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Tinkers (2008)

by Paul Harding(Favorite Author)

3.35 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1934137197 (ISBN13: 9781934137192)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Bellevue Literary Press

review 1: There is no passage in literature, of which I am aware, that better describes the process of producing transcendent literature, which, while all about vision, is not at all ocular, than this from Mr. Harding. It exposes what it is like to be given “a glimpse of what is on the other side,” of grand dimensions beyond three, and hints of solemnities hidden behind a veil or flat “quilt” when some rare good fortune creates in it a rift of some kind: “The true essence, the secret recipe of the forest and the light and the dark was far too fine and subtle to be observed with my blunt eye - water sac and nerves, miracle itself, fine itself: light catcher. But the thing itself is not forest and light and dark, but something else scattered by my own course gaze, by my dumb... more intention. The quilt of leaves and light and shadow and ruffling breeze might part and I be given a glimpse of what is on the other side; a stitch might work itself loose or be worked loose... and two of the pieces of whatever it is that the world is knit from had come loose from each other, and there was maybe just a finger width’s hole that I was lucky enough to spot in the glittering leaves... and brave enough to poke my finger into the tear, that might offer to the simple touch a measure of tranquility or reassurance.”
review 2: I picked this up from my TBR pile after hearing it discussed on the Litereary Disco podcast. I had bought it when it won the Pulitzer and then forgot about it. It is a slim, yet powerful volume. George Crosby's family has gathered to be with him during his final days after a lengthy illness. He drifts in and out of consciousness and dreams/ thinks about his father and grandfather and their lives. Nothing much happens; it is a story of inner thoughts and feelings, but I really liked it. It took me a couple of weeks to read as I was thinking about the character's and Harding's writing is dense, so at times it was a slow go. If you enjoy literary fiction without much action and without happiness, then I would recommend this to you. less

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