A review by nicka
Yonder Stands Your Orphan by Barry Hannah

3.0

You ever finish a book and say to yourself 'huh, maybe i missed something.' Because really, at the risk of offending those that really really like this book, I simply don't get it. The novel doesn't confuse me, just the praise it has received. Because I enjoyed the first 1/3 and then it just seemed too meandering, too unfocused, too ephemeral in all the wrong ways. The writing isn't lacking, and-again, perhaps I am wrong-there is a host of interesting characters, but for those compliments the thing is....this books doesn't really go anywhere. There I said it. Nice dialogue-Hannah excels at writing some great vernacular-strewn dialogue-and this has an interesting setting, too. But.not.much.happens. At all. And I can forgive that. I loved the Orchard Keeper by McCarthy that often received the same complaint. But, Mr. Hannah, you are no Cormac McCarthy. (But in your defense, I don't perceive that you think you are anyway.)