PositiveVirginia LivingPaddy Crewe’s debut novel is strong in many ways. The extraordinary use of language is first and foremost. The book is stirringly written, and make no mistake, it is written. Yip, as our narrator, makes it explicit early on that he is actively writing this from a future time and place. This both justifies the highly refined and thoughtful—and very much dialectic to 1850s Georgia—style and undercuts any tension about whatever mortal peril Yip might (and does) find himself in over the course of the story (obviously he survives). Though the style may not be for everyone, it worked well at propelling the narrative forward and making the story memorable and unique ... But there are some weaknesses in style, too. Throughout, a good deal of \'as you will soon find out\' occurs in the book. That is to say, the narrator often foreshadows plot events by telling you things ... Things build up well enough—the arc is very character-driven (for the most part), and the characters are deeply compelling—however the ending comes almost entirely out of nowhere and feels almost entirely pointless. It doesn’t really seem to be the ending that the narrative was working up to ... All things considered, My Name is Yip is still an enjoyable read. When Crewe’s in the thick middle of the plot as opposed to the ending, the writing sparkles and his character-work is perhaps second to none. I found myself strongly bonded to Yip and the dear friends he manages to make in spite of his situation, and, at the very least, those are feelings worth enjoying. There’s something to be said about a journey where being voiceless doesn’t hold one back. For all his muteness, Yip speaks volumes, finally finding the connections he longed for and adding something a little bit different to the canon of Southern literature.
Brendan Slocumb
PositiveVirginia LivingThis one is a page-turner very much in the spirit of Ned Bauman’s The Teleportation Accident. Through the whole story, we are not only pulled along by the mystery of the theft but by the trajectory of Ray’s career. There’s something satisfying watching his confidence build alongside his musical skill—and yet he never grows cocky or condescending. The commentary on prejudice and systemic abuse is quite pointed, often subtle, and just as often not. Ray’s experiences no doubt resonate with many musicians ... The characters are distinct and charming (even when you dislike them, you enjoy disliking them) ... The dialogue is well constructed, helping to maintain a crisp pace, as well as bringing the characters even further to life through their various voices and relationships. The Violin Conspiracy delights about eighty-five percent of the time ... The other fifteen percent—that falls a bit short—comes from three things. The first is the musical terminology...If you already know what they mean, good for you. But for those of us who aren’t musical experts, it’s a bit of a stumbling block...The second thing is the book’s occasional treatment of women...The third thing—and the one perhaps worth the most consideration—is the resolution to the mystery itself ... Whether it’s the eighty-five percent or the fifteen percent which wins out very much depends on the reader. If you’re here for character-driven work, great dialogue, feel-good moments, and quite a few laughs, you’ll probably love The Violin Conspiracy. If you’ve signed up for a tense, satisfying mystery, there is a whole section at Barnes and Noble devoted to them.
