Scan barcode
A review by darkpsychereads
In the Valley of the Sun by Andy Davidson
3.0
It took me a year to read this. It was both memorable and boring. It was a strange experience.
It's an atmospheric and barren book, and I felt immersed in it's empty landscapes and sullen characters. It's written well. It's slow and poetic, with very short chapters told from multiple perspectives. It's a modern vampire story with remorse and good old Southern heart. Having been to Texas myself, I think I understand the sterility and despondency (Melbourne, Aus, is such a multicultural, bustling hub of optimism that the contrast was striking).
I strangely loved the Texas ranger characters - particularly Reader. He had heart, and he had substance. Which is a problem, when the main character, Travis Stillwell, is so gloomy and unpronounced, as he quietly ambles through most of the book, not speaking, just murdering people. Travis' quiet "mystique" parallels the type of figure a teen would idolize, but an adult would later realise lacks any redeemable quality or personality. The revealing of his backstory does explain some of the horrors and personality, and makes a poignant point about war. However, this still doesn't adequately connect to Travis, where something of substance is still missing from him to make him stand out and likable. He just seemed inert and inconsequential, like a plastic bag.. that murdered people, haha. You could sense Travis' discomfort with killing, and feel for his losses somewhat, but I just wish the guy talked or had more thoughts. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending either. It felt a bit mismashed. As to Rue, fuck that woman. She did not get the ending she deserved.
There were passages I loved. There were also sections where the word "breast" was ludicrously overused, that it ought to be documented in reddit's r/menwritingwomen. Also - "She's young, maybe fourteen, and she's naked. Her breasts are small, her nipples dark like pennies."
Overall, I think the atmosphere is perfect, but the books downfall was it's main character not fitting the part. Read at your own discretion.
It's an atmospheric and barren book, and I felt immersed in it's empty landscapes and sullen characters. It's written well. It's slow and poetic, with very short chapters told from multiple perspectives. It's a modern vampire story with remorse and good old Southern heart. Having been to Texas myself, I think I understand the sterility and despondency (Melbourne, Aus, is such a multicultural, bustling hub of optimism that the contrast was striking).
I strangely loved the Texas ranger characters - particularly Reader. He had heart, and he had substance. Which is a problem, when the main character, Travis Stillwell, is so gloomy and unpronounced, as he quietly ambles through most of the book, not speaking, just murdering people. Travis' quiet "mystique" parallels the type of figure a teen would idolize, but an adult would later realise lacks any redeemable quality or personality. The revealing of his backstory does explain some of the horrors and personality, and makes a poignant point about war. However, this still doesn't adequately connect to Travis, where something of substance is still missing from him to make him stand out and likable. He just seemed inert and inconsequential, like a plastic bag.. that murdered people, haha. You could sense Travis' discomfort with killing, and feel for his losses somewhat, but I just wish the guy talked or had more thoughts. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending either. It felt a bit mismashed. As to Rue, fuck that woman. She did not get the ending she deserved.
There were passages I loved. There were also sections where the word "breast" was ludicrously overused, that it ought to be documented in reddit's r/menwritingwomen. Also - "She's young, maybe fourteen, and she's naked. Her breasts are small, her nipples dark like pennies."
Overall, I think the atmosphere is perfect, but the books downfall was it's main character not fitting the part. Read at your own discretion.