Nerdy Apple Bottom

Rating: 4 of of 5

Synopsis: This is a dystopian novel set in an indeterminate time and location. Very ‘Big Brother’ like in that the citizens are constantly being watched, or believe that they are. People disappear regularly with no indication of where they end up, others are killed and left for viewing. The police are no longer identifiable so people are leery of everyone. The main character is William Drysdale, father of eight-year-old and mute Molly, . He is a former violinist turned epitaphorist. His wife disappeared at the start of the uprising and since then he has been doing his best to blend in and get by.
A possibly chance run in with a former friend starts him thinking about the future and the past. Can he figure out what happened to the love of his life? Can he help change the world so Molly will have a better future? He decides he must chance it and chooses to venture out after curfew. He leaves Molly with some older, puppeteer neighbors and goes on his way.

This novel is written in a very uncommon narrative. The fonts change, the punctuation is not standard, the chapters are short. But it works. It also makes it quite a short read. My favorite parts were when William was meeting with clients to determine what to have put on the gravestones. I also enjoyed Molly a great deal as well as her eccentric neighbors.

Though I really do think I ‘got’ the book, I’m pretty sure if I were smarter, I would have given it 5 stars. ;)

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