Title: Radical Prunings (Emmis Books)

Author: Bonnie Thomas Abbott

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

“Radical Prunings,” as well as being the title of Bonnie Thomas Abbott’s book, is the title of Miss Mertensia Corydalis’ weekly horticulture article. Its purpose is answering the questions of amateur gardeners, although she often lapses into musings and happenings, turning it into a mix of her diary and “Dear Abby.”

The book is not set up conventionally, and yet, as the story isn’t set up conventionally either, it enhances rather than detracts from the story. It is presented as a collection of Corydalis’ articles – about two year’s worth – and has no defined plot.

This slows its pace, making it far slower than “The Goodbye Kiss” or any other action story, but it gives “Radical Prunings” an air of authenticity. It’s disturbingly easy to forget that one’s reading fiction, not an actual compilation.

Each article is three to four pages long, counteracting any potential dullness by speeding the pace. The shorter the chapters, the faster the reader thinks he or she is reading.

As for “potential dullness” – perhaps it’s because I was mostly raised in Iowa, but I didn’t find the more in-depth gardening information boring. More likely, however, the credit is due to Abbott for that.

Each question is answered with keen wit and no concern for the thoughts or remarks of others. This combination morphs it into a gardener’s version of “The Daily Show,” except that all the information is accurate. All those who write in face the high risk of being baited, scolded or bluntly called stupid.

Professors, as a side note: Make any information a fraction as entertaining as “The Daily Show,” and the amount of drowsy and sleeping students in your class will drop.

The main issue I have is Corydalis’ tendency to share personal information about herself and those near her without prudence. She’ll write anything on her mind, divulging her assistant’s secrets, her own secrets and – overall – information that no person would ever put into print and public display. This diminishes the believability of her character, as well as all the others. No one calls her on it, even those whose private lives are being revealed.

However, “Radical Prunings” would be far less interesting if one didn’t know what was happening behind the scenes. With the format Abbott chose, this can’t be done unless it comes through in the articles.

So that puts me in a quandary. The articles need to be more subtle with the exposition they give, but for that to be effective, some other form of exposition would have to be used. This means Abbott would have to change the format. Once she did that, however, there would be reader expectation for typical story elements: Plot, rising action, denouement, etc., which would completely change the book.

The articles – if still present – would have to alternate with standard chapters, changing the pace entirely, as well as the book’s purpose.

There’s always a solution, and I wish Abbott had found hers. Disregarding that, she’s written a commendable work overall.

Because of its slower pace and absent plot, “Radical Prunings” is an excellent read during the lazy days of summer., or during the days you wish could be lazy. It tends to leave readers in a more Zen state of mind, so it might do well with lessening some of that summer semester stress.