Wonderful prose.

True to human nature, and how people can grow together and apart equally as fast. ( )

Bernardine Evaristo is not a new-comer on the literary scene. She has taught creative writing for more than twenty years, and is the author of seven books and novels, also referred to as verse fiction.

Soul tourists, which appeared in 2005, is a novel, which consists of prose and verse in almost equal proportians. Prose and verse fragments appear in all possible, varied forms in a mellifluous confluency of both forms and all intermediary form. As a result, the transitions between verse and prose are natural, and never abrupt. In fact, Bernardine Evaristo's use of verse fiction seems so natural, that could easily be said to represent the best proponent of this experimental hybrid form of prose.

The title of the novel, Soul tourists. does not only suggest that the two main characters, Stanley and Jessie, are travellers, but also that they are explorers of each others' souls; their closeness is not exacly that of "soul mates" but there is still a large terrain to explore.

The novel takes the characters in stages all across Europe, from the UK, through France and Italy and into Turkey, and each others personality. The story is quite straightforward, and an easy read. The style is literary, with various allusions to literature and both British and European culture.

Highly recommended for readers interested in new voices, experimental styles and literary fiction off the beaten paths of mainstream literature. ( )