Perfect Little World: A Novel
By: Kevin Wilson / Narrated by: Therese Plummer
Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
Really really liked this -BUT- dude! where’s the Quirk…?!?
Cuz really, p’raps Wilson just flat-out spoiled me rotten with his abilities to craft Quirk in m’ maiden voyage with him: Nothing to See Here wherein we’re born into our families, but it’s the one we choose that counts. EsPECially if that family happens to be with children who frequently spontaneously combust.
You know, general Kevin Wilson fare.
Or so I thought. I thought the Quirks that presented themselves in the Publisher’s Summaries of his novels would be brought forth, gussied up, expounded upon in delightfully Over The Top detail, to where I’d be swooooning in delight with well-crafted and intelligently-written farcical shenanigans.
Here in Perfect Little World, Izzy’s been knocked up by her art teacher and is given the chance to take part in the Infinite Family Project, where she by herself, along with several couples will raise their children together, sharing duties, doling out love to each child (Not just their own specific child) unconditionally. Just plainly? She’ll take part in this highly structured and rigidly documented study on how best to raise children. Learn a few marketable skills along the way. Be able to give her son what she couldn’t otherwise.
It’s a Utopia.
And there should’ve been antics galore and what-all chaos ensues when normal human beings are squashed together 24/7, all in a study meant to further mankind.
Instead, this is a deep look at very human choices, very human reactions. And that’s it. No huge plot development with a Big Reveal at the End. Rather, this all ends up in a highly suspicious (And questionable) bow tied neatly around everything.
So really, if you’re looking for Wilson’s Quirkiness, do NOT look for it in situations and characters. Nope, look for it in the writing, the imagery (Children stringing popcorn for their Christmas tree actually look like little factory workers, slaving joylessly away…). While this is disappointing, at least it makes for compelling Listening.
And what REALLY makes for AWEsome Listening is a highly entertaining, a warm and pathos-laden, performance by veteran narrator, Therese Plummer. From the get-go, she infuses the text, the dialogue, with just the right amount of whimsy and confusion necessary. Where drama is necessary, Plummer totally goes for it and gives it her all (A Very Tired Of Being Pregnant Izzy finally goes into labor, and chaos ensues, only to be topped with a really beautiful relationship developing further). Plummer is a Fave narrator of mine, having won me over by her own Quirkiness in Sourdough. I will find more by her; I will listen to more by her!
P’raps the above makes it seem that I was sooooo disappointed that, really, I’m quite >MEH< about the whole thing, but no, that’s not the case. There are some heavy topics that come up in the story, and each is handled honestly and respectfully. Say: Our hero of the story is a Cutter. This was in no way twisted into something campy. No, given the way Wilson crafted Professor Grind’s childhood, it seemed quite logical for this to be the only way he could find to cope. Also, there are just some jolly-decent characters in this, some good in-depth character development, some fraught and understandable choices made/actions taken.
But no Quirk.
So there’s that. A nice way to spend 12 1/2-hours, hours that flew by. A 4-star depiction of Humanity Making Do…
But no Quirk.
…sigh…
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