Reviews

One D.O.A., One on the Way by Mary Robison

helenmcclory's review against another edition

5.0

I couldn't help myself but re-read at a terrible pace - there's just so much to love about this sharp, knowing, woozy, sultry, sullen flash novel.

summerofsoaps's review against another edition

5.0

This short, dark and lyrical novel stole my heart. Set in post-Katrina New Orleans and narrated by Eve, who is married to Adam (yes, she knows the joke), who is dying from Hepatitis C, and drawn to his identical twin, Saunders, an alcoholic. Eve's job is to find locations for films, a job that was infinitely easier before Katrina ravished New Orleans. Through her eyes, we see the devastation of the city and its people, as well as the dysfunction of the wealthy family she has married into. Eve herself is an unreliable, mysterious narrator, and the people around her are true ciphers, including those she is closest to. Eve's story is interspersed with lists of facts about life in New Orleans after the hurricane, which serve as a stark point of reality against the dreamlike nature of Eve's storytelling. Robison has a gift for spare prose that manages to capture despair and beauty simultaneously, evoking more in a few words than many authors can in hundreds. There is tragedy, here, surely, but also humor and, above all, moments of truth. Highly recommended.

naonao's review against another edition

4.0

I had to read this in order to help a friend write a final paper about it. It's not for everyone, let me put it that way. It's very elliptical and obtuse-- it's hard to tell what's going on and I strongly suggest reading reviews and plot summaries before reading this slim, almost poetry-like novel. I personally hated all the self indulgent characters, but if you like goth-y, emo-y beautiful people saying cryptic things freighted with meaning, you'll love this!