Outbound: The Curious Secession of Latter-Day Charleston
Outbound: The Curious Secession of Latter-Day Charleston
"When the Charleston Peninsula broke off from mainland South Carolina and began floating out to sea, among the last to notice were those persons trapped on board the unlikely vessel . . ." The old port city has welcomed its share of visitors over the years, but when a bureaucratic snafu brings the Bravado Arts Festival, the Tri-County Mini-Storage Convention, and the Hunters-for-Jesus Jamboree to town all at once, the load is just too much, and for the second time in as many centurie
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Laugh Out Loud Southern Wit,
Charlie Geer’s novel imagines what would happen if Charleston, South Carolina broke off from the mainland — “seceded” — and floated out to sea, with its collection of eccentric bluebloods and tacky “cumyahs” forced to work through the crisis together.
The book’s tone is firmly established right on page one. As the penninsula begins its voyage across the Atlantic, the first to notice is an 88-year-old life-long Charlestonian, who, as he observes Fort Sumter floating past his front porch, takes out his revolver and fires — thrilled to finally have such a close-range opportunity to shoot at “the old Yankee fort.”
The story moves quickly, spirited on by Geer’s ability to decorate his fantastic premise with the kind of details that remind this reviewer of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s magical realism. For example, while the members of the prestigious and snooty Atlantic Club take measurements and pour over charts in an attempt to plot their course — not sure if they are headed for Africa, Iceland, or somewhere in between — Geer notes that Charleston’s delightful springtime weather contiues to sail with them. It is a testament to the fact that this historic and somewhat anachronistic Southern city is itself one of the story’s strongest characters, struggling to hold on to every aspect of its identity despite the myriad of forces literally threatening to tear it apart.
The fast pace and sharp humor are reminiscent of Carl Hiaasen. All in all, this book is laugh-out-loud hilarious. If you’re a fan of good Southern wit, then it is an absolute must read.
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|Charleston like never before,
Charlie Geer pegs Charleston like never before. If you know Charleston, then this book is for you. I read the book in one sitting – I could not put it down! Hilarious from cover to cover. This was the first fiction novel that I have enjoyed in years, and it is sure to please every reader likewise.
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|Humor and Insight,
Geer has written a very amusing and entertaining satire based on the several societies that make up Charleston, SC. Underneath the humor, though, is a thoughtful commentary on human nature. You don’t have to be from Charleston to enjoy and appreciate this novel. If you come from a place with an aristocracy based on length of residence, mixed with an aristocracy based on wealth, combined with some “good ole boys”, a proud minority, a few fanatical religious kooks, and an “artsy” crowd, then you are thoroughly prepared to enjoy this book. It’s a good read!
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