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suzybeagle's review against another edition
5.0
Based on the description on the back of the book, this is not the story I was expecting to get. But what unfolds, with the jumps in time and perspective of the narrator, was engrossing and completely engaging with a completely satisfying ending. This book has been on my to-read list for awhile now, and I'm so glad that I skipped it ahead to the front of the line. I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us in the future.
teresatumminello's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars
I struggle with narratives dealing with the guilt of someone whose age explains his (non)actions. Of course a 14-year-old thinks it’s all about him: it’s the nature of the beast. Yet this book seems pitch-perfect in its re-creation of how a teenage boy thinks and feels, even to the point that his obsessing got to be a bit too much for me a couple of times. It’s true too that the young person needs to realize, for his or her own benefit (as well as for those around him), that “it’s not all about you” and the narrator’s very slowly dawning realization also feels authentic.
The voyeurism, the suburban neighborhood and a narratorial choice of 'we' at one juncture reminded me of [b:The Virgin Suicides|851753|The Virgin Suicides|Jeffrey Eugenides|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1311978267s/851753.jpg|812415]. The pacing is skillful and the climax is tense, but I don’t think of this as either a mystery or a thriller (I mean that as a compliment). The parts that I see some Goodreaders found superfluous were my favorite sections, especially the comparison between Baton Rouge and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Not only is it an extended metaphor for the relationship of the main characters, it’s a brilliant meditation: how you interpret it may be revelatory.
Here are two quibbles and you probably should dismiss them: First, the twist of the narration (at the end) didn’t work in one instance for me. Second, the grammar-pedant within me cringed at the use, more than once, of the subjective first-person pronoun after the object of a preposition: I realize the narrator is writing informally, but he makes no other major grammatical mistakes (including using the word ‘whom’ correctly)—this kind of thing pulling me out of a story says more about me than about the novel, I'm sure.
I just discovered this novel is longlisted for the 2017 International Dublin Literary Award, more proof of the ‘particular’ -- in this case, an affluent Baton Rouge neighborhood with its share of darkness; darkness I am wont to say can be found in any neighborhood, no matter how comfortable – illuminating the ‘universal’.
I struggle with narratives dealing with the guilt of someone whose age explains his (non)actions. Of course a 14-year-old thinks it’s all about him: it’s the nature of the beast. Yet this book seems pitch-perfect in its re-creation of how a teenage boy thinks and feels, even to the point that his obsessing got to be a bit too much for me a couple of times. It’s true too that the young person needs to realize, for his or her own benefit (as well as for those around him), that “it’s not all about you” and the narrator’s very slowly dawning realization also feels authentic.
The voyeurism, the suburban neighborhood and a narratorial choice of 'we' at one juncture reminded me of [b:The Virgin Suicides|851753|The Virgin Suicides|Jeffrey Eugenides|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1311978267s/851753.jpg|812415]. The pacing is skillful and the climax is tense, but I don’t think of this as either a mystery or a thriller (I mean that as a compliment). The parts that I see some Goodreaders found superfluous were my favorite sections, especially the comparison between Baton Rouge and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Not only is it an extended metaphor for the relationship of the main characters, it’s a brilliant meditation: how you interpret it may be revelatory.
Here are two quibbles and you probably should dismiss them: First, the twist of the narration (at the end) didn’t work in one instance for me. Second, the grammar-pedant within me cringed at the use, more than once, of the subjective first-person pronoun after the object of a preposition: I realize the narrator is writing informally, but he makes no other major grammatical mistakes (including using the word ‘whom’ correctly)—this kind of thing pulling me out of a story says more about me than about the novel, I'm sure.
I just discovered this novel is longlisted for the 2017 International Dublin Literary Award, more proof of the ‘particular’ -- in this case, an affluent Baton Rouge neighborhood with its share of darkness; darkness I am wont to say can be found in any neighborhood, no matter how comfortable – illuminating the ‘universal’.
peacefrog32's review against another edition
3.0
This story had a lot of potential. There were a few pages where Walsh goes into excessive description about Louisiana, weather, and food which I felt very un-enthused as it added nothing substantial. Walsh did a good job at painting the story of coming of age with nostalgic colors, so much that I all felt it was going to lead up to a grand payoff of satisfaction but was just met with a lackluster reveal. Left me saying, "that was it?" The story seems unbalanced to me. Lots and lots and lots of build up of unknown details of an event that takes place, thickly coated with thoughts and emotions of an obsessive/lust driven teenage boy.
arflegel's review against another edition
5.0
I can hardly express into words how much I loved this book, and loving a book about an awful act is hard. Walsh's prose is incredible (what is a word for much better than incredible?!)... Amazing work!
problemreader's review against another edition
3.0
This one just didn’t do it for me. There were some highlights, and I did finish it, but overall it was really slow and boring for me. I skipped over entire chapters and missed out on nothing.
n_a001's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5