Customer Reviews

Place of Shelter (New American Fiction)

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The love stories were intricately told, with a mystical overtone. The characters -- white farmhands, saloon keepers, Indian shamans, Cherokee Bob and Chinaman Sam -- were memorable. The entire book was told in second person; then in the epilogue the author came out: "What would you have me do, dad? Go through life alone?"

A coming of age story centred on two boys, around fifteen and sixteen years old, of very different natures. Clinton, the younger boy, sensitive and creative, is often the butt of teasing by older boys. Corey is physical and well built, and one of Clinton's primary tormentors in school, although around the farm he his more subdued due to his abusive father.

The relationship between the two boys changes dramatically the day Clinton's drunken father comes looking for his son and Clinton with no good intent . Following this encounter the relationship between the boys changes and they subsequently set off on an odyssey of mystical discovery with the help of the Vinegar Man.

Interwoven with the boys' story is a parallel story from the past related in stages by the Vinegar Man.

Clinton's account is told in the rare and rather quaint second person narrative, other parts in the third person. It is a strange mix in more ways than one, while not a long read I became a little impatient with the Vinegar Man's side of the story (and to be honest I did read through those passages very quickly), as much because Clinton and Corey, even with his damaged upbringing, are such likeable characters and I would have preferred to have read a lot more about them and their relationship. But it is a good read, with the inevitable in part tragic conclusion, but not with hope.