narrative impetus

The text is a review of the novel “This Plague of Souls,” which is praised for its narrative impetus and meaningful resonance through technical skill, making it more than just a good novel. The story follows John Nealon, who returns to his home in rural Ireland to find it empty, without the wife and child he expected. He receives unsettling phone calls from an unknown male voice with preternatural knowledge of his past and present. The novel explores Nealon’s past, including his youth as a talented artist, his rescue of his wife Olwyn from heroin addiction, and a mysterious arrest. The climax of the novel occurs when Nealon meets the caller, leading to a conversation filled with evocative description and dialogue. The ending leaves the reader with a sense of a universe filled with terror, isolation, loss, and hope, showcasing the author McCormack’s ability to create a compelling narrative out of paradox.