 February 2006
They Tell Me of a Home
by Daniel Black
Daniel Black is a writer. So much so that in his thoughtful debut about returning to reality, and reconciliation with one's roots, he crafts a story about family angst that allows readers to be rooted to their seats anticipating the next round of salvos to perpetuate a great storyline. They Tell Me of a Home is the name of this awesome book.
Tommy Lee "T.L." Tyson after a 10-year absence comes home armed with a Ph.D. in black studies, seeking answers after years of silence and hidden agendas, but is in for rude awakenings. The demons that forced him to flee are still intact, but with a twist. Those same demons manifest it to having fled a life of strife where unsettling familial disorder trying to right itself in a bucolic setting, not only was daunting, but psychologically unsound. Couple that with an unloving family atmosphere with an abusive father giving new meaning to child abuse, and you have chaos gone amok.
This is a story where meticulous balance is given to character development and setting parallels for a story with stability. T.L. is frustrated and finds a lot of angst as he delves into the strange machinations of his family, the community at large, and ramifications of unforeseen circumstances that forces him to make decisions. The connecting characters that add to this drama include a tyrannical father, an unstable and remote mother, and older brother Willie James — suffering from low self-esteem and a need to be accepted. In my opinion, the story gives clarity and justification when the author adds intrigue to the mix by creating a desire to reconnect with an adored younger "Sister," Cynthia Jane, who mysteriously dies. The real problem lies in the fact that no one wants to talk about why and when. After probing and with persevering resolve, T.L. uncovers more secrets, and unravels a revelation that changes his life profoundly.
Does he find out the real killers of his beloved sibling? What other ‘demons’ does he uncover, and most importantly, how does it affect his rationale? These questions and the answers are woven throughout the novel, giving more than enough reason for me to entice readers to give this book a chance. It’s easily one of the better books I’ve read in a while. I love this book because of how Mr. Black was able to give a back-story simultaneously while telling the story without conflicting narration. A layer of deft dialogue in the vernacular of the times gives it a sense of realism…giving you a sense of belonging. Kudos to this author for writing a seminal novel with nose and ear close enough to Southern sensibilities to give it pomp and a lot of circumstance!
Reviewed by Alvin C. Romer for The GRITS Online Reading Club |
