Review: Eccentric and poetic
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 17, 2014
After about the first page, you’ll realize that Muddy Men is essentially a fairly short long-form poem or verse novel, as oxymoronic as that sounds. I’m not sure if this is a result of the translation, or if it was written this way originally, but the short verses and occasional repetition are rather powerful, albeit a little out there.Muddy Men is about Mamzer, a man whose world is broken: he hates his job; his son doesn’t respect him; he clashes often with society’s expectations. The weight of the world has crushed his spirit. He is angry most of the time, and he usually gives into it. Mamzer is an interesting character. While his struggles with the daily work routine and his anger about life are relatable, his coarse nature makes him rather unsympathetic. It’s an interesting combination to find in a protagonist. As the story continues, you find yourself vacillating back and forth between liking him and disliking him.Overall, I found Muddy Men to be a little eccentric, but rather enjoyable. It’s definitely one of the more unique stories currently out there.