I. B. “Berl” Pickett, M.D., named after Irving Berlin, did not grow up in normalcy. He endured the spectacle of Pentecostalist Sunday worship; the accompaniment of his parents on their rug-shampooing business; the technical advancement and emotional retardation that ensued from his erotic initiation at the hands of his aunt. What would have become of this soul had he not gone to medical school, thanks to the surrogate parenting of a local physician and solitary bird hunter? Weird novel, not very good. The narrator of this book seems to be an overgrown, hapless naif, adrift in his own life in small town Montana; his story spanning decades from the 1970's to the late 2000's. Berl Pickett is his name and the enjoyment of this book is getting to know him, his dry wit, his town and the characters who come into and out of his life usually in surprising ways. The story is told in a slow, late afternoon kind of way, as if there is no hurry to get where we're going. That said, hints are dropped throughout the story and I was eager to find out what becomes of Mr. Pickett, given his oddball beginnings. Glad I hung there as the ending is sweet and satisfying.
What do You think about Por Um Fio (2010)?
Solid. Really funny one-liners. Just an oddball guy reminiscing about his oddball life.
—aaa123
This was perfect to listen to as we drove 1200 miles from CO to CA.
—xfizzles
