The Secret of Ventriloquism by Jon Padgett

This eerie tale brings our 2023 Gothic Book Club installments to a close

The Secret of Ventriloquism by Jon Padgett

This has to be the strangest Gothic Book Club title so far, in all the best ways.

It doesn’t take long to realize that The Secret of Ventriloquism is a unique experience. A page is all that’s required before it’s apparent that this is untraversed territory, and there are unspeakable horrors to be found in the unknown that lies ahead.

Being led through the guided meditation of what appears to be a sinister self-help guru (or puppet-master), the elicitation of fear and discomfort are soon all that exist. The Mindfulness of Horror Practice lays all the cards upon the table. Things are about to get very uncomfortable.

The Secret of Ventriloquism is a book like no other, and one which is incredibly hard to categorize. This can only be a good thing. Considering we exist in a cultural landscape which clamors to pigeonhole genres and creates literary silos, this makes Padgett’s book all the more intriguing in its form and delivery.

Carmen Maria Machado and Annie Erneaux play with narrative form and structure in similar ways, but their work is predominantly autobiographical. It gets a little more complex when it comes to Padgett. As a self-described ‘lapsed ventriloquist’, the artistry and knowledge of the practice of itself becomes a key component within the work. In fact, it’s hard to believe that a segment such as 20 Simple Steps to Ventriloquism would land as well as they do without his insider knowledge and flair for capturing intricacies. It is within those intricacies that a lot of the appeal of this book lies.

Firstly, it’s hard to call The Secret of Ventriloquism a novel, but it’s equally unsuitable to refer to it as a collection of short stories. More than all else; it’s a mood. Much like the way in which H.P. Lovecraft’s finest moments are to be found within the environments and moods he creates, Padgett offers a puzzle box of fragments, which appear to have emerged from the same central catastrophe.

Concurrent themes, a paper mill, a plane crash, box spring mattresses and daddy longlegs all appear in various forms and occurrences, however, it is the act and practice of ventriloquism (and the even more terrifying form of greater ventriloquism) which remains the core of this work. Control, manipulation and acquiescence all permeate these stories (much in the manner they did within the writing of William S Burroughs), and a carousel of characters, both likable and abhorrent, weave in and out of this world; pieced together by trauma and terror.

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As part of the Gothic Book Club, it’s always a pleasure to share darkly delightful stories with you all, and this is no exception. Your feedback has been wonderful so far, and I’m delighted to hear more of your thoughts.

• Do you consider this a novel, collection of short stories or otherwise?

• What has been your favorite segment so far, and why?

• How would you attempt to categorize Padgett’s work?

• What do you think sets this apart from many contemporary horror books?

• At which point did you begin to realize all the connections which exist within The Secret of Ventriloquism?

Please feel free to add your thoughts to the comments. We will also be having a virtual meet up on Tue, Dec 19th at 8pm (IRE/UK)/ 3pm ET / 12pm PT. Join us here at the time and take part in the conversation along with other book club members.