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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
dark
informative
sad
fast-paced
As a narrative, this exceeded expectations—I enjoyed Hesse's accomplished but down-to-earth prose, and felt she did a decent job capturing the feel of rural Virginia without succumbing to simplistic narratives about small-town decay and obsolescence. While the book markets itself as depicting a "vanishing land," I don't think Hesse's narrative frames it quite that way.
Any prose work is going to be hard-pressed to capture as surreal a series of crimes as the Eastern Shore arson cases. I thought the story was at its best when depicting the community response, from volunteer firefighter camaraderie to Facebook speculation. Yet I'm not convinced there's any "there there" when it comes to analyzing the motivations of the perpetrators. It's true that the Eastern Shore is an ideal landscape for a would-be arsonist, but the events that led to the crimes feel more-or-less universal.
Perhaps this is its own lesson—if you approach a crime story looking for a metaphor, and find it, you may simply be a very good writer. Hesse dodges the trap, but what's left is just a very weird story.
Any prose work is going to be hard-pressed to capture as surreal a series of crimes as the Eastern Shore arson cases. I thought the story was at its best when depicting the community response, from volunteer firefighter camaraderie to Facebook speculation. Yet I'm not convinced there's any "there there" when it comes to analyzing the motivations of the perpetrators. It's true that the Eastern Shore is an ideal landscape for a would-be arsonist, but the events that led to the crimes feel more-or-less universal.
Perhaps this is its own lesson—if you approach a crime story looking for a metaphor, and find it, you may simply be a very good writer. Hesse dodges the trap, but what's left is just a very weird story.
dark
tense
medium-paced
An interesting story of arson and love. I liked the relation to a small town and that it references Southern Ohio. I thought the ending was a little anti-climactic, but it’s a true story so it’s not like you can change that.
I'm from Accomack county, though I wasn't living there during the fires. My parents were, though. They know almost everyone involved (the book does do a good job of characterizing the "everybody knows everybody" nature of the Shore).
It's definitely written in an accessible way, though in the end felt a little lacking.
Also it was sort of weird to read given my personal connection. But it's decent.
It's definitely written in an accessible way, though in the end felt a little lacking.
Also it was sort of weird to read given my personal connection. But it's decent.
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
2018 Reading Challenge- Read a book linked by the 4 elements (Fire)
I really enjoyed the way that this story was laid out and reported. It has a reporting style to the tone of the book but reads like a juicy novel. I was completely sucked into the story of a small community and the strange arson case that took over. There's part psychological study, part crime story, part soap opera style love story, part American dream realities. A really good, in depth read into what feels like a very American story.
I really enjoyed the way that this story was laid out and reported. It has a reporting style to the tone of the book but reads like a juicy novel. I was completely sucked into the story of a small community and the strange arson case that took over. There's part psychological study, part crime story, part soap opera style love story, part American dream realities. A really good, in depth read into what feels like a very American story.
I don't think I would have even picked this up if it weren't a buddy read with some online book club friends. I felt like this string of arsons that "captivated the nation" should have come up on my radar at some point, but I never even heard about it! Either the reach was overemphasized, or I'm just not that into the news. Whoops.
Anyhow, even if you weren't captivated by the initial events, this non-fiction look at these events will indeed captivate. Hesse does a great job bringing you into the story from the arsonist's point of view, as well as that of the firefighters and policemen. It feels like it shouldn't be real, but it is, and that's what makes it all the more enticing.
Anyhow, even if you weren't captivated by the initial events, this non-fiction look at these events will indeed captivate. Hesse does a great job bringing you into the story from the arsonist's point of view, as well as that of the firefighters and policemen. It feels like it shouldn't be real, but it is, and that's what makes it all the more enticing.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced