Why the Tree Loves the Axe
Published on 1. July 2008
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-00-729215-8 (ISBN)
Description
The brilliant second novel by a new US literary star.
Caroline, 27, walks out of a marriage and into an old people's home where she meets cantankerous, lusty octogenarian Billy, who entrusts a secret to her. She goes from his deathbed to a wedding, where she is seduced by a beautiful man who tells her stories of her ex's antics back home. Bright, buoyant Bonnie, meanwhile, installs herself as Caroline's new best friend and accompanies her to a picnic that turns into a riot. When it is over, the world's altered: for Caroline is no longer herself - she must flee being Caroline. We follow her long flight through trauma, fakery and captivity to redemption.
Jim Lewis's tale of how to measure love and its loss is a swooningly observant and atmospheric tale of rare resonance. Lewis writes about sex, ageing, identity and bereavement with such newness and rightness that his reader is struck dumb.
Caroline, 27, walks out of a marriage and into an old people's home where she meets cantankerous, lusty octogenarian Billy, who entrusts a secret to her. She goes from his deathbed to a wedding, where she is seduced by a beautiful man who tells her stories of her ex's antics back home. Bright, buoyant Bonnie, meanwhile, installs herself as Caroline's new best friend and accompanies her to a picnic that turns into a riot. When it is over, the world's altered: for Caroline is no longer herself - she must flee being Caroline. We follow her long flight through trauma, fakery and captivity to redemption.
Jim Lewis's tale of how to measure love and its loss is a swooningly observant and atmospheric tale of rare resonance. Lewis writes about sex, ageing, identity and bereavement with such newness and rightness that his reader is struck dumb.
Reviews / Votes
'Lewis's imagery is startling, rich and strange'Time Out
'Lewis starts with wonder and insistently works at it to produce a delicious intensity that is full of the transforming passion and unreality of being in the world.'
New Statesman
'Jim Lewis is an accomplished and erudite writer who wears these qualities lightly, making sure they dazzle and amuse rather than bewilder and confuse. His America is voluptuous and surreal'
Erica Wagner, The Times
'Why the Tree Loves the Axe has the makings of a masterpiece.'
Dale Peck
'Comes on like a speedball, a euphoric rush of language and image. This is the real thing. This is real.'
Larry Clark, director of Kids
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
265 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-729215-8 (9780007292158)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Previous edition
Person
Jim Lewis is the author of two previous books, a novel Sister, and in collaboration with photographer Jack Pierson, a book about Las Vegas, Real Gone.