Talk Talk

Don't let the title of T.C. Boyle's 2006 novel fool you. The book isn't about talk, it's about communication. Boyle uses a deaf protagonist to show how words can get in the way of human understanding.

In harmony with his theme, Boyle uses reference as his main means of communication with his reader. I could relate to each and every one of Boyle's references. From the J.A. Henckels knives I thought about buying around Christmas, to my favorite new white wine (Sauvignon Blanc), to a reference to Diana Krall, Boyle didn't refer to a single aspect of modern life that didn't resonate with me. The literary magic of this book involves placing the reader in the shoes of his hero (and anti-hero) by referring to locales, situations, objects, ideas, and states of mind familiar to the reader.

This contemporary fiction magic is made more poignant by its mortality. Cultural references change so quickly, will Boyle's novel mean anything to readers ten years from now? Twenty? Fifty? Not unless it children are forced to read it in school, and buy Cliffs Notes that explain the socioeconomic implications of the references at the time Boyle wrote. Even still, the barrier of time will remain between author and reader, leaving Boyle's audience with an intellectual understanding, but not the visceral understanding that made Talk Talk something special.