The Book Nook

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Bizarre ideas can result in good stories, which is the case with “The Dogs of Babel” by Carolyn Parkhurst.  The story opens with Paul Iverson divulging that his wife Lexy died after falling from a tree in their yard. Lexy was a gifted artist who disliked attempts to control her creativity and who definitely marched to a different drummer.  Her untimely end was not only shockingly unexpected, but puzzling.  After being interviewed by detectives investigating the case, their questions spark troubling doubts in Paul’s mind. He’s convinced that more information will help him cope with his loss, but the difficulty lies in how to obtain the details leading up to her death.  The only witness to the tragic event was their dog Lorelei, who alerted neighbors with her howling.  Those familiar with my penchant to avoid spoilers should skip to the last four paragraphs. Convinced that clues exist, he searches his memories and their home for anything that will shed light on the tragedy.  Although he thinks he’s found some anomalies, they’re not obvious enough to provide concrete answers.  He develops a bizarre theory that if he could teach Lorelei to talk, she will eventually tell him what he needs to know.  As a linguist who teaches at the local university, Paul feels he is uniquely qualified to achieve success. Sharing his theory at work earns Paul ridicule from some colleagues and a long sabbatical.  As his theory turns into obsession, he embarks on a strange and dodgy journey seeking answers.   His compelling narrative voice takes readers along on an unusual trek as he tries to persuade us into believing there is logic in his reasoning. What follows is an intriguing look at how the couple met and their relationship over time.  The story unfolds in both the past and present tense as we glean enough bits and pieces of their life to get a more cohesive picture.  It’s Paul and Lexy’s past that points readers in the direction of a conclusion they suspect but may not determine until nearer the end. As Paul delves into the heart of who his wife really was, it’s apparent his need for answers is making him increasingly desperate, while we’re anxious for him to move through the stages of mourning.  He doesn’t realize the risks he’s willing to take could lead him into dark and dangerous territory.  One of his choices hurtles him into the world of a secret cult filled with strange characters. He’s too blinded by love to see the clues Parkhurst gives us readers, and some are more overt than others.  The one revealed near the end is too obvious for even Paul to ignore, although it is a clever if slightly unbelievable touch. This debut work has elements of mystery and romance in the mix.  There’s also some otherworldly aspects in the forms of television psychics, the aforementioned cult and fairy-tales.  One example of the latter is a reference to an ancient Scottish folklore figure named Tam Lin.  This old tale/poem/song is based on a theme of physically holding someone as they magically transform into other beings, such as a wild beast or a bar of red-hot metal.   The author uses this motif both figuratively and, in one scene, literally. More than once I hoped the book would stop reaching in different directions as it never seemed to settle on a central theme.  Perhaps the author was trying to fit too many ideas into this 260-page novel.  However, it’s an inventive story that has some appealing parts, such as loving nods towards our canine companions. In spite of these complaints, I found the premise to be rather intriguing and liked how easily the prose flowed.  The style starts with the detached tone of one conducting an experiment, but as the pages turns, it morphs into more of a journal, and then a soul-searching expedition.  The author showed a decent command of dialog and I felt her use of flashbacks were the highlights of the book. The rather unusual title refers to the biblical story of Bablyon, where arrogant people believe they could build a tower to heaven.  God punishes them by making them speak different languages and, like the builders, Paul and Lorelei simply cannot communicate.  Communication difficulty is a recurring topic in the book, and I’ll leave it at that to avoid further spoilers. Carolyn Parkhurst is an American author with a B.A. from Wesleyan University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from American University.  She wrote short stories before this novel was published in 2003.  “The Dogs of Babel” made both the New York Times Notable Book and Bestseller lists, became a national bestseller and was published in several languages.  In the U.K. it was published under the title “Lorelei’s Secret”. In spite of the odd premise for this book, the story is moving and contains warmly tender moments.