Customer Reviews

Isaac and His Devils

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To say the novel is about a father's lack of tenacity to pursue his dream in life is a bit simplistic to my thinking. Eberstadt, a brilliant talent with keen and broad intellect scope, creates a small range of characters; Sam & Mattie and their sons Issac and Taylor around which to present what truly is an astounding mental prowess; her own. Eberstadt, like Melville, manages to provide insight into thousands of prismatic subjects along the way: the light of her tortured soul just will not go out. Isaac, overweight, over-educated and unhappy, reminded me in some ways of Ignatius Reilly, of O'Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces. (The misunderstood genius in love with a chivalrous past stuck in 20th century redneck America; be it New Orleans or as in this case, Vermont). However, it is Eberstadt that is so compelling; Eberstadt the omniscient narrator, weaver of incredibly perceptive description, psychological insight and above all derisive wit gone mad. The book is to say the least intellectually stimulating even if the actual story is not in itself frightfully compelling, a boy-genius falling in love with an spinster teacher. It is the telling of the tale itself and all the author's breadth and depth makes it a must read. I really liked this book and can't wait to read Low Tide. If the author reads this review; please, please autograph my tome!!!