FEBRUARY 2007

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A Review of Elliott's Happy Baby (2004)
By Jason Jordan, Jan 28, 2007
Nowadays it’s common for a storyteller to alter the timeline so it doesn’t unfold in chronological order – a la Quentin Tarantino. Again, drawing comparison to film, Stephen Elliott’s Happy Baby (Picador, 2004) plays out much like Christopher Nolan’s Memento. That is, the stories in both the aforementioned film and the novel at hand are told in reverse order, or, more simply, backwards. If you’d like an even more confusing explanation: the stories begin at the end and end at the beginning. In any case, though it’s a technique used infrequently and one that should probably remain that way, it often adds tension and suspense to an already interesting premise. Such is the case with HB.

Specifically, the novel centers on Theo, who went through the rigors of a Chicago-based foster care program and exited a drug-abusing sadomasochist – a result of being repeatedly and violently raped by a juvenile detention guard at a young age. Of course Theo made friends during his stints at various places, and the book is mainly concerned with those relationships in addition to what Theo has to do in order to attain sexual fulfillment (hire a dominatrix, etc.). Elliott’s narration and dialogue – ranging from Theo’s childhood to a point in his adulthood – are incredibly realistic and believable, which helps make Happy Baby a strong, fine effort. 

Similar to other forms of media that toy around with timeline, however, it’s not always easy to keep track of the characters. I found myself returning to past chapters to see if I’d already been introduced to a character, and by the time the book comes to a close, you’ll probably have to refresh your memory of the “true” end by rereading the opening chapter – entitled “Maria Has a Child.” So occasionally it is tough to recall previous details. Still, this technique will spur you to reread the book in the opposite order of its delivery, even if you just finished it. 

Due to the exceptional writing, captivating story, and intriguing timeline, Elliott’s Happy Baby is an excellent read. It may take some getting used to, but it’s more than worth it. Easily the best book I’ve read since Bojanowski’s The Dog Fighter, and I’ve read a lot of ‘em since then.          

Jason Jordan is many things. He is assistant editor and staff reviewer for this magazine. He was the host of the Bean Street Reading Series. He was an editor of The IUS Review. He has been a featured writer at the Tuesday Night Reading Series in Evansville, Indiana. His writing appears in The Edward Society and The2ndHand. He teaches college writing to college students. His book is called Powering the Devil's Circus and his website is located here. He is a writer.

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