Fieldwork

CONTEST ALERT! READ TO THE BOTTOM AND ENTER TO WIN A COPY OF FIELDWORK!

It has taken me some time to get around to reviewing Fieldwork by Mischa Berlinski because it was brilliant on so many levels that I needed time to sort out my feelings about it well enough to write about it. Stephen King's blurb on the front of the book says simply, "A remarkable novel." That sums it up plainly and simply, but I won't leave you just with that.

In April, 2007, in The King of Pop, his monthly column in Entertainment Weekly, Stephen King posited Fieldwork as an example of "How to Bury a Book." Stephen King is probably the most prolific writer in my sphere (I don't read Harlequin or other romance-y stuff that is often churned out monthly by certain writers.) Apparently he is also a voracious reader, which begs the questions, "Where the hell does he find the time????" King came across Fieldwork when it bore this cover:

There is nothing about this cover that calls to the reader, begging him to look at the book jacket much less buy it. Nonetheless, Stephen King purchases the book, reads 15 pages and is hooked. I felt the same way. As my BF Amy said, "It's the kind of book that you never want to end. You can't stop reading it, but you do because you want to make it last longer." Stephen King described it perfectly as a "Russian doll of a novel." Amy might have described it as "onion-like," having many layers and revealing something new as each layer is removed.

The fictional Mischa Berlinski is semi-working in Thailand, when a friend tells him about an American anthropologist, imprisoned in a Thai jail for killing a Christian missionary. Berlinski gets sucked into the story and can't help but find out more. There end up being several stories running concurrently, but instead of the confusion that would result in less capable hands, there are frequent beautiful confluences of time, place and plot that reward the reader for his attention.

In my truly humble opinion, Berlinski tells these stories without judgment. One learns about anthropology, about Thailand and about missionaries without the author popping you over the head with cliche judgments of the characters or their motivations. Fieldwork raises questions of religion and science without requiring a winner in that ongoing struggle.

Oh...one of my favorite aspects of the book is the use of the occasional footnote. The footnotes had me reaching for my MacBook Pro to find out if they contained truth or fiction. (The Dogs May Bark, But the Caravan Never Ends is really a book, but www.mymagicneverends.com is not a real web site...at least not now.)

In King's column, he lamented that Fieldwork was hovering at #24,571 on the Amazon list of most popular books. At one point in November, 2007, Fieldwork rose to #3,992 thanks to Mr. King's endorsement which brought it out from the oblivion in which it sat since its original publication. I share Stephen King's hope that a measure of success with his debut novel has afforded Mischa Berlinski the time to write this second. I will be waiting.

Di

CONTEST:

Due to my own stupidity of misplacing Fieldwork for a time, I now possess two copies. My Aunt Mary wants to read one which she will eventually return, so I would like to give the other away. No gimmicks. No need to solve puzzles. No need to kiss up (although I do enjoy that so much.) Just leave a comment saying, in some regard, "I want Fieldwork!" The winner will be drawn on Sunday, April 26.

Comments

[Louise Brouillette]

A good read!

[Erica G]

I want Fieldwork!

[Kathy Schoenherr]

Looks like a good read.

[Karen Everrett]

Always on the look out for something new.

[Cathy Wilcox]

Sounds like a great book - I want Fieldwork!

[Christina Almond]

Would love to read this--I want Fieldwork!! :)

[Patricia Hill]

I want the book-Fieldwork

[Richard Deyarmond]

interesting concept

[Pauline M]

I'm a total reader demon, would love to receive this book to enjoy!

[christopher h]

I want Fieldwork!