I think writing a book may be one of the most difficult tasks to undertake and complete. I admire anyone who can finish a book then get it published. That said, this book is way too much in love with itself. Too often artists, whether they be movie makers, authors, or musicians, want everyone to appreciate how much they put into their craft. George Lucas said that Jabba the Hutt's ship cost over $32 million and was on the screen for about 20 seconds. He said film-makers often ruin their movies by showing off how cool their effects are. Matthew Pearl wants everyone to know just how much he delved into the past and the period of his book. It wasn't pretentious enough to use Longfellow, Lowell, Holmes, Sr., et al as his main characters. He had to give them all kinds of idiosyncrasies in an attempt to make them his own.
However, if that was all that was wrong with this book, it would be passable because you can get past that. There are so many little annoyances that one can't help but notice them. That is, the story is enveloped by the little tidbits that Pearl can't help but throw in. This is almost like watching a small child with a little talent constantly saying, "Watch me, watch me." The story just isn't good enough to carry you past the speed bumps. You constantly stop reading or paying attention to your reading because you are repeatedly reading things that are hiccups, for want of a better word.
I read "On Writing" by Stephen King and I am having trouble applying all he said to my own writing. However, I have no trouble using those words of wisdom to analyze other people's writing. One of my favorite pieces of advice from Mr. King is to resist using adjectives. Let the drama of your writing set the tone without use of those descriptive terms. Maybe, at some point, Pearl will learn that lesson. His relentless use of the adjectives in order to let us know how or why something is being said is, to say the least, annoying. It also distracts us from the story. Like I said, any distraction from the story doesn't require much because it just isn't very compelling.
The piece de resistance is Pearl's decision to throw in a thoroughly unnecessary and boring rendition of how terrible it was in the Civil War. Telling you this will not give away the book, but the killer was exposed to the horrors of war and was indelibly scarred by the experience. In other words, Pearl is trying to convey that there was post-traumatic stress disorder during the Civil War. That is an incredible revelation since that was the most horrific war in this country's history with the most casualties and the most carnage. Give me a break. Not only that, he tries to use hints and symptoms to let us know that it was PTSD without saying it was PTSD so that he can feel that he is plowing new ground. Pathetic and obvious.
Here it is. Don't read this book if you value your time. I read it and almost stopped about a fifth of the way through, but it so offended my sensibilities that I knew that I had to finish it so I could write a valid review. I also hoped that the end would be one of those endings that would make the reading of the book worthwhile, but, alas, I was wrong. I regret reading it, but am glad I could read for your benefit. Luckily, it will spare me from reading any of his other books. I hope it helps you do the same.
