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A review by lattelibrarian
The Ravaged by Norman Reedus
4.0
"He feels the vastness of galaxies inside him."
Norman Reedus' first foray into literature left me rushing and entranced. A true dive into grit-lit, Reedus follows three characters, Hunter, Jack, and Anne--all of whom have left their homes in search of a father, a purpose, freedom. Along the way, they meet new acquaintances at diners, a family who has been forced into servitude by way of drug cartels, and a cult-like leader of nomads. Though their stories never intersect, each character goes through tremendous growth through their anxieties.
Each chapter shifts perspective, and while this can leave some readers feeling disconnected, I felt that it left me wanting more. I wanted to read more of the previous character, but had to get through another character--but by the end of that character's chapter, I wanted more of them, slowly catapulting me in a wheel of never-ending character-lust.
Whether it be on the back of a motorcycle, a boxcar, or a truck along a winding South American road, it's clear that soul-searching, self-realization, and self-actualization are huge themes, beyond the theme of found family.
It definitely read like male literature (in looking at my past reads, it turns out Norman Reedus is my diversity read for the better half of this year), but it was so incredibly entertaining and fast-paced that I could hardly put it down. Not to mention, I had a lengthy train ride after the book signing!
Even beyond the quality of literature or characterization, this book as a physical artifact is simply beautiful. It costs plenty of money to do what Blackstone Publishing did for Reedus' book, which just proves to me the length of Reedus' artistry. Instead of a cloth-bound hard-cover binding, the hardcover has a glossy color illustration of matches, continuing the theme of setting a cigarette aflame from the book sleeve. Even inside, there are details reminiscent of a motorcycle, with small flames jutting out from the corners of the pages.
I can tell a lot of care went into this book, and it absolutely works in its favor. I hope Reedus continues his foray into grit-lit--I'm excited to see what other stories are bubbling in his mind.
Norman Reedus' first foray into literature left me rushing and entranced. A true dive into grit-lit, Reedus follows three characters, Hunter, Jack, and Anne--all of whom have left their homes in search of a father, a purpose, freedom. Along the way, they meet new acquaintances at diners, a family who has been forced into servitude by way of drug cartels, and a cult-like leader of nomads. Though their stories never intersect, each character goes through tremendous growth through their anxieties.
Each chapter shifts perspective, and while this can leave some readers feeling disconnected, I felt that it left me wanting more. I wanted to read more of the previous character, but had to get through another character--but by the end of that character's chapter, I wanted more of them, slowly catapulting me in a wheel of never-ending character-lust.
Whether it be on the back of a motorcycle, a boxcar, or a truck along a winding South American road, it's clear that soul-searching, self-realization, and self-actualization are huge themes, beyond the theme of found family.
It definitely read like male literature (in looking at my past reads, it turns out Norman Reedus is my diversity read for the better half of this year), but it was so incredibly entertaining and fast-paced that I could hardly put it down. Not to mention, I had a lengthy train ride after the book signing!
Even beyond the quality of literature or characterization, this book as a physical artifact is simply beautiful. It costs plenty of money to do what Blackstone Publishing did for Reedus' book, which just proves to me the length of Reedus' artistry. Instead of a cloth-bound hard-cover binding, the hardcover has a glossy color illustration of matches, continuing the theme of setting a cigarette aflame from the book sleeve. Even inside, there are details reminiscent of a motorcycle, with small flames jutting out from the corners of the pages.
I can tell a lot of care went into this book, and it absolutely works in its favor. I hope Reedus continues his foray into grit-lit--I'm excited to see what other stories are bubbling in his mind.