Lark and Termite

All is not as it appears.

Jayne Anne Phillips has created two complete worlds in her newest book, Lark and Termite. Set nine years apart in both Korea circa 1950 and West Virginia nine years later. While this tends to keep a reader on their toes the author manages to balance the twin story lines masterfully.She also brilliantly captures the horrors of war,"that erupts and lifts it's flaming head" and the day to day struggle of raising a severely handicapped child.
Although the story line is full of ample examples of haunting memories it also becomes chock full of actual ghosts. I found the closing chapters too abrupt and full of artifice. It was as if the author was tying up all of the plot lines in a neat package and adding a bow with the improbable "motorcycle leaps on moving train" scene.
But by far the biggest problem I had with this book is a portion that is often overlooked in most works. Ms. Phillips listed the following three individuals in her acknowledgments; Charles J. Hanley, Sang-Hun Choe and Martha Mendoza. They are the Associated Press Team responsible for a Pulitzer winning 1999 series of articles about the mass killing of civilians at No Gun Ri.In these articles it was made clear that the American troops were firing on civilians as a result of direct orders from the US military command. Subsequent investigations proved these allegations not only false but fabricated. In light of these details I find the closing ackowledgment disturbing to say the least.
In sum I would recomend Lark and Termite as an engaging and thought provoking book. I would also serve it with a healthy dash of salt.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Very disappointing read. Not at all what I expected.

From the write-up on the back cover, I was expecting a truly original book. Unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The characters were not real people characters. The writing style was forced, seemed as if the author was trying to impress the reader instead of telling a good story. The author also seemed to rely on the explicit descriptions of sex to "wow" the reader. In short, this is a book I wish I hadn't purchased.

3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

great in almost every way

this book sometimes vaguely reminded me of faulkner's "light in august" for obvious reasons.

spectacular writing. poetic. great story re-told from the perspective of its several very real characters. i'm keeping this one.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Absorbing

I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates William Faulkner. Ms. Phillips is a master at setting. The Korean war scenes are suspenseful but not overly graphic, and speak to her powerful imagination. The characters, especially Lark and Termite, are skillfully drawn. Termite narrates the most difficult chapters, offering what Philliaps imagines as the perspective of a mentally and physically handicapped child. This book is drenched with emotion and symbolism, and it's ambiguities sound deep and familiar notes. Simply put, a most satisfying read.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A coming of age drama

In the last week of July 1950 West Virginia, seventeen year old Lark; her mute younger brother Termite and their Aunt Nonie struggle to survive with none of them having any hope for the near future. Lark is confused by her past starting with her mom who dumped her on her aunt before disappearing and ending with having no idea who her dad is. When she was nine, the infant Termite, who cannot walk or talk, was abandoned on Nonie¿s doorstep.

Whereas Nonie is filled with fear for herself and her two charges while working overtime at a nearby restaurant to feed the three of them, Lark raises Termite while his father Corporal Robert Leavitt serves in Korea as the war begins. When Lark attends secretarial school, she soon is paralyzed with fear and despair just like her caretaker aunt as she realizes what Nonie knows that the future is at best gloomy for her or Termite.

Four days in July 1950 serve as the basis of this insightful historical character study that enables the audience to look deep inside the souls of the four prime characters and to a lesser degree Lark¿s mom. LARK AND TERMITE is both sad and uplifting as the audience along with the teen understand that she like her aunt has no future and Termite¿s is even less than hers; yet Lark has dreams for her and her ward even though they her subatomic tiny, they matter. Something as simple as a means for Termite to be a bit mobile like getting him a wheelchair though that is a dream as money is only for the basic sustenance of food and shelter. This coming of age drama is not an easy read as there is an overall feel of dismal inevitability to the story line, but even in total darkness little bits of hopeful light shine through.

Harriet Klausner

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Chose another book

I thought this book was going to be rivetting. I couldn't be more wrong. Upset that I wasted my money by neglecting to read the reviews first. Lesson learned! I never leave a book unfinished, I guess I should head the advice of never say never, because this book was so terribly boring that I indeed left it unfinished, even after trying to read it several times. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY! EVEN IF THEY OFFER IT AS A FREE FRIDAY!!!!!!!

Disappointed

This book was a big disappointment. It seems it could have been good but it was all over the place.
The ending was just silly.

A waste of money.

This book is so disappointing. Only halfway through, and it's just painful. Save your money.

Donna Mobbs

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

All over the place

Not my favorite. I thought it was hard to follow in places, especially during Termite's narratives. I am still unsure of what exactly took place at the end.

Adult Reading

Great character development. Very interesting -- the best of the story is at the end but don't read ahead - you need the build-up of the characters. Some pretty graphic sex scenes but just a few. The rest of the book is well worth reading.

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