 2 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1184159870m/1488972.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1184159870s/1488972.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1488972.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 2.95 20 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 2 0 false Tue Aug 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 31 22:44:09 -0700 2009 Tue Aug 11 21:23:45 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5180743 118563 1488972 0393324656 9780393324655 2 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1184159870m/1488972.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1184159870s/1488972.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1488972.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 2 1 false Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon Aug 27 11:57:59 -0700 2007 Thu Dec 17 07:17:13 -0800 2009 more...]]> 15765361 866363 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.60 82 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 3 0 false Tue Feb 19 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Mon Feb 18 22:08:45 -0800 2008 Tue Feb 19 22:22:05 -0800 2008
Anyway, The Heaven of Mercury leads the reader down into a South dark and strange. Told from the perspective of several characters, the story swirls around in time, following the current...more...]]> 46462715 2018309 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 2 0 false Sun Feb 15 18:00:29 -0800 2009 Sun Feb 15 18:00:51 -0800 2009 73540864 2791079 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 4 0 false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2002 Mon Oct 05 13:59:54 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 05 14:00:18 -0700 2009 50496098 8067 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 3 0 false Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Thu Mar 26 05:58:43 -0700 2009 Tue Apr 14 17:55:34 -0700 2009 5895843 316512 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 2 0 false Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005 Sat Sep 08 08:49:10 -0700 2007 Thu Dec 17 09:35:15 -0800 2009 pshaw. The book was an incredible letdown. I wanted better a...more...]]> 32954307 1508632 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 4 0 false Mon Sep 15 16:09:40 -0700 2008 Mon Sep 15 16:12:07 -0700 2008 more...]]> 1359731 80124 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 5 0 false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2001 Tue May 22 05:57:50 -0700 2007 Tue May 22 05:59:55 -0700 2007 17264482 116296 2969766 1 http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2969766.The_Heaven_of_Mercury 0.0 0 2002 0 0 false Fri Mar 07 15:56:59 -0800 2008 Fri Mar 07 15:56:59 -0800 2008 24233273 831482 408351 1841955604 9781841955605 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174502176m/408351.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174502176s/408351.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/408351.The_Heaven_of_Mercury 3.25 12 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 5 0 false Mon Aug 25 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed Jun 11 09:18:01 -0700 2008 Fri Sep 05 20:55:12 -0700 2008 2668444 168804 408351 1841955604 9781841955605 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174502176m/408351.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174502176s/408351.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/408351.The_Heaven_of_Mercury 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 4 0 false Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005 Tue Jul 03 08:21:55 -0700 2007 Tue Jul 03 08:27:41 -0700 2007 57782596 2364201 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 3 0 false Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri May 29 15:13:07 -0700 2009 Fri Dec 25 12:05:31 -0800 2009 14940016 878048 408351 1841955604 9781841955605 3 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174502176m/408351.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174502176s/408351.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/408351.The_Heaven_of_Mercury 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 5 0 false Fri Feb 08 16:05:55 -0800 2008 Fri Feb 08 16:06:23 -0800 2008 11368845 400042 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 5 0 false Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003 Mon Dec 31 20:54:42 -0800 2007 Mon Dec 31 20:55:25 -0800 2007 24511902 631269 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 3 0 false Sat Jun 14 18:23:36 -0700 2008 Tue Jun 24 17:27:01 -0700 2008 82128560 1378820 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 0 0 false Sat Dec 26 19:13:33 -0800 2009 Sat Dec 26 19:13:33 -0800 2009 82004434 1957856 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 0 0 false Fri Dec 25 08:58:26 -0800 2009 Fri Dec 25 08:58:26 -0800 2009 81996098 1258976 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 0 0 false Fri Dec 25 03:21:56 -0800 2009 Fri Dec 25 03:21:56 -0800 2009 80351932 2997915 832531 0393047571 9780393047578 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218m/832531.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1178752218s/832531.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/832531.The_Heaven_of_Mercury_A_Novel 3.45 114 The Heaven of Mercury brings fresh, sly humor to the traditionally dark genre of Southern gothic. It's the story of the small town of Mercury, Mississippi, told through the lives of various inhabitants, including a white man, Finus, and his lifelong love, Birdie; and a black girl, Creasie, and her Aunt Vish--slave descendants who see Mercury as the zone of their captivity. All over Mercury, characters dream about moments in the past when they wish they'd had the courage to change the course of their lives. Watson's (Last Days of the Dog-Men) ornate, lush prose will remind readers of Faulkner, but he has a much lighter touch. Mercury is a sad world of violent drunks, unpunished crimes, and unrequited love, but Watson's wry observations work to dispel the gloom (a strict Christian woman wears "a tight brown bun in her hair like an onion God drew forth from her mind"). The Heaven of Mercury is an ambitious work from an important voice in American fiction--a voice with a distinctly Southern accent. --Ellen Williams ]]> 2002 0 0 false Tue Dec 08 17:31:48 -0800 2009 Tue Dec 08 17:31:53 -0800 2009 8 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=832531