Among the Ten Thousand Things
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By Julia Pierpont
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1 review
Longlisted for the International Dylan Thomas Prize 2016
An anonymous package arrives in the post: a cardboard box containing sheaves of printed emails chronicling New York-artist Jack’s secret life. The package is addressed to his wife Deb, but it’s delivered into the wrong hands: her children’s. With this vertiginous opening begins a heart-stopping debut about a family blown apart by an affair, yet still painfully tethered together.
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As I sit down to write the review of this book, I find myself at a loss as to what to say. On reflection I think this is because, in general, the book didn't produce a strong reaction in me.
I almost didn't continue past the first chapters as I found the explicit sexual references unnecessary, but I persevered. Unfortunately it remained an everyday story of an unfaithful husband, oblivious of the consequences of his actions on those around him and himself.
I did enjoy the description of the encounters between Simon and Teagan, the characters were believable, and this by contrast was touching and realistic, a sensitive depiction of transition from childhood to sexually active adolescent.
If I were to ask the author a question it would be, what was the purpose of the semi pornographic language?
Personally, I consider myself a worldly person who has heard much swearing and isn't easily shocked, but if I hadn't been reading this book for a book club, this seemingly gratuitous use of foul language would have meant I discarded the book very early on. I hope for more discriminating and imaginative use of language from a writer.
RAM Readers.
