A review by sunnybopeep
Narrow Rooms by James Purdy

4.25

Narrow Rooms uses a lot of dialogue intermixed with the third-person narration to tell a complex, character-driven story that is deeply psychological and emotionally charged. However, James Purdy has such a unique voice that mixes eloquence with raw, gritty American soil. His writing evokes feelings of manual labor and a hard life. The characters have a regional accent, and there is a small town West Virginia vibe. Narrow Rooms might be the quintessential example of transgressive fiction, and it really embodies the rebellious spirit of American literature.

I feel like it’s normal for writers to hide behind their characters. But James Purdy gives me the sense that he is baring his naked heart to the world through his books. The characters in Narrow Rooms are all extensions of his own blood and guts. Within the confines of this relatively short novel, the reader can feel how sensitive, savage, and passionate they are. 

I guess what I’m trying to say that the plot of Narrow Rooms is wild, but there’s a lot more under the surface of this book to be savored.