Reading “Joe Quinn’s Poltergeist” by David Almond

And why I recommend it!

Joe Quinn has a poltergeist. It flies things around, breaks things and is a real nuisance. Joe Quinn is quite proud of it. Is he lying? Maybe not.

But who or what is a poltergeist? Am I one? Are you? Where does it live? Where does it hide?

But Davie does not believe in the supernatural. Not wholeheartedly, at least. But he wants to. His sister, she might exist somewhere. The poltergeist, is that her?

But who is Davie? Definitely you, or me, right? Maybe so, or not.

In the darkness called the self, one often wanders around to find the thing called the self. How did we begin? Where are we headed? It's too dark to see, to navigate through. Do we follow hope, the light, the poltergeist itself? But the poltergeist is the darkness. Poltergeist is the self.

All of us are poltergeists. We hide in ourselves. We are our pent-up rage, we are our hope, our darkness and our light. We throw things around, and ourselves. We break things, and ourselves too. Then we hide. We come back the next day or night. Or we don't.

How do you explore the self? I don't know. Neither does Davie or Joe Quinn, nor the priest. But we are the self. That's all we are.

David Almond's Joe Quinn's Poltergeist is one of the most thought-provoking stories that I have encountered in recent years. It is also one of the best semi-autobiographical pieces that I have come across. This is a short story that is quite reminiscent of the author's own experiences. It is also a piece of fiction that resonates with anyone who may read it. But you might realise it only if you have tried searching for yourself if you have been disillusioned, if you have been lost and if you have found your way back.

Joe Quinn, Davie, Geordie, Mrs Quinn, the Father, and the other characters that have not been in the spotlight, intriguingly enough, appear as if they are merely different facets of the human psyche. One wants attention, the other hope, another wants reason, another freedom, and so on. Is it all, not just you and me?

I read the book primarily because of the amazing artwork by Dave McKean which just goes so well with the story. The tone of the artwork changes along with that of the story. McKean’s artwork is probably what makes it as impactful as it is, as I don’t believe that just the story would have felt as good otherwise. But I cannot judge that just yet. McKean’s artwork in this book, though, is different from what one usually sees. It is as unique as Almond’s storytelling.

There is not much else to be talked of this story without bringing in spoilers, so what you can do to satisfy your curiosity, in case you are curious, is you can now read the book.

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Until next time, fellow raptor!