Salted with Salt and The Altar of Silence: Two Novellas
by Jason Akley
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jason AkleyEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-05-09
ISBN: 1432704540
Number of pages: 232
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Book Reviews of Salted with Salt and The Altar of Silence: Two Novellas
Book Review: Novellas That Are Penned From A Promising and Talented Author
Summary: 4 Stars
Both of Jason Akley's novellas in his Salted With Sat and The Altar of Silence: Two Novellas feature a cast of twenty something characters who for the most part are trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives.
The first novella, Salted with Salt centers around Sol who, before returning to college in the Fall at Tulane in New Orleans, embarks on a week-long journey to visit two of his college friends, Brendan, who is working on the river outside of the Smoky Mountains and Ben, who is working in New York.
The narrative is anchored to the trip that ensues and Sol's introspection as he tries to untangle his life interweaving past experiences with his family, as well as some of the sights and goings-on he comes across along the way. For Sol, as he states, "all good things come from above, and I was standing still to receive. This hidden truth remained immutable in the shifting shadows. It gave me a chance to start looking around."
In one way or another, Salted With Salt gives us an intimate and close up view of Sol's history and his relationship with his parents as well as the strains of change that inevitably accompanies the passage of time.
It is a confusing stage in Sol's life as he is faced with the question as to where does he fit in and how can he make a difference. There is nothing unusual about Sol's existential torment and in a way it parallels most young adulthood behavior which often tends to be self absorbing bordering on dejection while they try to make some sense of the world. Even Sol's friends and acquaintances seem to be stuck in a similar dilemma as they spin their wheels without any direction. And, as is the case with many college students pondering the question as what they are going to do once they graduate, Sol confesses to his friend Ben, "I really hadn't thought about what I was going to do. This fact subdued me."
In the end, does Sol come of age? This is something left up in the air although we do have some hint when he states in the final paragraph that "It was time to forgive saying what need not be said. It was time to forget the past. I made a choice."
The second novella, The Altar of Silence revolves around three young adult college roommates, John, Ray and Jim. What drives the story is the formation and differences of the identities of the three.
As our story begins, John brings us up to date since his college days and we learn that he has become a senior bank teller, although he is not certain how he became involved in the banking game. He asserts, "I was going to teach, but I don't have any charisma and thought it would be cruel to subject students to that." We are also informed that he is married with two children and lives pretty much a mundane life.
From here John introduces us to his college buddy, Jim, mentioning that he still enjoys a weekly game of golf with him. Jim always had lived on the edge, never afraid of anything, even into drugs and alcohol. He is also a ladies man, something perhaps John and Ray envied. Nonetheless, John does confide that all his bravado is just a stupid game to get people to like him and after all it takes "guts to throw it all away and lose yourself and become the person you're afraid to be in ordinary life. I don't have the guts."
As for Ray, John depicts him as an overweight introverted misfit. Moreover, a past harrowing experience haunts him involving the accidental death of his twin brother during a hunting trip. Ray was raised by his father in Northern California and when he graduated from high school he enlisted in the Army. While in the military he learned about computers and eventually put his knowledge to good use. At parties Ray was a wallflower, however, he was always invited as long as he had money to pitch in. His parents were heavy into drugs and when his mother refused to kick the habit, Ray's father took off with his two sons, eventually opening up an ice cream shop in Chico, California. Initially, Ray had no luck in attracting women however Ray eventually succeeds in putting his act together and attains success.
Both heartfelt and entertaining stories are penned from a clearly promising and talented writer. And perhaps Akley's greatest asset as a writer is that ring of truth in presenting poignant stories of an era that for most of us bring back nostalgic memories.
However, even with the vivid realism reflected in these stories, they are not a total success. I hope that in the future Akley will heed the advice bandied about in creative writing classes in that he must sharpen and tighten his techniques particularly in doing a great deal more showing and less telling. I would also like to see him provide his readers with a more varied and emotional tapestry as the stories left me wanting to know more about the characters. Another deficiency was the awkwardness in the transition between some chapters as well as scenes in their sudden hops through time and place, something that must be avoided in the future. This was quite noticeable with the inclusion of the chapter entitled Old Joe Is Still Pickin' Cotton in the first novella. Nonetheless, I do hope we hear further from Jason Akley.
Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor Bookpleasures
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