The Rundown
“You will follow all parameters of the prophecy of which Brother Benjamin will now read, so as both parties might be in undisputed accord.” Among The Church of the Restructured Truth’s sterilized list, Didier Rain nods approvingly even though he has no intention of discontinuing his drunkenness and salacious dissipation. Rain’s paradoxical job: safely transport Virtue, an infant, who will eventually wed the Prophet Nehi—to the lucrative tune of thirty thousand dollars. So in the year 1854, “a baby girl, two geldings, a she-goat, and one so-called Deliverer [Rain] set off [from Independence, Missouri] on the long and onerous journey to the City of Rocks.”
“Joined in a most comedic situation,” Rain receives his fair share of guffaws and “motherly” sarcasm as the motley crew makes their way northwest. While Virtue grows at an abnormally rapid rate, Rain et al encounter an interesting mix of people en route, such as Avin (aka Boob) and Delight Tuttles; Timotheus McDonald and his female entourage (named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednago) and his son Neb—just to name a few. Rain is at a loss when a she-goat (the main source of nourishment for Virtue) dies and Virtue becomes listless. Yet Rain is unaware that help and more are on its way when an enigmatic siren named Turtle Dove enters their lives.
Kindall pens a coming of age story in his adult fiction debut. Formatted in first person, Didier Rain tells of his fantastical journey to fulfill a prophetic situation in more than one way. Rain, who has a roguish persona, is challenged along the way. To aid in Rain’s emotional and spiritual development, Kindall surrounds his narrator with a host of colorful and well-fashioned characters, many of which serve as foils. Kindall’s choice of ornate 19th Century prose sets the perfect pace for this antebellum read. Divided into three parts, Kindall’s plot is laced with religious sarcasm that is both hilarious and provocative. Of course since Rain is a “rising” poet of sorts, Kindall makes sure to weave in quotes from Shakespeare and various Romantic-era poets, which adds a nice lilt this adventurous good-versus-evil tale.
The Recommendation
Kindall pulls out all the terminology stops in his latest read. Although a fascinating read laced with allegory and human interest, Delivering Virtue’s highest appeal will be toward seasoned readers, especially English literature aficionados. Others may enjoy the tongue-in-cheek comments, but miss nuances of European literary legends.
The Rating
4 Stars (out of 5): Recommended. For the right audience, this book is a great read. It can hold its own against any traditionally published novel in its genre.
The Pros & Cons
Pros: Believable, Characterization, Dialogue, Humor, Plot, Unique StyleCons: Wordy
