How do you review a book like this? This morning (with a pot of coffee and my dog) I read the whole thing. It is one of the strangest books I've ever read...and I loved it. This little dwarf-man lives in a bus selling meat with a pet bug, a pet plant, and a mirror pond. He gives us his own history and that of his people...or? Well, I think it is all up for interpretation and I don't want to sway anyone. Read it! Read it read it read it read it! Right now! Put the coffee on... ( )

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover. This is particularly true of The Convalescent, the debut novel by Jessica Anthony. This book’s cover is an upsettingly graphic drawing of a decomposing body. Please don’t let this turn you away from the magnificent piece of writing that lies within.

The main character of The Convalescent is Rovar Pfliegman, a short, hairy man who sells meat out of a broken-down bus in suburban Virginia. Mr. Pfliegman also lives in this bus, which he shares with his pet beetle. He has not spoken since childhood, and suffers from a number of ailments that defy diagnosis. He is also the last surviving member of the Pfliegman family, a clan that traces its roots to pre-medieval Hungary.

The novel intertwines between the present day, medieval Hungary, and scenes from Rovar’s childhood as he tries to come to terms with who he is. As the book progresses, he transforms from an unpleasant, unlikable character to someone who is much more sympathetic. What emerges is a truly magical novel that draws the reader into its enchantment from the first page. ( )