After having read and reviewed a particularly unreadable book of short stories, a book that should have been written in invisible ink to protect potential readers from its awfulness, I scoured the internet for an antidote. I found one in Kelly Hitchcock's "The Redheaded Stepchild." By the time I got to page 4, I felt my blood pressure lower and the knot in my stomach dissipate. With wild gratitude I was reminded that yes, there are still amazing writers left in the world.
Hitchcock's power of observation is phenomenal. She has mastered the art of articulating minute details of human behavior that most of us perceive only subliminally if at all. I'm not talking about long, drawn out, boring details, but quick, rich, telling details that give the reader the kind of character insight one could only get from a lie detector test.
I don't think I've published enough reviews to expose myself as the harsh critic that I am, so you probably don't realize the magnitude of the compliment I'm bestowing on this author.
Here are just two examples of the many gems that delighted me:
..."It took him almost a year before he was able to give Katrina a hug, and even that was like watching a walking stick try to hug a caterpillar."
..."my mother's car looked as though it had been through menopause twice..."
The Redheaded Stepchild is a beautifully written coming of age story for readers of any age. The characters are multifaceted and well-drawn, the voice refreshingly unique, and the story poignant, hilarious, and horrifying all at once. And, as if the author doesn't already attack all of our senses with an uncanny eye for detail, she adds a disjointed timeline, jumping back and forth to pivotal events that define her protagonist.
We are fascinated by this because she does it deftly and because she innately understands that we are all the sum of the best and worst events of our lives, events that have no need to be told in chronological order for anyone with more than two brain cells to rub together. Of course, if you're used to reading books by authors who can't write a compound sentence unless the connecting words are "and then," you probably won't understand what The Redheaded Stepchild is about. The rest of you, beware! You may take longer than necessary to read this book because you might find yourself re-reading particular phrases and sentences (maybe whole paragraphs!) just to savor the deliciousness of Hitchcock's insane proficiency with language.
Bravo! Kelly Hitchcock is definitely an author to follow for years to come. I wish I could give this novel 10 stars. Redundantly, I affirm that I am a fan.
Denise DeSio, author of
Rose's Will
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