Wellness

Just finished T.C. Boyle's the Road to Welville. Jane Smiley's insightful review is here. I must admit, Boyle's dazzling virtuosity actually slowed me down at times. His story of early 20th century health nuts is superbly researched and both hilarious and sad. I do admire that Boyle never settles for simple protagonist-antagonist paradigms. His ensemble cast all have positive and negative attributes, and his command of language is staggering. Its just that you get the feeling that he's kind of showing off that incredible prowess sometimes. Recommended reading nonetheless. Having said that, though its been awhile (I read it in undergrad in 1994), I'd recommend starting with his wonderful collection Greasy Lake and Other Stories.