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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
What a terror a body must live through. It's a wonder there are people at all.
An unnamed person wakes in a church, somewhere in rural America. They do not speak. Their appearance is melleable, a Rorschach test image. Their unwillingness or inability to speak leads to confessions, it spurs on the town folk's generosity into gradual unease.
I don't know how to properly describe or review this novel, other than it feels out of space and time. The obvious theme is God and generosity, identity and the post-identity aspects of modern society. It's quite short and invites to ponder.
So beautiful and enchanting with stunning prose. Not like anything I’ve ever read. Deeply haunting.
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
unsettling, thought provoking, and a stunning commentary on the human desire to categorize, name, and label everything and everyone in order to deem them good or bad. Pew seemingly acts as a mirror and forces the good southern folk they interact with to confront how that makes them feel and what they will do with those feelings.
endings like these are hard to swallow but necessary to continue the message of the book
endings like these are hard to swallow but necessary to continue the message of the book
An unsual short story where a person (neither a 'he' or 'she') and who has recollection of where they have been or who they are, is found on a church pew in a small American town which is a divided and focuses mainly on a tight-knitted religious community.
Soon everyone realises that this person is mute and although understands English, does not actively communicate with the townfolk (apart from a few, mainly Nelson, Tammy and Annie). I particularly liked Annie's part questioning her teacher and how the 'community' responsed to her questioning.
As the person (soon nicknamed 'Pew' as found on a church pew) meets various people around the community. These people talk to Pew and almost confess to Pew about many things within their life or in the community.
The townspeople become more and more frustrated about Pew, trying to find how questions - how, who, why? Why is Pew here? What's Pew's name and what can we do to help them? Why do they look they way they do? How and why are they not talking or communicating?
This startles and unnerves the residents, especially as Pew arrives before the upcoming Forgivesness Festival which is hinted about throughout the story which takes places every year on Sunday which Pew experiences. A book which examines many current topics and where I came away with more questions than answers. One which I'll definitely re-read again.
Soon everyone realises that this person is mute and although understands English, does not actively communicate with the townfolk (apart from a few, mainly Nelson, Tammy and Annie). I particularly liked Annie's part questioning her teacher and how the 'community' responsed to her questioning.
As the person (soon nicknamed 'Pew' as found on a church pew) meets various people around the community. These people talk to Pew and almost confess to Pew about many things within their life or in the community.
The townspeople become more and more frustrated about Pew, trying to find how questions - how, who, why? Why is Pew here? What's Pew's name and what can we do to help them? Why do they look they way they do? How and why are they not talking or communicating?
This startles and unnerves the residents, especially as Pew arrives before the upcoming Forgivesness Festival which is hinted about throughout the story which takes places every year on Sunday which Pew experiences. A book which examines many current topics and where I came away with more questions than answers. One which I'll definitely re-read again.
Gonna land on 4.25/5 stars for this, I think. I read it as a part of my church’s book group and having a group of people to discuss it with has been a great way to explore Lacey’s themes in greater depth. I want to sit with this story to really let it settle in my mind, but I found this to be a very immersive reading experience that, at times, I could almost see as a stage play unfolding in my mind. I’d love to see an adaptation for the stage.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes