Electricity

Ray Robinson's "Electricity" is a beautifully crafted novel that takes the reader deep into the head and heart of a compellingly genuine narrator, Lily, who is living with epilepsy. Lily's voice is authentic and direct. Her no-nonsense attitude enables the reader to take a first-hand look at living with epilepsy, without making the disease the center of the narration or plot. Lily is blunt, sometimes almost brutally so, but she is also undeniably honest about her experiences and world. This, combined with her complex and at times conflicting emotions, makes Lily a convincing and completely lovable character. In Lily, and in her (also intriguing) companions, Robinson gracefully treads the fine line between compelling characterization and caricature without falling prey to the temptation to resort to melodrama, stereotype, or self-pity. I loved "Electricity." Ray Robinson has done a brilliant job with his first novel, and I look forward to reading his next novel(s), hopefully soon.