Rating 3 stars – a harrowing look into the lives of a dysfunctional family
The Moon in Deep Winter by Lee Polevoi is a strange and harrowing tale of a young man trying to keep his family from imploding.
I’m not sure I’ve ever read anything like The Moon in Deep Winter before. It’s quite a short novel told over a period of days telling the story of Parker Sloane and his family.
When Parker returns home after five years he is greeted by his Step-father holding a shotgun. In the days that follow we witness Parker’s strained relationship with his younger brother who is trying to build an airplane in his bedroom; and the way he is entranced by his alluring half-sister. The novel is at times unsettling as Polevoi leads us through this world of family a homecoming towards the shocking ending when everything starts to unravel.
I think this novel would be perfect for Book Clubs or Literature classes and is an intriguing debut from Polevoi. I’ll be keeping my eyes open for his next novel.
