Customer Reviews

Music of the Inner Lakes: Stories (MVP)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Roger Sheffer shows us that even the smallest moments are fraught with meaning. We run away from that idea, because to possess it makes us responsible for being fully alive and fully conscious each and every minute of each and every day. Sheffer isn't for the timid. But if you want to probe the Byzantine and unwritten rules behind most human behavior, listen to Sheffer's "music."

Sheffer's newest book of short stories is told by a most unusual, original set of voices. The stories are entirely fresh insights into the human drives for connectedness and meaning; their characters are odd and fully fleshed out people who fit no established types. Sheffer's territory is untrammeled; he explores some most unattractive, unprepossessing characters as they insist on finding their place in their circumscribed worlds. It is a book about sounds and voices, and Sheffer's voice is a clear, sane and unequivocal one, free of self-consciousness or fear.

Roger Sheffer is an amazing writer, let me begin by saying that about him; however, there were times in this book where the harmonious relationship between music and life (and/or death) became too much of the story. I realize that Sheffer was going for something a bit different here: a themed collection on something that he obviously knows a lot about and that has obviously changed his life in a positive way. I applaud his effort, in fact so much so that I would never tell someone not to read this book. The stories are all fantastic revelations of the human spirit; and the prose, well the prose is beatiful. I could have given this book five stars for prose quality alone, but I felt that the narrative tension, the push and pull of characters that keeps so many readers glued to their seats, just wasn't as strong in Mr. Sheffer's collection as I had hoped it would be.
However, don't let that stop you. This is a great book. The stories all touch on humanity in a way that is special and unique, and Mr. Sheffer has earned a spot on my list of writers to reread for years to come. His characters are supurb, please don't let them suffer alone. Read about them, live with them, and then tell Mr. Sheffer that you too feel like music is the avenue to the soul. Thank you Mr. Sheffer for this wonderful book and I look forward to your future projects.