The Ambidextrist

I'm a bit surprised by the PW and LJ reviews of this book, at least the negative aspect of them. It was probably the best book I'd read last year. Rock's writing has matured from his prior two books, both of which were really good, into something far more compassionate, if simultaneously haunting and desolate. But more than simply a narrative strewn with the picaresque, or flatly dark, this book has a great beauty to it, a formal elegance binding three downtrodden narrative lives within the same general fictional and geographical turf. Simlarly astonishing is Rock's prose and his knack for dialog--for capturing the said and the intended in as few words as possible. If being allowed to look into lives and motivations that are perhaps unlike your own is unpleasant, or icky, or sinful or whatever, then, yeah this book probably isn't for you. If, however, getting a real jolt from a young writer who has the emotional maturity of someone generations older, even if it means looking at the world as it goes wrong before your eyes, then do read this.

This is a novel about people trying to make connections, people on the margins looking in, people trying to reach outside of themselves, powerless people trying to feel strong. Unpretentious, understated, this novel elucidates what life is like for a community of disparate spirits who spend their time on the Schuylkill riverbank. I think it's a very relevant book for our times. It shows an aspect of the American spirit not often dwelled upon. Most of us are on the margins. Most of us are not the movers and shakers of corporate America. Most of us are confronted with our powerlessness everyday, and our salvation is the forging of connections with others like us.

I bought this book cause of the mri of the writer's head on the cover. it's good stuff though. reminded me of cormac mccarthy and denis johnson. the plot ain't much but who cares? the flayed prose's worth the price of admission. desolate's the word to describe this book except it's remarkably rich emotionally like a kenny roger's tune. i liked it alot. thank god for writers like peter rock.

Once again, Peter Rock has fashioned a story that will haunt you long after you close the book. The writing is beautiful, as usual, for Rock. And the narrative takes such unexpected twists. A delight to read. It's like a Bunuel film set in inner city Philly. Highly recommended.