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This book had an interesting push/pull factor for me - sometimes I couldn't put it down and sometimes I was so mad at what happened that I couldn't keep reading. The author is an excellent writer and gives an interesting window into what the thought processes of someone with schizophrenia might be like. I HATED the end!!!!!
I liked this book but I finished it really late last night and I don't know if I was half asleep or just didn't get it but I'm not quite sure what the ending meant.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not entirely sure how I felt about this one. while reading it, I wasn’t completely into Lowboy, but the ending put the rest of the novel in an interesting context, and made me like it a bit better.
The story follows Will Heller, a 16-year-old schizophrenic, who has just escaped from an insane asylum, and Detective Lateef, who is in hot pursuit of Will, along with Will’s mother, Violet. Will believes the world is going to burn, due in part to global warming, and it is his responsibility to stop this disastrous event.
John Wray takes us into the mind of a schizophrenic and the bowels of the New York City subway system; being in Will’s mind is difficult, and, at times, disturbing. I was unsure if I was worried for him or afraid of him, or both. I was left with no doubt that Wray is a talented writer, but I was left wondering if I’d read another book of his focusing on mental illness. Something lighter next time, please, Wray!
The story follows Will Heller, a 16-year-old schizophrenic, who has just escaped from an insane asylum, and Detective Lateef, who is in hot pursuit of Will, along with Will’s mother, Violet. Will believes the world is going to burn, due in part to global warming, and it is his responsibility to stop this disastrous event.
John Wray takes us into the mind of a schizophrenic and the bowels of the New York City subway system; being in Will’s mind is difficult, and, at times, disturbing. I was unsure if I was worried for him or afraid of him, or both. I was left with no doubt that Wray is a talented writer, but I was left wondering if I’d read another book of his focusing on mental illness. Something lighter next time, please, Wray!
Hmmm.... This is strange, confusing, and a bit frightening at times, too. I started out really liking it, and then changed my mind about halfway through. I will compare it to someone who comes up to you and says, "I have a birthday present for you and it's really really cool, and you'll love it" and your birthday is not for awhile. And this person keeps coming up to you and saying the same thing repeatedly. So basically, by the time your birthday comes around, you're really excited about what your present is, and when you finally receive it, it is something kind of dumb and you don't like it.* That's what this story made me feel like. It gets points for being original and bizarre.
* just a hypothetical example. this has never happened to me, and I hope it never does.
* just a hypothetical example. this has never happened to me, and I hope it never does.
2009 bookcrossing review:
Story of a mentally ill American teenager riding about the NYC underground. In a nutshell. After reading chapter one I thought it was just about a depressed, self-involved teenager, but as I got further into the book I understood that he was properly ill. And yes, the writing is very intellectual, and there are probably some clever commentaries on life and everything else in here, but I didn't enjoy this book and I was relieved when it ended. I kind of kept hoping it was going to get better, but, for me, it didn't.
And now for my moment of being an irritated old bag. Generally speaking, I find it annoying when there is no blurb on the back of the book and there are just congratulatory quotes plastered all over. Even worse, these are so over the top quotes and I don't feel it lives up to them, which makes the whole thing even more irritating and disappointing. "... may make the stunned reader whisper "Dostoevsky". Yes, it really is that good." WHAT???? And apparently this is from "one of our (which group does this refer to?) most astonishing and relevant young writers"... is this the best we've got? If there weren't quotes like that on the book I'd let it off for being a bit mediochre, but this just makes me think - get over yourself!
Fair to say, this book didn't grab me and I was neither stunned nor astonished.
Story of a mentally ill American teenager riding about the NYC underground. In a nutshell. After reading chapter one I thought it was just about a depressed, self-involved teenager, but as I got further into the book I understood that he was properly ill. And yes, the writing is very intellectual, and there are probably some clever commentaries on life and everything else in here, but I didn't enjoy this book and I was relieved when it ended. I kind of kept hoping it was going to get better, but, for me, it didn't.
And now for my moment of being an irritated old bag. Generally speaking, I find it annoying when there is no blurb on the back of the book and there are just congratulatory quotes plastered all over. Even worse, these are so over the top quotes and I don't feel it lives up to them, which makes the whole thing even more irritating and disappointing. "... may make the stunned reader whisper "Dostoevsky". Yes, it really is that good." WHAT???? And apparently this is from "one of our (which group does this refer to?) most astonishing and relevant young writers"... is this the best we've got? If there weren't quotes like that on the book I'd let it off for being a bit mediochre, but this just makes me think - get over yourself!
Fair to say, this book didn't grab me and I was neither stunned nor astonished.
7. Giving Thanks - In Honor Of Thanksgiving (November 26th) Read A Book That Relates To The Thing You Are Most Thankful For.
• Please Tell Us What That Is When You Claim Points.
SANITY!!! ( i had to make this count for something!)
• Please Tell Us What That Is When You Claim Points.
SANITY!!! ( i had to make this count for something!)
This book was really remarkable. Thrilling - a page turner - but still left me with a few questions. I really enjoyed it and you will too! So, read it!
"LowBoy" by John Wray is about William Heller, a schizophrenic teenage boy who flees a mental hospital into the New York City subway system. It's also about the detective who pursues Will, his elegant European mother, and his tragic girl love. But it's the NYC subway which emerges as the most captivating character of all, complete with mythical river, underground palace and hell, rat infested water logged tunnels, and thundering trains.
Mr. Wray does an admirable job of recreating the mind of a mad boy, and there is a hallucinatory and often beautifully worded layer to the book. But I never really got into Will's character (though I wanted to - I am fascinated by twisted perspectives) nor did I find his crux and solution compelling enough.
The chapters alternate between the surface world and the underground, which helps keep the pace of the book moving, but what kept me reading was the vividly described metro. Mr. Wray says he wrote the book while actually riding the subway. I believe it. I can feel, see, smell the surroundings. There are many fabulous passages, including the description of the glittering underworld otherworldly station, but the one I loved most was about the train shaped mass of air that preceded the entrance of each train into the stations, like a ghost of the future - palpable and brilliant.
I'll read more of Mr. Wray.
Mr. Wray does an admirable job of recreating the mind of a mad boy, and there is a hallucinatory and often beautifully worded layer to the book. But I never really got into Will's character (though I wanted to - I am fascinated by twisted perspectives) nor did I find his crux and solution compelling enough.
The chapters alternate between the surface world and the underground, which helps keep the pace of the book moving, but what kept me reading was the vividly described metro. Mr. Wray says he wrote the book while actually riding the subway. I believe it. I can feel, see, smell the surroundings. There are many fabulous passages, including the description of the glittering underworld otherworldly station, but the one I loved most was about the train shaped mass of air that preceded the entrance of each train into the stations, like a ghost of the future - palpable and brilliant.
I'll read more of Mr. Wray.