From: Nancy Werlin <nwerlin>
Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 09:47:02 -0400 (EDT)

My favorite Tillerman book is THE RUNNER, which simply takes my breath away, followed by DICEY'S SONG. But I will disagree with others here about A SOLITARY BLUE, which I found to be predictably plotted and characterized.

I was particularly put off by the characterization of the mother. Yeah, she's an awful person... but well, Voigt made her such an easy target. I was reminded of how George Eliot dealt with Rosamund in MIDDLEMARCH -mean to her, over and over and over again. No shading; no understanding -just vicious attack. And I will also agree with the ccbc'er who found SEVENTEEN AGAINST THE DEALER to be didactic. (And how.)

That's the thing that KILLS me about Voigt. When she's good, she's astounding. THE RUNNER moves me beyond saying. But she can disappoint like no other, too. When I think of what ORFE *might* have been, with another draft or two, and maybe a few months' extra back-of-the-mind time to let the ideas ripen ... in short, I suppose I find a lack of discipline in her work. For me, there's 'good Voigt' and 'bad Voigt.' Always, the writing is superb -- but sometimes that covers a failure to be rigorous in execution, a self-indulgence.

Perhaps this is natural/unavoidable in someone so prolific. But as a reader, I am disappointed. And I find the Tillerman books a perfect example of this unsteady quality in her work.

Nancy

nwerlin at world.std.com Nancy Werlin
Received on Tue 18 May 1999 08:47:02 AM CDT