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Christopher Rice's debut novel, A DENSITY OF SOULS, combines an inventive plot, compelling romance, and a host of secrets to create an ultimately successful tale. The story revolves around four New Orleans teenagers as their friendships are ruined by peer pressure and homophobia. As the story shifts from the characters' first days of high school to their college years, the book evolves from dull melodrama into an engaging suspense novel. Burdened by too many subplots and tendencies toward syrupy phrases and transparent allusions, A DENSITY OF SOULS still reveals itself to be a satisfying read, and proves Rice to be a capable new talent.
The opening chapters establish the fractured relationships among the four main characters as they enter high school in 1992. Meredith, Brandon, and Greg immediately join the popular crowd, falling into patterns of drinking, domestic violence, bullying, and sexual experimentation while the shunned Stephen takes solace in academics and theater. In this part of the book the author's screenwriting background is apparent in several cliche allusions to the sexual secret at the heart of Greg and Brandon's enmity toward Stephen. Rice also falters with several unfortunate, sappy lines like "I must dream about you, Stephen thought, I must take you from this picture and place you firmly in my soul." Concluding with an abrupt suicide, the tale jumps ahead several years to the meat of the story.
Rice displays a talent for emotion and romance as he fleshes out Stephen's romantic life as a young, gay man in the South. Stephen's emotional connections are honest and compelling as he struggles to create a safe relationship in the context of his troubled past. This is by far the best portion of the book, and it is a shame that A DENSITY OF SOULS juggles so many subplots that distract from Stephen's journey.
At the same time, Meredith has returned to New Orleans saddled by her own unique view of their shared adolescence. For reasons that are frequently alluded to, but only explained in the book's conclusion, she is determined to protect Stephen from the estranged, psychopathic Brandon who has been missing for several years. Brandon is consumed with hatred for Stephen and plans to kill him. The climax of the novel coincides with a hurricane (transparently named 'Brandy'), revealing more secrets than are actually foreshadowed in the book --- among these, an improper relationship.
Overloaded with trite phrases and hollow melodrama, A DENSITY OF SOULS gains its footing with emotional honesty, tight action, and an engaging story. Christopher Rice's evolution as a writer will be something to see.
--- Reviewed by Sofrina Hinton
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