Review: Quirky Fun--4.5 Stars
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 19, 2012
On a hot July day in Oklahoma, Matthew (Mattie) Bigham meets Thomas Constant--time personified.  He is given the choice to relieve any seven hours of his life or have his life extended seven hours.  His choice is to have his life extended seven hours.  Some people might do something noble with those few hours or perhaps spend time with those they love.  On the other hand, there are people like Mattie who chooses to spend his time plotting the murder of his childhood bully.  However, his plan (if you can really call it a plan) doesn't go exactly has he anticipates and when he arrives at his nemesis's door, he comes face to face with quite a different version of the man he holds responsible for his life's problems.  With a nice sense of humor and an excellent plot twist, Escapement brings the reader into the disappointing and hurting world of Matthew Bigham.This is the first book I've read by Rene Gutteridge and I found it very upbeat and engrossing.  I easily read it in three settings--would have been two, but I needed to pick my daughter up from art class.  As a novella, it's very short, but the plot and characters are surprisingly well-developed and is complete with a totally unexpected moment of irony.As with all the novellas in the 7 Hours collection, Escapement deals with death and time.  The title's meaning eluded me until the closing pages, but it does nicely tie the story together.  I'll let the reader make the connection, but let's just say that it's a great analogy.It's interesting that Gutteridge chose to make her character a morbidly obese, impulsive, unorganized murderer.  Of all the things I was expecting to find in a Christian novella centered on life and death, I have to say, this guy would have been towards the bottom of my list.  Which is part of what makes this story unique and intriguing to read--it's also what held my attention.  To my mind, Mattie's scheme seems like such a waste of a precious few hours, but Gutteridge makes great use of this plot and turns it into a very comforting story.My only complaint is the number of fat jokes and references.  I'm totally sensitive to weight issues considering I followed my mom's side of the family and inherited the obesity tendency.  I'm mortified when characters get stuck in doorways or other equally humiliating experiences.  I have no problem with the character's personality being established and defined by their weight and the problems caused by their weight, but it breaks my heart for a character to endure humiliating circumstances. In this case, the weight issue hampered the story's climax a bit.  I completely realize this is me being extra sensitive and it's probably good character development, but I felt terrible for Mattie and really wish comments and events surrounding his weight would have been less prevalent.Otherwise, I love this novella.  It's fun, quirky, upbeat, and so very easy to read.  Gutteridge makes some excellent spiritual points and definitely leaves the reader with something to think about.  With its unconventional lead character, engaging story, and an excellent twist at the end, Escapement is a great novella for readers looking for a quick read that'll leave them thinking, but not depressed or overwhelmed.Review title provided courtesy of Tyndale