The Scultpor Review

As I was reading this novel, I could not help but draw parallels to other films. Namely, Audition, a Japanese film. It may have been the tone set by both pieces that caused me to draw a connection.

One of the more macabre aspects of this piece was the setting. Anyone who has lived in a small town, knows Aurelias. They lived in it, they were Aurelias. A murder would shatter the humdrum lifestyle of a small, quiet town, likely a fair distance from any major city. In a way, this novel is similar to any novel by Stephen King. The setting has a life all to its own. However, the similarities end there. Funaro gives more away than needed.

This seemed a great deal like a television show, which in itself is not a bad thing, except that some characters come off as bland in some ways. Christian made me draw parallels to the Japanese film, Audition. Though, both pieces are depraved in their own right, the film is much more visceral in many aspects.

Anyways.

A psycho is often as twisted as their obsessions, which I found to be the theme of this novel. With all its faults, it seemed intentionally rough around the edges, like stone. I wish I had more time to delve into this novel and discover whether I can give it more credit and find areas of I likely overlooked.

However.

This novel drew many parallels to Arnzen’s Grave Markings (1994). Kilpatrick and Christian had obsession to some degree, but expressed their psychopathy in different methods, which produced a similar effect in their respective communities. Both suffered from insanity in some shape or form. Also, both enjoyed the media attention and which drove them into more acts of depravity which caused fear in the community. It comes to a point where both enjoy the attention more than the act of killing.

I didn't find this book very enjoyable. The beginning was hard to get through. The rough (rocky) nature of the first few chapters took me out of it. The tone completely changes when it focuses on Christian and when it focuses on Cathy. I found the writing a bit difficult to get through. The chapters which focus have a different feel, like trudging through gravel, to make a pun. I found this to reflect the psyche of Christian: solid, unyielding, yet possessed a twisted form.

In an odd way, the contrast between the chapters which focus on Cathy are more refined than those that focus on Christian. To some, this may be a cheap technique. However, this does ad a depth of depravity to The Sculptor. Christian lives the life of a reclusive hermit, one who shuns technology, yet uses it to enjoy the impact his killings have on his community, very much how Kilpatrick did.

I couldn’t bring myself to like Cathy, but she grew on me. I garnered sympathy for her when it is revealed that she is the target for Christian. This certainly upped the suspense to ridiculous levels.

So why am I thinking about Eliot’s The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufock? Maybe the reference to Michelangelo.

Perhaps a common theme in both? Moral/ethical decay in society? Maybe the artistic merits of life? I can’t say.