FIELD OF VISION is the lyrical, simmering story of a jaded photographer occasionally named Jake who, at age 27, is unafraid to take pictures of a man who threatens to kill him. The novel opens with a startled rooster and Jake on the phone to a contact named Tom. Jake’s devil-may-care attitude extends not just to his random choice of destination, but to his love life as well. As he slowly surveys the physical and human landscape of tropical Soufriere, he seduces a German restaurant proprietress, a beautiful 18-year-old named Rita, and a handful of others who cross his path. He is as absorbed in the chaotic beauty of his surroundings as much as in the gradual awakening of his own soul. Eventually, Jake (who occasionally switches names, both to outrun his enemies and, by extension, any hint of responsibility) discovers that despite himself, he has formed ties that require him not merely to observe, but to fully participate in his life.
Author Michael Jarvis writes masterfully. There are very few wasted sentences here; even casual descriptions, such as that of a meal in a restaurant, are seeded with life and Jarvis’ voice: “In the next room, the battle of forks and plates rages furiously.” Each character comes fully formed, and with an engrossing story of their own. The novel unfolds slowly: a traditional publishing house would undoubtedly wish to narratively condense and rigorously shape the work, but the novel is inherently good.
Much like a diamond cutter paring away at a gem, FIELD OF VISION is excellence in its rawest form, awaiting the seasoned eye of a talented editor. Readers of literary fiction will rejoice in the majestic sweep of the text, and the sultry atmosphere that pours out of every page.
Reviewed by Julia Lai for IndieReader.
http://indiereader.com/2014/04/field-vision/