Book Review: The Cundy by R.H. Dixon

The Cundy by R.H. Dixon

This book crossed the Atlantic Ocean to arrive here from England, so big thanks to Rachael for sending!

The Cundy is the first I've read from Dixon, but it is her fourth published book. Here is where other reviewers would give a plot summary, but you guys know that I don't like that. Two reasons: 

1: You can already get the author's pre-approved synopsis from Amazon/etc if you want it

2: Summaries = mild spoilers

I LOVE coming-of-age stories. The Cundy falls firmly into this category. Unfortunately, the top tier of my favorite coming-of-age books is well established and hard to break into: McCammon's Boy's Life, Laymon's The Traveling Vampire Show, Lansdale's The Bottoms, etc... Nevertheless, this book hits all of the high water marks of your typical coming-of-age story: three dimensional characters, emotional heft, and honestly narrated interpersonal bonds between characters. Dixon even manages to get through the supernatural aspects of the story without resorting to the dreaded "expository dump." This is when a writer (either through an entire chapter devoted to the topic, or a lengthy "dump" of dialogue) overexplains the mechanics of the supernatural facet of the story. In either case, it both slows the momentum of the narrative and leaches some of the mystery out of the tale. I was very glad to see Dixon avoid it. 

I'm also glad to see the phrase "Book One" on the title page. (btw Rachael-I won't be mad if also send Book Two...)

Dixon is onto something here. You heard it here first!...unless you actually did hear it somewhere else first...

Grade: B

Review by Jason Cavallaro

Twitter: @pinheadspawn