" Continuation of Straub studies. Based in Madison during the 60s fire riot, as well as modern-day Chicago and 1960s Milwaukee. Showcases Straub's ongoing fascination with birds (this time a song lark), the genesis of evil, fantasy (round orbs of the zodiac in a field: you have to read it to see it), frozen memory/moments (trauma?), and constellations of childhood friends who are brought together to re-combat evils of the past. A bit of a let-down after Floating Dragon, which I read afterward; however, Straub seems to grapple more explicitly with questions of the origins of evil and fight for goodness here than in other works. The perspective is also more hopeful. Usually his perspective seems to be, as with Cormac McCarthy, that the battle with evil is worth the fight although man will lose (Blood Meridian), but here (spoiler alert!) his quartet of heroes wins at least a partial victory. Themes of the writerly supernatural sleuth/narrator and uber-intelligent woman continue. His Eel, this time however, is on the side of good. Not as interesting. "
— Isadora, 1/23/2014