bermudaonion (Kathy)
Sandy
Stephanie
Beth F
Michelle
The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal by Sean Dixon
The Lacuna Cabal is a very different sort of young woman’s book club. First of all, they only read literature. Absolutely nothing frivolous. For another thing, they like to bring their books to life, to act them out, truly experience them. The Lacuna Cabal hasn’t been quite the same, though, since the death of Ruby Cognill some months ago. Thus when Ruby’s twin Runner has a book that she very much wants the Cabal to do, it is hard for them to turn her down.
Interestingly enough, “The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal” is narrated by two of the members of the Cabal who break the 4th wall and speak directly to the reader. Oh, and they often include footnotes during their story. It was quite disconcerting at first, having the narrator(s) speak of ‘we’ and in footnotes. Of course, once I was introduced to the rest of the characters they were so odd that I barely even noticed the ‘we’ narrators. There is Missy, their leader, who was older than she liked to admit and desperate to become pregnant by any means; Emmy who did not want to be a part of the book so was fictionalized by being given subltly striped (and color-changing!) skin by the narrators; Romy who secretly loved Emmy; Priya the folk singer; and Aline who is waiting for her gender reassignment surgery to physically become a woman. Not to mention Runner Coghill, who is perhaps the oddest of all.
So Runner asked the Cabal to next study a story she has on old stone tablets that turns out to be the Epic of Gilgamesh. They end up ‘recruiting’ two young men to be Gilgamesh and Enkidu and much drama ensues, culminating with quite an adventure.
If you’re feeling fairly skeptical about “The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal” at this point, I don’t blame you. I’m not sure whether the plot or the characters are odder. In fact, as I was reading it I kept saying to my mom and my husband, “this book is so weird!” However, each time I followed that up with “but I really like it!” My description of this book makes it sound ridiculous, I know, but it worked. At least for me. It might not work for everyone, you have to be open to the oddity. I was totally enthralled, though. There is some foul language and sexual content, but – to me at least – it didn’t seem gratuitous in context of the story.
If you’re feeling up for something a little different, I think you should give this a try.
Buy this book from:
Powells.
A local independent bookseller via Indiebound.
Amazon.
Thank you to Other, Press and Tony from Blue Dot Literary for sending me this book to review.
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This does sound weird, but in a way that somehow really appeals to me. It’s going on the list! Thanks for the review.
.-= Rebecca @ The Book Lady’s Blog´s last blog ..“Becoming” [Guest Post by Tanya Egan Gibson] =-.
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I accepted this for review simply because it sounded unusual. At least it will live up to that expectation.
.-= Serena (Savvy Verse & Wit)´s last blog ..The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows =-.
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Well, I have to admit that I am skeptical. It sounds very unique, though.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Wondrous Words Wednesday =-.
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I have this book, too. I am still interested in reading it, but I’ll be sure to save it for when I’m up for something different. Thanks for the great review.
.-= Literate Housewife´s last blog ..Admission ~ A Twitter Conversation =-.
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I am really intrigued by this. It does sound weird, but not off-putting weird.
.-= J.T. Oldfield´s last blog ..The Challenged Challenge =-.
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Great review. This is already on my wish list!
.-= stacybuckeye´s last blog ..The Second Son, by Charles Sailor =-.
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Crazy! Must read it for myself.
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I’m the “I’m sure about this” camp. If I see it at the library, I may try it.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..BBAW: Getting to Know You Meme =-.
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You’ve definitely piqued my interest in this book. Thanks for the review.
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..So Happy Together – Maryann McFadden =-.
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I’m reading this right now, and I know exactly what you mean – it’s so weird, but in such a cool way.
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..Thursday Tunes =-.
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I’ll be reading this one soon. When I was reading the description, it sounded different and unique, which it why I accepted the book. Glad to hear that it’s a weird that works. Thanks for the review.
.-= Anna´s last blog ..Interview With Alan Furst, Author of THE SPIES OF WARSAW (& Giveaway Winner Announced!) =-.
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I chose this to read with my book club and I am a little nervous about the reaction to it, but it sounds like it will definitely offer up plenty of thought for discussion.
I’m glad to read a bot of your description since the books doesn’t seem that well explained in many places.
.-= Nicole´s last blog ..Dragon House, by John Shors =-.
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[...] ~ The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal by Sean Dixon, reviewed by Jen at Devourer of Books. [...]
[...] few bloggers whose opinion I have come to trust also chimed in on this book. Jen from Devourer of Books had this to say in her review of The last Days of the Lacuna Cabal: I’m not sure whether the plot or the characters are odder. In fact, as I was reading it I kept [...]