The Weaver

The trend in novels lately, besides the rise of the multi-volume character-driven series, has been the resurgence of the Dickensian technique of weaving together multiple story lines to form a complex whole in one great tome. Driftless, by David Rhodes, is a stunning example of such a technique.

Rhodes first gives us the landscape to defend his title, then he peoples his small world with characters who have been placed there through various glacial events beyond their control. The hapless residents of the town of Words remain where they are dropped, waiting for other forces to move them.

Through the course of the book the characters begin to find the strength to move themselves. Part of this change is due to July Montgomery, who knows each of the other characters in one way or another. Montgomery merely nudges people and, like Newton’s theory of inertia, the characters keep moving until they bump up against someone else. The remainder of the change simply happens due to the interactions they all have with each other.

Writers often are unable to use slow, creeping tension to its best effect, but Rhodes’ pool table plot played with boulder-sized balls moved by sheets of ice, makes the incremental directions in people’s lives seem gripping. We fret over each new event, sometimes thinking we see the inevitable outcomes and are often surprised by the resolutions.

Throughout, humor mixes with the drama and tragedy. The writing style shows skill with words and an attempt to find humanity in every character. Like sitting down to a rich meal, one finds oneself reading slowly through a phrase to relish its perfection or setting the book down to gaze into space and digest a sentiment.

I won’t spoil the ending, other than to say that I wished it ended a little differently, but I understand why Rhodes chose the path he took. Sometimes the glacier of imagination pushes the author in a direction with no choice for turning aside.

Amy