Reviewer: Sharon Brunner
M. Kelly Peach told a tragic story of a puppet and its master, a story filled with mournful memories, creative endeavors, and deadly delusions. It is staged in Detroit with an unsure timeline, probably a time when puppet shows with marionettes were popular. Kyle, the main character, had to make a decision concerning his wife. She was in a coma and at the same time he battled his struggle with drinking too much alcohol. He had a mission to complete an array of puppet characters for a scheduled show. The story vacillated between reality and illusion.
Themes that made their appearance were: the dangers of drinking too much alcohol, mourning a loved one, and the demands placed on a puppet master. It appeared that Kyle was drinking to excess because he was mourning his wife. He used alcohol to escape reality. His days were spent drinking strong alcoholic beverages and smoking while he constructed his final puppets. It was confusing when he was supposed to meet with his wife’s doctor, but ended up drinking instead. He finally managed to pull himself together, showered, and ate. The night before he passed out on the floor. He woke up in a hungover state daily. A lot went into the making of a puppet and Peach gave detailed information about the process.
When reading the book, The Adventures of Pinocchio (1883) by Italian writer Carlo Collodi of Florence, Tuscany came to mind. Pinocchio was a wooden puppet brought to life by a fairy, who ordered him to lead a virtuous life in order to become a real boy. He had to live a life of high moral character and if he told a lie, his wooden nose grew in size. Kyle’s puppet came to life and appeared in a threatening form. The puppet on the front cover of the book looked terrifying. Pinocchio was not a scary puppet. The movie that came to mind was the 1988 movie called “Child’s Play” which starred the doll, Chucky. A murderer called Charles Lee Ray used voodoo to put his soul into a doll that was purchased by a mother for her young son. I’m not sure if the puppet killed Kyle or he died because of his alcoholism. His disillusion was scary and left me wondering what actually happened. The title derives from the 1894 play The Death of Tintagiles (French: La Mort de Tintagiles) by Belgian playwright Maurice Maeterlinck. It was Maeterlinck’s last play for marionettes.
I liked when Peach alluded to the puppets moving on their own which gave an eerie slant to the story. Kyle’s wife was the love of his life, so it was understandable why he self-medicated to overcome his grief. The monotony of Kyle’s life really made me appreciate my own life.
I can relate to Kyle’s fear of watching shows where dolls come to life. I have personally known people who were consumed with drinking alcohol. Alcohol carried too much importance for them. I recently lost a cousin to alcoholism. On a more positive note, I have made clothes for my daughters’ dolls like Kyle did for his puppets. And like Kyle I have frequented second-hand stores to look for bargains. These stores have also served as a treasure trove for finding books at very reasonable prices.
I recommend this book for its eerie content, due to its relatable mourning episodes, its depiction of the dangers of drinking too much alcohol, and its demonstration of the creative process of puppet-making. Throughout the book Peach alluded to the puppets coming to life with unexpected movements. Kyle’s alcohol consumption was excessive, and it was not surprising he became delusional. Peach afforded the readers interesting renditions of love and despair.
About the Author
M. Kelly Peach was born in Detroit and raised in the west-side suburb of Garden City. He graduated from Lake Superior State College (now a university) with a B.A. in English Language and Literature and a Secondary Teaching Certificate. He taught a variety of classes in traditional and non-traditional schools including Bay Mills Community College, The Winston School, Oscoda High School, Baylor Parkside Lodge, and Hannahville Schools. Married for forty years to his beloved bride Monica, he has four children and five grandchildren. Now a denizen of the wild and beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan, he reads and collects books, bakes, facilitates Ink Society Meetings for a local writing group, and hikes as much as his knees will allow. His work has appeared in fifty-plus venues including: Lumina Journal, MetaStellar, The Heartland Review, Entropy, A Thin Slice of Anxiety, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly (#57), and Moss Puppy Magazine. More words are forthcoming in: Soul Ink, Vol. 2, The MockingOwl Roost, and Ghostlight: The Magazine of Terror.
Title: The Death of Tintagiles Death
Author: M. Kelly Peach
