I was just about to write on Howard Norman’s new book, Devotion, when I saw the NY Times book review by Michiko Kakutani. It is not a positive review! Kakutani says Norman “never makes the reader care a whit…” Well, I cared!
But I am a fan of Norman’s writing. Devotion is set in Nova Scotia which becomes almost another character among the family and friends whose misunderstandings lead them to act in ways that compound the misunderstandings. Love and hate simmer as Norman writes in unadorned and intelligent language, building universal truth out of everyday life. And the swan images linger.
If you have not sampled Norman’s writing, you may want to start with The Bird Artist. Narrator, Fabian Vas is a successful bird artist and a murderer living in a tiny coastal Newfoundland village. A story of art, inspiration, passion, violence and religion unfolds in spare, image-laden prose. This title is part of the Library’s Speaking of Books collection; your book club may borrow multiple copies and a discussion guide for The Bird Artist.
For an interesting article about Howard Norman. To see his other titles.