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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I've never heard of The Mountain Goats before (only discovered that the writer is a musician after reading this book) but absolutely loved Wolf in White Van. It's a pageturner in a way that Haruki Murakami books are pageturner. Very moving, loved it!
First, I think I should point out that I didn't know this guy was a musician. So it's safe to say I was not a fan of him in any sense before reading the book. The reason I picked it up was because it sounded like a cool concept to me, and something that I could relate with. And yeah, I could relate to this book a lot. I think it focuses on its subject in smart ways.
The biggest downside to this book is how short it is, though it does do a lot with what pages it has. It does a good job in building up its main stories to their conclusions-- or their beginnings, however you choose to look at it. And that method of storytelling was good, though not exactly original. Another thing I couldn't help focusing on was the narrative itself. While it does seem right to be in Sean's perspective, I couldn't help wondering who he's speaking to or if he's just going through it in his mind.
One of the better parts of this book was how easy it is to identify with the characters and situations. I have personally never played tabletop roleplaying games, but I have been playing video games for pretty much my entire life. They can be a great escape, a stress reliever, and it is very easy to be sucked into the story to the point of constructing your own story around it. And people really can take roleplaying games this seriously. Despite this taking place some years in the past, those aspects are very true to this day.
So while I would've loved to read more about Lance and Carrie, and learn what brought them on their path, overall the book was good. It speaks a lot about isolation and the parent-child divide, the power of roleplaying games, and so forth. I wouldn't call it a classic, but it's certainly worth reading.
The biggest downside to this book is how short it is, though it does do a lot with what pages it has. It does a good job in building up its main stories to their conclusions-- or their beginnings, however you choose to look at it. And that method of storytelling was good, though not exactly original. Another thing I couldn't help focusing on was the narrative itself. While it does seem right to be in Sean's perspective, I couldn't help wondering who he's speaking to or if he's just going through it in his mind.
One of the better parts of this book was how easy it is to identify with the characters and situations. I have personally never played tabletop roleplaying games, but I have been playing video games for pretty much my entire life. They can be a great escape, a stress reliever, and it is very easy to be sucked into the story to the point of constructing your own story around it. And people really can take roleplaying games this seriously. Despite this taking place some years in the past, those aspects are very true to this day.
So while I would've loved to read more about Lance and Carrie, and learn what brought them on their path, overall the book was good. It speaks a lot about isolation and the parent-child divide, the power of roleplaying games, and so forth. I wouldn't call it a classic, but it's certainly worth reading.
Read it in a day!! Love john and mountain goats. The stories and nonlinear pacing is cool, but it makes some stuff difficult to piece together (maybe that’s the point? Maybe I’m stupid?) but great twists and allegories live laugh john. TWs also
John Darnielle has a very unique way of writing books that so far always manages to leave me confused—there is so much depth hidden behind simplicity, and clearly there are greater things at play here but he doesn’t always let you in on what they are.
I think this is the type of book that I will enjoy thinking about after having read it more than the actual experience of reading it.
That being said, that is due solely to how unforthcoming the book is, with its plot, with its characters, with its themes, it all feels very cloaked and unspoken. The writing itself is often gorgeous, Darnielle is a fantastic writer that can come up with some genius turns of phrase, but this book felt impenetrable for most of its duration. This sometimes works in its favor, like when digging into what the “meaning” behind this work really is, but sometimes is a detriment as I found the constant hinting of things without actually saying it to be infuriating as a reader. The first quarter of this book is all questions. This isn’t necessarily bad, it’s just so obvious in the way it’s done here, y’know? Like, wow, thanks for reminding me that I don’t know about this key piece of information at the end of the chapter again. And again…
This became less of a problem in the novel’s back half though.
I think this book is about choice, the paths we choose to take in life, how much choice we even really have, escapism, and the lies we tell ourselves. Now that’s all pretty vague but so is the book so hey. What can I say.
Much to digest. I will be searching for more reviews, analysis, and interviews for sure. I don’t know what to rate this so expect to see it fluctuate.
This book was very creative, compelling, and well written, but I couldn’t see myself recommending this casually.
I think this is the type of book that I will enjoy thinking about after having read it more than the actual experience of reading it.
That being said, that is due solely to how unforthcoming the book is, with its plot, with its characters, with its themes, it all feels very cloaked and unspoken. The writing itself is often gorgeous, Darnielle is a fantastic writer that can come up with some genius turns of phrase, but this book felt impenetrable for most of its duration. This sometimes works in its favor, like when digging into what the “meaning” behind this work really is, but sometimes is a detriment as I found the constant hinting of things without actually saying it to be infuriating as a reader. The first quarter of this book is all questions. This isn’t necessarily bad, it’s just so obvious in the way it’s done here, y’know? Like, wow, thanks for reminding me that I don’t know about this key piece of information at the end of the chapter again. And again…
This became less of a problem in the novel’s back half though.
I think this book is about choice, the paths we choose to take in life, how much choice we even really have, escapism, and the lies we tell ourselves. Now that’s all pretty vague but so is the book so hey. What can I say.
Much to digest. I will be searching for more reviews, analysis, and interviews for sure. I don’t know what to rate this so expect to see it fluctuate.
This book was very creative, compelling, and well written, but I couldn’t see myself recommending this casually.
Beautiful, dreamlike prose that seems to capture the protagonist’s motivations well (a mixture of “lots of reasons” and “no reason” that are equally hard to explain to others). The theme is broadly disturbing but the passages about his homemade text-based adventure game were fun and reminded me of early computer games like Zork.
"You should avoid seeing too much of yourself anywhere: in the outside world, in others, in the imagined worlds that give you shelter." - the book that I see more of myself in than I should publicly admit.
I loved this. Of course I did.
I loved this. Of course I did.
The background concept of the game was far more interesting than the central theme.
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Decidedly a not-for-me book, in that I normally don't even pick up Lit Fic. I thought the plot sounded interesting, incorporating the RPG into the lives of the characters, which could have given big "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" vibes. I also wanted a Memento-like travel backwards in the plot, but I guessed the big "incident" almost immediately. And frankly, everything seemed far less interesting once you realize Sean's failed suicide attempt is the impetus for everything. Actually, the most shocking thing in the whole book was that he originally wanted to kill his parents first too.
The whole thing felt underdeveloped, unable to really explain the why of the tragedy or get you to empathize with the MC at all. The conceit is that there's this young man able to conceptualize the branching narratives in life, which different paths you could take, and yet the only thing he can think to do in his own life iscommit acts of violence. There is something REALLY gross about this, and something REALLY wrong with Sean...he's not just some Sad Boi. Ugh an awful taste left in your mouth at the end of the book.
I wanted more discussion about the 2 kids who died trying to play his games IRL, more impact to the continued destruction Sean leaves in his wake. I wanted more of the relationships between Sean & his HS friends, plus the 'friends' he makes through running the game. I also mostly hated how the game was represented, and I'm not sure if this was just an audiobook problem? What the hell were those huge long lists of places just repeated ad nauseum? Were there visuals to go along with those in the book, at least?!?
So...yeah. Just read Tomorrow x3 instead.
(I also had no idea who the author was until I read other reviews. I listened to his narration of the audiobook, and... meh. Can't say he brings much to it.)
The whole thing felt underdeveloped, unable to really explain the why of the tragedy or get you to empathize with the MC at all. The conceit is that there's this young man able to conceptualize the branching narratives in life, which different paths you could take, and yet the only thing he can think to do in his own life is
I wanted more discussion about the 2 kids who died trying to play his games IRL, more impact to the continued destruction Sean leaves in his wake. I wanted more of the relationships between Sean & his HS friends, plus the 'friends' he makes through running the game. I also mostly hated how the game was represented, and I'm not sure if this was just an audiobook problem? What the hell were those huge long lists of places just repeated ad nauseum? Were there visuals to go along with those in the book, at least?!?
So...yeah. Just read Tomorrow x3 instead.
(I also had no idea who the author was until I read other reviews. I listened to his narration of the audiobook, and... meh. Can't say he brings much to it.)
This book haunts me on the daily. Like, I'll just be walking somewhere and something will remind me of a chapter and it'll take me out. If you want a very clear or straightforward narrative, this might not vibe with you. But, if you like winding and wonderful vignettes in the life of a troubled young man, treat yourself to this devastating book!
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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