People who enjoy the works of Harry Smith, John Fahy, Dust-to-Digital, Mama Thornton, or Alan Lomax might take an interest in Xan Brooks’s captivating second novel, The Catchers. Given its strong links to the musical culture of southern America, one can’t help but wonder what tracks Brooks was listening to while crafting his masterpiece.
Brooks’s influences from the literary world are clear in his writing style; numerous traces of famous figures like Faulkner, Welty, Thomas Wolfe, McCullers, and Twain can be seen throughout. These authors are all intrinsically connected with the grand and moody spirit of the southern United States. Taking influence from such stalwarts could be viewed as both a benefit and a drawback. On the one hand, it can inspire a fresh writing style and genre. Conversely, it might be challenging for an author to carve out his unique voice, moving away from the guides and stepping into their own spotlight. This is where The Catchers demonstrates both its power and weak point.
It’s a sharply narrated work, filled with numerous, accurate period details and engaging dialogue. However, the primary characters, and the minor ones around them, fall short of jumping out from the written word. Ideally, one would want more of Brooks’s unique voice; instead, the book often sounds like a fond homage to the referenced authors.
The novel is set in 1927, offering a rich exploration of the origins of popular music, documented through field recordings made by ‘catchers’. These ‘catchers’ would travel nationwide, paying 30 dollars for each song recorded, which would then be owned by the recording label eternally. Central to the story is “Irish” John Coughlin who is dispatched to Appalachia in search of the song that will set his career soaring.
The plot thickens when Coughlin hears of Moss Evans – a young, black musician, and illegal liquor distributor reputed for a unique musical feat that propagated a legend about his frogs blowing up around the Mississippi Delta. Despite the looming danger of a flood, Coughlin takes off on a journey to track him down, leading to an air of impending doom. The novel does seem to indulge a bit too much in the weather descriptions, though.
The iconic American South with its rich history can stir up responses from contemporary authors that evoke biblical symbols like deceased swines in brooks, and portray characters such as ‘Bucky Garner’. They also exhibit deep respect for esteemed colonels and their noble steeds. This approach is not inherently flawed, despite its difficulty to master and its prior use. Brooks is a refined writer. However, for connoisseurs of Southern American literature, there may be a sense of déjà vu in this journey through the enchanting Mississippian sludge, done in the past with better precision.
Critic NJ McGarrigle pens down his views.