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pauliinakiero's review against another edition
3.0
i like Klosterman but it's clear he struggles with writing fiction. there are problems with the narration (who even is this mysterious narrator??) and while the stream of consciousness style is at times funny and makes me like the characters, Klosterman overuses it.
but i did like the characters and the small town vibe and the term "part-time alcoholic" which i'm totally gonna steal.
captnkurt's review against another edition
Please read this book, it's really great. Actually, I would recommend the audiobook even more. The voice casting is great, especially Philip Baker Hall as Horace.
The final few chapters really take things in an unexpected and shocking direction, which I won't reveal here, but is mentioned in plenty of other reviews if you are curious. But don't read other reviews! Go in blind, take a chance!
The final few chapters really take things in an unexpected and shocking direction, which I won't reveal here, but is mentioned in plenty of other reviews if you are curious. But don't read other reviews! Go in blind, take a chance!
thelibrarianmom's review against another edition
5.0
Oh man I have missed me some Klosterman! This was the first fiction book of his I read and the first book of his I read in many many years. It reminded me of WHY I absolutely love his writing because it really makes you think. Brb going on a Klosterman binge reading now.
saboo's review against another edition
1.0
I think his non-fiction is hilarious. There were good moments in this book, but overall it was pretty terrible.
casperlindsey's review against another edition
5.0
This is less a novel than it is a concept album, and I am cool with that. There are themes and phrases that repeat and build on each other through all the multiple points of view, and a few are heavy handed (the parentheticals),* and some are more subtle. I thought about keeping a tally of every use of the phrase "nothing changed," but decided I liked the story too much to hover outside it that way. It didn't feel disjointed to me, except possibly the one and only first-person chapter, but I think that was meant to be jarring.
I saw a review somewhere that compared this book to Catcher in the Rye, and while I think I get what they meant to say, they are wrong. Salinger is, for the most part, spectacularly literal, using the superficial - the precise things people say or do - to imply the worlds inside them. Downtown Owl is pretty much the exact opposite of that, it shows you the insides to highlight how little people know or understand about each other, or themselves. Which might be the only real way to wrote about midwesterners, honestly.
About 3/4ths in I had this pegged at 4 to 5 stars, depending on the ending, and he really brought it home, I think. The moment when you realize that the chapter headings are not just marking time, but are, in fact, a countdown - yow. Good stuff.
*See what I did there?
I saw a review somewhere that compared this book to Catcher in the Rye, and while I think I get what they meant to say, they are wrong. Salinger is, for the most part, spectacularly literal, using the superficial - the precise things people say or do - to imply the worlds inside them. Downtown Owl is pretty much the exact opposite of that, it shows you the insides to highlight how little people know or understand about each other, or themselves. Which might be the only real way to wrote about midwesterners, honestly.
About 3/4ths in I had this pegged at 4 to 5 stars, depending on the ending, and he really brought it home, I think. The moment when you realize that the chapter headings are not just marking time, but are, in fact, a countdown - yow. Good stuff.
*See what I did there?
howifeelaboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed 3/15: A re-read, originally read 2/11. This is my pick for our book club this month. I really enjoyed the book the second time around, and even though I knew the semi-surprise ending was coming, nothing was ruined. The climax to that point was even better because I remembered what happened, but not exactly how. It’s a lot of story for a quick resolution, but I appreciate it because Klosterman eliminated several main characters, which isn’t something a lot of authors do.
Originally read and reviewed 2/11: Though "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs" had always caught my eye (what a title!) in the bookstore, I never read a Klosterman book until I picked up "Downtown Owl" at my local library. I flipped to the inside flap and was hooked.
"Somewhere in North Dakota, there is a town called Owl that isn't there. Disco is over, but punk never happened. They don't have cable. They don't really have pop culture, unless you count grain prices and alcoholism. People work hard and then they die. They hate the government and impregnate teenage girls. But that's not nearly as awful as it sounds; in fact, sometimes it's perfect."
The story is told from three main points of view: Mitch, a high school student, Julia, a high school teacher new to Owl, and Horace, a man who's lived in Owl his entire 73 years. Every so often, a secondary character will narrate a short chapter, but it really relies on the three main characters, and it really works being written this way. The characters are realistic and unique individuals. Even without the chapter "titles" indicating who was speaking, their personalities come through immediately.
For at least 3/4ths of the story, I had no clue how the narrators fit together. (Besides Julia teaching at the high school Mitch attends, their paths never cross.) I didn't read a chapter and then say 'Oh, I know what's going to happen. He's going to twist it like this, and then this will happen.' I genuinely had no clue, even at the climax. That, I think, is super powerful. How amazing to have your reader totally in the dark, clueless about what will happen, but loving the story you're telling? Impressive work! There is no foreshadowing, there are no hints at what will happen. I literally had no idea what would make the story end. And, because of that, I technically had no idea why the story was being told - but it was enjoyable just the same. It was an easy read because once you start, you can't put it down. The chapters are so short and so intriguing you keep saying "Just one more, just one more!"
One of my favorite passages follows. I love when authors get down something you've felt forever, and put it in these perfect words and you stop and say YES. THAT is what I've been feeling all this time.
"Sometimes you think, Hey, maybe there's something else out there. But there really isn't. This is what being alive feels like, you know? The place doesn't matter. You just live."
The ending, to me, was a total surprise. It's based on true events, so I suppose if you know your North Dakota history (the subject Julia teaches, it just so happens) you might have an idea what's coming. But if you don't, I don't advise you to look up the dates on Wikipedia. Just read it. You'll be shocked at the end, but it's one of the best endings I've ever read in a book. Not a hint of corniness, no deus ex machina - just perfection.
Originally read and reviewed 2/11: Though "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs" had always caught my eye (what a title!) in the bookstore, I never read a Klosterman book until I picked up "Downtown Owl" at my local library. I flipped to the inside flap and was hooked.
"Somewhere in North Dakota, there is a town called Owl that isn't there. Disco is over, but punk never happened. They don't have cable. They don't really have pop culture, unless you count grain prices and alcoholism. People work hard and then they die. They hate the government and impregnate teenage girls. But that's not nearly as awful as it sounds; in fact, sometimes it's perfect."
The story is told from three main points of view: Mitch, a high school student, Julia, a high school teacher new to Owl, and Horace, a man who's lived in Owl his entire 73 years. Every so often, a secondary character will narrate a short chapter, but it really relies on the three main characters, and it really works being written this way. The characters are realistic and unique individuals. Even without the chapter "titles" indicating who was speaking, their personalities come through immediately.
For at least 3/4ths of the story, I had no clue how the narrators fit together. (Besides Julia teaching at the high school Mitch attends, their paths never cross.) I didn't read a chapter and then say 'Oh, I know what's going to happen. He's going to twist it like this, and then this will happen.' I genuinely had no clue, even at the climax. That, I think, is super powerful. How amazing to have your reader totally in the dark, clueless about what will happen, but loving the story you're telling? Impressive work! There is no foreshadowing, there are no hints at what will happen. I literally had no idea what would make the story end. And, because of that, I technically had no idea why the story was being told - but it was enjoyable just the same. It was an easy read because once you start, you can't put it down. The chapters are so short and so intriguing you keep saying "Just one more, just one more!"
One of my favorite passages follows. I love when authors get down something you've felt forever, and put it in these perfect words and you stop and say YES. THAT is what I've been feeling all this time.
"Sometimes you think, Hey, maybe there's something else out there. But there really isn't. This is what being alive feels like, you know? The place doesn't matter. You just live."
The ending, to me, was a total surprise. It's based on true events, so I suppose if you know your North Dakota history (the subject Julia teaches, it just so happens) you might have an idea what's coming. But if you don't, I don't advise you to look up the dates on Wikipedia. Just read it. You'll be shocked at the end, but it's one of the best endings I've ever read in a book. Not a hint of corniness, no deus ex machina - just perfection.
eastoflaura's review against another edition
4.0
after an entertaining first 300 pages, those last 20 will hit you like a ton of bricks. or a mailbox. whatever.
clairelorraine's review against another edition
3.0
Uncomfortably, this reminded me of Chuck Pahlaniuk more than Chuck Klosterman! Especially the ending, sheesh. (But I did love the ending!) I definitely prefer Klosterman's nonfiction, but this wasn't bad. I liked the experimental prose style even if it sometimes seemed a little pointless. My main pain was just that I got a little bored at times. Especially with the football. Maybe if you love football, you'll loooooove this book! It felt a little mean-spirited, though. Maybe if you're a condescending jerk who loves football, you'll loooooooove this book! J/K. Nice people like my beloved friend T who lent it to me could like it too.
jsl's review against another edition
3.0
http://www.lovelylittleshelf.com/2010/05/15/review-downtown-owl/
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