Customer Reviews

The Slow Moon

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

 

 

It begins quietly enough, romantically, if you will. We hear: "So on that April evening in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, with spring just beginning, a copper moon rose, balanced like a huge persimmon, and two young teenagers, Crow Davenport and his girl Sophie, left a party and walked into the woods toward the river to be alone."

Two sweethearts have gone into the woods to make love. But shortly after a blanket has been spread on the ground Sophie asks Crow if he has protection. At her urging he races off to his car to retrieve a condom. Upon returning Sophie isn't exactly where he had left her; in fact, she is not at all as he had left her. She's bruised, bleeding, moaning in pain. Although Crow does not know it at the time she has been gang raped.

When he hears the siren of a police car he panics and runs, frightened that he will be blamed. When his wallet is found by Sophie, of course, he is blamed. After Sophie regains consciousness she says nothing, leaving the townspeople to wonder why.

As the story unfolds author Cox adroitly reveals the personalities and paradoxes of those involved, from Bobbie who first laid claim to Sophie and was Crow's best friend to Helen, Crow's ultra religious mom, to Crow's rather introverted younger brother and others. All have a story to tell and secrets to keep.

Actor/singer Christine Williams gives a fine reading of this tale of teenage angst, confusion, lust, and the desire to be grown. She has a rather lilting, pleasing, sympathetic voice that carries listeners along to a surprising conclusion.

- Gail Cooke