From Library Journal
This is a psychological mystery of the first order. Set in Arizona, in a mental health sanitarium run by nuns, it describes several months in the lives of Melanie, a 15-year-old rape victim suffering from amnesia, and Julian, an epileptic, suicidal 20-year-old albino chess prodigy. Both attempt to come to grips with reality as he teaches her how to play chess. There are a number of strange twists, including her discovery of events from her past under hypnosis through the medium of a carver of miniatures, and Julian's recurring nightmares about Melanie's rape. Through their friendship Melanie gradually regains her lost past while Julian becomes more human. The characters are unique, the prose is smooth, the story fascinating. A superb first novel. Brian E. Coutts, Western Kentucky Univ. Lib., Bowling Green
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Description
Julian Papp found redemption in the game of chess, a kind of intellectual redemption that helped offset the shame and ridicule he often faced as an albino. With his unique ability to achieve a state of perfect concentration, Julian was an awesome prodigy--until, that is, he suffered his first epileptic seizure. Suddenly stripped of his chess-playing prowess, Julian attempts suicide, and finds himself at St. Francis Sanitarium, an institution run by an order of nuns. It is here that he meets Marcy--an enigma to those trying to help her, an adolescent who has blotted all memory of an undisclosed past. When put under hypnosis, in an effort to reclaim her lost identity, the young girl seeks the protection of an aged wood-carver, The Miniature Man, who offers her hints about events she has repressed. He also suggests that Julian may hold a key. Julian thus begins his most significant game, one in which both he and Marcy will learn much about themselves--and about the unavoidable pain of being human.
A brilliant early work, The Miniature Man not only brings to life two unforgettable characters, it also establishes r. muir as a unique literary voice.
A brilliant early work, The Miniature Man not only brings to life two unforgettable characters, it also establishes r. muir as a unique literary voice.
