(Disclaimer: I wrote this on my beginner blog in 2015 at the age of 18. I haven't changed much.)
Now to abruptly change pace here… for my second review I will be sharing my thoughts on Tom Piccirilli’s novella Every Shallow Cut.
“He’s nameless, faceless, and has nothing left to lose – and now he has a gun. Alone except for his beloved bulldog, Churchill, a man who’s failed at his career, his marriage, and his own simple hopes makes his way across the American landscape and the spectacle of his own bitter past. As he heads home to his distant brother, he witnesses various tragedies and crimes which bring out the killer in him.
Tom Piccirilli brings us a suspense story for our current struggling times, taken directly from a broken heart. It is full of realism, grit, and a depth of the dark streets that give voice to the fears most of us can barely imagine. The terror of loss, the overwhelming dread of failure, the desperate push towards crime, the horror of missed-out, mediocre dreams. And the all-too-average explosive rage.”
There’s no other way to start this review than to sing songs of praise toward Tom Piccirilli. This novella, or noirvella as he himself describes it, combines dark themes with beautifully written prose, the blackest of emotions coming to life with a lilting, lyrical voice- it is almost poetry. It made every page a treat to read, regardless of the heartbreaking content. The descriptions of the scenery, the characters, the gun, the cheque for 12.37 he holds in his wallet as a reminder of what once was are written as if it were a dream- or a nightmare. The reader can picture it, yet the speed at which the novella progresses renders it blurry, almost surreal. The protagonist is indeed nameless, as is absolutely every character, except the dog Churchill. This is no accident, of course, because the dog is the only living thing with any importance to the protagonist. Not his feelings toward his mother, his father, his brother or his wife can rival the love he has for his dog. This was the deciding factor in whether or not I stayed with him, rooting for him until the end, even when facing the poor decisions he makes. His endless love for his chubby bulldog reminds the reader that he is human, just like us, even while facing his failures and rejecting help from others. He is sardonic, violent, on-the-edge, someone we would avoid looking directly in the eye while passing them on the street, yet wholly a reflection of each and every one of our deepest fears. He has lost everything and everyone. Even his previously rotund body has lost its cushion. He scares us, but he is part of us. That last resort, loose cannon version of ourselves. That is why I believe this novella has received such high praise from those who dare pick it up. It’s a glimpse into a possible future, even a reality for some, in the safest way possible.
I picked this wonderful read up for 2 dollars at Chapters. 2 dollars is entirely selling this novella short, and I suggest you pick up a copy as soon as possible. I give it a 4 star rating, because it is beautifully written, thought-provoking, and memorable.
Comments, questions, feedback of any kind is welcome!
Happy reading,
Holly
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