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Review

Michael Cunningham's By Nightfall is a stunner. Mr Cunningham's ability to spin words and tell a story is magical and he's at his peak with this domestic tale a happily dysfunctional Soho family. Sometimes his sentences ramble for the entire paragraph using the grammar of our language like a surgical instrument precisely delineating his literary intentions. And then sometimes a sentence is just one word. Each time, Cunningham adheres to the strictures of E.B. White's The Elements of Style; the prose is spare, or rich as needed. The story, told above, is of a deluded family. Take this exchange, both internal and external as noted:

"I see the boys have already got it crated up," Peter says

Those boys are good at what they do. You've got yourselves a fine crew." (this is said by Carol Potter, a wealthy art collector)

Carole, those boys are art murderers. After today, you'll never see them again." (Peter's thoughts)

"I have a great staff. I hardly do anything anymore."

Groff is new to you, right?"

Yeah. He's not actually officially one of my artists yet. We're trying each other out.

Never lie to these people. They hate, above all, being deceived by the help.

Reading that exchange you can come to the conclusion that Peter lies to himself on a daily basis - about everything. He doesn't even know what he's lying about anymore.

It's always a pleasure to read Michael Cunningham. Whether its a novel, a book review or an essay, his words are magic and the wait interminable between them.

 -- Scott Cranin