Review of Ten Eighty

[Timothy Rucinski]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ten Eighty" by Allan Davis.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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It's official. My new favorite writer is Allan Davis. I loved Goodnight, Mr. Knight, and I was thoroughly delighted with his latest novel, Ten-Eighty. Although a bit more somber than the former book, Ten-Eighty is a marvelous novel that addresses critical and timely issues while sustaining a sense of humor.

Emma, Renata, and Katria are the three daughters of Ivan Boscov, a Russian immigrant who runs a pest control business in Toronto and writes semi-successful diet books. Ivan's wife, Sarah, dies from an apparent heart attack, leaving the girls with an abusive father. They detest him, calling him Comrade Ivan. While Emma works in a flower shop trying to make ends meet, the youngest, Katria, lives with her father, dealing with depression from losing her mother. Renata, the oldest daughter, is bribed by her father to monitor Katria, discover more about the young girl’s insecurities, and help her regain a sense of normalcy amidst the lunacy within Comrade Ivan’s home.

While the above summary appears simple, Ten-Eighty is a highly complex novel. The ten-eighty, referred to in the title, is fluoroacetate, a perfect poison: odorless, tasteless, concentrated, and capable of bringing on instant death via cardiac arrest. Although the poison is banned in Canada, Katria believes that Ivan obtained some from the Russian black market, poisoning his wife and countless dogs throughout Toronto.

The book is filled with serious and well-developed themes, although relayed through humorous touches indicative of Davis' style. Child abuse is front and center. Not only does Ivan ill-treat his children, but so does his mother, Nana, and his sister, Gizla. The girls remember how Nana and Aunt Gizla imprisoned them in storage closets to punish them. "Bruises heal," Renata says at one point, "but the abuse doesn't."

Consequently, mental illness plays a significant part in the book, with elements recognizable in each character as they try to make sense of their lives. Katria says, "Dogs look up to people as though they aren't crazy. Cats look down at people as though they are crazy. I think we should be looking at people with the eyes of a cat to figure out what to do next." For Mr. Davis, psychiatry has become the new religion. Churches are torn down and replaced with mental institutions throughout the city. And, as with Mr. Davis' other works, death is everywhere. Katria attends movies featuring the undead, and the presence of the dog poisoner permeates the entire story. Katria spends hours in a cemetery, hoping to channel a message to her dead mother. And, at times, she envisions her mother's spirit lingering about the house.

Another prominent theme is body imagery. While Ivan promotes a healthy lifestyle by eating copious amounts of rhubarb, his wife, Sarah, is an overeater. Her heart failure and death are brought about by obesity. Nevertheless, Katria obsessively maintains she was murdered. She goes from one extreme to another in an attempt to look like her mother, feasting on day-old donuts to starving herself until she can fit into her mother's old clothing.

All the characters are troubled, attempting to make sense of what comes next. Psychiatrist Dr. Enright says, "Everyone has a knitter, Katria, and everyone is knit, one stitch at a time." Nana and Aunt Gizla are serial knitters, and much is made of the image of knitting fabric together, attempting to create a completed garment, symbolizing the abusive practices that formed the children and the events that shaped their lives. But, unfortunately, none of the characters are complete, and when it appears that things may come together for them, the strands unravel, failing to make sense of what comes next.

I enjoyed everything about Ten-Eighty. For me, there was no downside to the novel. What I enjoyed most were the unique and cleverly conceived quirky characters. Emma does her best to run the flower shop and help Katria get through her teenage years. Renata owns a hair salon, is extraordinarily beautiful, and is a perfect seductress plying her prey with one vodka shot after another. And Katria is obsessed with revealing her father to be a prolific poisoner. Readers of John Irving's novels will like this book, as will those who enjoy stories involving characters and events just this side of sanity. It is very well written; Mr. Davis's style is all his own and easy to read and digest. The dialogue is magnificent and rings realistically true. In addition, the book seems to be professionally edited with only some minor punctuation errors.

I am pleased to award Ten-Eighty 5 out of 5 stars. Mr. Davis is a writer that more people should read. Many more of his books are on the shelf, and I expect to be devouring all of them, like one vodka shot after another.

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Ten Eighty
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[Prodigy5]

This seems like an exciting book. I love the enthusiasm used in this review. I cannot wait to read this book.

[Timothy Rucinski]

This seems like an exciting book. I love the enthusiasm used in this review. I cannot wait to read this book.

Thanks for the response. I think you will find it a worthwhile read.

[Baba Thoust]

Wow! What a breakdown of a fantastic book. I enjoyed every bit of the review. Sound like a story with strong characters like Katria and her father, and the plot is wonderfull. Your review is awesome!

[Timothy Rucinski]

Wow! What a breakdown of a fantastic book. I enjoyed every bit of the review. Sound like a story with strong characters like Katria and her father, and the plot is wonderfull. Your review is awesome!

Thanks much.

[Tari egai]

I have a strong dislike for abusive parents. It is difficult to comprehend how someone could mistreat their own family in such a cruel manner. Based on your review, it appears that the father may have also been raised in an abusive home. I sincerely hope that the children finds comfort and are able to leave that toxic environment quickly, especially since there is a possibility that their father, Mr. Ivan, may have been responsible for poisoning their mother.

[Aswin3848]

Wow! The review is just amazing. Well broken down, and full of enthusiasm. Will definitely give the book a read.

[Manang Muyang]

I am a huge fan of thrillers. I am impressed that you have found a new favorite author in Allan Davis. That's telling. I hope this book becomes BOTD soon. I'm itching to get to meet the three daughters and to know whether their mom was indeed murdered by Comrade Ivan.

[NetMassimo]

A complicated family, a poisoner, mental issues that influence poeple's behaviour, all elements in a sophisticated story that addresses important issues. Thank you for your great review!

[Hazel Mae Bagarinao]

The book is not a quick read, indeed! I am amazed at how you summarize well the book. The characters are vividly described and the plots were not missed detailing. It's so good to find a favorite author. I am happy for you. Your review is phenomenal, Timothy!

[OTrain Disene]

This book really left an impression to you. I have never heard of this author but after reading your review, that might change. Thank you for sharing.