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A review by miramichireader
mouth human must die by Lee D. Thompson
5.0
This 2017 chapbook by New Brunswick author Lee D. Thompson is either the work of a literary genius or a literary madman (not that the two are mutually exclusive). Having a small acquaintance with Mr Thompson impels me to put him in the former category as this 35-page exercise in creative writing left me staggered by his vision into the schizophrenic mind of Lester, a young man who lives in his mother's basement, refuses medication and communes nocturnally with Lara, a Slow Loris in the city's zoo.
Lester is also the patient (or is he?) of Doctor Shabazz, a psychiatrist who Lara refers to as the "mouth human". Perhaps because he talks more than he listens, unlike Lester (her friend human), who furiously scribbles down every utterance emanating forth from Lara's mind ("I'm her amanuensis" he informs Dr Shabazz):
"Lara, even when she sleeps, teaches me. She teaches me to listen, and to not listen."
Mr Thompson consigns significant trust to the reader to interpret the sparse verbal exchanges as well as the strained interactions between Doctor Shabazz and Lester (the golf vs. croquet session is a particular highlight: "I played golf as a boy, Lester." "And then as a girl, Doc?") as well as his responses to Lara's various "enlightenments". Mr Thompson gets inside a story like a jazz musician gets inside a familiar song, turning it upside down and inside out, leaving threads of it recognisable if you listen closely. A talented musician will inspire the listener in the way an author who has a way with words will inspire a reader causing him or her to ponder over the story long after the book is shelved. Lee D. Thompson's mouth human must die is a concise, exceptional example of inspired creative writing. 5 out of 5 stars.
( This is Volume Two in the New Brunswick Chapbook Series from Frog Hollow Press. Full review is here: http://bit.ly/mouthhuman)
Lester is also the patient (or is he?) of Doctor Shabazz, a psychiatrist who Lara refers to as the "mouth human". Perhaps because he talks more than he listens, unlike Lester (her friend human), who furiously scribbles down every utterance emanating forth from Lara's mind ("I'm her amanuensis" he informs Dr Shabazz):
"Lara, even when she sleeps, teaches me. She teaches me to listen, and to not listen."
Mr Thompson consigns significant trust to the reader to interpret the sparse verbal exchanges as well as the strained interactions between Doctor Shabazz and Lester (the golf vs. croquet session is a particular highlight: "I played golf as a boy, Lester." "And then as a girl, Doc?") as well as his responses to Lara's various "enlightenments". Mr Thompson gets inside a story like a jazz musician gets inside a familiar song, turning it upside down and inside out, leaving threads of it recognisable if you listen closely. A talented musician will inspire the listener in the way an author who has a way with words will inspire a reader causing him or her to ponder over the story long after the book is shelved. Lee D. Thompson's mouth human must die is a concise, exceptional example of inspired creative writing. 5 out of 5 stars.
( This is Volume Two in the New Brunswick Chapbook Series from Frog Hollow Press. Full review is here: http://bit.ly/mouthhuman)