A Good and Happy ChildJustin Evans
A Good and Happy Child is just the kind of fast-paced read to usher in the spooky season. Many thanks to the lovely Mrs. White for recommending it! This psychological thriller concerns George Davies and his uncertainty regarding...well, regarding himself. Is he insane? Or is he, as he believes, the victim of demonic possession?
Married with a newborn, George finds himself falling apart. Since the birth of his son, he has returned to the neurotic state that characterized his childhood. He cannot hold his son, cannot even be in the same room with him. His wife, tired, stressed, and unsympathetic (and rightfully so) has had enough of his behavior. Get help, she says, or get out. And so, George returns to therapy.
Like all good therapists, his encourages George to talk about his childhood. Unfortunately for George, that's easier said than done, so his therapist encourages him to write about it instead. George fills notebook after notebook about his childhood, the contents of which are interspersed with George's current struggle.
As both stories progress, we understand the origins of George's problematic behavior. After the death of his father, ten-year-old George becomes understandably troubled. He feels his mother has moved on too quickly, and his classmates torment him. Worse still, George begins to receive visits from a mysterious "Friend," a friend who often torments him, compelling him to commit horrific deeds. Drugs and therapy, however, decrease these symptoms, creating doubts about the devilish source of George's plight.
Was George plagued by a demonic spirit? And if so, did this possession have anything to do with his father's death? Or is George simply another victim of backwoods superstition, needing only some good therapy and medication to set him on the path to goodness? Of course, I won't give anything away here; I'll say only that Justin Evans has written a thought-provoking and suspenseful novel that also happens to feature some pretty admirable prose.
One warning, though: Those who like their ends tidily wrapped up in a nice neat bow might be a little bothered by A Good and Happy Child's ambiguous ending. Again, without giving too much away, I'll say only I would have liked a little more closure -- but only because I'd come to care so much for George. Focusing on craft instead of character, however, allows me to appreciate Evans' choice more.
In a nutshell: Intelligent fun; readers who enjoy a good, spooky tale will rip through this one.
Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars
Married with a newborn, George finds himself falling apart. Since the birth of his son, he has returned to the neurotic state that characterized his childhood. He cannot hold his son, cannot even be in the same room with him. His wife, tired, stressed, and unsympathetic (and rightfully so) has had enough of his behavior. Get help, she says, or get out. And so, George returns to therapy.
Like all good therapists, his encourages George to talk about his childhood. Unfortunately for George, that's easier said than done, so his therapist encourages him to write about it instead. George fills notebook after notebook about his childhood, the contents of which are interspersed with George's current struggle.
As both stories progress, we understand the origins of George's problematic behavior. After the death of his father, ten-year-old George becomes understandably troubled. He feels his mother has moved on too quickly, and his classmates torment him. Worse still, George begins to receive visits from a mysterious "Friend," a friend who often torments him, compelling him to commit horrific deeds. Drugs and therapy, however, decrease these symptoms, creating doubts about the devilish source of George's plight.
Was George plagued by a demonic spirit? And if so, did this possession have anything to do with his father's death? Or is George simply another victim of backwoods superstition, needing only some good therapy and medication to set him on the path to goodness? Of course, I won't give anything away here; I'll say only that Justin Evans has written a thought-provoking and suspenseful novel that also happens to feature some pretty admirable prose.One warning, though: Those who like their ends tidily wrapped up in a nice neat bow might be a little bothered by A Good and Happy Child's ambiguous ending. Again, without giving too much away, I'll say only I would have liked a little more closure -- but only because I'd come to care so much for George. Focusing on craft instead of character, however, allows me to appreciate Evans' choice more.
In a nutshell: Intelligent fun; readers who enjoy a good, spooky tale will rip through this one.
Bibliolatry Scale: 5 out of 6 stars
1 comment:
Glad you liked it! I can think of at least two scenes in this book that still - seven months later - freak me straight out when I think about them. Good stuff.
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