Review: Because you want it to be dark, unique, transdent and evocative. It's all that.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 4, 2013
Nik Korpon has this prose. This vivid, urgent vernacular that almost transcends reality. You can't really understand what I'm talking about unless you experienced it and that's the purpose behind BAR SCARS, I suppose. The disembodied prose of Nik Korpon carries the weigh that's dragging down his protagonists. It's quite unique and spectacular. You should read him for that reason alone.What I loved about BAR SCARS is that it's not really about interlopers or career criminals, like most noir is. It's also not about overly depressed people. It's about people down on their luck, taking bad decisions, making risky bets.People with hopes and dreams too big for what they can afford. His otherwordly writing makes their predicament appear like they're in purtagory, like they're being tested for something.The contemplative prose gets in the way sometimes. I read a lot, so I believe in having a reading rhythm. Sometimes it gets deliberately slow and contemplative it bothered my immersion. It wasn't in every story and whenever it happened, Korpon usually rewarded my patience. It's just that the high payoff strategy doesn't always work with the short story format. Nonetheless great, short collection. A great window into a unique and talented author's world. My favorites: THIS WILL ALL END WELL, THAT PALE LIGHT IN THE WEST, ALEX AND THE MUSIC BOX and HIS FOOTSTEPS ARE MADE OF SOOT. Try it because it's always good to change pace and that Nik Korpon's fiction is a change of pace in itself.