book review by daithí
Cindy Ellen Hill has just finished a gothic epic, Leeds Point: a Gothic Novel in Verse, cloaked in both history and narrative power. Its 300 + pages is staggering because it is rendered in verse. This is not surprising. Cindy Ellen Hill’s background lends itself to poetry, for she is an accomplished singer and musician. Remember: there was a time when poetry shared with others was sung in villages or courtyards.
Once you have the book in hand, I suggest you do two things: that you read the first section out loud. Cindy’s craft is stitched with constant and sometimes hidden rhymes, rich images, and suspenseful incidents. You should gather around a camp fire on a clear moonlit night. Then, begin the story of Esther, a young maiden, torn from her home and left alone on a foreign shore to fend for herself. The forsaken maid has a horrifying story to share that far surpasses one’s imagination.
There are so many layers and nuances in Leeds Point, but I especially want to tell you that Cindy Ellen’s descriptions of nature really stood out for me and are entrancing. Having spent time as a child in the Pine Barrens, the poet brings out what at first appears desolate but later becomes a stark beauty. Not only does she guide us through the plants and trees along the shore but also the animals are given time to suss what humans might intend for them.
So much of Leeds Point takes place in a void. Just think of stories that you know that take place on the edge of a forest or along the banks of a river. It is a place where monsters emerge when you least expect them–a borderless spot that is yet to be clearly defined, plotted, or owned. It is a place of immense possibilities, where different people and groups interact to make sense of one another–or to commodify them. Needless to say, Esther’s struggles in a New World order has not really changed for those of us in the 21st century.
And you might consider forming a book group to read and discuss the challenges the heroine faces. At the back of the book, Cindy shares what she researched over years for the historic background of the story. Also, there are excellent questions for any book group that wishes to plummet the depths of this epic.
(Note: Cover art by Charlie Adams, Pondwater Studio. The book should be available on or around June 30. For updates, go to either cindyellenhill.com or selkiesongspress.com )