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Flashes and Specks

Mark Pogodzinski
No Frills Press (2010)
ISBN 9780578047119
Reviewed by Kam Aures for Rebecca’s Reads (01/11)

Before I even began reading the actual book I knew that “Flashes and Specks” by Mark Pogodzinski was going to be different.  First, the book does not have chapters; it has “episodes.”  It has 35 of them to be exact with some of the episodes having Prologues or Epilogues.

Another element that caught my eye was on the page immediately after the cover of the book.  On this page, Pogodzinski lists quotes from various reviews that he has received for the novel already.  Intermingled among reviews from Amazon are fun quotes from various people in his life.  For instance, one reads, “It’s very nice, dear.  No, I didn’t read the whole thing.  I really prefer mysteries set in Scotland.- Author’s mother.”  I really enjoyed the author’s sense of humor and my interest was piqued already after reading this page.

The actual body of the novel is very unique and the characters are quite intriguing.  Just to give a little snippet, the opening episode begins when the main character Henry is younger and is at the funeral of his cousin who had committed suicide.  One of the aunts is talking about the cousin in a negative light.  The cousin appears to Henry standing behind the aunt and proceeds to make her choke on the roll that she was eating.  His cousin will continue to appear to him throughout his life.  What follows in the rest of the book is just as unusual as the opening episode.

The storyline moves at a fast pace and the subjects and issues that Pogodzinski touches on are truly thought-provoking.  The layout of the novel is original making for an interesting read.  “Flashes and Specks” is a complex story which is philosophical and entertaining in nature.

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