The Marriage of Sticks

by Jonathan Carroll

Returning to her class reunion, Miranda Romanac has her heart set on meeting James Stillman, her first boyfriend, once again. Her life's never quite measured up to the ideal he represented for her but she is devastated to learn that he died three years before, in a car crash. Her life settles back into routine in New York, and she meets the fabulous Frances Hatch, mistress of many of the great in Paris in the twenties, and at the same time starts an affair with a married man. Then she sees James Stillman, waving to her across the street. And her life changes forever. Confronted, literally, by the lives she's ruined one way or another, she learns the horrifying truth about herself and her own immortal existence.

• ISBN10: 0575402490
• ISBN13: 9780575402492
• Publish Date: 10 August 2000 (first published 6 May 1999)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 27 August 2006
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
• Imprint: Orion mass market paperback
• Edition: New edition
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 288
• Language: English

Reviews

[Metaphorosis Reviews]

reviews.metaphorosis.com

3 stars

Miranda Romanac learns that an old flame has died, but begins to see him on the streets. When she gets involved with another man, the range of strange events increases to the point of danger.

Carroll mixes mundane reality with a couple of very interesting supernatural premises. The first half of the book is largely realistic, though Miranda begins to experience visions and visitations as she falls in love with a married man. In the second half, the fantastic elements predominate as she tries to come to terms with, and conquer, the things that are happening to her.

Overall, the book is interesting, and the protagonist fairly likable. The realistic portions of the book flow smoothly, though Miranda seems fascinated by status symbols. Everything is named - a Mayakovski poem, a Bremen typeface, and of course (for Carroll), one or another brand of fountain pen. It's exhausting even when the names are familiar; far from adding natural color, it's distracting.

I was sorry that Carroll did less than he might have with his supernatural elements. He mixes two clever premises, but almost immediately discards the more intriguing one (regarding fate). While he does a good job of building suspense, much of the resolution of the story is so opaque as to be incomprehensible. We are eventually told what has happened, but I didn't see any obvious pointers to it in the narrative; we simply have to take on faith that the actions described have the effect described. Miranda, despite claims to the contrary, is more acted on than actor, and has few choices to make. Her journey is interesting, but more for the horror-tinged scenery than for its effect on her.

This is an interesting novel despite its flaws, and worth reading for its effective mix of mundane and magical. It takes place in the same location as Kissing the Beehive, and there are a few carryover characters and references, but these are primarily standalone books rather than a series.