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sarahinthecapital's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
agreco92's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
tommyhousworth's review against another edition
3.0
I loved Sam Shepard. In his final years, he shifted to short fiction more so than plays, with results that were mixed, but always intriguing. "Great Dream of Heaven" and "Day Out of Days" both had some magnificent stories and short prose/mood pieces in them. I didn't connect with his recent "The One Inside" and stopped midway through.
For "Spy in the First Person", I felt I owed it to Sam - one of my muses and mentors as a writer - to see this meandering, painful tale through. His gift of description was as intact as ever, not slowed or worn by his battle with ALS. The short (a page or two each) chapters weave between "The First Person" (Sam), "The Spy" or stranger (also Sam, or perhaps Death), and myriad other stream of consciousness observations, memories, and tales. I found I was gripped by the personal - how Sam was dealing with this deteriorating body, with his sharp mind still intact - but he drifted from that narrative often, either by choice or subconsciously because of the pain of it all. When he let us in, it was harrowingly tragic and beautiful and honest. Otherwise, I struggled to appreciate where he was taking the reader with the subsequent story elements.
Sam's fiction has always had a patchwork quality to it, reflections from pieces of broken glass on some dusty backroad somewhere in America. He's not one to say, "here's my story", and I admire that. I'm just not sure I can recommend this book for anyone except die hard fans of Sam's work, or those who want the smallest of glimpses into how it feels to watch ALS ravage your body and spirit.
It is only fair to share that Sam went from writing this longhand (no longer able to type) to speaking passages and having his children or sisters transcribe his thoughts. Then, friend Patti Smith came to help him edit it in his final days. The care for the craft is there. The keen observation of nature and people is there. The plainspoken awareness of death is there. I'm glad he wrote it and glad I read it. I'll miss him dearly. I just wouldn't say this is the place to start with Shepard, or to go to unless you are very familiar with his storytelling approach of late and ready for a wandering narrative that may not feel like it offers any resolve.
For "Spy in the First Person", I felt I owed it to Sam - one of my muses and mentors as a writer - to see this meandering, painful tale through. His gift of description was as intact as ever, not slowed or worn by his battle with ALS. The short (a page or two each) chapters weave between "The First Person" (Sam), "The Spy" or stranger (also Sam, or perhaps Death), and myriad other stream of consciousness observations, memories, and tales. I found I was gripped by the personal - how Sam was dealing with this deteriorating body, with his sharp mind still intact - but he drifted from that narrative often, either by choice or subconsciously because of the pain of it all. When he let us in, it was harrowingly tragic and beautiful and honest. Otherwise, I struggled to appreciate where he was taking the reader with the subsequent story elements.
Sam's fiction has always had a patchwork quality to it, reflections from pieces of broken glass on some dusty backroad somewhere in America. He's not one to say, "here's my story", and I admire that. I'm just not sure I can recommend this book for anyone except die hard fans of Sam's work, or those who want the smallest of glimpses into how it feels to watch ALS ravage your body and spirit.
It is only fair to share that Sam went from writing this longhand (no longer able to type) to speaking passages and having his children or sisters transcribe his thoughts. Then, friend Patti Smith came to help him edit it in his final days. The care for the craft is there. The keen observation of nature and people is there. The plainspoken awareness of death is there. I'm glad he wrote it and glad I read it. I'll miss him dearly. I just wouldn't say this is the place to start with Shepard, or to go to unless you are very familiar with his storytelling approach of late and ready for a wandering narrative that may not feel like it offers any resolve.
jfrpontes's review against another edition
4.0
Um passeio pelas memórias e sensações de alguém, que podiam ser as nossas em qualquer ponto da nossa vida.
mckennaisshrimp's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
moswanky's review against another edition
3.0
This is an interesting snapshot of looking back on life in a disjointed, stream of consciousness sort of way. As he says, “The past doesn’t come as a whole. It always comes in parts.” Shepard’s writing style is unique and beautiful. While this isn’t my preferred style, I appreciate his work.
gharness's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Sam Shepard's last novel appears to be semi-autobiographical, at least when it comes to his own experience with ALS. Beautifully written, funny and sad at the same time, full of life in the face of death. I loved this book.
breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25