Day for Night
Frederick Reiken
April 2010
336 pages
Published by Reagan Arthur Books
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Yo, FTC lackeys: Dawn very kindly shared her ARC with me. I suspect she wanted me to share in the mind-f^ck that is this book. And that’s my word, not hers, so don’t go sending the censors after her.
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I seem to be on a streak of reading books that leave me confuzzled.
This is a tale made up of interconnected stories…and they get even more interconnected as the tale progresses. It’s very skillfully done, too…at no time did I think “you have got to be kidding me” whenever a character reappeared later in the book in a time and place I never would’ve expected them.
However, I’ll be damned if I know how to explain it. It has allusions to cults, some of the characters are Holocaust survivors and others play in a rock band, it’s set in Utah and Florida and New Jersey and Israel and Poland and Lithuania, there are manatees, there’s a pet hyena, one character has a stroke, another is in a coma, and another has leukemia, and there is one character that goes by 50 bajillion names.
It’s the character of 50 bajillion names that (sort of) connects everything together. She may or may not be a fugitive (in a more serious way than the Foster Farm chickens were fugitives), and she often pops up in inexplicable ways. Kind of like Mighty Mouse…you know, here she comes to save the day. And I bet you weren’t expecting a post that mentions both Mighty Mouse and the Foster Farm chickens. And the Holocaust.
Okay, pop culture super-heroes aside, this is a great book, although I still have no idea what the author was getting at, beyond some weird interconnectedness shit (as in we’re all interconnected, not just the stories that make up this book). The stories were compelling (seriously, I couldn’t stop reading and I finished this in one day), the characters interesting, and the end baffling. I’m still wondering if the woman of 50 bajillion names was meant to be some sort of mystical equivalent of Mighty Mouse, and if Jonah (another character who seemed to keep popping up) was her predecessor.
And while I was googling for cover images, I stumbled across the meaning of the title. Day for night is a cinematographic technique in which night-time is created by the use of special lights. In other words, you’re creating the illusion of night-time. Hmmmmm.
And here are some other reviews, if you’d like to read more coherent posts:
Yes! Mindf*ck! That is the exact word for this book! That could be a one word review! Mindf*ck!
You had the exact same reaction I did. Your review is perfect.
Heather´s last [type] ..It’s Monday! What Are You Reading This Week
Wow!! This does seem quite an intriguing read, albeit a bit confusing, but one that might fit my recent urges to read something wild. Thanks!!
Natalie @ Coffee and a Book Chick´s last [type] ..The Tapestry of Love- by Rosy Thornton
Oh I’d say he definitely created some illusions in this one. I enjoyed it because it was so different. And, I loved how he tied everything together even when I was doubting that it all fit.
Julie P.´s last [type] ..Review- The Red Queen & Giveaway
I wasn’t fond of either of the Reiken books I read in 2008, and from this description, I’m guessing this is just more of the same. He tends to repeat himself a lot, recycling old themes and characters. Blah.
I have been reading several reviews of this book and all of them mention the strangeness and unpredictability of the story. I think it sounds like a great book, if a little confusing and one that I’d like to try. Thanks for the great review on this one. I am going to have to read it to see what I think!
zibilee´s last [type] ..The Vera Wright Trilogy- My Fathers Moon – Cabin Fever – The Georges Wife by Elizabeth Jolley — 568 pgs
I do tend to enjoy the weird, so I’ll have to give this one a go.
Trisha´s last [type] ..Sunday Salon- Two Weeks of Fun
Oh, this sounds good… although would I end up beating my head against a wall because it all didn’t make sense? I am such a sucker for interrelated stories, however, so you know I’m going to have to find a copy of this one for myself… Plus any book that’s got a character like Mighty Mouse can’t be bad!
Steph´s last [type] ..“Unexpectedly Milo” by Matthew Dicks
I felt exactly the same way! I enjoyed the book, but felt like I didn’t “get it.” I felt like I wasn’t smart enough for it.
Haven’t read this one and despite all the others who have read it, it is also the first time I hear about it
But definitely liked your review!
Louise´s last [type] ..What is Mine by Anne Holt
Wow, I’ve been wanting to read this and your review makes it sound that much more interesting! I love stories where everyone is interconnected somehow. I actually read the first chapter or two of this on my nook for free at Barnes and Noble but never got a chance to go back and read more. I might need to just buy it, lol.
Jenny´s last [type] ..The Thieves of Manhattan
Um…wow. Not sure what to think of this except .. I kind of feel I need to read it now.
Jenners´s last [type] ..Review- The Passage by Justin Cronin
Sounds like reading this will be fun! And I just happen to have a copy! Yay!
rhapsodyinbooks´s last [type] ..Review of “Broken” by Karin Slaughter
The funniest thing in your post was listing my blog under the heading “coherent”! Yeah. Right.
Thanks for the definition of Day for Night. I can’t remember the novel well enough to know if that explains anything at all.
Beth F´s last [type] ..Todays Read- Keys to Good Cooking by Harold McGee
Is it quirky? or just confuzzling?
Care´s last [type] ..Fingersmith
I’ve never read about a book that baffled people more while at the same time leaving them all raving about it – in a good way.
Lisa´s last [type] ..Backseat Saints
That cover makes me want to dive right into the water!
Lydia´s last [type] ..Mind Games by David Gianatasio
You are brilliant for researching the meaning of the title – now it all makes sense … kinda … sorta … maybe …
Dawn – She Is Too Fond of Books´s last [type] ..Spotlight on Bookstores- fun incentive to shine a spotlight!