Irish Lightning by Travis Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mark tries to relive his glory days as a famous high-school jock in an American small town. Why? Because as an adult he’s a failure. The familiar plot and setting contrast with other stories I’ve read by Travis Lee which plunge the reader into the chaotic streets of Wuhan, China years before you know what happened. As a setting, small-town USA doesn’t require the author to hold the reader’s hand much and this suits Lee.
In terms of style, grammar is often simplified in this novella, and details, when included, are well chosen. A few sentences threw me, but after rereading them, I could better appreciate the author’s intent. It’s the kind of style editors try to change—but should instead help develop.
The story centres around Mark’s mundane existence at age thirty-three and his internal dialogue, reminiscing about high school football games in which he was the star player. It reminded me of The Wrestler, This Boy’s Life, The Last Picture Show and many other books and movies. However, it didn’t feel derivative. It’s a unique take on a classic tale.
This novella-length work, while not as original as his China stuff, feels more fully realised, Lee has squeezed the lemon for what it’s worth, and so this is a step forward in his writing.
Got my workout in for the day and ready to build on my dreams. Let’s go baby!” He cheered, spinning, giving a 360 view of the dark, unkempt field to his viewers, which still tallied 0.
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