A review by escape_through_pages
Booth by Karen Joy Fowler

informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

🏆𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚛 𝙿𝚛𝚒𝚣𝚎 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟸 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝟻🏆

'𝐇𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭... 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭.'

Ok, here is my ignorance: Had I heard of Abraham Lincoln: yes. Did I have some knowledge of his role during the American Civil War and abolition of slavery: yes. Did I know he was assassinated: no. Had I heard of John Wilkes Booth before reading this book: no.

This is and isn’t a story about Lincoln’s assassination but it is a story of the Booth family; from the birth of John and his siblings until that defining event that changed how this regarded theatrical family would be viewed forever. 

I was interested from the beginning, the story starts from the perspective of eldest child, Rosalie, and life on the family farm. The pain and grief experienced by the family following the loss of (I think) three of the siblings was carefully and believably depicted in this section. The problem is the middle section of the book just plods. And plods. I got bored. The characterisation wasn’t strong enough that I had an emotional investment to compensate for the mundane years and prose to match. It’s a bit flat and one dimensional. What I did like was the interspersed vignettes detailing concurrently what was happening in Lincoln’s rise to power. It added to my understanding of the political landscape and progression of the war. 

The pace picked up in the final 25% and knowing where events where leading, I was invested again. I’ve learned more about American history so overall it has been a worthwhile read, if not a wow read, which really is what I want from Booker selections. I’m probably judging this book more harshly because of this. Maybe. 

Booth sits on the longlist for me as Great Circle did last year. It’s a good book, both extensively researched. I would class the writing of a similar style and standard and I found the middle of both books to be a slog before reaching to a climactic ending. I was surprised to see GC shortlisted, and I will be again if Booth makes it to that stage.