A unique, macabre, and extremely moving look at the life of one Andy Archway, a kid born to be an embalmer, describes his efforts to break the single-season embalming record, which was originally set back in '42. A first novel.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
As evidenced in his wacky first novel, Prill is an innovative humorist who somehow manages to marry the engaging coming-of-age tale of a fledgling undertaker to a sports saga that's a black-humored riff on Malamud's The Natural, creating a wildly comic hybrid in the process. Andy Archway, a young Minnesota farmboy with a talent for embalming, is "discovered" by funeral scout Wake Wakefield and signed to a contract to help famous funeral mogul P.T. Sunnyside bring the mortuary business into the 21st century. But Andy has designs on the legendary Janus P. Mordecai's single-season embalming record of 1769 bodies, and Sunnyside's competitors, the small statured but hugely bizarre Drabford Brothers, steal Andy away from Sunnyside by offering him a chance to set the record in the wartorn and famine-riddled African nation of Soma. There, circumstances conspire against Andy's run at the record, and upon his return to the States he finds himself embroiled in a battle between Sunnyside and the Bradfords over the shape of funerals to come. Prill stretches his sports metaphor to the breaking point, and the plot falls apart well short of resolution?but all that hardly matters. There are so many wonderful comic conceits here, so much outrageous farce and ludicrous dialogue that the story line seems extraneous anyway. Highlights include Andy's training as a member of a competitive collegiate embalming team, his first job?helping to build a California theme park for the dead?and some of the creative final arrangements he comes up with for the folks back on the farm. Occasionally the humor is just plain silly, but there's no doubt that this joker of a novel marks the debut of a significant comic talent.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
A combined review of The Unnatural and Serial Killer Days,
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This review is from: The Unnatural: A Novel (Hardcover)
The Unnatural tells the tale of Andy Archway, who, from an early age dreams of becoming an embalmer. He spends his childhood in southern Minnesota collecting funeral related material and reading trade magazines like Embalmer's Weekly and pulps such as Undisturbed and Respectful Casket Tales. Andy's desire is no pipe dream--he has a natural talent for embalming. People recognize his talent and come from miles around to have Andy work on their loved ones (the Archway farm has a sign at out front that says EGGS--SHEEP SHEARING--EMBALMING).One day, grizzled talent scout "Wake" Wakefield discovers Andy and offers him a scholarship to the Thomas Holmes University of Embalming and Funerary. At the University, Andy engages in scholarly pursuits, learning the finer points of embalming and running a successful funeral business (classes include Consolation Literature 101 and Casketing). Andy's no stick in the mud though--as the star of the school's competitive embalming team, he is also a big man on campus. Upon graduation, Andy receives job offers from the Drabford Brothers and P. T. Sunnyside, the Hertz and Avis of the funeral industry. Andy opts for the Drabford Brothers, who offer him the opportunity to break the single season embalming record of funereal legend Janus P. Mordechai, the Henry Arron of embalming. Andy, blinded by ambition, embarks on a journey to the dark side of his soul, and learns some valuable lessons about fame, loyalty, love, and success. Serial Killer Days also tells a story of a young person seeking answers. Eighteen year old Debbie Sue Morning lives in the small Minnesota town of Standard Springs. Each year for the last twenty years, a citizen of Standard Springs has been brutally murdered by a serial killer. Rather than dwell on the negative, the town's leading lights decide to take the lemons they've been given and make some lemonade. They hit upon the idea of Serial Killer Days, a pageant which actually celebrates the killer's annual visits. Debbie Sue, in her last year of eligibility to compete for the coveted title of "Scream Queen", wonders if she will ever win. On paper, she seems to have what it takes--poise, charm, and a nasty wound on her forehead. But Debbie Sue has a problem--she's not really afraid of anything, and she suspects this will detract from her performance in the screaming competition. Initially driven by her desire to win the title, Debbie Sue discovers there is more to life than riding on a float in the Parade of Fear or participating in the 5K Run For Your Life. Prill writes with great energy and wit. His love for his offbeat characters is evident. Despite the absurd nature of his stories, he always treats them with respect. As a result, you actually start to buy into the odd realities he's created. You think, "By God, maybe little boys do dream of becoming top embalmers, and yes, young women want to be Scream Queen." Prill's humor is black and macabre, like a Charles Addams or Gahan Wilson cartoon. His settings and characters evoke Norman Rockwell's America, albeit one existing in a wildly divergent reality (Mayberry gone wrong?). His humor is usually subtle and understated, but he's not afraid to go way over the top if necessary. How funny is he? Let's just say that it was extremely hard to resist peppering this review with examples of his humor--I knew it would be better for you to experience that for yourselves.
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