Simple Simon

Poe%E2%80%99s hopeful, accomplished follow-up novel to his darker debut, Simon Says, reunites readers with protagonist Simon Powell, a man haunted by his upbringing in 1960s Arkansas and dealing with an internal struggle caused by his burgeoning homosexuality. The first volume found Powell restless and self-destructive, seeking solace in time spent with the Rev. Sun Myung Moon%E2%80%99s Unification Church, abusing drugs and alcohol, and behaving recklessly. Here, Poe delves deeper into Powell%E2%80%99s past, when his protagonist was safely ensconced in a rehabilitation program and making great progress toward healing and recovery via writing his life%E2%80%99s story, a process that gives much of the narrative its drive. Powell%E2%80%99s memories of a childhood spent with his mother, his Aunt Opal, and his grandmother are touching, while scenes of complicated friendships at school and his battles with substance abuse are as difficult to read in this volume as in the author%E2%80%99s debut. These rough patches in Powell%E2%80%99s life are made palatable by his mother%E2%80%99s eventual and compassionate acceptance of the fact that he%E2%80%99s gay. Although the novel is overly long and frequently expository, Poe%E2%80%99s narrative moves quickly and smoothly, and fills in the blanks left in Simon Says. These first novels by Poe will leave his readership wondering%E2%80%94and waiting for%E2%80%94what he comes up with next.