Provinces of Night

Maybe Better than Hemingway?

Mr. Gay's book is an emotional and physical journey into the pit of life. He tells a tale of violence, love, life, and death as real as it actually is. While Mr. Gay's use of descriptive terms jumps out at you sometimes as being a bit much, at other times he can make you smell the cloves in your grandmother's kitchen. This is a wonderful narrative, interestingly written and presented. This is fiction at its best.

Provinces of Night

I really enjoyed this novel. Gay writes beautifully, using words in a style that's an homage to Cormac McCarthy, William Faulkner and to the voice rhythms and character of the South. His characters are the rough, poor and violent, but his careful attention to them gives them a humanity that made them accessible. I recommend it highly.

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Provinces of Night

Wonderful, lyrical novel with hints of Cormac McCarthy, William Faulkner and much of what is beautiful about the writing of the Old South. Gay tells an interesting story about a motley collection of characters. His dialogue is always snappy, with humorous rhythms that make it a joy to read, and his descriptive skills are considerable. The writing doesn't just move you from point a to point b; his wording and descriptions are part of the experience. In the end and despite the violence and poverty of many of the characters, I do think Gay shows a soft side. This is a love story, sentimental at times, harsh at times, but it does suggest the ultimate redemption of his protagonist. Certainly recommended.

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