| Lancette Arts Journal Founded in 2000 |
Book Reviews From our Archives |
September 2004 |
The Naked Island by Bryna Wasserman, Key Porter Books, softcover, 239 pages, $24.95
By Alidė Kohlhaas A long time ago, a friend and I had a
conversation about whether or not there is such a thing as evil, a word we have become
uneasy with in today's society. Being a psychiatrist, who has dealt with all sorts of
human dysfunction, he had come to the conclusion that evil is, indeed, not just an
abstract idea, but a tangible human trait. In his work he had come
across individuals, who are without conscience when dealing with others, feel no regret
for harm they have done, are filled with great hate and, very surprisingly, great
self-pity. Whatever evil they do, is always the fault of the victim. Another thing he
pointed out was that sometimes innocent people can be drawn into this evil, as if
possessed by it, and that it takes great character strength to free itself from it. That may seem a rather morbid introduction to a book that is not at all morbid.
The Naked Island has been described on its cover as "A delicious Gothic
travelogue," a quite succinct description of Bryna Wasserman's new, and first
novel. While the book's real action takes place in the 1980s, the story has its
beginnings in the late 1700s with the murder of a Javanese priest by the Dutch. The gothic element of this tale arises out of the hate of a restless soul, out for revenge,
that finds its way to the shores of Lake Erie and briefly inhabits the narrator of the
tale. That malignant spirit then attempts to take over the mind of a young girl, Rachel,
who lives on the farm near Dunnville that once belonged to the narrator, who becomes an
unseen but felt protector of the girl. At the same time, the same evil essence who wants
her, seeks to control a young boy, Kifli, who lives in Singapore. The travelogue part
comes into play when Rachel, grown-up, in need of self-discovery, and also . . .
To Read the full article, go to our ABOUT US page and click on Contact to request the item. For an interview with Bryna Wasserman,
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