The Book of Flying

This book was a wonder to read. It's a picaresque fairy tale, as the hero goes on his quest and has many adventures. it's also a celebration for the power of storytelling and the written word, where some of the most beautiful language is reserved for describing the joy of reading.

the novel concerns a young librarian named Pico in a city by the sea. In this city, there are people with wings, and people without, and the two never mix. So when Pico, who has no wings, falls in love with a winged woman named Sisi, he is forbidden from pursuing his love. He therefore decides to set out for a legendary town called Paunpuam, where there is a book called the "The Book of Flying" that grants people wings if they read it.

All of the following chapters details Pico's adventures as he encounters many strange characters, learns their stories, writes poetry, and learns many things about life. Much of the book is taken up with the people Pico meets telling their stories, and many of them are just as fascinating as Pico's tale. It was something like getting many stories for the price of one.

Pico himself is a good character. He's likable for his unflappability and for his determination. I really wanted for him to suceed.

Aside from one part of the story where Pico encounters a cannibal, which was somewhat gut-turning, it was all a wondrous experience. Now what I want from the author, Keith Miller, is to write another book saying what happened to some of the characters Pico meets in his travels. We are told near the end that some of them have gone on to their own adventures, but they aren't detailed. I wanted more stories told in this same fairy-tale-like style.

All in all, a great book.