Gets my Back Up

For a fairly satisfying period piece pick up Morality Play by Barry Unsworth. Set in 14th century England, a twenty-three year old priest on the run joins a troupe of traveling players. They arrive in a small town and try something entirely new moving away from plays of morality as the reinact a local murder. The drama evolves each time the tale is told and brings the players and the town closer to the truth...It's a fascinating take on art imitating life and and interesting look at the hard life that sows the seeds of discontent during this era. It is an enjoyable read, though it lacks depth and passion in places, plodding along with a sense of forboding. I did find it really interesting that players had such an elaborate code of hand signals and gestures not only to symbolize emotion and elements of acting, but also to alert other players as to what will come next. They direct one another and the play evolves and grows in a truly democratic and organic manner. How true to life this is, I don't know. I almost always enjoy historical fiction, and even more so when I learn something new.

I haven't read anything else by this author - though according to the back of the book, Sacred Hunger, winner of the 1992 Booker was really something. I was only twelve then, so I don't know. I find it really annoying when an author sells a work based on previous works. I don't want to read 4 excerpts about another book-what about this one!? It's about as annoying as when I went to the drugstore to purchase a muscle relaxant for my painfully messed up back this evening- it was on the bottom shelf. The bottom. Next to the floor. Unbelievable. Thank goodness I had assistance. Right now I don't have to pick up anything that falls on the floor. I'm on vacation from picking things up until backie is all better.