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This book was interesting if nothing else. I enjoyed the storyline however the storytelling was where I lost interest. A large portion of the book is comprised of the inner voice of a paranoid schizophrenic. It was interesting and sometimes disturbing (in an interesting way) to see the title character's mind spiral uncontrollably into the depths of mental illness. However,after a while it became frustrating having to sift through insanity in order to locate the plot.
I couldn't believe the rave reviews published on the back jacket. This book is not only not particularly well written, but the plot development and characters are cliches. The ending was predictable. Comparisons to Dostoevsky are completely unwarranted: there is nothing groundbreaking here, quite the opposite in fact.
It was a waste of time.
It was a waste of time.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Won this through the Goodreads Giveaways.
I'll admit, it has taken me a little while to get my head around this book. When I first finished it on the weekend I wasn't too keen but the more I've thought about it (and not always through choice) the more I've liked it. The story follows Will/Lowboy through 24 hours after he has escaped from his school and stopped taking his medication in order to save the world from hotting up (translate this into what every 16 year old boy wants and it makes a lot more sense). In doing so we see him change from the lucid and relatively normal teenager Will into the confused/deluded/unstable dreamer Lowboy. This is a coming of age story with a twist as the title character is a paranoid schizophrenic, who knows he's sick but stops taking his meds, so he can save the world (as far as he is concerned). The added twist toward the end of the story is well hinted at and you will guess that there is something not quite right but you may not get what it is (I didn't and was kicking myself that I didn't, it's so obvious when you find out what it is). This is a subtly thrilling book that grows on you even after you've finished it and is one that I'm sure gets better the more times you read it.
I'll admit, it has taken me a little while to get my head around this book. When I first finished it on the weekend I wasn't too keen but the more I've thought about it (and not always through choice) the more I've liked it. The story follows Will/Lowboy through 24 hours after he has escaped from his school and stopped taking his medication in order to save the world from hotting up (translate this into what every 16 year old boy wants and it makes a lot more sense). In doing so we see him change from the lucid and relatively normal teenager Will into the confused/deluded/unstable dreamer Lowboy. This is a coming of age story with a twist as the title character is a paranoid schizophrenic, who knows he's sick but stops taking his meds, so he can save the world (as far as he is concerned). The added twist toward the end of the story is well hinted at and you will guess that there is something not quite right but you may not get what it is (I didn't and was kicking myself that I didn't, it's so obvious when you find out what it is). This is a subtly thrilling book that grows on you even after you've finished it and is one that I'm sure gets better the more times you read it.
I hated this book. I normally like to hang on to all the books I buy so I can someday have a decent library but I sold this one because I hated it so much. The storyline isn't good, I really disliked the characters and couldn't relate to any of them. I was surprised I even finished this book. Terrible.
4 Stars.
At once beautifully written, and truly disturbing, Lowboy was a reading experience I won't soon forget. The main character of Will Hellar has made a huge impression on me. And it is that fact that makes the ultimate resolution to this dark, dark story so heartbreaking.
Read the full review on my blog:
http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com
More book reviews on my YT channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic
At once beautifully written, and truly disturbing, Lowboy was a reading experience I won't soon forget. The main character of Will Hellar has made a huge impression on me. And it is that fact that makes the ultimate resolution to this dark, dark story so heartbreaking.
Read the full review on my blog:
http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com
More book reviews on my YT channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic
This was a novel written by someone with not only a passion for the literary, but a well of knowledge about the New York subway system, as well as mental illness, and an incredible attention to detail. Lowboy is Will Heller, a paranoid schizophrenic 16 year old boy who has broken out of his mental institution and now on the lam in New York. As he encounters the quirky and odd characters hidden in plain sight on the streets and in the tunnels of New York, he is on a quest to save the world from global warming, a disaster that he believes can only be stopped if he were to lose his virginity. This Holden Caufield-esque tale is told parallel (in brief and easy to digest chapters) to the complex relationship between Heller's immigrant mother, and the concerned police detective trying to stop Lowboy before he hurts himself or others. It's a really fascinating and often dark adventure that unfolds between Lowboy's mind, and the world he lives in. A really enjoyable read.
John Wray provides us with a dual-perspective story: (1) a day in the life of a schizophrenic, William Heller, whose nickname is Lowboy. Will has just been released from a mental hospital and has been off his medications for some time, so he is his normal, paranoid self rather than his medicated, "flat" self. He is convinced that he must save the world from overheating. He will do this by having sex with Emily, a girl who, some years before, he had pushed onto the subway tracks, though she escaped unharmed; (2) the efforts of a police officer, Ali Lateef, and Will's mother, Yda (also known as Violet) to track down Will.
This is far more a character study of Will, Ali, and Violet than it is a plot driven story. It's almost a Joyce/Ulysses-type journey (though it's not a stream-of-consciousness novel) through the day these people pass: Will wondering the tunnels of the subway system and re-uniting with Emily and the odd relationship that develops between Ali and Violet as they try to find Will, moving from Ali's office, to the streets, to Violet's home, and back to the streets again.
I was most intrigued by Wray's presentation of the world from the viewpoint of a paranoid schizophrenic, and, reading the acknowledgments, he apparently did a good deal of research, so I am inclined to believe that we have a fairly good portrayal of how schizophrenics view the world.
Overall, I did like the book and was primarily sucked in and motivated to keep reading because the characters were all so very interesting. Wray certainly was not trying to tell some grand narrative here, so the plot really is nothing of great consequence. I only gave the novel three stars because, after finishing it, it's not something that I could go to someone and say: "Read this! You'll love it!" It's not great art or beautiful. It's just very interesting.
This is far more a character study of Will, Ali, and Violet than it is a plot driven story. It's almost a Joyce/Ulysses-type journey (though it's not a stream-of-consciousness novel) through the day these people pass: Will wondering the tunnels of the subway system and re-uniting with Emily and the odd relationship that develops between Ali and Violet as they try to find Will, moving from Ali's office, to the streets, to Violet's home, and back to the streets again.
I was most intrigued by Wray's presentation of the world from the viewpoint of a paranoid schizophrenic, and, reading the acknowledgments, he apparently did a good deal of research, so I am inclined to believe that we have a fairly good portrayal of how schizophrenics view the world.
Overall, I did like the book and was primarily sucked in and motivated to keep reading because the characters were all so very interesting. Wray certainly was not trying to tell some grand narrative here, so the plot really is nothing of great consequence. I only gave the novel three stars because, after finishing it, it's not something that I could go to someone and say: "Read this! You'll love it!" It's not great art or beautiful. It's just very interesting.
dark
sad
tense
medium-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
