by KJ Howe I've recently had the pleasure of reading THE INHERITANCE by Simon Tolkien--yes, that's really Tolkien, the grandson of JRR Tolkien of LORD OF THE RINGS fame.
The story features Stephen Cade, a young man on trial for murdering his famed Oxford historian father. If you enjoy a good Agatha Christie mystery combined with a John Grisham courtroom drama, this book is for you. Lots of great twists and turns, startling revelations, and heart-stopping moments. And the writing is rich, textured, like an oil painting on the page.
What struck me most about the novel and its author was the symbolism of the title. THE INHERITANCE. Simon Tolkien, a successful criminal justice barrister in London who then moved to California, definitely inherited his grandfather's writing talent. However, I imagine it must have been challenging to enter a field where his grandfather is a legend. Although the TOLKIEN name carries great weight in the literary world, Simon must have felt some pressure as critics would naturally compare and contrast his work with his grandfather's. Imagine yourself the grandchild or child of a famous author. Who would it be? Would you write in the same genre as him/her or branch off and do your own thing? How much pressure would you feel following in the footsteps of a giant?
Thanks for coming on this imaginary journey!
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