Age of Reason by Dorothy Speak
Speaking in the voices of a broad cast of characters, from a retiree who has left her husband five times, to a carpenter in his thirties, to a seven-year-old child making his First Communion, Speak moves smoothly between male and female protagonists. These fourteen stories pulse with the pain and glory of desire, loss and rebirth. They tremble and sing with searing dialogue and outrageous humour. A rich and astonishing trove for the brave reader.
Age of Reason
“Speak’s stories champion aging underdogs, many addled by disease or discontent, and throughout their grief or despair she demonstrates an acute sensitivity to their plights. Into tales that could become overly sentimental, she injects redemption and sacrifice. The author creates stories that will enchant with the beautiful, diverse, and ever-evolving essence of human nature. An impressive and luminous assemblage of artful and quietly devastating tales.” Kirkus
“…a well-tuned poet’s ear and an artisan’s approach to language. Her phrasing and descriptive passages are lucid, innovative and delicately structured.” Globe and Mail
“Speak has the remarkable ability to create mature characters with whom we can readily empathize, and to translate the unspoken into language honestly, wisely and with insightful wit.” Calgary Herald
“…an immensely readable volume, one for which the phrase Plaisir du texte, seems coined.” Books in Canada
“Speak very quickly draws the reader in, not simply because of her narrative skill, her unfailing instinct for the right word and the right image, but because she has a marvelous ability to create characters the reader actually cares about. This is not such a common ability as one might think.” Toronto Star