Reviews

This Town Sleeps by Dennis E. Staples

lezreadalot's review

3.0

“Spirits can be bitches like that.”

3.5 stars. A beautifully written if sometimes confusingly written piece. I went into this thinking that it would be a mystery, and I guess by some stretch of the imagination and definition you could still call it that? In reality it sits somewhere between literary fiction and magical realism, and follows a young Ojibwe man looking into a murder that happened when he was a child, while he navigates a relationship with a deeply closeted former classmate of his. There are secrets, revelations, and a strange ghost dog. Marion's journey is a really interesting one, and I loved the deep dives into sexuality and culture and family lineage. His dynamic with Shannon is a painful and familiar one, and the writing really shines.

I didn't love all the stylistic decisions and POV decisions. But at the same time, I don't know how else it could have been written. For the most part we're in Marion's first person POV, and sometimes we get glimpses of Shannon's POV, in a searing second person, which was so interesting, and I loved it. But the nature of the story also necessitates us getting chapters and perspectives from a lot of side characters, people in Marion's past, people connected to this mystery, and after a while all of the different POVs made the book feel really cluttered and stifling. Again, I'm not sure how else the author would have achieved what he set out to do, but every time we would veer off into these different directions, I felt like the book lost a lot of its traction. But take that with a grain of salt; maybe this style would work better for others. I did sort of like how this allowed the author to reveal certain things to the reader, independently of Marion, but I have to admit I got lost a couple times.

Listened to the audiobook as read by Kaipo Schwab, and found it really enjoyable, if not the most polished when it came to dialogue and stuff. I liked the paths this took, and it ended in a really apt way. A fascinating, one-of-a-kind read.

heavenbythesea's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad

4.0

I liked this, a nice exploration of the things that keep people trapped in place and what it takes for them to move on

heidisreads's review against another edition

4.0

This is one of those books where you, the reader, have to sit back and follow the characters through the story - following their memories, dreams and thoughts - because this important story, it’s about figuring out who you are so you can figure out where to go.

moniipeters's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

camilleisreading24's review against another edition

challenging dark funny hopeful informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

 A good debut with a well-developed cast of characters. This reminded me a little bit of There, There by Tommy Orange in the way the chapters were more like interconnected vignettes. This book definitely felt more connected than that one, though. There is a lot going on - traumas, unsolved mysteries, the toll of alcoholism on Native communities, homophobia, and a revenant. It is well-written and interesting, I think that readers of indigenous fiction will enjoy this and I would encourage readers who haven't read much fiction set in and around reservations to pick this one up. The barrier to entry is low and it is quite a good book. 

rjsreadingnook's review against another edition

4.0

This Town Sleeps is an atmospheric journey more than it is a mystery. We follow Marion and are introduced to many other characters connected to him trying to learn a truth from his past. I wish the final chapter had focused more on Marion’s voice rather than his white LI Shannon, because I would have preferred Marion’s epiphany over his boyfriend’s. I pretty much devoured this story in two sittings, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author after this solid debut.

em_harring's review

3.0

This is a good debut novel, and I'm excited to see where Staples goes next.

I do think the story would have benefitted from being a little longer. I have no issues with the amount of POVs in this novel, but I wish I had spent more time with them. The pacing is quite quick, which isn't a bad thing, but it did mean that I didn't get a complete sense of who each person was.

I also want more queer Indigenous stories that are happy, please.

gneumann's review against another edition

2.0

ugh, i really wanted to like this book. the writing just was not for me. i was not a fan of the multiple povs, including second person? may be someone else’s cup of tea but it really took away from the story for me. kinda hard to follow and didn’t really go anywhere. was really hoping i’d like this but unfortunately not my cup of tea

erintempleton's review against another edition

4.0

its giving Flannery O'Connor meets small-reservation-town-in-Minnesota including: threatening religious vibes, surly characters that you actually care about, Family Trauma, crazy shit happening out of nowhere, death and death-curses as a motif, racists, alcoholism, and an ending that makes you wonder if you understood what you just read. definitely would recommend if you're not squeamish or sensitive!

i will say that the description makes it seem like Marion and Shannon are gonna be the only POVs, but the narration is only about 50% about them. the other half is 3rd person from various townspeople related to the murder plotline, so just be prepared for that in advance. also, if you read the description and were hoping for a *romance* you will be sorely disappointed; it's a complicated relationship involving sex and feelings but not in the way the description wants you to think. still worth reading! but manage your expectations about it.

mesy_mark's review against another edition

3.0

Marion has a secret lover as a gay man on a small reservation. One day he wakes a ghost of a dog in a park that leads him to Kayden Kelliher, a murdered boy who the town sleeply remembers. This was a magical realism book and was a nice listen to. Nothing to in-depth a light read with a gay man character.