The novel starts with poetry and ends with poetry. The deep themes and motifs expressed in this novel are reminiscent in much of Michael Barone's work. Birds, Reincarnation, religious redemption, abuse and the eventual wisdom gained from excess...the inevitable conclusion to sin...as well as Romance which is the crux of this story. The novel is really about one man's attempt at finding his own outlet of order amongst the chaos of modern America. if you like novels in the same vein as Jack Kerouac or William Burroughs, you might like Michael Barone's The Phoenix of New Bohemia. There are many deep themes explored about God, religion and war. Pop-culture also plays a major role in the influence and development of the characters. Fan's of Joseph Heller's Catch-22 will love reading this book!