The Orange Spotlight

The Zoo, a Going (The Tropic House) by J.A. Tyler (Sunnyoutside, August 2010)

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a book of fiction from my friends at Sunnyoutside, and from the prolific J.A. Tyler no less. If my memory serves it is their first since the release of Rusty Barnes' Breaking It Down back in 2007. The Zoo, a Going finds Tyler playing the role of a young child viewing his family as only a child can. There is feeling of innocence that is constantly being shattered and step on by the sort sighted words and actions of parents. When you are forced to see what seem like the tiniest moments or disagreements through the eyes of a child they become so much more vivid and unnecessary. The child picks up on words and feeling in a way that parents do often understand or care to try to understand.

The other themes of this collection of stories are animals and birds. Be it bugs, birds, turtles, alligators, or snakes the events in this families lives always seem to center around animals. This again calls back to the unique way a child views his life. Tyler perfect captures youth and the learning that is constantly taking place.

The Zoo, a Going is so well designed. It is hand-stitched with two-color silk-screened cover over spray paint designed by AnneMuntges of BirdFish Studio.

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