The Tooth Fairy : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing
Review: I loved this slant on the Tooth Fairy, what a wonderful book! It was a nice mix of horror and fantasy, with a very creepy coming of age plot. I read it in a day, I could not put it down.

Rating:
Summary: Chills, thrills, humor and tears...
Review: "The Tooth Fairy" is the first novel by Graham Joyce that I've undertaken. I can't wait to read another.

This is a quintessential coming-of-age story set in rural England during the 1960s. Joyce is a gritty writer with a great eye for detail and characterization. The three boys who are at the center of the story -- Sam, Terry and Clive -- are all well-drawn, believable charcters. Joyce really helps us understand what makes the boys tick. We understand their desires ... and their fears.

The novel takes us on a journey of life as we watch the boys grow from precocious 10-year olds to wise-beyond-their-year 18-year-old high school graduates. We are privy to fish attacks (yes, that's right), suicides, murders, suspected murders, vandalism and plenty of sexual discovery.

And through all of this is the Tooth Fairy. When Sam is 10, he places a tooth beneath his pillow, but as an experiment, he doesn't tell his parents about it. Clive believes this will either prove or disprove the Tooth Fairy's existence. In the middle of the night, not only does the Tooth Fairy show up, but it has manifested itself as an androginous creature with a mean streak and a bad odor and is none-too-happy that Sam can actually see it.

Why Sam and no one else can see the Tooth Fairy is never really explained... but it's not important. The point is he can, and to the Tooth Fairy this fact has endless repercussions. The Tooth Fairy follows Sam throughout adolescence creating both mayhem and joy for the exasparated youth. The Tooth Fairy's sex changes as well, shifting from androgony to female to male and back to female again. She helps awaken Sam's sexual longings as he begins to change from a boy to a young man.

But the Tooth Fairy's influences begin to spill over and affect Sam's family and friends and the gang seems perpetually beset by everything from small, nagging problems to devastating tragedy. It isn't until Sam learns that he and the Tooth Fairy are inexhorably linked together, almost Doppleganger-like, that he is able to come to grips with the situation.

This book is just riddled with great characters, such as Skelton, Sam's determined, whiskey-loving therapist; and Linda, Terry's beautiful older cousin and future beauty queen; and Alice, the enigmatic beauty that has caught the boys' eyes. Joyce gives all his characters, no matter how small, wonderful colors and shading that make the seem three dimensional.

The story itself, at least its tone and the nostolgic emotions it extracts, is reminescent of Stephen King's novella, "The Body" (later adapted by Rob Reiner into the movie, "Stand By Me"). In fact, I think fans of King would love "The Tooth Fairy." And like "The Body," "The Tooth Fairy" isn't an outright horror story, even though the fairy itself can be pretty frightening. It does have its chilling moments and is just bristling with sexual energy (it is after all, a story of three young boys coming of age and dealing with their newfound sexuality!) and teenage oppression.

I was sad when the novel came to end because I knew I had to say good bye to this odd, but engaging lot who had dubbed themselves The Redstone Moodies ... Redstone being their hometown and moody being what they were most of the time.

If you like thrillers, mysteries and fantasy fiction, or just enjoy a ripping good yarn with interesting characters thrust into somewhat odd situations, pick this up. Joyce's lush yet economical prose has the ability to transport you right dab into the middle of his literary creations.

Rating:
Summary: Chills, thrills, humor and tears...
Review: "The Tooth Fairy" is the first novel by Graham Joyce that I've undertaken. I can't wait to read another.

This is a quintessential coming-of-age story set in rural England during the 1960s. Joyce is a gritty writer with a great eye for detail and characterization. The three boys who are at the center of the story -- Sam, Terry and Clive -- are all well-drawn, believable charcters. Joyce really helps us understand what makes the boys tick. We understand their desires ... and their fears.

The novel takes us on a journey of life as we watch the boys grow from precocious 10-year olds to wise-beyond-their-year 18-year-old high school graduates. We are privy to fish attacks (yes, that's right), suicides, murders, suspected murders, vandalism and plenty of sexual discovery.

And through all of this is the Tooth Fairy. When Sam is 10, he places a tooth beneath his pillow, but as an experiment, he doesn't tell his parents about it. Clive believes this will either prove or disprove the Tooth Fairy's existence. In the middle of the night, not only does the Tooth Fairy show up, but it has manifested itself as an androginous creature with a mean streak and a bad odor and is none-too-happy that Sam can actually see it.

Why Sam and no one else can see the Tooth Fairy is never really explained... but it's not important. The point is he can, and to the Tooth Fairy this fact has endless repercussions. The Tooth Fairy follows Sam throughout adolescence creating both mayhem and joy for the exasparated youth. The Tooth Fairy's sex changes as well, shifting from androgony to female to male and back to female again. She helps awaken Sam's sexual longings as he begins to change from a boy to a young man.

But the Tooth Fairy's influences begin to spill over and affect Sam's family and friends and the gang seems perpetually beset by everything from small, nagging problems to devastating tragedy. It isn't until Sam learns that he and the Tooth Fairy are inexhorably linked together, almost Doppleganger-like, that he is able to come to grips with the situation.

This book is just riddled with great characters, such as Skelton, Sam's determined, whiskey-loving therapist; and Linda, Terry's beautiful older cousin and future beauty queen; and Alice, the enigmatic beauty that has caught the boys' eyes. Joyce gives all his characters, no matter how small, wonderful colors and shading that make the seem three dimensional.

The story itself, at least its tone and the nostolgic emotions it extracts, is reminescent of Stephen King's novella, "The Body" (later adapted by Rob Reiner into the movie, "Stand By Me"). In fact, I think fans of King would love "The Tooth Fairy." And like "The Body," "The Tooth Fairy" isn't an outright horror story, even though the fairy itself can be pretty frightening. It does have its chilling moments and is just bristling with sexual energy (it is after all, a story of three young boys coming of age and dealing with their newfound sexuality!) and teenage oppression.

I was sad when the novel came to end because I knew I had to say good bye to this odd, but engaging lot who had dubbed themselves The Redstone Moodies ... Redstone being their hometown and moody being what they were most of the time.

If you like thrillers, mysteries and fantasy fiction, or just enjoy a ripping good yarn with interesting characters thrust into somewhat odd situations, pick this up. Joyce's lush yet economical prose has the ability to transport you right dab into the middle of his literary creations.

Rating:
Summary: Strange, funny, un-put-down-able
Review:

I was fortunate enough to be given a galley proof of _The Tooth Fairy_ recently. It took over most of my non-working life for about three days, because unless I was asleep I simply couldn't put it down. It's macabre and darkly funny (had me laughing aloud on subway trains) and yet touchingly intimate in its descriptions of the characters' growth into almost-manhood.

By the way, I'm the former spouse of the editor at Tor and I still recommend you all buy this book... :)

Rating:
Summary: Fantastical depiction of psychological impairments
Review: A group of children coming of age together is nothing new, yet Graham Joyce somehow manages to not only make it feel fresh but different as well. In horror, the inevitable comparison for this type of story is Stephen King's "The Body" (filmed as Stand By Me), which is atypical King, but a great benchmark. "The Body'' doesn't have any supernatural elements, although it does rely for the most part on horror tropes to build its suspense and atmosphere. However, King's story is simple and direct, and the uncertainty is in its characters motivation to action. Joyce writes in that understated Brit style, in which the gore is hidden underneath a veneer of geniality. When something horrific happens in King's writing, there's no doubting the pain and blood. With Joyce, the event seems so unreal that you wonder if it just might be in the character's imagination.

The underlying question in The Tooth Fairy isn't, however, whether or not the Fairy is real (although it is a minor subplot), but if the Fairy is a good or evil influence. Late in the book, you realize that the Fairy, real or not, stands as a metaphor for certain aspects of being a child. On the surface, there is a simple story about a young boy plagued by a childhood demon, but underneath runs a Jungian psychodrama saying, in effect, that we all have these demons, and dealing with them is a process of maturing.

I was originally drawn to Graham Joyce by the recommendation of Jonathan Carroll in his recent interview with Bill Babouris, so I find it hard not to compare Joyce and Carroll as well. Like Carroll, Joyce tends to rely on a narrator that may not be entirely reliable. Carroll's writing is always detailed, rarely moving quickly in time, concentrated on the here and now. Joyce shifts in and out of detail, using vagueness to add a sense of unease or urgency in action (i.e., his narrator describes things in less detail when under stress).

I liked Joyce's Requiem, and thought that he might be an author to watch, but was not sure that his other books would show the same promise. After reading The Tooth Fairy, I have a better idea of his subject matter and style: fantastical depiction of psychological impairments. Other authors have attempted the same substance with varying degrees of success, but Joyce seems to have found a magic formula for his own work is fresh, exciting and illuminating.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Surprise...
Review: A horror editor recommended pick that delivers the goods. A delightfully entertaining novel about the difficulties of growing up while dealing with a troublesome tooth fairy. The characters were vivid, the pace fast, and for once in a book, the ending was fulfilling. The author's style reminds me of Neil Gaimen. If you are interested in fantasy, this book would also fit that catagory.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, Poignant Tale of Childhood
Review: A picture of author Graham Joyce adorns the rear flap of "The Tooth Fairy," a photograph of a middle aged British guy laughing it up. After reading this magical, phenomenal coming of age story, this photo shows Joyce exactly the way I pictured him. Only someone with a fantastic sense of humor could pen such a wondrous novel. What surprised me most were the blurbs on the back cover of the book, including one from fellow traveler in weirdness Jonathan Lethem. I must state this is one of the only times I wholeheartedly agree with tag lines on a book jacket, as Lethem states that it is time for America to discover Graham Joyce. I couldn't agree more since this is easily one of the best books I've had the pleasure to read this year. In fact, I read "The Tooth Fairy" immediately after Lethem's "Gun, With Occasional Music," which makes me a prime candidate for a one-way trip to the funny farm. Joyce's book falls completely within the bounds of bizarre fiction and is sure to entertain those who enjoy an offbeat read. But even if you don't necessarily like reading quirky stuff, Joyce's novel is still sure to amuse. It's that good.

"The Tooth Fairy" is a story about three British youths named Sam, Clive, and Terry growing up in Coventry, England. When we first meet this troublesome trio, they are wee lads barely out of the cradle. This is a book about the misadventures of these three boys, and the first event occurs at a local pond where young Terry loses two toes to a big pike. The pond is important in both a real and metaphorical sense, as it quickly becomes the place where the three boys hang out during the course of their childhood as well as a representation of their rapidly fading youth. As the story moves along, the boys grow up and suffer all of the trials and tribulations of youth. Clive is the smart one, sent to a special school for gifted students and allowed to sit for his exams ahead of his two friends. Terry is the athlete, a brawny kid who never seems to get a break in life. Sam is the main character of the story; a sort of misunderstood kid who is actually extremely intelligent but whom others think is slightly dense. Through Sam's eyes we see the fallout from a series of potentially harmful events, from two incidents of murder to vandalism to other illegal activities that kids sometimes get themselves involved in.

There is something else special about Sam, namely his association with a tooth fairy he once saw as a small child. This fairy is hardly a smiling waif prancing in the fields, but a rather brutish, androgynous creature who warns Sam about upcoming tragedies while simultaneously threatening to inflict harm on Sam's friends and family. Sam's mother worries about her son's odd behaviors, and sends him to a psychiatrist to straighten him out. The tooth fairy always returns, changing in appearance as Sam moves towards adulthood. If none of this seems particularly interesting or coherent, that's because it is hard to see where Joyce is going until well into the book. I read about half of the story before I knew exactly what I was reading and even then the story presents some difficulties concerning its character. It's not clear how to classify this book: is it a fairy tale? A coming of age story? A fantasy story? Horror? Humor? Well, it's all and none of these things at different times.

The cast of characters in "The Tooth Fairy" is an extraordinary collection of individuals who are interesting as stand alone types, but who create an explosive brew when mixed together. There are the boys, of course, who all have their own amusing peccadilloes. Terry's cousin Linda is an intriguing character as well, always standing in the background watching over the three to make sure they stay out of trouble (and failing miserably). The boys' parents are amusing in their own right, as is Skelton, the alcoholic Scottish shrink with whom Sam spends years discussing the tooth fairy without any concrete resolutions. Finally, there is Alice, a pretty girl who eventually attracts the attentions of Sam, Clive, and Terry. Joyce sculpts each of these characters with such depth that they seem like real people.

A word of warning: "The Tooth Fairy" is frank in its depictions of adolescent sexual escapades. Joyce pulls no punches when it comes to describing those slightly naughty activities young boys engage in, and once the Alice character arrives on the scene the libido factor soars off the charts. Some readers may find these situations slightly embarrassing or offensive, but don't let that stop you from dipping your beak into Joyce's homage to childhood. Really, you will like this engaging book from an author you've probably never heard of before. Besides, reading things off the beaten track provides a good boost to your state of mind if done in a proper manner.

Rating:
Summary: A must read in one sitting, unputdownable.
Review: A well constructed story which keeps the reader literally on the edge of his seat. On the first level a murder, then kids growing up in a backdrop of suburbia and a much deeper level of a boy reaching adolesence. The psychology reaching all readers and I found myself recalling memories of youth while reading the book, particularly the meetings near the pond. A most satisfying read.

Rating:
Summary: Pleasantly Unpleasant
Review: An award-winning, pleasantly-freaky, unsettling novel by British writer Graham Joyce. Sam stashes a tooth under his pillow, as millions before him have done, and wakes to find the Tooth Fairy in his room. Not the pixie-dust version, but an oddly-dressed, sexually-ambiguous and aggressive "other," who interfers/intervenes in Sam's life from then on. Brilliant, disturbing, modern-with-mythic overtones, a coming of age story in 60's/70's small-town Britain, urban sprawl, disaffected youth, violence, sex, drugs and all. If you like the Charles DeLint/Emma Bull/Will Shetterly sort of urban fantasy, this one will blow you away; it's so much better, so much richer, more frightening and more full of wonder. Not much is explained, but so much is experienced...

Rating:
Summary: Experienced But Never Explained
Review: An award-winning, WAY freaky little novel by British writer Graham Joyce...Sam stashes a tooth under his pillow, as millions before him have done, and wakes to find the Tooth Fairy in his room. Not the pixie-dust version, but an oddly-dressed, sexually-ambiguous and aggressive other, who interfers/intervenes in Sam's life from then on. Brilliant, disturbing, modern-with-mythic overtones, a coming of age story in 60's/70's small-town Britain, urban sprawl, disaffected youth, violence, sex, drugs and all. If you like the Charles DeLint/Emma Bull/Will Shetterly sort of urban fantasy, this one will blow you away; it's so much better, so much richer, more frightening and more full of wonder. Not much is explained, but so much is experienced...