A story of a young woman's realtionship with her father -- and the divorce of her parents -- told in in the context of the big puzzles they pieced together at Christmas time. Her narration is candid and lucid... her father is articulate as he responds to her questions about the challenge of putting together some very large puzzles.
I found the most compelling moment to be the discussion of whether or not something is a tradition if only one person carries on with it... or is it just a habit? Her father needles her about spending less time with him around Christmas. His reaction to the giant puzzle with which she gifts him is also a great moment -- "Are you out of your mind?" He asks her to return it but she -- and I -- were uncertain if he meant it.
I enjoyed this meditation on puzzles, pieces, and the tension of growing up and apart from one's parents... and the guilt that comes with holiday times. The puzzle metaphores were over occaisionally overraught, but this didn't detract from my poignance of this situations.
Review of Of A Piece
Wil Taylor
Posted on June 14, 2004 at 06:39 PM
A story of a young woman's realtionship with her father -- and the divorce of her parents -- told in in the context of the big puzzles they pieced together at Christmas time. Her narration is candid and lucid... her father is articulate as he responds to her questions about the challenge of putting together some very large puzzles.
I found the most compelling moment to be the discussion of whether or not something is a tradition if only one person carries on with it... or is it just a habit? Her father needles her about spending less time with him around Christmas. His reaction to the giant puzzle with which she gifts him is also a great moment -- "Are you out of your mind?" He asks her to return it but she -- and I -- were uncertain if he meant it.
I enjoyed this meditation on puzzles, pieces, and the tension of growing up and apart from one's parents... and the guilt that comes with holiday times. The puzzle metaphores were over occaisionally overraught, but this didn't detract from my poignance of this situations.