Though each of the novels can be enjoyed on their own, when taken together, they elevate one another. Alexis is helping to guide the reader through thoughts and philosophy using storytelling. With the Quincunx, it is as if Alexis is building a room where fiction is able to engage with itself in the mind of the reader. Though the books are wildly different, they both deal in the same themes and seemed to stage a discussion with one another in my mind. What’s more, my reading of Fifteen Dogs last year helped inform my reading of Pastoral. Indeed, despite its brevity, I found myself delaying the ending if only because each reading stirred up a new thought, and each reading left me richer than before. Instead, each part of Alexis’ novel is given the space to breathe between readings. The economy of words in this short novel means that no character, scene, or topic overstays their welcome. You’ll see the rolling hills and small streams where Father Pennant walks, and perhaps you’ll come close to recognizing the hair salon in which an act of public nudity takes place. Indeed, the imagery here is powerful and well-written.

I thought that Alexis handled this deftly with characters that struggle with complex philosophical questions set against an idyllic background. Of course, this interpretation also discounts seeming simplicity of life for simplicity of character and a dearth of complications. It is my understanding that the pastoral seeks to take the complexity of urban life and move a character towards more simple rural existence. All the character interactions here lock into place beside one another, nothing ever feeling forced. In particular, I loved the suggestion that people are tied to place in our memories.

Father Pennant also acts as intermediary in a Barrow love triangle that is at first humorous, but soon delves into a deeper examination about the nature of love. Christopher soon meets Lowther, a local caretaker, who seeks to challenge the young priest’s faith. Our shepherd here is Father Christopher Pennant who moves from the hubbub of Ottawa to the fictional rural town of Barrow.

Pastoral is a modern reimagining of the pastoral genre. Certainly a lofty goal, but one that Alexis seems more than capable of handling. Alexis’ goal with the five novels is to “ examine faith, place, love, power and hatred” (Wikipedia, Pastoral). A quick visit to Wikipedia prior to my reading of the 160-page Pastoral gave me some insight into the Quincunx, and helped to contextualize the novel as part of a whole and an independent work. A novel written with awe-inspiring grace and confidence.īefore Trinidadian-born Canadian author André Alexis drew fame for his Giller-Prize Winning novel Fifteen Dogs, he began his ambitious Quincunx project with Pastoral.

Fifteen dogs by andré alexis