Review by Nikki Dewing -- A Second, Less Capable Head
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Nikki Dewing
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Review by Nikki Dewing -- A Second, Less Capable Head
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Second, Less Capable Head" by James Hanna.]
4 out of 4 stars
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A Second, Less Capable, Head And Other Rogue Stories by James Hanna is a collection of nineteen bizarre short stories with a hint of political satire - most of them written in the genre of magic realism. Many of these narratives present the dark fantasies of sociopaths, schizophrenics and stalkers and, as mentioned in the Introduction, can be read and interpreted in different ways.
The author was a prison counselor and probation officer, specifically assigned to the domestic violence and stalking unit, for twenty and fourteen years respectively. His career in Criminal Justice gave him a good insight into the criminal mind and makes reading these stories even more interesting and meaningful.
The stories are filled with humor and horror at times. These stories might seem absurd, but if a person digs really deep a sad picture is found of what is going on in the minds of mentally disturbed individuals. Many reviews of this book focus narrowly on the first story and the two heads without considering the head from a figurative point of view. Could the two heads perhaps suggest a personality disorder? Taking on such a stance makes the ending much more believable.
The vividly descriptive writing style of the author makes for enjoyable reading. Just a couple of words are necessary for the reader to feel introduced to the characters. The first story describes Virgil Ploughright as a “plumber, football fan, Tea Party activist.” Other descriptions include a stalker with “poached-egg eyes, and sunken chin” and a flasher who “walked with the hesitant stride of a crane, his head bobbing forward with every step.” In this delightful way, the reader is introduced to the hallucinations of a drug addict, a schizophrenic’s vengeance, flashing as a specialized art and a whole lot more.
Although some of the stories portray horrific violence or indecent behavior, the reader should keep an open and understanding mind. I believe that the people described here are real … the author’s career as a probation officer attests to that. The reader gets insight into the minds of criminals, minds that are locked away from society, which few people understand. The author’s experience in working with such people and his ability to find some humor in these disturbed, pathetic creatures, make this book an excellent read.
The almost childlike drawing and orange lines on the cover, is not very appealing to me. And maybe the cover alone will not attract all readers. Yet, in a way, I think the drawing is such a vivid depiction of the weirdness and distortions that must be going on in the minds of mentally disturbed people.
I cannot point out just one story that I liked. I enjoyed reading them all. Reading these stories slowly with some breathing space in between, allows for full impact and meaning as seen from the point of people who are carrying out these illegal and illicit actions. The characters are anything but likable, but the writing style of the author invokes both enlightenment and pathos … and of course, a good laugh.
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. The imaginative writing style and superlative choice of words, in my opinion, contributes greatly to the effectiveness of the book. I would not have finished it otherwise. The book seems to be edited properly, despite a few formatting errors. I recommend this classic piece of literature, that can be read at different levels, to readers who are looking for something unique.
******
A Second, Less Capable Head
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4 out of 4 stars
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A Second, Less Capable, Head And Other Rogue Stories by James Hanna is a collection of nineteen bizarre short stories with a hint of political satire - most of them written in the genre of magic realism. Many of these narratives present the dark fantasies of sociopaths, schizophrenics and stalkers and, as mentioned in the Introduction, can be read and interpreted in different ways.
The author was a prison counselor and probation officer, specifically assigned to the domestic violence and stalking unit, for twenty and fourteen years respectively. His career in Criminal Justice gave him a good insight into the criminal mind and makes reading these stories even more interesting and meaningful.
The stories are filled with humor and horror at times. These stories might seem absurd, but if a person digs really deep a sad picture is found of what is going on in the minds of mentally disturbed individuals. Many reviews of this book focus narrowly on the first story and the two heads without considering the head from a figurative point of view. Could the two heads perhaps suggest a personality disorder? Taking on such a stance makes the ending much more believable.
The vividly descriptive writing style of the author makes for enjoyable reading. Just a couple of words are necessary for the reader to feel introduced to the characters. The first story describes Virgil Ploughright as a “plumber, football fan, Tea Party activist.” Other descriptions include a stalker with “poached-egg eyes, and sunken chin” and a flasher who “walked with the hesitant stride of a crane, his head bobbing forward with every step.” In this delightful way, the reader is introduced to the hallucinations of a drug addict, a schizophrenic’s vengeance, flashing as a specialized art and a whole lot more.
Although some of the stories portray horrific violence or indecent behavior, the reader should keep an open and understanding mind. I believe that the people described here are real … the author’s career as a probation officer attests to that. The reader gets insight into the minds of criminals, minds that are locked away from society, which few people understand. The author’s experience in working with such people and his ability to find some humor in these disturbed, pathetic creatures, make this book an excellent read.
The almost childlike drawing and orange lines on the cover, is not very appealing to me. And maybe the cover alone will not attract all readers. Yet, in a way, I think the drawing is such a vivid depiction of the weirdness and distortions that must be going on in the minds of mentally disturbed people.
I cannot point out just one story that I liked. I enjoyed reading them all. Reading these stories slowly with some breathing space in between, allows for full impact and meaning as seen from the point of people who are carrying out these illegal and illicit actions. The characters are anything but likable, but the writing style of the author invokes both enlightenment and pathos … and of course, a good laugh.
I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. The imaginative writing style and superlative choice of words, in my opinion, contributes greatly to the effectiveness of the book. I would not have finished it otherwise. The book seems to be edited properly, despite a few formatting errors. I recommend this classic piece of literature, that can be read at different levels, to readers who are looking for something unique.
******
A Second, Less Capable Head
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Nikki Dewing's review? Post a comment saying so!
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Dael Reader
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Nice review. I read this one too and really enjoyed the stories, which is surprising, because I'm usually more of a long novel fan. Despite the quirky dysfunctional nature of most of his characters, I felt drawn to them. Probably because I know a few people who come close to the same nature, without becoming criminals, of course. I'd love to hear what you think of my review!
