This
sequel ‘Tis  (what ‘Tis indicates
I have no idea and I find it vaguely irritating) is about the main character
going to the United States of America, even if there is no mention of getting
through Ellis Island or how the whole family seemed to just appear on the
streets, with no money, nowhere to live, no skills and pretty well totally
undesirable as an immigrant. That aside and giving everyone the benefits of my
doubts, I still cannot suggest you rush out and pay hard-earned dollars, and
expect a good read.

It
reminds me of one of those train sets that were such a delight when a young
boy.  The rails allowed only a small
rectangular track and the engine, tender and carriage went round and round —
and round and wound down.

This
story does the same. As a passenger you observe the same scenery over and over
again. Stupidity, poverty, humanity at it filthiest surrounds you, constantly
depressing. If the scenery changes it is only because you have moved to the
other side of the carriage.

The
plot takes the storyteller through his effort to get work, his entry into the
American Army, where he has sex with an emaciated waif in exchange for some
food and after leaving the army apparently becomes a teacher. As his level of
life takes him shoulder high to the gutter, it rather makes one wonder what
teaching skills he enjoys.

I
had to read the book in order to do a review. I put it down feeling that it had
taught me nothing, leaving a feeling of being unclean and having wasted my
time.

I’d
rather you did not waste yours.

© 2003 Wyndham Perring

Wyndham Perring lives
in Stratord-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, UK. 

Categories: Fiction