Kenneth Radu Boeken

Exploring Romania's rich heritage, Kenneth Radu's linked poems weave together mythological and historical figures, including Dracula and Vlad the Impaler, alongside personal narratives of immigrants and celebrated pianists. The interplay between these characters and a contemporary gardener-pianist creates a tapestry of experiences that serve as both an exorcism and a celebration of resilience. The work reflects the enduring human spirit and the quest for spiritual regeneration amidst the shadows of the past, highlighting the power of art and memory.

Exploring themes of creativity and psychological complexity, the novel presents a series of tableaux narrated from various perspectives. It centers on an independent woman who defies the societal religious and moral norms of her time, delving into the interplay of art, music, and sexuality. Through her journey, the story examines the contrasts between creative expression and darker human tendencies.

"A woman wins a fabulous lottery; a frustrated middle-age man waits for his wealthy father to die; an unemployed father and widower struggles to earn a living wage; an older man of means has an affair with a much younger woman; a privileged but harassed suburban woman and a homeless man meet in a subway station: each story, built upon familiar motifs, leads into the core of the characters' sense of who they are. The narrative drama arises from what they face and how they live during their present circumstances. For the readers, the stories transform the ordinary, which many have felt themselves, into a new dimension of experience."-- Provided by publisher