Ruff Advance Praise
Thunder Bay Chronicle
Author of Dirty Birds, Finalist for the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour
Two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour
Author of The Crow Valley Karaoke Championships
“A charming, page-turning, dramatic, compelling invention, weaving true story with vivid fiction and delightful anachronisms, crones, crows, witches, magic, Scottish kings, secret trapdoors, hidden Catholics and terrible puns which arrive like a surprise visit from an old best friend, part of the touching bonhomie between members of Shakespeare’s company.
With surprising freshness—who knew we could discover so much more about the lively, deeply human, uncertain, dangerous and joyous milieu of the historical Bard?—RUFF has us up to our necks in the emotional, political, practical, daring, high stakes world of Shakespeare and reminds us that being the greatest playwright of the Jacobean—or any other—age is not all fun and James.”
Winner of the Leacock Medal for Humour for Yiddish for Pirates
Winner of the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour and co-author (with Will Ferguson) of the ‘Miranda Abbott” mysteries.
“We’re going post-medieval on Shakespeare’s ass!”
So proclaims young upstart writer Johnny Webster in Carley’s latest novel, RUFF. Carley must have written those words with a wink and sly grin, knowing that he too was going post-medieval! With clever wordplay that would make the Bard himself blush, Carley weaves a tale that is as poignant as it is witty. Will Shakespeare, Kit Marlowe, and Tommy Middleton leap off the page joined by a wise but pithy Anne Hathaway (and Will’s rebellious teen-aged daughter), the punk-feminist Maggie fighting for women’s rights, and the gender-fluid Nat, an apprentice actor who plays both male and female roles. Carley’s characters stayed with me for days because he does more than create characters, he breathes life into their souls. It is a rare book that can entertain, illuminate, and strike at the heart; Carley accomplishes just that. At times I found myself both laughing and cheering out loud! The dialogue is some of the best I have ever read. The descriptions are transportive. Not only can you see Elizabethan London – you can smell it!
Meticulously researched, RUFF is an historical novel with important modern significance. Carley tackles equality, justice, censorship, and the question of whether Shakespeare still holds a place in our world today. With a deft hand, Carley has balanced what is known with what is imagined. RUFF is an entertaining, literary novel of substantial merit. A page-turning masterpiece!”
Author of Two White Queens and the One-Eyed Jack
Grin Reaping Advance Praise
Two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour
Author of The Figgs, shortlisted for the Leacock Medal
Author of We’re All in This Together, shortlisted for the Leacock Medal for Humour
Screenwriter for The Witching Hour, Coroner, Slings & Arrows, and Degrassi
repeatedly because you will be laughing so hard. Indeed, you will laugh out loud on almost every single page. So settle down, buckle up, and prepare yourself.”
Leacock Award Winner, Village of the Small Houses
“Imagine if a short story and a peculiar incident had a wisecracking baby possessed of unusual wisdom and a deeply humane sensibility. That almost, almost describes Rod Carley’s Grin Reaping. Line-by-line these episodes are fierce and funny and many of them leave indelible scorch marks on their targets, even while we grow to care about all the characters. The collection is generous, odd and quite wonderful. I hope many people get to meet the unforgettable Rudy Boyle and his associates.
I, for one, will never think about MacGyver the same way again. My view of elevator lifts, dogs, and weddings has also been altered forever. And please, do not get me started on the exceptional tooth-regeneration of the brontosaurus”
Author of The Woefield Poultry Collective and winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour
Author of the Beforelife stories
Kinmount Reviews
Two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour
Author/Playwright
Canada’s Most-Produced Playwright
Playwright
Director, Stratford Festival
Actor, Shaw and Stratford Festivals
Actor
True to novels about theatre productions, Dave’s show arouses various kinds of local opposition and the body of the novel is concerned with his heroic, fly by night, teeth-gritting efforts to meet every obstacle as it comes up and overcome it. I don’t want to do any plot-spoilers here, but one character emerges as the necessary villain, and she is a formidable opponent. This battle with the local forces of censorship and misunderstanding affords Carley a chance to examine theatre art, and Dave articulates the book’s defense and celebration of the form.
Carley has a real gift for creating character: there is a really enjoyable group of oddballs in the book, and his eye for the telling detail brings even the smaller characters to immediate life. Dave is a somewhat hapless, self-deprecating and charming protagonist and the novel’s interspersing of elements of theory and theatre history with the plot is skillfully done.
I like books about the theatre, and KINMOUNT is a good one, a really fun, easy read, and at 316 pages, just the right length. It has lots of hijinks, philosophy, art, and even a hint of the supernatural. In this time of theatres being closed, it is a reminder that theatre endures, adapts, is cunning, and triumphs in the end.”
Actor
Independent Theatre Producer, Toronto, ON
Actor
Acting Instructor
“I loved it! It starts off with hilarious quips and oh so innocently…you know, just a novel about Dave, a middle aged down-on-his-luck director, in some small Ontario town putting on Romeo & Juliet in the hot summer. And then it turns. In the most wonderful of ways. Relationships deepen and the conflict…well, it goes off the small town rails. All in a fun way. And by then you’re along for the ride, and you’re not sure if it can end well for Dave and his group of misfit performers.
One chapter reads like a romantic Salt Water Moon scene (the ‘roof’ chapter, my favourite of the bunch)…and the next like Fargo Season 2, when the town is not as innocent as it seemed. I mean – there was that arson that may have been murder a few years ago.
And in between all the beauty and mystical conflict, are one-liners and witty observations that will bring a smile to your face. And all throughout Dave is teaching about Shakespeare’s first folio and Greek theater origins – dare I say, you may learn something here folks! Rod has weaved a fun and special tale. I highly recommend it. To live is to laugh, think, and feel. While reading KINMOUNT, you’ll be living for sure.”
“In Rod Carley’s new book, eccentric community theatre producer, Lola Whale, envisions “Shakespeare for families” to be performed in a three-day summer festival in the small town of Kinmount (also the title of the book) and invites an out-of-towner, reluctant realist Dave Middleton, to direct Romeo and Juliet.
Dave’s curmudgeonly attitude is evident in his acerbic criticism of small town Ontario. But when shadfly season in his hometown of Birch Lake makes a stint in Kinmount the lesser of two evils, he agrees to Lola’s proposition and takes the job.
With a host of misfit characters cast in the production, author Rod Carley tells a humorous story that both entertains and enlightens: while Dave the weary pessimist negotiates zany small-town politics, modern-day “Furies” and his own gut instinct (Listen! it often demands), he carefully exercises his craft, subtly exposing the directorial process of interpreting Shakespeare’s work.
When the play is considered too bawdy for family-friendly theatre, Dave is plunged into controversy. Changes to the script are demanded and Dave is forced to take a stand. Will modern-day political correctness censor Shakespeare? Or will original intent and artistic integrity win out?
Thrust into a position of defending his passion – theatre and artistic expression – Dave’s character shines when he stands up for what he believes in declaring, “All I have in my life is my artistic integrity; it’s the one thing I like about myself.”
I enjoyed Rod Carley’s way with a play and his many a masterly play on words.
With a long career in theatre himself, perhaps it’s not surprising that Rod is a master at writing dialogue. Creating witty banter among a sizeable cast of characters, he impressively distinguishes his cast, each with their own tone of voice, and carries the story in a large part by dialogue alone.
Rod cannily crafts parallel storylines – that of the play and the characters in KINMOUNT. Just as the play is not what it seems (Romeo & Juliet is not a love story Dave insists), the eccentric Lola is not what she seems either. The protagonist’s character develops alongside Romeo. While the pressure to be a man got to Romeo causing him to seek vengeance, so too does the pressure get to Dave, as he rushes to defend his play from the forces that seek to destroy it.
You’ll learn much about Romeo & Juliet that you never knew (including the fact that there is no balcony scene in the original – What? No balcony?) and many bits of trivia about the Bard himself.
KINMOUNT is sure to delight anyone who appreciates live theatre, great dialogue and a sharp sense of wit.
Congratulations on your second book Rod Carley! It was a pleasure to read.”
Author of Green Ghost, Blue Ocean
Actor
What I particularly loved was that he did not give us explanations as to why certain of his characters were the way they were…of note, Lola. I love that there is still mystery surrounding her and what makes her tick. I would have been so disappointed if he would have explained her behaviour as dependent on the midichlorian count she possesses. Pick this novel up, grab a glass of wine, put your feet up and be prepared to laugh out loud, to be enthralled by the people of Kinmount (an unfortunate name…lol) for a great read.”
Director
“I’d like to recommend the novel KINMOUNT by Rod Carley. A reviewer said it was: “…funny, thoughtful, compelling and filled with humane insights about people and their passions.” I fully concur and would add that I certainly recognized the folks in this novel. I laughed my head off. And wept. I found it a stirring tribute to Shakespeare, storytelling and the beautiful lunatics that devote their lives to it all. Well worth the read. Bravo, Rod!”
Actor/Playwright/Author
Author of Two White Queens and the One-Eyed Jack
“I should begin this review by stating that although the author and I share a surname, we are not related. Rod is apparently the descendant of sheep-stealers. My predecessors had a more loving relationship with even-toed ungulates.
My non-cousin has written one hugely funny book. If you are in theatre – either as spectator or (foolishly) more deeply involved; if you have ever lived in or driven through an Ontario small town; if you have made love to someone north of Highway 7 and come to understand the intrusive curiosity of shadflies… KINMOUNT is going to make you howl with laughter.
A down-on-his-luck director named Dave (again, no relation) is invited to elevate a small town with a summertime production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. Against his better judgement, he goes – and casts his play with a range of local characters. Rehearsals progress fairly smoothly until the Producer turns on Dave and tries to sabotage the production. What follows is a warm-hearted, hot-headed account of what happens when Art is confronted by Philistines.
Rod Carley is a well-known director and he generously shares his love and knowledge of Shakespeare in this romp. I learned a lot, even as I laughed my way through KINMOUNT.”
Taking Liberties
“Delightfully funny and humane, KINMOUNT celebrates the tenacity of theatre makers in the face of adversity, if not delicious absurdity. Carley takes us on the tempest-tossed ride taken by Dave Middleton; a mid-career director and Shakespeare aficionado, who finds himself lured from the shadfly infested Town of Birch Lake to the small Ontario Highlands town of Kinmount to direct its inaugural outdoor Shakespeare production of Romeo and Juliet. Dave is plunged headlong into amateur theatre havoc wrought by wrongheaded censorship and conspiracy at the hands of the extraordinary Lola Whale, part local amateur theatre maven, part deity of vengeance whose sound and fury has reverberated through Kinmount for years.
Despite being besieged by Lola’s wrath and a sea of other mysterious troubles that range from the sweetly mundane, to the rib-tickling ridiculous, to the sublimely supernatural, Dave and his motley cast of homespun locals form a bond of theatrical kinship, and resolutely march “once more unto the breach” in an effort to deliver the production they set out to do. Carley finely balances the hilarity and humanity of Dave’s thespian and personal misfortunes with caringly crafted thoughtful insights into the work of Shakespeare.
A page turner from start to finish, KINMOUNT hilariously captures the feelings of madness, frustration and the desire to prevail elicited in an artist who is hell bent on making theatre in order to play on!”
Director/Actor
“I just finished Rod Carley’s novel, KINMOUNT. A showdown between artistic freedom and censorship, set in the small Ontario town of Kinmount. Rod skillfully intertwines years of theatre experience into a thoughtful, funny story that you will not want to put down.”
Actor/Director/Playwright
“In the lively, humorous style of Tom Sharpe and Terry Pratchett, Rod Carley’s story of a professional theatre director’s struggle to produce a community Shakespeare production in small town Ontario was a wonderfully funny and engaging read. Love, revenge, comedy – everything you’d expect to find in a Shakespeare tale weaves its way into the small community of Kinmount.”
Artistic Advisor, Pacific Theatre, Vancouver, B.C.
“KINMOUNT was a hoot. To give “full disclosure” as they say, I am a Canadian actor, living in Ontario, (and a hockey fan). I realized early on that my cheeks were aching from smiling as I read. The humour is sometimes delightfully silly, in a playful pun kind of way, but there’s a good deal of wry and self-deprecating humour, often specific to Canadian culture as well. I laughed out loud at the woes of the protagonist’s step-father, who “had lost everything betting against the Leafs in ’67.”
There’s crackling energy on every page, and the book is packed with insights into Shakespeare’s texts and life, with always fascinating and often juicy tidbits from other corners of history—from kooky Dionysian rituals to hints of highly possible pub conversations between Shakespeare and Cervantes, to Elizabeth I’s dancercise routine. I didn’t expect to learn so many crazy fun details, while reading this. Coming across one of these nuggets was like finding a chocolate in my Christmas stocking.
Fitting for our present time of Covid 19, there are rich references to the fact that Romeo & Juliet was “the first play to be produced in London, after the Black Death of 1592 to 1594 wiped out close to a third of the population”; that “all the Theatres were shut down for three years.” Phew. It’s astonishing to realize how we can now truly relate to this fact (luckily minus the scabs and boils…). (Rod Carley’s historical-cultural curiosity and often arcane knowledge makes me think he’d be fantastic at digging further into the plague theme, and make an adaptation of The Decameron. In his hands it would be great fun and easily readable for our modern sensibilities… and insensibilities…).
KINMOUNT is essentially about a small town theatre production with local amateurs and a couple of theatre school graduates brought up from the city. As a Theatre person, I’ve known these characters in the flesh, and worked with most of them, and I recognize (and yearn for) the sweaty sense of doom and deep regret that can come before the various hitherto unfathomable, fragile elements are coaxed, or wrestled, into a vital, ephemeral creation that unfolds in front of an audience.
As our own Theatres have been closed for about nine months so far (with no re-opening in sight) it is a great joy to be in the company of fellow theatre-folk again…these misfits, vagabonds, Artists, who—despite physical threats, censorship, small-mindedness and intrigue—breathe dangerous, raunchy, blood-filled life into their small-Ontario-town ‘Romeo & Juliet’, (Three Shows Only!) almost 450 years after the play was first performed.
This book was great fun.”
Actor/Playwright
“KINMOUNT is a terrific read with recognizable, friendly, wacky, and interesting characters. I appreciate how Carley weaved theatre and Greek history within the story.”
Actor
“Rod Carley has written a wild ride through a community theatre’s summer production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. With great characters, and a lot of fun and compassion, Carley’s work reveals a love for the people who try against all odds to mount any kind of live theatre, and shares many insights into interpreting Shakespeare. Highly recommended.”
Playwright/Actor
The story revolves around experienced theatre director Dave Middleton, who is hired to direct an amateur theatre production of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ for a 3-day summer festival in the small Ontario town of Kinmount. He assembles a motley crew of a cast from Toronto and the Kinmount area, and barrels headlong toward an inevitable opening night, fighting shadflies, a lunatic producer, witchcraft, and oh so much more. Rod’s characters are full of wit and whimsy, and his love of the theatre serves as the thematic heartbeat of this thoroughly entertaining piece of fiction. I already miss his cast of quirky, mostly loveable, misfits.
A great read! And a great gift for anyone who misses the complex comradery of the rehearsal hall, or for anyone who misses the theatre.”
Actor
Actor
Dave’s trials and tribulations are a comic goldmine and Carley skillfully mines them. At the same time, we feel compassion for his characters’ dilemmas. During the hilarity we also encounter penetrating and thought-provoking messages concerning censorship, artistic and moral integrity, mental illness, Shakespeare’s first folio and the enormous blessings that art in general and theatre specifically, provide for our society. Carley draws us effortlessly into this small community of eccentrics, and even its most outlandish individuals and their outrageous antics ultimately charm us.
All of this is deftly accomplished while the witty dialogue and brisk timing carry us toward the final curtain. I confess that when the time came for Dave to finally depart Kinmount, I realized that I wanted to stay on for a while longer and perhaps even settle down there.”
Artist
“I found Rod Carley’s hilarious second novel, KINMOUNT, hard to put down. It was both entertaining and quite educational, laying bare the secrets behind Shakespearean theatre production while telling a very character-driven personal tale. The story centers on a “down-and-out” director, Dave Middleton, who has been hired by a rather eccentric producer to mount an amateur production of “Romeo and Juliet” in her rural Ontario town. With two seasoned actors imported from the city to play the lead roles, the rest of the cast is made up of townfolk, from a respected judge to a couple of stoners and everything in between.
Anything that can possibly go wrong in the process does, threatening not only the production, but some lives as well. Dave has to do battle with the forces of censorship, budget limitations, extreme weather, his own demons and even a little supernatural interference. Mr. Carley’s writing is clever, with some creative descriptions that waver between very informative high-minded passages and total comic farce with a little wicked punning along the way. The combination of interesting characters, suspense and humour makes the novel memorable and would make an excellent movie.”
Singer
“I quite enjoyed Rod’s first novel, A Matter of Will- which was funny and insightful. It had elements of fantasy and heist, packaged with great humour and human warmth. But Rod’s really hit his stride with KINMOUNT. His word craft is sophisticated and smooth, his wit is punchy and original. The narrative is warm and engaging– a real page-turner! A Matter of Will was up for a Northern Lit Award– KINMOUNT will take awards, I have no doubt.”
“Carley makes Shakespeare fun!
Throughout theatre school I didn’t have the interest or patience to decode the bard’s old-fashioned speak. Much like the rag tag cast of wannabe actors in Kinmount, I too was a hard core bard-o-phobe. What a relief to finally understand something with Shakespearean content! Through-out the pages of this hilarious romp, Carley flexes his teaching muscles and layers in fascinating historical and literary facts. Because of this I have a new found appreciation for the ‘classics.’ Don’t get me wrong, KINMOUNT, in no way reads like a textbook. It is a laugh out loud comedy with enough bizarre and even some paranormal twists to keep you breathlessly turning the pages.”
Actor/Poet
“A great mix of story and character writing. Loved the characters most of all and the fun feel of the book (a few laugh out loud spots which I always enjoy). Would love to see more of the humour and maybe even some of the same characters in a non- theatre locale :). Great book and best of all I had no idea it was written by a local author when I asked for the book, that was a bonus (the shad fly references had me look it up :).”
“Rod Carley’s KINMOUNT takes the reader on trip inside the world of small-town community theatre, with a bit of psychedelia thrown in. Well-drawn and eccentric characters along with plenty of insight into how theatre gets made. I learned a bit about the Bard and enjoyed the sometimes tart commentary on small town life. The tension between art and community values is evergreen and nicely told here. A fun read I would recommend to all.”
Journalist
“This book is a witty, warm-hearted jaunt that had me smiling and often laughing out loud. Rod Carley’s pace and language kept me engaged and connected to the many jovial and wacky, small town characters he depicts with humour and humanity. He gives us a glimpse into “the full catastrophe”, to quote Zorba the Greek, of human nature, creativity and interaction. If you appreciate live theatre (professional or otherwise!), humour, Shakespeare, nature and the ebb and flow of rural life, then I bet you will enjoy the story and characters that Carley has created. Definitely a book to buy for yourself and or as a gift.”
Singer
“Such good fun! Just finished reading Rod Carley’s latest offering, KINMOUNT. Oh, the goings on in the theatre world of small town Ontario! I couldn’t stop smiling as I sped my way through this delightful read. Thanks Rod for brightening my day in these darks times of Covid by bringing to life these zany characters and their antics. KINMOUNT is sure to please.”
Singer/Actor
“This is a very funny read that brought me right back to my journeys through community theatre: the unpredictable roadblocks along the way, and the passion and idiosyncrasies of my fellow travelling companions that you collaborate with (and clash with) on the ride. It’s a roadmap to some great memories told with love and humour.”
Designer
“Author and theatre director Rod Carley knows his First Folio Shakespeare, and he incorporates a lot of his knowledge into his new novel, KINMOUNT. His protagonist, Dave, heads to the small northern Ontario town of Kinmount to direct an amateur production of “Romeo and Juliet” with only a few misgivings. His rehearsal plans are hilariously upset, as the weather and a (possibly) certifiable producer hamper his efforts at every step. Each actor has, um, “baggage” that makes their particular interpretation of their character unique, and Dave helps each one find the motivation and rhythm of their speech. As the novel unfolds, readers learn more about Dave and his previous theatre experiences, which he is forced to unearth and re-examine if he wishes to triumph. Start the novel because you are a theatre fan, but finish it because you want to know if BJ can carry on without his parrot puppet, Chickpea.”/em>
“Rod Carley’s KINMOUNT takes the reader on trip inside the world of small-town community theatre, with a bit of psychedelia thrown in. Well-drawn and eccentric characters along with plenty of insight into how theatre gets made. I learned a bit about the Bard and enjoyed the sometimes tart commentary on small town life. The tension between art and community values is evergreen and nicely told here. A fun read I would recommend to all.”
A Matter Of Will Reviews
“A Matter of Will is an unholy mix of Withnail and I, Glengarry Glen Ross, and an east coast kitchen party. Taking us from the Toronto theatre scene in the 1980’s to a remote Newfoundland outport in the present day, it’s the perfect cautionary tale for anybody contemplating a career as a Canadian actor … I’m only sorry I didn’t read it when I was 17; I could have saved myself a lot of trouble.”
“This is a fun and immersive read. Rod Carley’s humor is quick-witted and visual. Rod paints the scenes beautifully enabling you to truly travel with Will on his personal odyssey. Everyone will enjoy this read but if you are Canadian it adds another complete layer of enjoyment. Buy and read this book, you will not regret it! Mr. Carley’s First Novel Has Won me Over as a Future Loyal Reader.”
“Well done “b’y”! Did I ever enjoy every line of Mr. Carley’s book. It was hard to believe it’s only his first novel.
I liked this book so much that I actually took the time to mark favorite lines and passages that fairly jumped out and grabbed me. I reread them. I remained thoroughly engrossed as Will triumphs at theater school; begins a promising career in the Canadian theater scene; until everything blows up in his face (his own fault) and he finds himself working at a Toronto call center. But that’s not the end of this story. He goes searching for an epiphany in a freezing Newfoundland outpost.
This novel has an abundance of eccentric and off-beat characters. You’ll read about sex, lies, dysfunctional relationships and shattered dreams.
It offers consistently witty dialogue and heart-wrenching observations of the human condition.
Mr. Carley’s writing compelled me to keep reading. I didn’t want to put this book down, and that’s a rare talent. That’s the main thing avid readers hope for. He delivered. He delivered and I can’t wait to read his next novel.”
“I laughed out loud reading this book. The characters are wonderful and the descriptions create vivid pictures. I recommended this book to my bookclub and everyone loved it!”
“Featuring cameos from Margaret Atwood and Saint Peter, Mr. Carley’s A Matter of Will is a facetious and bighearted debut which combines the best traditional Canadian storytelling with a memorable modern voice. It follows the endearingly hapless Will Crosswell through cannibalistic minefields of modern theatre, describes his travails in call centre purgatories, and casts him into Newfoundland backwaters, where he’s gone to seek God.
Will Crosswell’s path to the ministry is both intense and funny, reminiscent of Dostoevsky in places. He sees the clergy life as another means to acting, and travels to Newfoundland, embarking on a 40 day fast in imitation of Christ’s desert journey. The ending strains credulity, but satisfies.
Replete with memorable characters, A Matter of Will’s dialogue particularly shines, recalling writers like Mordecai Richler and Douglas Coupland. Mr. Carley’s decades of theatre experience are nowhere more evident than in his command of accents. His take on cubicle culture is hilarious, depressing, and ultimately accurate. Hopefully, he will revisit the call centre setting in future work.
Funny, entertaining, and heartfelt, A Matter of Will is an excellent addition to Canadian canon.”
“A genuine and unsettling cautionary tale describing a life in the theatre and a must-read for anyone foolish or misguided enough to be considering it.”
