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The Pale Surface Of Things
Janey Bennett
Horace Press,
Victoria BC
www.palesurfaceofthings.com
Canada $24.95
ISBN: 978-0-9734007-2-4
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This first novel by
Janey Bennett, in one way, leads her into the study of classical Greek,
Byzantine icon painting, geology, botany, the vernacular architecture and
sociology of Greek villages, Minoan culture and art, the science of
archeology, World War II on Crete, and criminal law in Greece.
The Pale Surface of Things is all that and
much more. As the story unfolds, and the characters jump to life, they all
set off to find their purposes in life.
This is a fast moving
novel which takes you into a Cretan village in the mountains near Hania. It
revolves around a small Greek boy, a young American and a newly ordained
priest.
The story cleverly
intertwines the archeology, Byzantine icons, and the secrets and atrocities
of World War II.
It is also a story
about the simplicity, the pride and the rituals of village life, which turns
out to be anything but simple, and involves robberies and even a killing.
Pale Surface is a very good novel and
an excellent read for everyone….a book which is hard to put down once
started.
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