Etchings in the Dead Wax

Etchings in the Dead Wax is a 2009 novel by M. C. Joudrey originally published for adults. The main character Ethan Caldwell recounts his difficult and lonely life in first person narrative.
The novel is noted for having numerous musical references throughout. Lines from the song Androgynous written by Paul Westerberg, lead singer of the rock and roll group The Replacements, is used as the books opening quotation.
Plot summary
The first-person narrative follows Ethan Caldwell's experiences and difficulties in an abusive home. The story takes place in Winnipeg, Canada and then later in Washington D.C., United States. The time line switches back and forth from Ethan's life as child living at home and then to his current age as an adult on his own.
The opening chapter is situated in a fictional bar named the Horsefly Tavern. Ethan has a regular seat at the bar called the "Shotgun" however it is occupied by an unknown police officer. Ethan mentions in narrative that "I'd go over and tell him to beat it but he'd probably just shoot me.” This is foreshadowing as it is disclosed later that Ethan was shot by a policeman in error when he was younger. The first chapter also offers an insightful conversation between Ethan and three college students Ethan has never met before who ask to share the booth Ethan has occupied. The meeting and conversation sets mood for the entire novel as it is revealed early that Ethan is not particularly fond of being alone but chooses to be so out of necessity. Ethan frequents the Horsefly throughout the novel to drink or to visit his only current friend, Connie, a barmaid who works at the Horsefly.
Ethan's past is discussed. His father physically abuses him and his older brother Jack. Ethan's mother is apathetic to the abuse and she herself is frequently abused by Ethan's father as well. Jack is Ethan's strength throughout their childhood. Ethan's older brother Jack serves as an alternate father figure throughout most of the story.
As Ethan nears adulthood Jack is murdered. Ethan chooses to remain alone for the remainder of the first part. Ethan's now dead father begins to appear on several occasions in an alleyway. Ethan is afraid and does not understand why this is happening and blames his drinking for the apparitions of his father. Ethan's interest in non-fictional musical groups and artists are discussed frequently. Ethan's interest in music serves as his life's great equalizer, tipping the balance of the scales in favor of hope. The first part of the book ends with a store robbery where Ethan offers himself as a hostage to the robbers in place of an unnamed woman. Ethan is taken hostage and once the thieves feel they are in the clear, one of them stabs Ethan in the back leaving him for dead.
The second part of the novel focuses heavily on Ethan's romantic involvement with the woman from the night of the robbery. It also introduces the character Cortland Sumner while Ethan is in the hospital recovering from the stab wounds inflicted during the robbery. The novel ends with Ethan finally able to confront the visions of his father in the alley.
Writing style
Etchings in the Dead Wax is written in 1st person. Ethan often reflects about his difficult past through inner soliloquies. The chapters frequently switch from past to present offering the reader continued insight into the main character's abusive beginnings and the reason for the character's current reclusive lifestyle as an adult. The novel is separated into two parts. The first part instills the main character's conflicts; the second part offers a resolution.
The significance of the title
Etchings in the Dead Wax - The title refers to the markings often etched by hand in the vinyl or wax at the end of side A and side B of a record. Although the etchings are mostly uninteresting label catalogue numbers, there are many cases where unique messages are etched in the wax by the unknown author in addition to the catalogue number. This is discussed in the novel.

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