Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters, by Mark Dunn

I truly loved this book. But it isn't for everyone. You need to enjoy words and wordplay. It's a very cleverly conceived and written book about a fictional present-day autonomous island nation off the coast of North Carolina. This society, called Nollop, honors native son Nevin Nollop, the author of "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog," which, if you're a typist, you know like the back of your quickly moving fingers. This is an epistolary novel, which means the story takes place in the form of letters, mainly between two teenage cousins, Ella and Tassie. Their language usage quaintly sounds like one of an early century. Their society eschews modern technology, like telephones and computers, so they communicate via written letters delivered by boys on horses.

When, in the main town square, the tiled letters start falling off the statue of their great hero, Nollop, their governing council believes it's a sign from his spirit that they should learn to live without those letters, and they ban everyone from speaking, writing, or reading those letters. As more and more tiles fall off, it gets more and more difficult to communicate. The author is able to brilliantly write each chapter eliminating another letter or more, with great skill.

The government metes out drastic punishment for the use of the forbidden letters, and the situation gets more and more serious, though the tone of the correspondence exchanged remains sarcasticly humorous. This book is a satire on the powers of government, but also makes you realize the power of words on our lives. I read this book very quickly, wondering how it would all end for dear Ella and Tassie, and the good citizens of Nollop.

If you enjoy wordplay and a clever story, by all means, read this book!