Talk: A Novel in Dialogue    by Corey Mesler Order:  USA  Can Livingston, 2002 (2002) Paperback     Reviewed by Angela Landreth Talk : A Novel in Dialogue is the story of Jim, a middle-aged bookstore owner contemplating the current status of his life (it's interesting to note that the author is himself co-owner of Burke's Book store in Memphis). Jim owns a business, has a wife, a couple of kids, and a best friend whom he has known for over twenty years. All appearances point to a successful life, but to quote an old song 'No one knows what goes on behind closed doors.' In this situation, the doors open into Jim's mind, as we are invited into this inner sanctum through the dialogue between Jim and those around him. The idea of a novel with nothing but dialogue is intriguing and innovative. Before I opened the book, I contemplated how it was going to work. It turns out that the conversations lift the characters off the page more effectively than any narrative ever could have. The author, in this debut offering, uses imagery, wit and humor to bring his tale to life. As you turn the pages, you wonder - are you a participant in the conversation or an eavesdropper? Mesler managed to captivate me so much that I finished the entire book in one evening. His mastery of dialogue should inspire many writers to avoid expounding with descriptions when conversations adequately create the characters and situations that are the focus of a story. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Contemporary books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews