Jennifer's review
Misfortune
by Wesley Stace
Jennifer's review
Misfortune by Wesley Stace
Jennifer's review
rating:
bookshelves:
fiction
A fun romp, with a Dickensian ending that would have worked better for Dickens than it does for Stace, unfortunately. The story of a boy raised as a girl takes you from an English great house to Turkey and back, with hints at dingier places in between like gutters and ships. I'm not quite sure if I am grateful or disappointed that these details were omitted.
I found the writing and pacing flagged a bit as it headed toward the conclusion. Great care is taken in creating eccentric supporting characters -- another nod to Dickens -- but their edges become mushy, losing distinction and, thus, color.
The spirit of the book is what I admire the most -- the willingness to take chances on subject matter, setting and sensibility. Stace is a musician and an avowed Tristram Shandy fanatic, so he is one of my own.
I found the writing and pacing flagged a bit as it headed toward the conclusion. Great care is taken in creating eccentric supporting characters -- another nod to Dickens -- but their edges become mushy, losing distinction and, thus, color.
The spirit of the book is what I admire the most -- the willingness to take chances on subject matter, setting and sensibility. Stace is a musician and an avowed Tristram Shandy fanatic, so he is one of my own.
