West

This book is a joy to read; delightful, entertaining and not to be missed. 'West' is the first Carys Davies creation I have experienced. In my estimation, she is an exceptionally skilled writer and story teller. The novel may be short, but she packs so much into her sentences.. Her finely honed, crisp style is much appreciated. I found myself reading paragraphs twice just to make sure I had not missed anything and for the simple pleasure of doing so. I love the originality of the story, and I admire the way she dovetails the threads of the story to such a good effect.

This a slim novella that punches above its weight. Written in a spare but accurate prose, which is perfect for the subject matter and setting and calls to mind the great Westerns, we are offered a mythical story that is a recasting of the Orpheus myth with a large spoonful of Cervantes mixed in. If you're looking for an adventure story or the hard details of a long journey you'll probably be disappointed, but if you're looking for the kind of story that stays with you and rewards reflection and rereading this is a good bet.

Carys Davies’ short story collection, “The Redemption of Galen Pike”, was intensely absorbing, with its pithy prose which was surprisingly expansive in its conveyance of time and space. These fine traits are apparent in this very spare novel. However, I felt there was little else to recommend it, even though it made for a good enough read. The premise is simple: A widower is captivated by the idea of gigantic animal remains out West and sets out on an expedition to find them, leaving his young daughter, Bess, behind in the care of his sister. Is this quest a fool’s errand? Does it reveal the unbreakable bonds between father and daughter that are not easily severed by time and distance? Is there a deeper significance to it all? And most importantly, what is the motivation behind this journey? These are unfortunately not the questions I find anywhere in the book, and except for the growing awareness that Bess is terribly vulnerable in the small community without a father that impels me to read on, this novel fell a little flat for me. A disappointment, considering how Davies’s short stories shone for me.

Having read and been gripped by Carys’s short stories, I was excited to learn that she had written her first novel, and I was keen to read it. I wasn’t disappointed. “West “ intrigues from the first page, and I found myself wanting to press on, alongside Cy, in his quest, and to know what happened next. The reader also learns so much about life in the US in those days, its everyday hardships, so well researched, and its slow pace, so different from today, as well as the difficulty involved in undertaking any long journey. This was a satisfying read, and towards the end it was completely unputdownable. The only weakness in my opinion was the credibility of Cy’s motivation for his trek, but once he was on his way, I was with him on every hoofprint and river crossing. Highly recommended.

In Carys Davies' 'West' we meet widowed mule breeder, Cy Bellman, who lives in Pennsylvania and who, after reading a newspaper article about the discovery of huge, ancient bones found in a Kentucky swamp, decides to set out on a long and arduous journey to find out whether giant creatures could still be living and roaming in the wild, unchartered territory beyond the Mississippi River. The journey, which could take as long as two years, is one which seems almost unimaginable to his ten-year-old daughter, Bess, whom he leaves behind in the care of his no-nonsense sister Julie, who is angered by her brother's obsession with what she regards as mythical creatures. Facing a journey that is much more difficult and perilous than he thought, Bellman hires a young Shawnee Indian scout with whom, despite a lack of a common language, he strikes up a mutually beneficial relationship, but whilst Bellman travels ever further away from the family home, Bess endeavours to follow her father's route by poring in the books in the local library and, back at home, she finds herself struggling to avoid the unwelcome notice of Elmer Jackson, an unkempt, unsavoury, middle-aged neighbour, who begins to develop an unhealthy passion for the young girl. This is a beautifully written and absorbing tale of a kind and gentle man, but one who nevertheless puts his own dreams above the needs of his young daughter, and although brief in length this story is rich in atmosphere and sense of place. Ms Davies' descriptions of Bellman's journey and the challenges he meets along the way, not least the terrible winters he has to endure and the debilitating lack of food, are succinct yet beautifully lyrical at the same time. To encompass a such a multi-faceted story as this in just 150 pages is very impressive indeed and I am now keen to read Carys Davies' second novel 'The Mission House' which has recently been published. 4 Stars.

Recommend

While the ending quickly gets a little predictable the closer you come to it, this is a short tale filled with real emotion and well-developed characters. Would recommend!

A very unusual book indeed which, for me, is more like a collection of character studies than a straightforward narrative tale (although it does also have some very clear plot lines running through it). In just 150 pages or so, the book examines a wide range of human characteristics and presents them to the reader without comment - readers are left to form their own opinions. Set in the pioneering days of America, we are presented with the stark contrast between the human search for the unknown and the human need for stability and security.