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Title: an amazing world
Review: Wolff's novel succeeds largely due to its ability to create a world with acuity, vividness, magic. The Blackberry Mountain community he creates with bewildered adults who beget bewildered children is evoked in a way that is in turn terrifying and charming. Wolff's handling of sexuality, and the issue referenced in the title is interesting, thought-provoking. He's on no soapbox, interested instead in exploring behavior as it is in a way that seems perfectly right in regard to the characters. Doc Holliday is a villain-like character with tremendous wickedness and magnetism. But the real villains are Jinks and Ann, guilty of the most wretched offense of all, being flawed as humans. The novel isn't perfect--the ending is a bit jarring--but there's a quirkiness and freshness throughout, as well as the honest and courageous look at some ugly and touchy issues.
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