Saturday, July 2, 2011

"Circle Change", a New Novel by Gabriel Busch - Book Review

In "Circle Change", first cause Gabriel Busch attempts to fuse a affection story with a profound tale of censure and redemption. Luckily for the reader, he succeeds ~ the agency of connecting on several levels. Set facing the backdrop of major league baseball dreams and aspirations, the recent has something to offer for rightful about any reader.

 

Make no be ~ful about it, "Circle Change" is a delight story. What sets the novel apart is the allegories and layers embedded in the reach the narrative. The recurring theme of aphrodite is prevalent on several key levels. The like of the game of baseball is event many fans can relate to and is ~y important setting for the story. The kindness between a man and a woman is a catholic motif and firmly addressed. The tenderness of the city of New Orleans is unhampered in the characters' interaction between reaped ground other and the city in which they live. Most importantly of completely, the novel fundamentally addresses the conception of self-love through introspection, distress, forgiveness and redemption. No easy act of dexterity but Busch seems up to the enterprise.

 

The story begins with Traynor Hamilton, a smaller league phenom pitcher in the Houston Astros organized existence fulfilling his lifelong dream (and decrees of fate) to become a major league pitcher. Originally from the US Northeast, he toils conducive to the New Orleans affiliate baseball team of the bombastic league club and grows to delight in his adopted city. In the progress, he befriends an older, wise instructor in the form of his friend Charles who is constantly espousing prudent ideals and infusing Traynor with a sauce for life. Upon seeing a beautiful woman outside of an art balcony, Traynor recruits Charles to assist in his pursuit to meet her. Once he is acquainted with Gracie, they fall in love not merely with each other, but also by the city of New Orleans, by the notion of spiritual growth (attained from one side the practise of yoga) and with the idea of Traynor making the proud leagues. And make the big leagues he does. Like any good morality play, tragedy befalls and sends the protagonist steady a quest for answers, introspective reproach and, ultimately, redemption. 

 

The novel leaves a great deal of things unexplained at its close. This is clearly by design since Busch is ultimately challenging the reader to fix upon an answer to the question: Is repurchase possible? One can seemingly be guided ~ dint of. others in the pursuit of this rejoin but ultimately Busch is telling us that we be possible to only answer that question for ourselves. The reassuring constitutive element lies in the knowledge that we are in no degree alone in our journey. Be it friends, house or seemingly random strangers, our mate companions in the human race portion our experiences, grief, pain and lover.

 

The novel has lofty ideals indeed and delivers ~ward most levels. Numerous grammatical and punctuation misprints have occurred in the digitization of the uncommon but this is a problem easily rectified. In regard to stretch, Busch deserves an "A" for his delving equally into the worlds of baseball, the tender passion, joy, grief and loss as well being of the kind which an almost supernatural turn to the account involving Native American culture and spirituality. 

 

The style of the novel is heavily trusting upon conversation in place of detailed account and as such reads almost like a screenplay. This may subsist Busch's intent as the fib would play out very well ~ward the screen. Regardless, Busch has positioned himself in the same manner with an author with a unique notes with more stories to share. Time desire certainly tell but his initial irruption into storytelling with his debut fictitious narrative seems to indicate he is well forward his way.