Christopher Boucher’s latest, Big Giant Floating Head, could be mistaken for a self-loathing pity party in 17 chapters disguised as an experimental fiction novel. To do so, however, would be to miss out on some moments of piercing reflection that illuminate different stages of grief and loss after a rejection of love. Each of the chapters are worthy of standing as an individual vignette, but they are linked together thematically by the struggling eponymous main character. The “Chris Boucher” in the book experiences a loss of self and explores questions about his worth in a variety of imagined scenes. His recent divorce serves as the undercurrent for his character to inhabit worlds that include: a university that offers classes on how to be “Chris;” a hotel inhabited by his past selves and everyone he has ever met; a “fail-off” competition; and a job that places him physically inside the pages of his own book as a scene-construction worker. Some of Boucher’s other conceits are less successful and the metaphors can become a bit heavy-handed, but each entry is cleverly depicted and contain enough humor to keep the pathos at bay. In an entertaining way, Boucher’s Big Giant Floating Head provides a kaleidoscopic perspective on coping with a difficult situation.

Thanks to Edelweiss and Melville House for an ARC of this book in exchange for an objective review. ( )