"These Nameless Things" by Shawn Smucker

These Nameless Things (June 30, 2020) by Shawn Smucker.*

There is a village. It is the first village a survivor would come across after battling the captivity and torture of the western mountain. There used to be many who made their way out of the mountain, but there haven’t been any in a long time. There are only nine in the village: Dan, Abe, Miho, Miss B, Mary, John, Circe, Po and Misha. But Mary is leaving. She is heading east, past all of the trees and over the eastern mountain. But Dan is waiting. Waiting for Adam, his brother. A mysterious, wounded survivor comes during a downpour, and Dan houses her in his home, the first one a survivor would come across after exiting the canyon leading to the western mountain. He knows he should tell Abe about her, but he does not, instead pocketing the key he finds, which the newest survivor seems worried about having lost. Then someone comes to their village … returns from the east. No one who’s gone east has ever returned. She’s young and goes by Lucia. She doesn’t talk. Who is she looking for? She looks at Dan, almost with familiarity, but seems to find him lacking. Watching Mary leave and as more days pass without Adam, Dan struggles. He wants to cling to the village to await his brother, but villagers’ memories are awakening of their lives before their captivity, and those memories don’t show Adam in a good light. It turns out the villagers are waiting for Dan’s brother.

            As I’ve never read Dante’s “Inferno,” I expect I’ve missed much of the symbolism that is present in this story. However, I typically enjoy stories within the magical realism genre. I appreciated the very real struggle of Dan, but overall, unfortunately, I did not feel invested in the story. It could be due to my lack of familiarity with Dante’s work, but I suspect it’s just that this story did not resonate with me. It did have a bit of the “Lost” TV show feel to it, which I liked. The melancholy tone of the book was powerful and showcases how difficult a road it often is to live in grace, know how to forgive, admit guilt and come out the other side all the stronger for it. And in a better place than before.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”