Augustino and the Choir of Destruction

With "Augustino and the Choir of Destruction, " literary legend Marie-Clair Blais concludes her famed trilogy set on an island in the Gulf of Mexico. Written in her trademark style, which includes surreal surprises and idiosyncratic characters, this book presents a rich tapestry of humankind: Our Lady of the Bags, announcing the end of the world; Charles, a great poet cut down by AIDS; and Caroline, a transvestite Cinderella and artist. Most amazing -- yet typical of the imaginative power of Blais' work -- is the title character, a clairvoyant child writer who challenges the destructive forces in everyday life.