Reviews - Absence | The StoryGraph

9 reviews for:

Are you ever surprised by how much you love a book? Not because you doubted you would, but because how much you adore it surprises you? This is that book for me. I love it. It checks all the boxes that make a book perfect for me: the writing is strong, poetic and beautiful; the form adds interest; and it’s a simple yet layered chronicle of the weight and the joy of life.

Absence opens with the narrator reflecting on his childhood and a poem his mother read him to lull him to sleep. The main theme, as expected given the title, is absence, which is explored through memory. Quincy conveys the joy of memories, the complexity of the ones we retain and lose, and those that are hidden or we are unaware of until something brings them into our consciousness. I love the way Quincy captures how erratically memories come to us; often with no rhyme or reason or completely out of context. I also love how Quincy explored how absence can often be a catalyst for connecting with others.

The narrative felt slow, methodical, and deliberate. The writing is beautiful in a way that the emotion seeps from the page, depicting the weight of being human, the ache of memory and loss, connections made and severed, and of people on the fringe. I appreciate how Quincy uses form to add depth to this work; moving back and forth in time, italics to denote different voices, and letters. He also leaves things unresolved, raising questions that go unanswered and giving the reader a more active role in the experience by allowing them to draw their own conclusions.

There is a bit of a “six degrees of separation” vibe as unexpected connections are exposed. Some readers may shrug off the connections and coincidences as too contrived or convenient. Not me. I believe our existence is intertwined in ways just outside our field of vision, there but rarely witnessed, and Quincy brings them out into the light while conveying the heartbreak of missing them.

I love this book and strongly recommend it. I’m certain it will be one of my top reads this year. Thank you Two Dollar Radio for the #gifted ARC.

shareorshelve's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

theemoryquince's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I have never read a book that I felt connected me with each character the way this book does. Issa is brilliant at drawing out beauty from the pain of loss.