1 out of 4 stars
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Wide is the Way is the latest work of fiction by author Roy Norris. His protagonist Roy Norris is the newest Borough Engineer and Surveyor of Brimley, a fictitious town in northeast England. The year is 1970 and Brimley's three major industries of coal mining, shipping and railways have all experienced decline due to economic downturn. Roy is ambitious, energetic and full of ideas for rejuvenating the town. As he settles into his new job he is also becoming increasingly involved with the local women. That would not be a problem if he wasn't a married man, and if they were not married women. But as one of the council members suggests at the beginning of the book, "...the favourite sport in our borough is adultery".
As if his job and his trysts were not enough to keep him busy, Roy also has frequent speaking engagements and is a cryptic crossword and classical music aficionado. His intelligence, sense of humor and productivity increase his popularity in the borough, so much so that he considers seeking higher public office.
Parts of Wide is the Way read as bulleted lists of the author's personal viewpoints on different topics, instead of being incorporated into the story. Aside from the long monologues by Roy, dialogue is often limited to tongue-in-cheek conversations between Roy and his many sexual partners. I would have liked to see more substantial dialogue between the characters.
I also would have liked to see more believable situations. The story is fiction, but it seems to happen in a space of complete suspended reality. It is hard to believe Roy could have been involved in so many liaisons around the town without being caught either by his wife or by any of the other women with whom he is having affairs.
The best parts of the book are the Walter Mitty-like daydreams Roy is prone to having, and the jokes included in his public speeches. Some of these made me laugh out loud. Unfortunately, the book is incomplete. There are many places in the last half of the story where Mr. Norris neglects to flesh out the chapters. He leaves multiple sets of ellipses instead of writing complete concepts.
Were the book complete, readers of erotica would enjoy Wide is the Way. There are graphic descriptions of Roy's multiple sexual encounters. Readers who prefer character-driven fiction will not like this book, as it does not delve into character development.
Because the book is incomplete and needs editing I rate this work 1 out of 4 stars.
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Wide is the Way
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