Say Uncle

Robert Globerman

Review by Molly

The year is 1964. It was a time when many people smoked, drugs were not often heard of, it was safe to take a walk at night in most towns, living together prior to marriage was not acceptable and most people married before having children.

Balan sat in the lobby people watching. He was wearing a suit he felt most comfortable wearing, in his pocket was a gold pencil lighter. He was almost tall and almost handsome. It was another weekend away, another search, another resort. Now that Erika was gone Balan had been on a circuit he loathed. All he really hoped for was to find one girl with whom he might fall in love with. Three years out of college in 1952 Balan was pounding the pavement looking for work as a writer, no one seemed to need a writer. He wrote scripts. He wrote his play "Spring Never Returns" and met Erika. She read for a role in his play.

In 1906 Rachael Sarah Dauner was born in Hungary. When she was fifteen she boarded a train on the first leg of a journey that was to carry her to America. Marriage, pregnancy, sorrow of miscarriage and finally Bernard Alan Redfield was born. After a time he was called Balan. And, from his earliest year Balan loved rivers.

Two generations, family, friends that remained a long time and others who stopped, shared a moment and moved on. Death, life, maturity, questions regarding his masculinity and his Jewishness, in addition to hurt, feelings of defeat and pain are all presented on the pages of Say Uncle.

Writer Globerman continues to grow as a writer. He probes Balan's psyche so thoroughly that the reader is left with an acute perceptive of just what it is that makes him tick. Hopes, fears, sensitivity as well as relationships all are laid bare for the eyes of the reader in this fast paced, well written narrative. Balan is a complex character who searches to find what he needs for himself despite the almost stifling devotion, aspirations and desires he feels from friends and family as they at times nearly smother him and his unique charm.

Told in the first person Say Uncle is presented from the viewpoint of Balan; the tale moves quickly to reveal an insightful, bright man who, as we all are, is buffeted at times by the events of his life. And as most of us, he is made stronger because of his life occurrences. Characters are strong, fully developed and convincing. Balan goes through many of the ups and downs of life as are experienced by us all. His struggle to discover his ideal companion is an endeavor most of us know and understand. The fervor, desires and wishes Balan possesses are the ones we all face; moreover they are exactly why the book holds us in its grip so securely. Dialogue is at times tough and gritty, nevertheless verbiage used is believable always.

Attention-grabbing read, happy to recommend. Say Uncle is certain to interest those who enjoy general fiction well written, not for everyone some graphic sex, some graphic language. Say Uncle has a place on the personal reading list, the high school library shelf and the public library. I was sent a trade paperback copy for review.

Notice: Strong indecent language, Strong sexual content