Burn to Rise Again

Phoenixville Rising has three intertwined stories spanning different time periods. We’ve got the central story of Tara, Boo and Sketch, teenagers in the ’80’s living in the small town of Phoenixville “where nothing really ever happens”. We have the story of Rebecca Wilton from the Civil War time period growing up as Phoenixville is just starting to grow (her father is responsible for that growth); and then we have the story of Sketch, present day, returning to Phoenixville for the first time in many, many years.

The meatiest story is the one of Tara, Boo and Sketch in the ’80’s.  Sketch and Boo come from lower class families and attempt to navigate the small crime world of Phoenixville. What was once a booming steel town is now just a skeleton with the people in its ashes.  They join the Furnace Boys (a local gang named because their hangout is the now abandoned foundry in the heart of the town).  Sketch feels compelled to help his friend Boo but slowly starts falling in love with Tara who seems to realize that this dangerous route they’re all taking is only going to get worse as the boys move from petty crimes to more serious ones.  Loyalty to Boo and a desire to save him from himself causes Sketch to act and his actions drastically change all three of their lives forever.  Woven throughout is the story of Rebecca Wilton.

Rebecca’s story takes place during the Civil War as Phoenixville is just beginning to bloom. Her father is responsible for the prosperity of the steel mill and has amassed great wealth. This separates Rebecca from most of the residents and isolates her, however, she falls in love with a working class young soldier boy.  As their love grows, the pull of the war bids the young man to fulfill his duty; this leaves Rebecca to wait for his return and to secretly plan their future together–escaping her father, Phoenixville and everyone.

Finally, we have the story come 360 when Sketch returns to Phoenixville, now successful and completely different than the young boy who left it oh so many years ago. Like the town of Phoenixville, so aptly named, Sketch was born, fell and was reborn.  The story of Sketch, Boo and Tara both past and present are the stronger story lines.  I could almost do without Rebecca Wells’ story but I get that it taps into the idea that decisions of the past affect the present.  When I first read the book, I felt like it read a little bit like Dennis Lehane lite.  This isn’t a slam on the author, he crafts very solid flawed characters whom we root for even when we probably shouldn’t.  The lite part comes in that it’s not as gritty as Lehane’s plots and the intertwined stories of the past and present aren’t as strong.  For example, in Mystic River the events of the past forced the events of the present to happen; I didn’t feel that here.  It could be a littler tighter but I liked it nonetheless.

Not the best review, I admit but I have a few things that make me a little closer to the book than your average objective reader.  I’ve lived near Phoenixville, Pennsylvania all my life so it was fun to read about all the landmarks I’ve seen over the course of my life.  In its heyday it had mansions, a foundry and it was spectacular (from the pictures that I’ve seen), when I was growing up it was little more than a bunch of sad row homes, empty factories crumbling and a shadiness that was hard to deny. In the early 2000’s Phoenixville decided to take a hint from the mythical beast it was named after and rose from the ashes. Each year there’s a Firebird Festival (a beautifully designed wooden Phoenix that is burned) where children can bury tiny phoenixes to be fired by the fire and the community can celebrate the prosperity that has now returned to the town due to them taking it back and making something of it.  In fact, the Foundry is now a really cool place to have wedding receptions! Who woulda thunk it?  Also, the author Robb Cadigan is a man whom I’ve met and now really admire.  This is the author’s first book, his second is on the way! When he attempted to have it published via the traditional route, he was turned down. Undeterred, he self published and it truly has been a great success for him well outside of the local sphere.  I wish him much more.