Imagine Again: A Reflection on Kyle V. Hiller’s debut novel “The Recital”
By: J. R. Torres
“Imagine what the world would be like if we could all still imagine like when we were little kids.” For most of us imagination fades with age just as memories often do. Is it harsh realities that rob us of our imagination? Or is it the development of over-logical thinking that diminishes our ability to imagine the unimaginable? On my fifth birthday I remember wishing to fly, and not in an airplane, but to fly like Superman did with no strings attached. It was one of the few birthday wishes I remember making as a child and as I got older I would think about it from time to time knowing it would probably never come true. Part of the reason I’m revealing this secret birthday wish is because last year I flew, like Superman and it was fucking awesome…
“The Recital”, the debut novel from my cousin Kyle V. Hiller is a magical story that serves to revitalize the imagination of anyone brave enough to get lost in its pages. Very rarely have I come across a story that mixes reality and fantasy into such a seamless blend. The effect becomes almost like a magic trick that awakens the beautiful parts of your mind that we usually end up suppressing as we age. In the story as we follow Edith Solstice, it is not long before you realize that she is a living breathing person, dealing with a whole host of issues, puberty being one of them and almost killing her classmate being another.
Kyle V. Hiller paints a perfect picture of the city of Philadelphia in the early 90s and captures the era with such vivid detail that anyone who’s lived through the time will appreciate the authenticity of the story’s backdrop. If there is a special place in your heart for Molly Ringwald and John Hughes movies, then this story will satisfy that wonderful nostalgia we all like to bask in from time to time. “The Recital” is a story that will most likely send you down your own reflective path, where you will reminisce about your teen years and the magic of experiencing such intense feelings for the first time. Love, hate, anger, envy, longing, friendship, love.
“The Recital” was independently published and is a new-age story free from the creative restrictions often put upon writers to make their stories more “marketable” to a target demographic. Kyle V. Hiller’s fearlessness in presenting views what would traditionally be viewed as controversial, presents the subject matter in a brilliant and balanced way that gives you insight into perspectives many still fail to fully understand. “The Recital” is truly a magical story on par with classics like Alice in Wonderland, and you too can experience the magic in the sacred pages by getting your copy today from Amazon in print or e-book.
https://www.amazon.com/Recital-Kyle-V-Hiller-ebook/dp/B01E2VBE4S
I also had the privilege of filming the official book trailer for “The Recital” which was featured on BookReels.com