Heather and the Jabberwocky: An Amorous Journey into the Mythical Antiquity of Now by Peter Kelton is an engaging literary novel with characters that are richly developed and a plot that offers exciting moments for readers, the kind of read for those who are into tightly written and delightful prose and strong imagery. Heather and her husband are academics, married when she was very young — and she has had her own share of troubles — but their quiet lives are about to be thrown into chaos by a stalker with a vendetta going after Heather. Her artist husband is faced with the arduous task of protecting her from a Mexican drug cartel. The story takes readers through wonderful settings, from Hong Kong to France to Georgia, then the Caribbean, offering intriguing moments and exploring the minds of the characters. The connection between the wakefulness of Heather’s mind and the artistic work of her husband create a link that enhances their romance.

This is a wonderful novel with great characters and I enjoyed how the author explores the different layers of the personalities of the characters. Heather is my favorite, from her experience in an institution being treated by an aged doctor who thinks his treatment of Heather is more beneficial to him than to her, to her repeated nightmare involving the Caribbean Sea monster called Lusca. The story is filled with magical realism, written in a style that is both lyrical and highly descriptive and spiced with the ingenious humor that can only be spun by a gifted writer. Heather and the Jabberwocky: An Amorous Journey into the Mythical Antiquity of Now is filled with adventure and Peter Kelton has the gift of keeping the story real and the characters very human.

Peter Kelton’s Heather and the Jabberwocky is one of the most unusual novels I have ever read. Its mixture of art, mythology, and philosophy makes it a remarkable piece of literature. “Jabberwocky” refers to a poem written by Lewis Carroll in 1871 and is included in Through the Looking-Glass, the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. After reading the poem, Alice realizes that “it seems to fill my head with ideas – only I don’t exactly know what they are!” The protagonist of the present novel, Heather, has the same problem. At first, her ideas are meaningful only when her husband gives them an artistic form. Her story includes a long and incredible series of adventures, including kidnapping, lucid dreams, a Caribbean monster, an Aztec pyramid, and the threat of the Mexican cartel.

Heather and the Jabberwocky is an entertaining and elaborate novel. This is not a dull book, and nothing in it is predictable. The picture is not clear until the final stages. Considering the many adventures and complexity of Heather and the Jabberwocky, Kelton reveals superior writing skills when he closes the circle. The many dissertations about life and its meaning embellish the novel with intelligent considerations and show the author’s extensive knowledge. The characters are odd at times, but each of them is finely portrayed and has unmistakable features. Their relationships are complicated and add interest to the story. The reader has to get used to the eccentricity of Heather and the Jabberwocky. However, when he or she understands its “reality,” amazement and delight will guide their reading.