Scan barcode
A review by motherhorror
Cataract City by Craig Davidson
5.0
Honestly, I love this book so much and it surprises me because it's full of all of this typical "man stuff". Prison, a childhood friendship between boys, wrestling, fighting, dog races, women, boxing, blood--just a lot of situations and circumstances that if you told me exactly what this book was about, I'd probably not be interested...
But...
I love this book. The writing blew me away. I was so completely and wholly invested in the lives of the two main characters, I felt like they were real. The City, Niagara Falls, felt real (to me-I've never been there but I feel like I have now) Davidson literally transported me into this place--this hard, unforgiving City and then he dropped me right down into a story that would unfold over decades.
Part One was that friendship between boys I mentioned. Dunk (Duncan Diggs) and Owe (Owen Stuckey). I'm pretty sure there is a lot of symbolism in those names too: Dig/Stuck. I seriously just noticed that. The boys get lost out in the woods and I could have stayed there forever, reading Craig Davidson's amazingly detailed descriptions of the environment and building character into those boys. I loved that part. It reminded me of what I loved about Stephen King's story The Body. That "coming of age" tale we can all relate with but told within the framework of some danger--a threat.
Part Two brought in a woman. Ed (Edwina). The boys are teens and they find these greyhound dogs that they raise up and one of them ends up racing their dog at the tracks. I enjoyed this part to--it was a different stage of life and at this point, I'm falling in love with Dunk. Edwina is interesting too, she adds a much needed softness to the lives of the boys. (and complicates things nicely)
Part Three was so full of tension for me, I felt sick sometimes when I was reading it. I don't like animals getting hurt and there was a dog fight in this section so I sorta skimmed over it. I read the parts about boxing though, even though it made me ill. I hate watching men clobber each other--taking punches in the face--WTF is wrong with guys that makes them want to do this?? It makes me feel like men are aliens. Davidson is REALLY good at the boxing descriptions (I learned he used to box so this section is definitely his wheelhouse) VERY detailed. I was audibly groaning.
Also, we get to know some important things that were brought up in Part One but not developed--I knew they would come later and this was the "later".
Finally, the end. I loved this part. It was this beautiful full circle that Davidson crafted for the reader and it felt right. Although if I'm honest, I was going to be PISSED if something happened that I didn't want to happen--but thankfully, Davidson spared me. Yay for that. The wrap up on this book felt very Dennis LeHane(ish) to me which was awesome because you know how I love him. There was a changing narrative that shifted between Dunk and Owe and it's weird because I can't tell you who I loved more-I loved them both and loved being in their heads. I'm glad we ended with Owe. It was a beautiful closing narrative and now, just sort of typing this out, I feel like crying over that ending. It really was great and I'm sad that this read is over.
But...
I love this book. The writing blew me away. I was so completely and wholly invested in the lives of the two main characters, I felt like they were real. The City, Niagara Falls, felt real (to me-I've never been there but I feel like I have now) Davidson literally transported me into this place--this hard, unforgiving City and then he dropped me right down into a story that would unfold over decades.
Part One was that friendship between boys I mentioned. Dunk (Duncan Diggs) and Owe (Owen Stuckey). I'm pretty sure there is a lot of symbolism in those names too: Dig/Stuck. I seriously just noticed that. The boys get lost out in the woods and I could have stayed there forever, reading Craig Davidson's amazingly detailed descriptions of the environment and building character into those boys. I loved that part. It reminded me of what I loved about Stephen King's story The Body. That "coming of age" tale we can all relate with but told within the framework of some danger--a threat.
Part Two brought in a woman. Ed (Edwina). The boys are teens and they find these greyhound dogs that they raise up and one of them ends up racing their dog at the tracks. I enjoyed this part to--it was a different stage of life and at this point, I'm falling in love with Dunk. Edwina is interesting too, she adds a much needed softness to the lives of the boys. (and complicates things nicely)
Part Three was so full of tension for me, I felt sick sometimes when I was reading it. I don't like animals getting hurt and there was a dog fight in this section so I sorta skimmed over it. I read the parts about boxing though, even though it made me ill. I hate watching men clobber each other--taking punches in the face--WTF is wrong with guys that makes them want to do this?? It makes me feel like men are aliens. Davidson is REALLY good at the boxing descriptions (I learned he used to box so this section is definitely his wheelhouse) VERY detailed. I was audibly groaning.
Also, we get to know some important things that were brought up in Part One but not developed--I knew they would come later and this was the "later".
Finally, the end. I loved this part. It was this beautiful full circle that Davidson crafted for the reader and it felt right. Although if I'm honest, I was going to be PISSED if something happened that I didn't want to happen--but thankfully, Davidson spared me. Yay for that. The wrap up on this book felt very Dennis LeHane(ish) to me which was awesome because you know how I love him. There was a changing narrative that shifted between Dunk and Owe and it's weird because I can't tell you who I loved more-I loved them both and loved being in their heads. I'm glad we ended with Owe. It was a beautiful closing narrative and now, just sort of typing this out, I feel like crying over that ending. It really was great and I'm sad that this read is over.