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3.16 AVERAGE
3.16 AVERAGE
This is a really fun read, and yeah, it almost is like you're reading Virgin Suicides fan fac, but there are equal parts Lovely Bones and even, in the more class influenced parts, bits of Secret History in here. It's like someone took all of the most successful middlebrow books of the last decade and whipped them up in a blender. Like all blender drinks, this one goes down smooth, maybe smoother than the originals. The question remains how valid a criterion smoothness is in terms of literary value, and that kind of haunts this book-- I did finish it and feel good about having read it, and now, well, nothing.
I honestly did find the classism of the book kind of strange-- we encounter a whole range of possible outcomes here, but those that are suffered by characters a little outside the upper middle class core of the book, like Trey and Hatchet, feel more serious than those felt by the others. I'm not sure what I think about that, except to say it felt deliberate, but in a way that was shorthand for something aside from some blind class prejudice on Pittard's part- like it's fate, not her who is to blame.
I honestly did find the classism of the book kind of strange-- we encounter a whole range of possible outcomes here, but those that are suffered by characters a little outside the upper middle class core of the book, like Trey and Hatchet, feel more serious than those felt by the others. I'm not sure what I think about that, except to say it felt deliberate, but in a way that was shorthand for something aside from some blind class prejudice on Pittard's part- like it's fate, not her who is to blame.
I can't remember what put this book on my TBR list, but since I'd really like to condense that list, I checked it out, thinking something would spark a reminder. Three days later, I'm left feeling somewhat unsatisfied. Why did I want to read this book? It's similar to The Virgin Suicides and I didn't particularly like that book. I feel this is one of those books where you either love it or don't. I'm just grateful it's a quick read. It made it easy to push myself to the end. I suppose it serves as a reminder see that you never know what people are thinking or what they'll do.
While not an easy read, the voice is strong and takes you through the maturing of a group of male friends. You end up wiser and a bit sadder.
Not gonna lie, this was kinda dull and super super het cis male centric.
Wow.
The Fates Will Find Their Way is the story of a group of men that can't forget the girl that went missing when they were in high school. Their story is told collectively --use of we, our, etc-- and it gives their thoughts about what happened to Nora Lindell. It really says a lot about how we cope and if we can cope when there's no clear conclusion. Since no one knows what happened to Nora, they can only guess...and they have a lot of guesses, some happy, some sad, some outlandish. Very good read.
The Fates Will Find Their Way is the story of a group of men that can't forget the girl that went missing when they were in high school. Their story is told collectively --use of we, our, etc-- and it gives their thoughts about what happened to Nora Lindell. It really says a lot about how we cope and if we can cope when there's no clear conclusion. Since no one knows what happened to Nora, they can only guess...and they have a lot of guesses, some happy, some sad, some outlandish. Very good read.
There is some really great writing in this novel, however, there isn't enough to make this book a worthy read. I hated that the timeline was so hard to follow. Also, the focus on the characters wwas often unclear. I could not wait to finish this one.
I, in all honesty, wish I could give this book 0 stars or maybe negative stars.
I'm sure the author is a talented writer, but this book was poorly written. Probably one of the worst books I have ever read.
I don't think I've ever been annoyed while I read a book, but this one accomplished that.
I'm sure the author is a talented writer, but this book was poorly written. Probably one of the worst books I have ever read.
I don't think I've ever been annoyed while I read a book, but this one accomplished that.
I listened to this book on a hike and thought I would dislike it, based on how much some disliked it... but the fact that it interrogates the notion of the truths a small community establishes as children (particularly young men) grow into adulthood, makes it an interesting coming-of-age story for a community. Does anything unusual happen? Not really, but a lot of speculation takes place to create a comfortable answer for the questionable experiences that life doesn't provide answers for.
3/15 Addendum: After reading Eugenides' Virgin Suicides, I almost feel like I should modify this review. While I truly loved this book, it is (unfortunately) terribly derivative. I am truly torn...while the book is terrific, so very much is borrowed (stylistically, thematically, even some of the small details). I am surprised more hasn't been made of the similarities.
4 1/2 stars. When I teach Point of View to my students, I almost always offer the first person plural as an option and then balk, "Though that's probably not something you should attempt in a novel -- unless you're writing about a cult." The truth is, I've never actually read a novel written in the plural first person "we." Until now. Hannah Pittard's magical little book breaks all sorts of creative writing teacher's rules, but somehow, in spite of (or perhaps because of) this blatant disregard for literary convention, the book works. I found myself captivated by the narrator who speaks for a collective group of teenage boys (and later men) as they engage in the seemingly endless and futile task of imagining what might have happened to their friend, Nora, who disappeared one Halloween night. The language is lyrical, the characters are engaging, the scope is sweeping, and I found myself wishing, more than once, that I'd dared to be so brazenly defiant as a writer. The only complaint I had was that the end left me feeling just the slightest bit hollow. No matter. Bravo, Ms. Pittard. You've got a new fan, and I can't wait to see what you do next.
4 1/2 stars. When I teach Point of View to my students, I almost always offer the first person plural as an option and then balk, "Though that's probably not something you should attempt in a novel -- unless you're writing about a cult." The truth is, I've never actually read a novel written in the plural first person "we." Until now. Hannah Pittard's magical little book breaks all sorts of creative writing teacher's rules, but somehow, in spite of (or perhaps because of) this blatant disregard for literary convention, the book works. I found myself captivated by the narrator who speaks for a collective group of teenage boys (and later men) as they engage in the seemingly endless and futile task of imagining what might have happened to their friend, Nora, who disappeared one Halloween night. The language is lyrical, the characters are engaging, the scope is sweeping, and I found myself wishing, more than once, that I'd dared to be so brazenly defiant as a writer. The only complaint I had was that the end left me feeling just the slightest bit hollow. No matter. Bravo, Ms. Pittard. You've got a new fan, and I can't wait to see what you do next.