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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I feel so conflicted about this book. John Darnielle's style of writing is so unique and it can be really beautiful but also kind of confusing. I really enjoyed that we are constantly drawn to understanding more about Sean's story. I did feel like some parts never got fully explained and I wish we understood a little more about the court case, but I like the way some of the writing is. It's placed in a way that I feel my own thoughts running sometimes. I did feel truly uncomfortable at the last chapter. Almost a little scared.
Darnielle can really write. The conceit (going forwards, read it backwords: howl like the devil!) is well-conceived and the writing is perfectly sparse and communicative. Also, I loved the idea of the Trace Italian. The strikingly nihilistic leanings are interesting too, and could provide much for discussion. A success of a novel from a master musician!
I was not impressed by this book. Most of the plot points went nowhere, and didn't even come close to explaining the actions (at any time) of the protagonist. I read it because it's our book club book, but probably wouldn't have bothered otherwise. Even though I read it in matter of hours, it was more due to it being short than anything else.
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the structure at play here is almost hypnotic, it takes on the form of a trace italienne, the star shaped fortresses after which the protagonist names his play-by-mail game. the paths split and diverge at acute angles, forever curved around the same central incident. around what tragedy, what pain, is a life concentrated? what walls do we build to keep it safe? what clues and trails do we leave for others to stumble through, never quite reaching center? would there be satisfactory answers if they got there? likely not.
intensely relatable. gonna be thinking about this one for a while.
intensely relatable. gonna be thinking about this one for a while.
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
For some reason I rarely write Goodreads reviews, but I had to for this one.
I was advised to read this by one of my best friends, who’s a librarian. She also told me to read Universal Harvester, his second one. So after briefly reading the synopsis for each on Goodreads and impulsively buying copies of each at The Last Bookstore in LA, I figured why not?
I described the feel of this to her once as “a calming effect, like watching white noise on a TV”. And that’s exactly how I feel after having finished it. Sean’s quiet little life is imploding after he’s held responsible for Carrie and Lance’s actions, and because he’s withdrawn and disfigured, it’s all washing over him in this kind of gentle roar. It’s told in reverse, with snippets of the present day and his childhood mixed in, which makes the most narrative sense. My favorite part had to be the chapter which explains the eponymous “wolf in white van”.
It reminds me of another book I read in my teens, Invisible by Pete Hautman, combined with elements of Ready Player One. If you like anything that’s about retro nerdery, RPGs, or are self-deprecating and introspective about your own loneliness, you’ll eat this up.
Universal Harvester is next.
I was advised to read this by one of my best friends, who’s a librarian. She also told me to read Universal Harvester, his second one. So after briefly reading the synopsis for each on Goodreads and impulsively buying copies of each at The Last Bookstore in LA, I figured why not?
I described the feel of this to her once as “a calming effect, like watching white noise on a TV”. And that’s exactly how I feel after having finished it. Sean’s quiet little life is imploding after he’s held responsible for Carrie and Lance’s actions, and because he’s withdrawn and disfigured, it’s all washing over him in this kind of gentle roar. It’s told in reverse, with snippets of the present day and his childhood mixed in, which makes the most narrative sense. My favorite part had to be the chapter which explains the eponymous “wolf in white van”.
It reminds me of another book I read in my teens, Invisible by Pete Hautman, combined with elements of Ready Player One. If you like anything that’s about retro nerdery, RPGs, or are self-deprecating and introspective about your own loneliness, you’ll eat this up.
Universal Harvester is next.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes