Scan barcode
A review by jfranco77
Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman
3.0
Klosterman has always been a tough guy for me to read. We're close in age, and we have a lot of the same interests, so he's someone that I really should like. Sometimes I do, and sometimes I can barely tolerate him.
Downtown Owl is his first attempt at a novel, though it's still pretty non-fictional, given how much it is based on where and when he grew up. Klosterman spends about 80% of the book setting things up for the anticipated snowstorm, and the setup is pretty interesting. He takes his time describing the characters well. And then the last 20% of the book, the actual snowstorm, comes quickly and feels rushed. Maybe that's intentional - it could be compared to the suddenness of the actual storm - but it felt more like Klosterman got to the point where he needed to wrap things up quickly, so he did.
Downtown Owl was a fine airplane read, but other than raving fans of Klosterman, I'm not sure who I'd really recommend it to.
Downtown Owl is his first attempt at a novel, though it's still pretty non-fictional, given how much it is based on where and when he grew up. Klosterman spends about 80% of the book setting things up for the anticipated snowstorm, and the setup is pretty interesting. He takes his time describing the characters well. And then the last 20% of the book, the actual snowstorm, comes quickly and feels rushed. Maybe that's intentional - it could be compared to the suddenness of the actual storm - but it felt more like Klosterman got to the point where he needed to wrap things up quickly, so he did.
Downtown Owl was a fine airplane read, but other than raving fans of Klosterman, I'm not sure who I'd really recommend it to.