July: A Novel

Tracy Lucca
iUniverse (2006)
ISBN 0595345042
Reviewed by Shaley Melchior for Reader Views (1/07)

In "July: A Novel," first-time novelist Tracy Lucca explores the possibilities that can occur when poetry and dialogue are successfully merged. Lucca has a remarkable knack for translating human emotions and desires into poetry that is timeless and haunting. While Lucca does not have any trouble at all with writing conversations, diary entries, and short stories, it is in her poetry that her style sparkles and shines.

"July" tells the tale of Zog, a man on a mission. His friend, Peel, has recently died. After this, Zog goes looking for the only girl Peel ever loved, Monica, presumably to share the news of Peel's death. In the meantime, Zog learns more about Monica than anyone would have imagined. She shares all the details of her sad life. We get to hear the tragic story of Monica, and, eventually, Monica and Peel, through an unusual mix of methods: poetry, dialogue, letters, dreams, interviews, and music.

It's hard to criticize this book, because the words seem to come directly from the characters. Lucca delves into the underworlds of drug misuse, abuse, sex, the stormy side of college life, and, finally, the universal uniter, death, without causing the reader to become greatly depressed or unsatisfied. Rather, the reader comes away feeling that something precious has been found. For example, the following passage, found on page 95:

some day soon

worry worry gets me everywhere
long nights, short life
i never said that
cannot only recall, can recite

i feel and i follow that
i go from there to near
i go the long way down for you
where may i go from here?

sadly i'm point blank
afraid of my own shot
unafraid of you my love
unaware of what i've got

forever falling in my dreams
i hold on tight to mine own self
i've no one to thank for this
i only blame myself

The reader can feel the vast desperation of the writer, Monica, and many can commiserate with her. There is also an acknowledgment at the end of the book, stating that Peel died in New York in 1997, all his writings were given to Ms. Lucca before his death, and are very much real, while the rest is fiction. This leads the reader to countless questions... is this afterthought also fiction, cleverly woven in to keep us wondering, or was “July” partially truth? Lucca speaks from her heart, to our hearts, in such a way, perhaps we will always wonder.

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