quackers reviewed on 1/25/2011 + 45 more book reviews

An unusual, but captivating book. Told in first person, Perfect Circle is an enjoyable story about non-conformist William "Dead" Kennedy, aka "DK". DK is 32yo, loves punk music/culture & lives in Texas. He is a rebel with a dark sense of humor, who has seen ghosts his entire life. With no career and few personal relationships, the focus of DK's existence is his pre-teen daughter who is growing more and more alienated from him. The novel is equal parts DK's personal life and the spirits of the dead that he struggles to deal with on a daily basis.

It wasn't a book I expected to like (particularly since DK's political philosophy is about 180 degrees from my own), but I enjoyed it so much that I finished it in one day. This is the type of book I love to think and talk about...intelligent, humorous and entertaining with lots of hidden meaning.

People and places in the book seem real and believable. DK and his ex-wife come from troubled, working-poor families, plagued by violence, tragedy and addiction, where everyone has alot of baggage . I felt the author did a good job in this regard. He didn't make these people 2-dimensional comically hick figures, but gave them some depth and dignity, which I appreciated. DK's family is close-knit and continue to play a big part in his life (whether he wants them to or not).

I wouldn't call this book really frightening. Eerie maybe. But the ghosts were described so well and vividly, they saved the book from being just a depressing tale about alot of unhappy, down-and-out people. The scenes where DK sees the ghosts were intense and so easy to visualize, it was as though I was watching the action on a movie-screen.

I would really recommend this book to anyone. Even if the descriptions, ratings and reviews make you doubt that you will like it, give it a chance anyway--you may be surprised.

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