I heard and read nothing about this book, I saw it and looked inside to see that Kurt Vonnegut praised it so I just instinctively bought it. Before going into the book I just want to say that it remined me a lot of Solenoid by Mircea Cărtărescu which was probably the best book I read all of last year.
It would be easier for me to break the book down into thirds since it is quite the duel wielder. The first third was very good, I was already used to the prose style most story tellers use so the double digit page long soliloquys were something I was looking forward to so long as they had something unique to say about each character. And each character that is so subtly introduced and as easily vanished are characters I wouldn’t mind sharing a long bus drive with. The second third was very repetitive and there were numerous times I thought I was going to put the book down because after the fiftieth page of the exact same metaphors I was just like, “…..alright, I get it.” Still had some very good moments, but I needed something else. And also this middle part of the book has one of my new favorite literary characters, Cousin Hannah, she isn’t even really in the story but the descriptions by the people that love her are so amazing I wish I knew someone like that in real life. Then the final third was incredible and I am so happy that I kept going, it’s rare for one book to have so many moments that I love and am willing to jot down. With the introduction of Esther Longtree adding yet another character to a list of mine, those that made me uncomfortable due to how much I relate to them. It was devastating yet young refused to show the ugly side of life as unworthy on love and beauty. So many characters sharing the same feelings that I feel, that I was not the one who was meant for this life. There was nothing but love in this world that scares us and I am amazed at Youngs ability to give patience and understanding to the things that hurt us.
Any who! If anyone else has read this, I’d love to know your thoughts.
by NotBorris