Review of The Fish House

[Tejas Koli]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Fish House" by G L Rockey.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

"The Fish House" by G.L. Rockey provides a compelling glimpse into life in 1950s Biloxi and New Orleans through the eyes of young Rick DeAngelo. Rockey skillfully uses Rick's perspective to immerse the reader in this bygone era and explore complex themes of family, identity, and belonging.

Rockey structures the story as a series of vignettes from Rick's childhood and teenage years. This allows him to economically convey pivotal life events while also capturing fleeting everyday moments. Readers are treated to rich sensory details that transport them to scenes like the cramped DeAngelo household or the Fish House restaurant. Rockey invites the reader to slowly piece together the tangled relationships and backstories that shape Rick. Perhaps the most compelling element is Rick's quest to understand his shifting family dynamics and identity. He goes from DeAngelo to Carlson as his mother's and stepfather's lives intersect. But Rockey ensures Rick remains an uncertain, perceptive outsider somewhat detached from the adults. This grants nuance to his perspective on the caprices of parents and the paternal figures who fail to truly know or accept him.

The editing is well-done. With economy and attention to period detail, Rockey brings 1950s Biloxi and New Orleans to life. Readers are treated to colorful vignettes that convey the rhythms of these Gulf Coast communities. With the mix of cultures along the Mississippi, Rockey's descriptions are vivid without unnecessary flourish. This grounded sense of place and time supports the intimate portrayal of Rick's coming-of-age. There is a grammatical mistake that I found.

While "The Fish House" focuses on one boy's story, it offers wider insights into family and identity during the 1950s. Rick's experiences navigating his changing name and never quite feeling at home with any paternal figure will resonate with readers. Rockey tells a deeply human story with warmth and empathy for the people populating his intriguing, bygone world. "The Fish House" is a sharp, perceptive read that will delight both fans of character-driven historical fiction and anyone seeking to understand life in mid-20th-century America. I would rate it 5 out of 5.

******
The Fish House
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon