Dulcimer Boy, The

Rating:
Summary: Frankly, it's just unbelievable - but well written
Review: I'm giving this three stars for the strength of the writing, not the story.

Regarding the writing, it was splendid, strong, very textual. However, not much happened in this book, and when I finished it I had many questions. I'm unsure of how many questions I should share in this review, because, unlike other reviewers who lay out entire plotlines, I find that to be a betrayal.

The biggest question I had was this: why in the world did William leave Jules? He loved his brother immensely; that was made clear. I have tried to get my mind around that, tried to understand what the author was attempting to communicate with that, but I can't come up with it. There isn't a chance in the world that I would have left my brother, who couldn't speak, alone with the absolutely miserable, horrible people that they were forced to live with. And they were horrid. Horrid!

I need to speak to another question. The two boys, William and Jules, were left on the porch of their aunt and uncle by, who turns out to be, their father. I'm not giving anything away here, because frankly it doesn't turn out to be any great surprise and has absolutely no significance (which is a detriment to the story), and the father, frankly, shows himself for being an idiot. He actually thought his children would be better off with the Carbuncles, who were awful, horrible people. I do admit that giving them the name Carbuncle was quite clever - carbuncle is defined as a severe abscess or multiple boil in the skin, typically infected with staphylococcus bacteria. That fairly well sums up the Carbuncles. Carbuncle also has a second meaning, referring to a gem, but that does not play into this story whatsoever. There is no dual identity, no juxtaposition of their dealings with the children they accept on their doorstep. They are despicable people. Period.

And that goes back to my two questions. Why did William leave Jules? On a personal note, I'm adopted - William and Jules were twins - and I would have taken my "brothers" with me when I escaped from the "abscesses". Wouldn't a twin have felt stronger than I would have? OF COURSE. Also, why did their father think they would be better off with these boils? We're never told, and I don't think that any hints were offered - unless I missed them, and I don't think that I did.

I found myself frustrated by this book, and I *really* didn't want to be. With a title like THE DULCIMER BOY, you can't help but expect marvelous things. For me, it didn't work.

Like I said, the strength of the writing gives it a three star rating. Otherwise, it would have received a two.


Rating:
Summary: A masterfully written tale with powerful imagery.
Review: In an eerie world where people have cold and hard hearts, twin baby boys are left at the doorstep of their uncle's house. They grow up into odd boys and are kept hidden from the world because of their strangeness. The only thing they have from their parents is a dulcimer. The dulcimer has a powerful attraction for William, the stronger of the twins, and he decides to take the wonderful instrument and flee. This is a dark, almost gothic story, where cruelty to children is commonplace. In a Dickensian world, where orphaned youngsters are thrown away or used for profit, William and his lonely little brother seem to be the pawns of chance.
True to the Dickensian model, a stranger steps in to help the boys in their time of need, and we are relieved to have a happy ending.

Tor Seidler has infused small pieces of wry humor into his story, which adds to the weird nature of the book. For example, the horrible aunt and uncle are called Mr. and Mrs. Carbuncle. A carbuncle can be a gem, but it can also be a terrible sore. There is one aspect of the story that is puzzling: How can William leave his poor, defenseless brother in the home of his cruel aunt and uncle? How can he abandon Jules, a boy who does not speak and who is so frail and ill? There is a magical and ethereal quality to William, an almost spirit-like element to his personality. Yet, at the same time, he is heartless enough to leave his brother behind.

THE DULCIMER BOY is a disturbing book that left me feeling more than a little uncomfortable. Nevertheless, it is a masterfully written tale with powerful imagery. Seidler has written a book that is deeply moving, thought provoking, and will appeal to many different kinds of readers.

--- Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber