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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Gritty and violent and dark, but so evocative and the characters are great. Compulsively readable.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I don't know what it is about Pollock's writing, but I find it mesmerizing. His characters are rich, his dialog feels realistic, and his ability to weave multiple storylines into a dark, gritty, beautiful tapestry is really singular.
I'm not quite sure how to g about describing this book, but the end result was definitely a satisfying read I'd really recommend. I love Donald Ray Pollack's previous books, with his penchant for simple-yet-complex characters and small town living combined with gritty language and images that don't stray from the vulgar honesty that such acts as murder, screwing, and outhouses warrant -- and this novel is no exception. It does hold back a bit compared to his other books and tales, but in a way that matches the movement of this book.
As for the actual book, I'd say it reads like a "Tom Sawyer"/ "Huck Finn" small town adventure tale combined with Chuck Pahlaniuk's gritty writing style, only this book is nothing like the gratuitous frivolity and violence that some of Pahlaniuk's books devolve into. I found it difficult to get into at first, but once I got used to the rhythm of he story and the recurring characters and setting, I quite enjoyed it, and definitely recommend if you've enjoyed his other tales.
As for the actual book, I'd say it reads like a "Tom Sawyer"/ "Huck Finn" small town adventure tale combined with Chuck Pahlaniuk's gritty writing style, only this book is nothing like the gratuitous frivolity and violence that some of Pahlaniuk's books devolve into. I found it difficult to get into at first, but once I got used to the rhythm of he story and the recurring characters and setting, I quite enjoyed it, and definitely recommend if you've enjoyed his other tales.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The Heavenly Table is my second time reading Donald Ray Pollock; I firstly read The Devil All the Time. I have found both reading experiences incredibly entertaining. What an amazing talent, with such a warped, twisted, and violent sense of imagination! I loved how Pollock structured this novel in very short chapters and where he would introduce each new character within the story with an immediate back story on what made that character 'tick'. Another reviewer described The Heavenly Table in cinematic terms as being a cross between a Coen Brothers and a Quentin Tarantino screenplay. I think that pretty much sums things up. If you are a fan of eccentric and pathological characters, this one will definitely be for you!
