Gritty and hauntingly nostalgic…
Dimovitz makes his debut with this taut, immersive exploration of identity and loss set against the decaying backdrop of 1990s Philadelphia. The story follows Ed Pullman, a failed artist grappling with alienation and his mother’s death, as he seeks meaning in a world unraveling around him. As Ed navigates this collapsing world, his relationships with his cousin Ester deepen his search for meaning in a landscape fraught with disillusionment.
Set in a vividly depicted, deteriorating Philadelphia, Dimovitz’s sharp prose captures the fractured identities of his characters, grounding personal crises in a crumbling social order. Ed remains at the center of the narrative. His introspection and disillusionment resonate with readers as he navigates a transitional phase, breaking free from societal expectations and seeking an authentic existence. The pseudo-messianic Tod Griffon, leader of the cult-like Kinfolk, straddles the line between visionary and manipulator, adding a darker layer to the novel. His cryptic philosophies blur the line between enlightenment and control, casting an ominous shadow over the group. Lavinia’s provocative art and her fraught relationships with both Ed and Tod reveal power dynamics within the Kinfolk, with her defiance and moments of submission heightening the tension. Dimovitz masterfully weaves existential questions throughout, inviting readers to confront beliefs, identity, and autonomy amid societal collapse. Echoing the existential inquiries of Milan Kundera’s ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’ and Albert Camus’s ‘The Stranger,’ the novel extends beyond these classics by urging readers to critically reassess the foundations of their own reality.
A bold, thought-provoking debut that lingers long after its final page.
Pub date November 15, 2023
Tailwinds Press Enterprises LLC
ISBN 979-8988690306
Price $15.48 (USD) Paperback, $9.49 Kindle edition
