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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What Other Way Could Hubbell Webster Escape The Darkness of Insanity?, September 3, 2006
In reading "Dancing In The Void" by Robert Edward Levin, I found myself intrigued by both the unique writing and unusual storyline. I read it completely all the way through, enjoying it for the fascinating drama of events which unraveled at a fast pace. However, startled by the ending, I went back for a second reading, this time understanding the deeper meaning behind the written words as I witnessed the fantasy life of the main character.
Although the title of this book should have given me a clue that Hubbell Webster danced to a different tune, I truly liked him in spite of his somewhat amusing and eccentric behavior. Saddened by his misfortune at marrying the wrong woman, I appreciated his devotion to his daughter, his acceptance of Sardi Thompson who had just been released from prison, his display of loyalty and trust, his inappropriate but admirable deeds, his sense of adventure, his willingness to take a risk, and his belief that he could make life what he wanted it to be, regardless of the circumstances. Undoubtedly, it was what I read from the darkness of his mind that had kept my eyes glued to the pages.
Trapped in a subsistence of darkness, a monochrome prison from which there appeared to be no escape, an endless void--never to be filled by the realities of life--a life devoid of fulfillment, an awareness of muffled sounds, silent and non-silent screams, vague images and beckoning shadows, and a life which, based upon self-examination, appeared to be nothing more than a sheet of blank paper that was static and useless, Hubbell Webster took an even deeper step into the world of insanity and filled the entire page of that blank sheet of paper with fantasy--the living "autobiography" of a hero, the person he allows himself to become. At last he is a person who commands respect from others and knows something other than plainness, despair, and loneliness. The chains of his mind no longer bind him to sameness and insaneness; instead his mind becomes an avenue of escape to a world of color and excitement.
But, ultimately, there is a battle between fantasy and reality and Hubbell is trapped with his delusions that take him down a disappointing path. I found myself wishing that he could continue dancing in the void---that the sounds and colors of life would be permanent in his mind's eye.
This book is mesmerizing; it consists of intriguing pages of reading with descriptive content, adventure, and characters who are brought to life in an unusual way--characters with unique attributes. Exciting and different, "Dancing In The Void" is definitely a MUST READ and a keeper!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Off the beaten track, November 8, 2006
Dancing in the Void tells us a story of Hubbell Webster, who is a very intriguing and strange character. After his wife leaves with their child and tries to go on with her life without her husband's strange but also quite funny antics, Hubbell sets on a strange journey to help him figure out the essence of his life. His adventures are quite entertaining.
During that journey, the author introduces a lot of various characters who seemingly have nothing to do with the main character, but in the end, the reader sees how they are connected to Webster. The storyline seems quite chaotic and confusing at times. It looks like there are many stories in one and every character seems to be telling us their own story. However, in the end all stories merge and we see how connected everything is.
In the end we see Hubbell as more mature than we first thought. Throughout his journey he helps out a lot of people and puts their own good before his own. The ending is completely unexpected, but makes a perfect closing for this very strange story.
Dancing in the void is a very unusual book. It cannot be compared to anything else. It also cannot be summarized properly. It was quite hard to write this review. You simply have to read it from the beginning till the last page to experience the book and to know what it really is about. I really enjoyed looking at the world through the characters' eyes and had a lot of fun doing that.
Armchair Interviews says: Recommended for anyone looking for a book that is a little bit off the beaten track of typical books.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Dancing In The Void, July 18, 2007
Dr. Hubbell Webster is a brilliant psychiatrist. Perhaps it is his genius that leads him to be act so very bizarrely. His wife Catherine says that his "methods to be those of a man whose existence is dependent solely upon the evolving absurdity of the very situations he incites". I think this is probably the aptest description of the man.
Dancing in the Void is full of great characters that give the reader insight into a whole different world. Some of these individuals have a deep sadness about them that manifests into very dark, scary personalities. Some of the characters are deeply frightening. Others simply make you shake your head, not only because of their absolute absurdity but also the fact that they remind you of someone you've actually met before.
Dr. Hubbell Webster is probably my favorite character. He is clever with a wry sense of humor that he always takes to the extreme so that the rest of us see the irony of the situation. I found him and his inappropriate behavior completely entertaining and yet somewhat disturbing all at the same time. I love the ending- extremely fitting.
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