Autumn VS. Book of Souls

Autumn Leaves’ Favorite Author Becomes One of Her Favorite Human Beings as She Delves into “Book of Souls” by Jack Ketchum

TITLE: Book of Souls

AUTHORS: Jack Ketchum

GENRE: Memoir, Nonfiction

PAGES: 80

 PRICE: Ebook $3.99, Audiobook $4.82

Right off the bat, let me say that this is my first review of a nonfiction work and I have deliberated for some time over how to approach it, so please bear with me. One thing I know for sure is, I do not possess the skills to do this work justice. There is simply so much to unpack in this one, even though it is only 80 pages, that I cannot cover it all in a simple review.

What I will attempt to do is address the parts of this book as Ketchum wrote them, and express how they made me feel. I will do this over two weeks.

PART ONE OF REVIEW

“Henry Miller and the Push”

This section begins with a story I have heard Ketchum mention a couple of times in interviews. He was working as a literary agent, trying to get a cab home in the rain. He pushed an older woman out of his way to claim the cab, then immediately regretted his behavior, asking the woman to share the taxi with him. After apologizing and explaining to her over and over that his behavior did not reflect the type of man he truly was, she responded only with an “uh-huh”. That was the day Jack Ketchum decided to quit his job as an agent, but first, he wanted to meet the artist he admired so much, Henry Miller.

(NOTE: There was a line here I found especially poignant: “it’s a problem with authors you love – they go and die on you.” Indeed, they do.)

The rest of this section describes Ketchum’s meeting with Henry Miller in Miller’s home. At this time, Miller is 85 and genuinely preparing to die – not dying yet – but preparing for the end on his own terms, still writing, still making art. What really came across to me was the idea of the power of the soul conquering age and failing health. Miller was still creating, still vital, even though he knew his time was very short. 

I wonder if seeing Miller’s plans for “Book of Friends”, a Memoir about the important people in his life, served as the inspiration for Book of Souls. I like to think it was.

Like Ketchum himself, Miller kept a state of grace all his life.

I love how Ketchum describes meeting him: “I found it was not possible…to meet him on a purely professional basis even if I had wanted to. He wanted to know all about me. I felt let in.”

I suspect many a reader who was fortunate enough to meet Jack Ketchum may have said very similar things of him.

“Dust of the Heavens”

Ketchum’s oldest friend, Kenneth, is dying of AIDS and Jack is looking back on their relationship. Kenneth is a paranoid schizophrenic who has spent time in jail with delusional hatred for those around him, but he did not start out that way. Ketchum describes him as “a fine, brilliant soul living in a jungle-maze of misfire synapses and biochemical warfare”. Though Kenneth’s increasingly disturbing behavior concerns and frightens Ketchum, he still remembers the incredible person that he once was.

They met as young boys over a mutual love of art and became kindred spirits. Ketchum  got Kenneth into books and writing, and Kenneth got him into painting. Kenneth spent a significant amount of his time in Ketchum’s home, spending the night, hanging out in Ketchum’s parents’ store. Kenneth also bonds with Ketchum’s mother and remembers her birthday and sends her Mother’s Day cards. He was like a member of their family.

In the 70s, Ketchum meets the woman he lived with until he passed in Manhattan and Kenneth gets married. Kenneth’s demeanor soon changes and it feels as if he is putting on a braggadicious show about his artwork for Ketchum and his partner, making visits uncomfortable. Kenneth and his wife decide to have a baby, and this is concerning to Ketchum and his partner because they believe that Kenneth’s ego would “swamp” a child. He needs too much praise and attention for himself to be an attentive father.

Kenneth falls further into mental illness and delusional fantasies. He clearly resents Ketchum’s success as an author and tries to discredit him, calls him a sellout, tells him that nothing he writes has any meaning. Typical, jealous ‘poor little me’ behavior, lashing out at his oldest friend because he has become a success. Kenneth is also bitter that Ketchum has maintained a long-term relationship and his own marriage ended terribly.

Ketchum receives further hostile phone calls and letters from Kenneth, eventually having to purchase an answering machine to record the physical threats of violence Kenneth was making against him and his partner, Paula.

It must have hurt terribly to have to watch his oldest friend descend into madness and become someone to fear when he was once such a close friend with whom he shared such an extensive history, the type of friend one never imagines losing while they are still alive.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK…

Autumn Leaves is a Canadian author and poet. Her poem “Siren’s Song” was published when she was 15. Autumn is in love with the dark and has an affinity for all things horrific and disturbing. Autumn is also an avid horror reader and book reviewer. Her favorite author is Jack Ketchum. She lives with her children and army of fur babies on a small island off the coast of Maine.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing, nor do the views or opinions of Crystal Lake necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or its staff. Thank you for understanding.