This Ramshackle Tabernacle (Breakwater Books, 2010)
Short fiction by Samuel Thomas Martin
I hate writing reviews because what is left to say, really? “An exciting debut.” “A real pageturner.” The pleasure with This Ramshackle Tabernacle is that you don’t have to dig for words, these stories evoke something in you and draw it to the surface. No digging required.
It is quite common for reviews to compare first books to similar books as a helpful way to inform readers about a new author. But it would be counterproductive of me to make any comparisons in this case — because what struck me about this book is that Martin is a truly unique and powerful voice in his own distinctive way, and this is a truly unique collection of linked short stories. A compelling one. It is emotionally engaging and impressively written.
There is an impressive range of voices in this collection too, and Martin has a handle on each — from troubled teens to bickering old married couples, and he is always so truly convincing. This range extends beyond points of view to tone and story content, among other things, and deserves applause: I laughed out loud at “Becoming Maria” and “Crafty old Dragon” but was conversely riveted and shook up by the harrowing and fearlessly written “Shaver.” There are shockers, like “Eight Ball,” and “Roulette,” while stories like “Adrift” simply and effectively strum a reader’s heartstrings. Tender, though, all of them: the shockers, the tearjerkers, and the funnier ones.
In Jessica Grant’s wonderful endorsement quote, she says, “You will laugh and be lacerated.” Echo: you will laugh and you will be lacerated. Sam has all the tricks up his sleeve, but more importantly, he has a deep empathy and sincere compassion that punches through and unites all of his stories. Collectively, the book will rattle you, and ultimately these are stories about outcasts, broken lives, or characters on edge. True. The characters are downtrodden or at a mental impasse, but really, and in the author’s own words, “These stories deal with both the rundown aspects of our humanity, but also with the redeeming love that can hold a community together when tragedies threaten to make it crumble.”
Noticeably, there is an undercurrent motif of “faith versus religion” here, but it is transient and incidental. It provides thematic meat for those who want that, but does so unobtrusively, so that those who don’t want it won’t trip up on it.
Another noteworthy praise: There is no filler in this collection; each story packs its own punch. Though some of those punches are an uppercut that could take Mike Tyson and others are a playful slap on the shoulder.
It’s hard to believe this is a debut. If there are any kinks to be worked out they have nothing to do with the barebones writing, which is assured and not overly adorned: less is more, and it is like he has found his voice and Is honing his trademarks already. But I guess that’s what a masters degree in creative writing, studying under icon David Adams Richards does for a guy? Martin has a very articulate and distinctive diction and voice. This Ramshackle Tabernacle packs a real emotional resonance. It is weighty and lingers and swims in a rare and profound humanity. Most writers fail to engage this well, and what a nice dose of surprising imagery. “The slump in his shoulders makes him look like a cracked branch walking.”
It is a rare treat to find a new voice you are this excited about, to know you’ll be buying his next book. There should be bets on emerging voices, just for fun. Much like horse racing or poker: there are equal parts talent and luck involved in how a writer’s career unfolds. I might go all In on Martin though. Not quite 30 and writing this well? That’s worth a tall stack of chips. It leaves the guy, what, five decades to master his craft?
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