By Brian Wiprud
iuniverse.com
Paperback

Dialogue is frequently problematic for writers, particularly when characters with a variety of accents, dialects and colloquialisms chat. Each character has a specific voice, speaking in a manner that reflects not only his geographic origins, but also his level of education and status within society.

How a person speaks is frequently more important than what he says. To incorporate all the subtle nuances in dialogue that make a character's voice ring true is a talent that few possess.

In Pipsqueak, the characters often speak with nearly incomprehensible dialects. The spelling of common words and names are frequently changed depending on who is speaking. For instance, Garth changes to either "Garv" or "Gawth." Even when the alterations are comprehensible, this use of dialect distracts the reader from the story.

Pipsqueak Excerpt The rain struck Teige like a hook. "Gimme the squirrel!" a male voice boomed. Glass shattered. There went the front display case. "Bastard!" Cola Woman screeched. There was a shot, the bathroom mirror shattered, and I dropped to the floor, trying my best to curl up into a ball behind the commode. A rip in the wallpaper betrayed where the slug passed through the wall, sheet rock dust still hanging in the air. Out in the shop, the struggle progressed, staggered stomping and grunting, lamps crashing to the floor, the case of thimbles rattling. "Help!" Cola Woman wheezed, and I think she meant me. "Squirrel!" The man barked. ©2002 Brian Wiprud Published with permission from iuniverse.com

What Pipsqueak lacks in finesse, it makes up for in enthusiasm. The backdrop of New York City comes across as bright and colorful. The characters are as vivid as a Saturday morning cartoon. And the plot gallops along at breakneck speed.

In this enthusiastic rush, there is one significant drawback. The events of this story proceed too rapidly. Before the impact of one incident can be understood, the next scene begins. This hectic pace prevents the reader from being drawn deeply into the story.

For a self-published novel, Pipsqueak is quite good. Despite the dialogue and pacing, this novel is readable, and holds the reader's attention. However, because of these issues with the writing, Pipsqueak falls short of the expectations of a professionally written and edited novel. Brian M. Wiprud shows a lot of promise as an up and coming author. His future books will definitely be worth looking for.

Bookworm's Briefing
Brian Wiprud, self-professed "manhole detective," and proud owner of Brooklyn's largest collection of taxidermy, has also written another novel, Sleep With the Fishes. His publishing credits include a variety of articles on fly fishing and New York's underground (under the manhole covers). His current project is Dirt Nap, a sequel to 2000's Sleep With the Fishes.