In real life as well as fiction, being true to your passion while struggling to earn a living is a familiar conflict. In Ham Martin’s engaging literary novel, TIEZZI’S BOARD, it’s the problem making Joe Carroll–a professional woodcarver–doubt his worth, despite the loving support of his wife, Maggie, and his 12-year-old son, Will. The story takes place in Lyme and Saybrook, Connecticut, during the mid- to late 1980s. The Carrolls’ street is lined with small homes that once were weekend cottages for wealthy New Yorker’s, a place nearly beyond their financial means. The characters and setting are ably imagined, perhaps due to the author having lived in the Northeast most of his life (Martin’s previous novel, Talk Radio, was a finalist in the 2022 Maine Literary Awards.).
Even for readers unfamiliar with the Connecticut River may feel weak-kneed as Will, who is scared of heights, bicycles across the I-95 Baldwin Bridge (from Lyme to Saybrook) during a dark, rainy rush hour. Bikes aren’t allowed on the bridge, but Will is seeking help for his father who has had a break-down. Joe is a devoted husband and dad, yet he sometimes acts like a man-child, such as when he encourages Will to ditch class for a fast-food lunch and trip to the lumberyard. Taking the adult role, Will complains, “I’m missing a math test,” then concludes that his dad’s love makes his “inappropriate” actions okay. Similarly, Maggie easily forgives her husband when frustration causes him to walk away from an incomplete kitchen project when the wealthy client is inconsiderate and lacks appreciation for Joe’s art. Later, Maggie also decides it’s no big deal when Joe spends a chunk of their limited savings on an unusually large plank of mahogany, originally intended for PT boat construction in WWII. After all, she believes Joe’s promise to the previous owner, Giordano Tiezzi, that he will “make something beautiful” from the board. Tiezzi subsequently charms the Carrolls and readers alike and his stories about how the board arrived in his workshop and the wartime adventures of his brother are among the best parts of the book.
Ham Martin’s well-crafted literary novel, TIEZZI’S BOARD, illustrates the importance of social capital and how family and friends–when sharing their experiences and history out loud–can make each other’s lives richer.
~Alicia Rudnicki for IndieReader