A conversational tone, humorous remarks, dry wit, and characters the reader will care about—Rudolph Delson’s first novel, Maynard and Jennica, is a hilarious and poignant telling about a couple, their city, and a major world event.

Like most culture in our paranoid and terrorist-conscious society, this novel examines the build-up, execution, and aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Not merely a backdrop for the novel, Delson weaves New York into characters’ lives until it becomes a character itself, foregrounded in the characters’ consciousness as well as our own. The red brick walk-up that Jennica lives in is a shelter, but it also becomes a part of her personality; the subway, a stage for romance; and of course, the scarred skyline reflecting the new fear and emptiness.

The novel is much like a Shakespearean play in its fivepart division and slew of characters (all listed in the back for quick referencing), its witty humour, and candid portrayal of human nature. Delson’s characters all speak directly to the reader, telling their story their own way but as if being interviewed or more accurately, interrogated. Maynard and Jennica captures a society changed, and the way humans turn to relationships, and comedy amidst turmoil and tragedy.

Rating: VVVV