Old Wounds: A Novel

So I had just finished Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, And You Sexy Thing by Cat Rambo before that, and a book of short stories by Ken Liu, and am working through James Tiptree’s short stories on audio. All great writers, wonderful stuff. But they all had this in common : I had no problem putting them down when I had to go to work. That wasn’t the case with Old Wounds.There was one cliché that I thought the author was going to follow, but they ruled it out in Chapter 2. No BS, no teasing, just a quick “It’s not going to be your standard tropey book. You are in unknown territory. Strap in.” The scene with the police officer can be an example in a textbook on how to do exposition, set up a reality, create or defy expectations, without the reader realizing (until a month later) that this was being done.I lost a day of work because I did not want to stop reading.Morrissey has a way of painting detailed visual pictures - before you have a chance to think, “Ah. Descriptions,” the paragraph is over and everything is completely set up in your mind. Everything just flows so perfectly in a style that feels like someone is sitting in a room with you, late at night when most of the party guests have left, and telling you a story.It's a good story.

How do I quantify my experience with this book? I’ve been exposed to a myriad of Carrsan’s works and in varying forms too, but this novel took me for a hell of a surprise ride. To say that it breaks away from almost all norms as it equates to the mythical beings in it to how we perceive the human psyche, would be an understatement. I don’t like to be romanced or diluted in how I experience immersive characters, and this book doesn’t do either. It takes you on a gripping and twisted journey, one that centers around internal and external adversaries, both of which are formidable. There’s something to be said about that and it speaks to the very essence of torment and healing, but more so how they work in tandem. The protagonist bleeds allegory, but a type of multifaceted symbolism, that echoes the fact that the most beautiful things are sometimes colored in pain. Even the antagonist prompts thought, he is relentless, malevolent, and vile, but delectably refreshing. That’s where the power in the novel comes from, you want to know what drives the characters, you feel their intensity, and you are inevitably tethered to them chapter after chapter. I got angry, cried, smiled, laughed (here and there), and closed the book glad that I spent two weeks reading one of the best books that I’ve read in a really long time! Bravo, Carrsan!

You finish a book and immediately wonder what is next for the characters, this is a good piece of work. So it was for me and Old Wounds. Carrsan Morrisey has penned a winner for his debut novel. In the vein of Stephen King, I could not put it down.Highly recommend read - perhaps not before bed.

Morrissey's voice is cinematic in tone, but never feels forced. It was a joy to root for the main character who fought and endured her internal and external demons. Old Wounds is a wonderfully creative blend of horror, drama, and a touch of sci-fi. I couldn't put it down!