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| This no-holds-barred modernization of Shakespeare�s �Romeo and Juliet� has more bizarre twists and turns than your typical bus route in St. John�s. Whether it�s read as a fictional account or not, it is guaranteed to provoke some uncomfortable reactions, even from the most �experienced� among us. I was enthralled enough to read it straight through, from start to finish, in about 12 hours (minus a pizza break).
The story, which begins in a rural area of Newfoundland�s south coast known only as the Cove, centers itself on Keith Kavanagh. His premature sexual coming-of-age at 13 binds him to a secret and triggers a John Lennon-like odyssey for truth (no matter how brutal) in himself and those around him. Mr. Hynes utilizes an intriguing (but occasionally puzzling) style of storytelling that sees the trinity of main characters alternating the narration of different episodes, but that only occurs in the first half of the book. The lengthiest chapter (�The Devil You Don�t Know�) and set in Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia, where Keith appoints himself as Acting Ambassador for Newfoundland, is hilarious. I laughed particularly hard at the �blasphemous� description of �Newfie� music, which sounded very similar to one I had previously heard of music being performed live in Hamilton, Ontario. Keith�s outrageous �chip on the shoulder� behaviour, further aggravated by the onset of alcoholism, eventually alienates him from his loyal, if grudging, best friend, Andy. His longtime girlfriend, �Tash, struggles to effect a positive makeover in Keith�s pathetic existence without sacrificing her own ideals. However, she�s already been branded as �down to the dirt� herself, so it�s an uphill battle. I wasn�t all that sympathetic to Keith�s adult character at first, but when he decides to use his impulsive nature to finally prove his own sincerity, you can�t help but root for him. The author, who admits to a certain �kinship� to Keith, offers some interesting insights on the longevity of life, as well as the value of friendship, e.g.: When I�m strong and happy, people tend to distance themselves. But when the shit goes south, they come out in droves to patronize and condescend. No one wants to see you up and on your feet. The world wants you on your knees �cause the world is cold. On the topic of anger management, he states: Some say that too much anger is a bad thing, that it cripples you and it eats you alive�I say it�s the one feeling that makes me feel�whole. The best observation he makes, though, is on his (black leather) apparel: �Why is it that every psychopath, child-molestin�, drugged-up Nazi dresses just like me?" Rock music aficionados probably face the same discrimination. There�s a little bit of everything here � sex, drugs, cars, religion, domestic violence, and even hockey. The �cliffhanger� ending was both anticlimactic and frustrating but left me wondering how I might have wanted the story to end for Keith and �Tash. To me, that�s a sign of greater things to come for Joel Hynes. Down to the Dirt was recently reprinted by HarperCollins Books, as part of a two-book deal, in May 2005. The follow-up book is due to be released by next summer and promises more vicarious thrills for layabouts who can�t be bothered getting their own battle scars. |
| DOWN TO THE DIRT - JOEL HYNES KILLICK PRESS (2004) RE-PRINTED BY HARPERCOLLINS (2005) Book Review by Diane Wells |
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