The Reservoir‘s a quirky one, Tartlets. Just warning ya.
This novella (a.k.a, a short book) is written by David Duchovny. Most people my age will know him as Fox Mulder from a little TV phenomenon called The X-Files, and later on from Californication.
Normally, I’m pretty skeptical of books written by celebrities. Either such books are ghostwritten, or the celeb just got the book deal because, well, they’re a big, famous actor and not someone with any real writing talent.
But, that’s very narrow-minded of me. I have numerous talents; why can’t David Duchovny be the same?
I picked up The Reservoir a few months post-physical therapy after my first back surgery. My PT is a big David Duchovny fan, and many of our convos during my treatments involved The X-Files. We chatted a lot about The Reservoir around its publication date, and when I saw a copy in my local library just days later, I grabbed it.
What’s The Reservoir about?
A NYC man named Ridley, who’s living in isolation on the edge of Central Park during “a pandemic,” is lured out of his apartment by a mysterious woman’s beckoning lights. Ridley chases her, convinced she’s the answer to, well, everything. He’s on a quest for something – the woman? himself? the meaning of life? – and he’s consumed with the desire to possess it.
The English major in me had a field day with this novella. There’s a ton of symbolism packed into The Reservoir. I can see this story being dissected in high school English classes to come: What does the woman represent? What about the flickering lights in the dark? And, what about the gay bear in the Ramble? (The latter is one of my favorite parts of the story. Great comic relief, Spooky Mulder.)
Ridley tells his story in a semi-rambling, stream-of-consciousness narrative. To me, it sounded exactly like what I think goes on in certain men’s heads. I’m not sure what kind of men, per se – maybe ones who’re a little too proud of themselves, or ones who are life-weary and willing to do anything to experience the excitement of youth again.
My PT mentioned that The Reservoir reads exactly the way you think David Duchovny would write. And, I totally agree. I mean, I don’t know Duchovny; but, one hundred percent, I can see him writing this. Maybe that’s the kind of “certain men” I was thinking of earlier: men who are exceedingly handsome and know it; men who were a Pretty Big Deal at one time and still kinda are, though not as much as they’d like to be lately; and men who haven’t stopped wishing for those better days to come back.
Should you read The Reservoir?
My recommendation is yes, I think you should read The Reservoir. All I’ve said so far may lead you to believe that I didn’t enjoy this book. But, I actually enjoyed it very much, which totally surprised me. This is not the type of story I usually read. It’s a little too existentialist for me. And, maybe if The Reservoir were a full-length novel instead of a mercifully brief novella, I wouldn’t have been able to stomach the story.
As it is, Duchovny packs everything he needs to say into a nice, neat little bundle. His writing is good, very good. I really enjoyed Duchovny’s turns of phrase and how he kept the story moving. The tension in The Reservoir is strong, and even when the action starts to dip into the ridiculous, you keep reading because you just have to know what’s going to happen next.
The Reservoir is a commentary on madness and on isolation, on the fears that live in all of us. The tale is darkly humorous, which always gets me when I’m on the fence about whether or not I like a book. And, while the story goes a little off the rails toward the end — you’ll know it when you get there — I still liked it. I even liked the ending. It’s slightly depressing, yes. But I liked it. It’s a raw, realistic, grounding finish to an otherwise outrageous romp through Central Park.
Will you be reading The Reservoir?
It’s a psychedelic modern ‘Occurrence at Owl Creek Ridge’ I loved it.
No I will not be reading this book by David as his writing seems self-conscious and intrusive
Hi Tom. This book definitely isn’t for everyone! I didn’t think I would like it, but it surprised me. Maybe it’ll surprise you, too, if you give it a try?