The Newt is Mute But Speaks Volumes: WaPo Resurrectionist Review
Jeff VanderMeer • June 27th, 2008 • Book Reviews
…Aaaaand just when I think I’m done, they pull me back in. The Washington Post Book World just posted my review of Jack O’Connell’s The Resurrectionist, a book that despite my reservations I recommend highly and am adding to the rec list on the right (click through to order).
Excerpt: You would think that a conversation between a mad scientist and his prized newt might not stand out in a novel dominated by sociopathic bikers, a father’s unbearable guilt and a sad quest by a group of sideshow freaks. You would be wrong. In the strange crucible of reality and imagination that is The Resurrectionist, by Jack O’Connell, their one-sided exchange exemplifies the author’s sheer chutzpah: from its meticulous attention to detail to the parallels between Dr. Peck, founder of a coma clinic, and his blue-spotted newt, Rene.








Award-winning writer Jeff VanderMeer will spend the summer visiting Romania and the Czech Republic, teaching at Shared Worlds (Wofford College), and finishing his novel Finch. He writes nonfiction for The Washington Post Book World, Amazon's book blog, and many others. He also co-edits fiction anthos with his wife, Ann VanderMeer (fiction editor of Weird Tales), and The Church recently completed a song cycle based on his last novel, Shriek: An Afterword. Through mid-October, a diverse group of guest bloggers will be posting here. If you like the blog, please consider 








