Book: The Electric Michelangelo
| Sarah Hall | 2004 |
"The Electric Michelangelo" by Sarah Hall is a sprawling, richly textured novel that delves into the life of Cy Parks, a talented tattoo artist, whose journey spans the vibrant landscapes of early 20th-century England and America. The narrative begins in the seaside town of Morecambe, where young Cy grows up amidst the heady scent of his mother's guesthouse, absorbing snippets of human stories. Under the tutelage of the enigmatic tattooist Eliot Riley, Cy learns the artistry and pain of tattooing, along with the complexities of life.
The story then transports readers to the bustling, lively boardwalks of Coney Island, where Cy plies his trade amidst a kaleidoscope of freaks, performers, and seekers of the extraordinary. Hall deftly explores themes of art, identity, and the indelible marks we leave on one another’s lives. With vivid, poetic prose, the novel captures the transient beauty of art and the human need for connection and legacy. Through Cy’s eyes, readers experience a world of color and sensation, where the permanence of ink mirrors the deeper, often hidden scars of the heart.