Death By Water

Tim Miller

Continuing the tradition of such novels as A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Demian, Tim Miller's debut novel is about the education of a soul.

Innovative in its style and structure, and spanning the growth from cynicism to affirmation, Death by Water tells the story of Orestes as he dives to the extremes of both debauchery and intellectualism before finding peace beyond even those.

Add to this an insightful afterword from the auth on the book's genesis and composition, Death by Water becomes as daring and moving a first novel as any in recent memory.

Review by Che Elias (130604) Rating (9/10)

Review by Che Elias
One is unlikely to find a debut novel as progressive and introspective as Tim Miller's Death By Water. A fierce, intense and beautiful work.

This atypical book is constructed from entries of what is referred to as a dream diary juxtaposed along side details from the main character's waking life.

The Book which is essentially a work about spiritual awakening and the eventual enlightenment of Orestes(the book's protagonist). It charts his plight beginning with adolescent rebellion then leading him on the road where he encounters would be philosophers(and some genuine) as well as emotional and physical destruction.

Miller writes in a lucid, direct prose style - think James Joyce's early writings or William Faulkner - but he does have a style all of his own which is evident in his sharp juxtaposition of clash of modern culture against essential human spiritual values and needs.

Orestes' awakening is one of the most moving in all recent literature, it is transcendence that Miller Seeks as well in his words much of this i think is about giving some things up or nearly everything up for something greater - Miller's abandons the traditional expectations of a novel with his unorthodox technique which as I said leads through the book's shattering passages and amazing conclusion.

At only 24, Tim Miller is a writer to keep an eye on... One does feel more great things to come from him after reading this book.
Che Elias (13th June 2004)