THE RESURRECTIONIST

Trying to revive his son, who is in a coma, Sweeney reads to him from a series of comic books that follow the journey of a troupe of circus "freaks." Sweeney's own journey of hope brings him strange encounters that expand his sense of reality in surrealistic ways. It's often difficult to tell what's real and what's not in this rich novel. In his narration Holter Graham give a sense of innocence to some characters, which contrasts well with the world-weariness of others. His sensitive and vivid characterizations have range and flexibility. Through pace and timing, he creates an atmosphere of normalcy in a bizarre world. He is particularly skillful at depicting the relationships and interactions between the characters, as well as the parallels between the real and the surreal. J.E.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2008]