2 of 2

It's as a richly realized novel of manners that Carter's book excels. Talcott Garland takes us on a guided tour of his world—the pride and pretensions of upper-middle-class black Americans, the tweedy thuggery of law-school faculty politics, the manipulative cynicism of cops and lawyers. This other novel of Carter's is a near-perfect delight, with a grandeur of scope and attention to fine detail that invites comparison with Tom Wolfe, or even Dickens.

In an afterword, Carter begs us to believe that he hasn't written a fictional account of his life or anyone else's. I'm convinced; his characters come so vividly to life on paper that they need no CPR from the world of flesh. Even his minor characters, who pop in for a handful of pages, inhabit our imagination almost as vividly as the book's major figures. Consider the delicious byplay between Tal and an ill-mannered, bigoted chess buff who helps him decipher a crucial portion of the mystery. We only get a few pages of this guy, but come away wishing for more.

And just as in his nonfiction, Carter displays an unmatched skill in writing about spiritual things. There's not a hint of preachery here. Talcott's simply a Christian—not a very good one, but a very real one. His imperfect faith is as much a part of him as his brown skin, his fear of death, his love of his father. This comes through best in a remarkable scene about halfway through, in which Talcott seeks marital counseling from his pastor. Talcott goes in looking to score spiritual points off his apparently faithless wife. But the winsome, scholarly pastor turns the tables with a gracious lucidity that leaves Talcott breathless—and the reader too.

It's some of the best spiritual writing you'll read this year. And it's just one of many pleasures to be had from this remarkable novel.

Hiawatha Bray covers the computer industry for The Boston Globe.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also appearing on our site today:

Virtue via VouchersThe Supreme Court's recent decision can help prevent more corporate scandals. By Stephen L. Carter

The Emperor of Ocean Park of is available from Amazon.com.

Stephen Carter discussed the book and writing fiction for the first time in a Dick Staub interview earlier this year.

Christianity Today sister publication Books & Culture also reviewed Carter's novel in "The Way It Was Before."

Recent Christianity Today columns by Stephen L. Carter include:

Remedial HistoryThe educational establishment seems confused about our spiritual heritage. (July 10, 2002)

Uncle Sam Is Not Your DadThe separation of church and state protects families too. (March 22, 2002)

A Quiet CompromiseWhy a moment of silence is better than school prayer. (Feb. 25, 2002)

Leaving 'Normal' BehindLife before September 11 seemed more secure, but do we really want it back? (Dec. 4, 2001)

Rudeness Has a First NameInstant informality actually sabotages true friendship. (Nov. 2, 2001)

Why Rules RuleDebates on the Ten Commandments expose our culture's ultimate rift. (Sept. 6, 2001)

We Interrupt This ChildhoodParents who raise their children to do right face a barrage of resistance. (July 11, 2001)

And the Word Turned SecularChristians should count the cost of the state's affirmation. (May 29, 2001)

Vouching for ParentsVouchers are not an attack on public schools but a vote of trust in families. (Apr. 2, 2001)

The Courage to LoseIn elections, and in life, there is something more important than winning. (Feb. 6, 2001)

first page |  2 of 2

share this page

November 18 2002, Vol. 46, No. 12