The Mineral Palace

The Mineral Palace is the first novel by Heidi Julavits. It's a lot more earthbound than The Effects of Living Backwards, an Alice In Wonderland tale that I read in December 2005. For some reason there's no permalink to it - thanks Blogger. If you want to read my take on it (though I can't imagine why) you'll have to check my archives. Anyhow, this is a novel of Bena and Ted Jonsson, a young couple with a newborn, who move from Minnesota to Pueblo, Colorado where Ted has found a medical position. The Great Depression is at its height. Pueblo is a bleak, dusty, disheartened town that, like most towns, hides some dirty secrets. Little thrives there including Bena and Ted's marriage which is as empty as the hot, dusty streets. Cattle starve to death and are piled in a midden, buffalo jump off cliffs, dogs die and babies, too. Corruption and perversion thrive. At times the book seems to be veering towards cliche but, overall, Julavits manages to skirt this pitfall. If you're looking to be uplifted avoid this book. It's dark and tragic but incredibly moving and the writing is very,very good.