Bastille Day. Other stuff, too.
When the French overthrew a totalitarian government. Which has nothing to do with an item from the bookshelf: Stone Junction by Jim Dodge.
“Magical realism” was just working its way into my literary vocabulary about the time I read this one the first time. It’s got a 1990 copyright stamp; think I’ve got a first edition, too. Looks different from the pictures on Amazon.
There was a particular point about the main protagonist that I recalled, and that prompted me to dust off my copy and reread it. I’d forgotten how much of the book was both fun and meaningful. Interesting points. Plus, it’s one of those books that just gets under my skin, in a good way. I’d forgotten that the author was a poet. Poets have such a way with language.
What struck me the most, though, as there’s that sense of hope still prevalent when the novel was published. I’m not so sure that I can always share that sense, that faith, that mankind will do something that’s good for itself.
But it’s a good book.
