Book Review: Kentucky Dragon by Michael Park

My Thoughts

This book by Michael Park - Kentucky Dragon is a chilling and unsettling novel that burrows under your skin from the very first chapter. The premise alone is enough to grab your attention: an eleven-year-old boy receives a horrifyingly violent lesson from a man he calls the 'chicken man' on how to erase sadness. This unsettling introduction sets the stage for a story steeped in trauma, dark secrets, and a persistent, almost supernatural, sense of dread.

Park skillfully crafts a protagonist, Mark, who is both sympathetic and deeply flawed. His attempts to bury the past through bourbon and therapy are relatable, even as the reader knows the past will inevitably resurface. The eighteen years of fragile peace are shattered with the chicken man’s reappearance, forcing Mark to confront a history he desperately tried to suppress.

The novel’s strength lies in its evocative imagery and unsettling atmosphere. The descriptions of the melting snow from an underground mine fire in Kentucky are particularly effective, serving as a powerful metaphor for the simmering darkness beneath the surface of Mark's life. The journey from Kentucky to New York City and ultimately to a German village with its own eternally burning coal fire underscores the pervasive nature of the past and its inescapable reach.

While the plot may feel somewhat fragmented at times, jumping between locations and time periods, this actually contributes to the overall sense of disorientation and unease that Mark experiences. The ambiguity surrounding the 'chicken man' and the true nature of the family debt adds a layer of mystery and keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

Kentucky Dragon is not for the faint of heart. It deals with themes of violence, trauma, and the lasting impact of childhood experiences in a raw and unflinching manner. However, for readers who appreciate dark and atmospheric thrillers with a hint of the surreal, Michael Park's novel is a compelling and thought-provoking read. It's a story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page, forcing you to consider the flames that burn unseen beneath the surface of our lives.