The World

John Kearns
iUniverse, Inc. (2003)
ISBN 0595276628
Reviewed by Nina Larson for Reader Views (5/06)

Have you ever wondered what goes on in a 16 year old male’s head?

Wonder no more. He is thinking about a girl or his ego. With a possible sprinkling of history.

In his book, “The World,” John Kearns drops you into someone’s mind. And I do mean drop. There is no introduction, no warning, and no explanation. You, as the reader, must wade deeper into the book as The Youth/ The Artist explores and interprets his life. After discovering his destiny on page 48, the center of his life is the basic boy-meets-girl. Unfortunately, this relationship exists mainly in The Artist’s head. In addition, The Artist is consciously separating himself from his parents, even as he unconsciously acts out their neuroses and expects their life. All the while, he swings from one extreme emotion to another; his future on the launch pad waiting for a date with that one special 14 year old girl. But how many teenage crushes are happily-ever-afters? Do not expect a happy ending.

Do expect an enlightening book. This book was much more educational than any “What to Expect When You Have a Teenage Boy” book could ever be. However, this is not a simple and easy book to read. It was 20 years in the making by a Poet with a Master’s degree in English. It is practically a textbook example of descriptive writing, and seems to have been written to be Discussed. (Note capital letter.) The Artist takes comfort and self-esteem from describing moments in foreign languages and an embedded part of the book is the layering of what is happening to The Artist now, a flashback of then, bridged and explained by his musing about Irish history and myths. Transitions within the chapter are nonexistent.

Am I glad I read this book? Yes. Could you read this book more than once? Yes. I’m sure reading it multiple times will deepen your understanding of this book since there are many layers of meaning deliberately crafted into this story. While this book has a strong autobiographical feel, I’m sure John Kearns’ fans, a fan of Irish history, or anyone who was once a 16 year old boy will resonate with “The World.”

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