In this one Pierson does something very, very brave. He takes the character of the angel from the classic movie "It's A Wonderful Life" and does a little alternate history with his story. What if Clarence doesn't save George Bailey that cold and lonely night on the bridge in Bedford Falls? What would happen then?
From that beginning Pierson weaves a fascinating tale of the Bailey children, of Mary, of the vile old man Henry Potter and all the other characters that have become icons in our culture. My first reaction was one of shock but the movie is based on a much darker original short story ("The Greatest Gift" by Philip Van Doren Stern). Once you step into the world that Pierson creates you are rewarded with some solid writing and story telling. Things are tough for the children who must deal with abandonment issues especially Zuzu. Potter eventually is taken down but many of George's family and friends will fall along the way as well. And through it all wanders Clarence. Ejected from heaven for his failure he wanders the world wondering if he had done the right thing and occasionally bumping into people from Bedford Falls.
Clarence is confronted at the critical moment by another angel who questions if saving Bailey is the best thing to do. Consistent with the movie Clarence isn't too bright and let's himself be argued into not fulfilling his task. It's a fascinating concept but it also leads to my greatest disappointment with the book. The ending is very unsatisfying for me. We never discover who the angel is or what exactly went on in that moment. Plus the end includes five excerpts from conversations that are just left dangling. We aren't told who is involved (I guess it's assumed we'll figure it out but I only came up with ideas for three) and they don't seem to resolve anything.
After such a wonderful job working with his characters (he creates a story for a character who only appears in the background of the movie. Potter's bodyguard is always there behind the chair of the venal old man. Pierson creates a story for him but curiously uses the name of the actor who played him, Frank Hagney, as the characters name as well. No idea why, would love to hear an explanation. Particularly since Hagney is portrayed as a very bad man) to be left with such an inconclusive ending strikes me as very sad. This is a fascinating and well written effort. To fall at the final hurdle is a let down.
I snagged this while it was being offered for free, I see it's back up to $9.99. Not sure I can recommend it at that price. Otherwise well worth your time.
Rating - *** Worth A Look
A spoiler response from the author:
ReplyDeleteI like this review, I am honored that you took the time to write one. I can only say that I didn't want a fulfilling ending so I imagine I deserve the dissatisfaction with its conclusion of which you speak. I didn't want the reader to be told who or what Angelino was. I didn't want to tell the audience if Clarence got his wings or not, or even if there is a heaven anymore. In the end if it were to be boiled down simply, it is a story of peoples foundations not only disintegrating beneath them but devastatingly being pulled down from around them and from within. And once you exist in this loss, this confusion, anger, frustration, and end to hope, then it is time to give up or to rebuild, and this is where it ends; with a choice. And I wanted the readers inclinations for themselves and for the characters to decide to rebuild or to end. So for me Zuzu and Ernie are the products and the future, and to have them together comforting each other for me was as happy of an ending than if I were to spell out the conclusions. And this is why the prologue does not fit well with me. I wrote the book, then had a very good friend Justin, creatively edit it with me, to help me make something a bit more "mainstream" than I am willing or capable to write. He did a marvelous job with this, and meticulous fact checking, and we fought constantly. The aspect we fought over the most was the end. He wanted a last chapter that told the audience what will happen with Ernie, Zuzu, Clarence, Frank, and Claire. I was adamantly opposed to this idea. But I tried to compromise and give a bookend feel with prayers from the movie in the beginning and then at the end voices floating into space as if searching for a meaning, or a god. I needed those quotes at the end to be vague enough to allow the reader to ponder each characters consequences. And as you can see, even in those ending quotes I couldn't muster a "happy" ending. I have decided that with a second publishing I WILL NOT change the ending of the story but only get rid of the epilogue. Or I may try to write something at the end before the epilogue a sentence like: "If you enjoyed this ending, stop here."
Once again thank you for your review. It was constructive and important to my growth.
John Jughead Pierson
Thank you for the insight on your creative process. As I said the overall writing in the book I found very enjoyable. You made a creative decision about the ending and I respect your right to do as you will. I am not one who advocates that there always has to be a happy ending. My feeling (and it's just one opinion) is that an otherwise remarkable piece of work ends up feeling incomplete. And that results in my feeling of sadness. Because the epilogue doesn't work for me anyway I would certainly not miss it. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Congratulations on a wonderful creation.
DeleteYes, I would only add that in "Happy Ending" I mean more literally conclusive instead of abstracted and open ended, of which you have spoke wisely.
ReplyDelete