My conscience says that I
should start with a Spoiler Alert but with a
condition: this book’s plot will only be news to you if you’ve never read
Sophocles or heard of an oedipal complex or if you don’t read dust jackets.
Now that I’ve covered my
ass liability-wise here’s what you need to know, David Guterson’s Ed King is his re-imagining of the tale
of Oedipus Rex. For those of you that are brilliant with word play you already
knew this based on the protagonist’s name: Ed King. Ed Rex…Oedipus Rex. I
didn’t read the dust jacket so was halfway through the book before I realized
‘oh, he’s Oedipus’ (don’t mock).
It takes a great talent to
surprise an audience when they already know the outcome of a story. Whatever
you may have thought of Jim Cameron’s Titanic
you’re lying if you say you weren’t on the edge of your seat as that ship
started to sink. It’s the same thing with Ed
King. And yet, you will forget, you will suspend belief, you will be so
completely sucked into the vortex of this tale you’ll forget what you already
know. When the dénouement came I burst out laughing (I have a twisted sense of
humor) because, thanks to Guterson’s story-telling abilities, my thinking mind
had forgotten I already knew exactly what was happening. Brilliant.
Ancient, twisted plot
aside Ed King is a unique blend of
beautiful writing, perfect pacing and emotionality. Guterson produces a
prodigious cast of multi-layered characters from a philandering birth father to
ne’er-do-well siblings, amoral girlfriends, the well-meaning adoptive parents
and the hero himself. His cast lives and breathes and you want to know what
happens to each and every one of them- a desire the author fulfills by-and-large
(I was certain psychiatrist Theresa Pierce had more to say but sadly she
remained silent).
This book may not be your
cup of tea, namely because it’s more like a double shot of scotch but if you’re
in the mood for something bold, with a kick, then Ed King will be your drink of choice.
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