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After an idyllic childhood in upstate New York, the Attenuating Puritan is emboldened by the environmental accidents and tragedies occurring around the world and finds himself drawn to channel his faith into action—to spread the word of God and cleanse the Earth and its inhabitants. When the Flint water crisis hits the headlines, the Puritan hitchhikes to Michigan and heartily consumes its water to remove toxins and process them through his own body. He continues hitchhiking his way west across the country, stopping at various waste sites and homeless encampments to “attenuate,” all the while battling his own demons with mental illness and substance abuse, which culminate in life-threatening maladies decidedly left untreated. Though the Puritan’s mission is not entirely successful, he always manages to return to center and resume his active devotion to purifying the Earth.
Guided by the Puritan, the narrative becomes almost a modern-day biblical tale, if such a thing were possible. The author crafts a fascinating character, both deeply flawed and endlessly seeking good—a religious being attempting magic as he is rooted in reality. Throughout his trials and tribulations, the Puritan remains impassioned and committed to his views on politics, healthcare, climate change, gender, and sexuality. Along the Puritan’s journey, McGuiness unveils the physical splendor of the American landscape, as well as the array of people residing amongst each forest, desert, valley, and shoreline. Most are searching desperately for some escape, some extra capital, and salvation. There are smatterings of grammatical errors, and at times, the text becomes a bit confusing within the Puritan’s ruminations. Ultimately, though, McGuiness creates a bold and steadfast voice with which he executes his tale of spiritual adventure.