Book Review: Queen of Swords is an entertaining story of the important difference between delusion and illusion. It's about men's Madonna, whore, muse, marriage conundrum, set in a world where the sixties never ended, with undertones of Donleavy, Farina, Vonnegut, and Pynchon (not a bad bowling team there). It's about a writer in Maine who is tempted. There's even a ghost and a moral ending. Queen of Swords is a wild ride and there will be no problem finishing this book. What was most striking for me was how wonderfully well Kotzwinkle writes. He has a humorous, observant, clever, witty, charming, visual style that is irresistible. Not a book for squares, despite the moral ending, as the pot is plentiful. Queen of Swords is a quick and very enjoyable read. My only hesitation regarding the book was that after all the entertainment, it ended up seeming just a little slight or facile considering the subject matter. Or maybe that's just me: Kotzwinkle's use of humor and eccentric characters seems to have created an emotional distance for me. But for a speedy, fun romp with the bonus of a lesson embedded, this is the book. [4 Stars]
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