I love first novels, being an aspiring novelist myself, I take great pleasure in cracking open a first novel. At either extreme you run the possibility of discovering a great new talent or cackling maliciously at the kind of tripe that will get published. While I’m not prepared to herald Jim Lynch as a major new talent in literature, this is a wonderful book.
There are a couple of flaws in this story, but the good parts make it more than worth-while. The first chapter alone is an exceptional slice of word-play that eloquently sets up the stretch of coastline and the young boy who will narrate the tale.
Title: The Highest Tide : A Novel
Author: Jim Lynch
LC Rating:
The Highest Tide centers around a summer where young Miles O’Malley comes across a string of unlikely creatures and artifacts in the tidal flats outside his home. Miles is a great character, cast in the always endearing form of an exceptionally intelligent, overly sensitive young man with an impossible crush on the girl next door.
Through a string of events which rarely stress our concepts of believability he winds up being heralded by the local fringe as a sort of spiritual leader. I couldn’t help but draw parallels to Kosinski’s Being There in the way that Miles comments about the wonder of life in the tidal flats is interpreted as profound cosmic wisdom. The truly charming thing to me was how well it works.
Jim Lynch has created a cast of wonderful characters and with his vivid descriptions of life in the tidal flats carry the plot through a couple of minor rough patches, and more than make up for any failings. File it away as an environmental plea, a coming of age novel, a comedy or whatever you wish; but read it first, you won’t regret it.
January 19th, 2006 at 9:24 am
Well, you have made me want to read it but when I went to order it in paper back
I find it will not be available until May. Thats okay I like going to the library anyway
and that will save this ole Dutchman $! Cheers!