Kenneth Calhoun's Black Moon is
a thoughtfully introspective meditation on human relationships and
contemporary Western society set to the beat of a zombie apocalypse
thriller, within which the sudden absence of sleep transforms people
into a slow moving incoherent mass also capable of rabid bouts of
focused and fatal destruction. This bizarre formula gives the work a
surrealistic quality somewhat reminiscent of the work of celebrated
Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. However, Murakami's surrealism
seems to be a natural element of his writing style, fitting for
characters who live mostly within their own minds and find their way
into mysterious underground societies. Meanwhile, Calhoun's
surrealism is instead endemic to the landscape he creates, a largely
sleepless world in which a dream state infuses waking reality for
both the sleepless and sleepers alike.
I
enjoy surreal novels, and it was the promise of this quality which
initially excited me about reading Dark Moon.
However, I did not continue to read each chapter because I enjoyed
the writing style so much as because I became intrigued by the plot.
The desire to discover what would happen next drew me through to the
book's conclusion, and the ultimate lack of answers struck me as
simultaneously disappointing and beautiful. It shifted my focus once
again, this time from the plot to the intricacies of the characters
themselves. Ultimately, Black Moon is
a character study. It presents interlocking portraits of different
people coping in very different ways with the timeless human themes
of love and loss.
Viewed
as such, Black Moon is
a worthwhile read with room to grow. I recommend it to readers
seeking promising new authors. Pay close attention to the chapter
within which Lila chases wind chimes. Of all the character arcs
examined within Black Moon, Calhoun's
portrait of Lila strikes me as one of the most dynamic and resonant,
despite its seeming simplicity. Likewise, the chapter dedicated to
Biggs' brother's search for the missing baby functions almost as a
stand alone story, a rewarding read in and of itself. As a social
commentary, one of the most poignant points implied by Black
Moon is the role of art in our
society. Although done subtly, Calhoun's mention of film, music and
books suggests their importance as healthy repositories for, and
sometimes antidotes to, our most powerful dreams.
Please
note: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
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