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I’ll admit, I started reading Hollow Out the Dark with my eyes (digital ARC), and I became intimidated by the vocabulary. Author James Wade USES BIG WORDS, effectively, yes, but my retired brain – most recently regaled by picture book stories - stopped hard. So I decided to switch to reading with my ears, and from there, went back and forth between the digital copy & the audiobook. And next, I will get the hardcover copy and hopefully catch up with the author somewhere and get it autographed.
Why the additional hardcover format? Well, aside from being a book nerd, this is the kind of book that should be held in one’s hands, with the words on paper pages absorbed slowly and revisited often. There are so many noteworthy quotes, turns-of-phrases, and exquisitely written passages.
“Charity’s not just for folks who have plenty;
just like courage ain’t just for them without fear.”
Not only does he use the most robust vocabulary, one of the stellar aspects of Wade’s writing is the way he has and translates deep and philosophical thoughts into the everyday characters who are also not so run-of-the-mill. True, there may be a Platonic Demiurge reference that might skate over a reader’s head, but whether I catch them all or not, this reader always finishes one of James Wade’s book feeling a little smarter, a little more thoughtful about the world.
Speaking of finishing, the final chapter and epilogue of Hollow Out the Dark need mentioning. I see what you did there, Mr. Wade. You provided closure and resolutions to all the loose ends that this reader needed tied — and one I’d forgotten was dangling loose! And you did it with panache, giving readers the satisfaction of a come-uppance or two sprinkled with a much-needed dose of hope to pull us out of the darkness. Bravo.
ABOUT THE NARRATOR: I believe this is the third of Wade’s books Roger Clark has narrated, and he’s truly a master of Southern fiction diction. His distinct delivery is the perfect complement to Wade’s exceptional writing. Clark’s pacing made it easy to listen at regular speed; his delivery is nearly flawless. My one small quibble, and I recall it from another Texas-set book as well, is how mispronounces the Brazos River. It’s the only hint that he’s not Texan, and that’s impressive since he’s not one.
Hollow Out the Dark is an example of literary fiction at its finest, and Wade’s breadth of knowledge and storytelling skills shine. This novel secures his title as the Southern Gothic Demiurge.
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