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Evie Wyld’s novel is a tough read. The novel is primarily the story of two men, who at first seem unrelated, but are bound together by their living history. Both men are psychologically haunted by lived events. Both men are lonely in a crowd. After the Fire is a psychological reflection on the pains of living a purposeless life. It exposes the long and hard suffering that can result from participation in war.
There are three primary characters, Roman, Leon and Frank. Roman is a baker who creates pastry, especially fancy wedding cakes. Roman becomes a soldier for the Korean war and returns a shell of a man. Shortly after returning home he withdraws from his profession and leaves the management of the bakery to his son.
Leon, Roman’s son, manages the bakery until he is drafted to serve in the Vietnam war. Leon returns from war suffering from traumatic stress disorder, and is never again able to effectively manage his business.
Frank, Leon’s son, is a drifter who struggles to understand his deep psychological problems. Frank chooses to be a social outcast. Frank blames his father for his troubles.
After the Fire is a novel waiting to happen. The stories of deeply disturbed men could easily be a five star novel. The stories are exceptional, the characters well defined, and the descriptions phenomenal. Scenes of Leon in Vietnam are extremely realistic. The mental struggles that Frank experiences are disturbing, and his interpersonal relationships sad but vivid. The terrors of delirium brought on by drunkenness are graphic.
I see several serious problems with this novel. The organization is awkward. The chapters alternate between Leon and Frank without clear purpose. Frank’s chapters weave in regular flashbacks that disturb the pace. Frequently I found myself thinking I was reading about Frank when the chapter was Leon. Roman, who may be the key to the psychological trouble was viewed through the eyes of others.
The impact of the story is lessened by the author leaving the emotional connections among the characters almost unexplored. Roman, a successful and stable man before the Korean war, is obviously harmed by his service or his time as a POW. His trouble is mostly hinted at through the eyes of Leon. The effect on Leon of Roman’s disability appears to be small, yet Leon, during his military training, purposely misses his chance to avoid combat. Is this due to internal grief concerning his father’s experience?
Frank is a tormented man who has trouble with intimacy and stability. The only real suggestion concerning the cause of his trouble is that his father was withdrawn from Frank and frequently drank.
Were this novel reorganized and emphasis placed upon the affects of war upon the generations it would be easily five stars.
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