I was a great admirer of Hello Down There, Parker's previous novel, and I enjoy a few of his stories as well. This new novel, however, leaves much to be desired. I read the first 250 pages or so before I finally got too bored to continue. Parker clearly knows how to put words and sentences together, but his talent stops there. Plot and character development are almost entirely absent from this book.

Parker should write poetry. His love for language is that of a poet's. He lacks what it takes to be an interesting novelist on the scale of John Gardner, John Updike, or Gore Vidal. That is to say, he lacks the ability to infuse his fiction with engaging concepts and an interesting story.

If you want to read Parker's work, pick up Hello Down There, though you might be better advised to read Fred Chappell, Jay Parini, or David Slavitt, all of whom are fantastic novelists.

This book has great characters and a intricate plot.Michael Parker promises great things in the future. A writer that accurately presents his subjects in a beautiful manner.

This is one of the most unfulfilling books I have ever read. It has plot holes big enough to drive a truck through and the author is so impressed with his own writing that he forgot to develop the characters or plot beyond a simple and highly unlikely outline.

I kept reading in hopes that the ending would bring everything together and create some sort of emotional resonance but it was an even bigger disappointment that the rest of the book. Don't waste your time on this book unless you enjoy reading about a couple of self-centered, whining kids who never get beyond their own skin.

Why this novel has not received more attention is beyond me. It is ambitious in its subject matter, rich in its characterizations, and lilting in its prose. A very satisfying read with passages that will stay with the reader. PArker takes the southern gothic genre and turns it on its ear. reka and randall speight grow up dirt poor in nc, reka her younger brother's protector. after she sets out to find herself a new life, Randall sets out to find her. Their search for each other is Dickensian in the best sense, avoiding the pitfalls of melodrama. Paker's use of the late fifties and early sixties as backdrop is also effective. Read this book and tellyour friends. It deserves more attention!