Review: Lost Son by M. Allen Cunningham

Today, in January Magazine’s fiction section, contributing editor Cherie Thiessen has mixed feelings about Lost Son by M. Allen Cunningham. Thiessen wants to know if a work can be both tedious and tantalizing.

The frequent jumps in time, from Rilke’s bizarre childhood, to his marriage, his affair with Lou, his sojourns in Paris, his infrequent homecomings, and his frequent retreats, are very difficult to follow. Stylistically I believe Cunningham wants to convey the idea of the rootlessness and unpredictability of Rilke’s life. However, showing the confusion of a confused life inevitably leads to confusion.

The full review is here.