Book Review: The Curfew by Jesse Ball

William and Molly live a quiet life, in a quiet neighborhood, avoiding attention of any sort, minding only their day to day activities. And then someone from a life William is trying to forget as best as possible, suddenly appears before him. This man tells him things that William cannot overlook, and therefore, to find out more, he leaves the comfort of home, into the city at night, in the midst of an unspoken yet unanimous curfew, leaving Molly with their neighbors.

Molly likes her neighbors. Like William, this couple used to have a colorful life as well, before the life they used to know ended. Together with this elderly couple, Molly creates a puppet show, a show that recreates Molly’s whole life, from the days even before her birth, to that very same day up until William ventures out in the evening leaving Molly behind, and beyond.

This book. This book! It has been a while since I’ve felt such heart wrenching sadness reading a book. I’ve never been a fan of dystopian literature, but this is like none other I have ever read. Jesse Ball is a poet, and may be that is the reason why at times while reading this book, it feels very much like reading a book of poetry rather than a novel, and yet, it is a novel.

I think I may just have found a new favorite author!

I don’t think it is possible for anyone to dislike this book. One may not love it as much as I did, but they will not hate it either, I think. It’s a short read, so if you can, give it a try.

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The Curfew
By Jesse Ball
Paperback. 195 pages. Vintage Contemporaries. January 14, 2011.
Literary Fiction