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This unique story collection opens with a tale about Rose, a woman who knows too well that "perfect moments were always compromised." Rose feels "a strange, magnetic attraction" to Jack, and all around them, nature sings a tune that mirrors what they feel for one another. As the collection continues, other characters, like the mythical Ulfhednar, make history come alive. In a different story, Ulfhednar's kin brother—the powerful wolf Ulfric—provides a different perspective about the raging battle in which he and Ulfhednar fight. Later in the book, characters such as a woman named Clara are filled with longing and mystery. She stands in juxtaposition to her oppressive, industrial surroundings, and her story mirrors that of many young girls and women who entered the work factories during a time when safety and workers' rights were nonexistent.
However, this work is not just another set of tales linked together by a myriad of characters who sometimes appear in more than one narrative. In fact, this is much more than just another short story collection. It is also a reflective, musical journey. Accompanying each story is an explanation of the song that inspired the writing. Most impressive is the wide expanse of musical genres, artists, and songs included in this book. From Wardruna to Metric to Blue Oyster Cult to Dot Allison, the book's audience will experience a musical journey unlike any other. The incorporation of the notes discussing each inspirational song provides an informative background. It also provides historical context, along with the author's personal anecdotes, about each song.
What makes this book even more realistic is its honest, vulnerable, and sometimes gritty portrayal of the characters and their existences. One story in which all of these themes and characteristics culminate is "Going Underground." It is a story in which even the main character's name, Daniel Grimes, reflects the character's harsh, gritty environment and existence, as well as the difficult decisions Daniel must make. Daniel embodies rebellion against the status quo after having lived a life in which he originally "played by the rules. All it got him were ration credits and a little coin, enough to rent a bedsit and eat slop." "Going Underground" is a daring story with a dystopian tone. Deepening that dystopian tone is the fact that the author cleverly disguises the story's time period, and the tale can be read as either occurring in the past, the present, or the very near future.
Music lovers will appreciate this book because of the role music plays in each and every story. The stories, too, are a testament to not only the power of music but also of the necessity of interdisciplinary studies and the humanities. The stories are a novel type of ekphrastic writing in that, rather than responding to visual art, the stories are responses to music. The fluid, poetic writing in each story mirrors the magic and lyricism inherent in the songs the author utilizes. These stories are powerful, emotional, and moving. Most of all, they are beautifully and unquestionably human.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review