Review by kaleyrdaniels - The Poppy Fields

kaleyrdaniels 's review for:

The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick

4.5

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Poppy Fields is a beautiful, insightful story about three grieving strangers (united by a common destination) who embark on a cross-country roadtrip, and the healing and friendship they find along the way, both in each other, and in others they meet. Though they all have different reasons for going, the strangers’ shared destination is the Poppy Fields, a controversial new treatment center that aims to heal patients from their emotional wounds through a restorative 1-2 month comatose nap.

The entire premise of the Poppy Fields’ treatment is that, sometimes, life after loss is too painful to sit through. The novel poses questions about whether or not it’s a human’s duty to sit with grief and pain, out of respect to the lost and dead. If someone decides that they don’t want to, or can’t, do that, the treatment center offers an easier way out, an easier way through.

Through the characters, grief’s many companions and their effects on the living are explored: anger, fear, and guilt. How senseless and meaningless death can be, how good people are always taken too soon. How the survivors are left to pick up the pieces and try to find meaning in it all. The fact that grief is a unique experience for all, and that everyone will have a different journey with it, does not negate the fact that companionship and compassion can lighten the burden.

A surprising sub-theme explored through the characters Ray and Johnny, a firefighter and paramedic respectively, is how first responders specifically struggle with mental health, due to a culture of pride and masculinity that forces people to suck it up, even in one of the most taxing jobs of all time. As an EMT, I found the discussion of this topic to be very accurate and poignant.

I found the writing to be quite well done, with surprising insight and depth in each chapter. I particularly enjoyed the bit of mixed media; the included articles and interview transcripts about the Poppy Fields. Everything and everyone in this story was beautifully intertwined and connected, more-so than at first glance. There were a few twists that were surprising, but they all made logical sense, and I was left with an overall impression of “cleverness” on the author’s part.

The alternating POVs kept what could’ve quickly become a dull road-trip story fresh, and while some characters were more sympathetic than others, I still wanted to learn more, and read more, about all of them. A minor point: as an EMT, I found the description of Ray’s job as a firefighter to be accurate and well-researched, free of any regular misconceptions, which helped me appreciate his story more.

The only gripe I had with the book was that there was interspersed use of “we” and “us” in the mainly third-person narration that threw me off a bit.

Overall, The Poppy Fields was an insightful, thought-provoking story that left a warm feeling in my heart. I’d recommend it to anyone fond of introspective, emotional stories about the power of human connection, and joy found in the most unsuspecting places. As well as to anyone interested in challenging their beliefs about/perceptions of grief, and whether or not it’s an honor or a curse to bear it.

Content Warnings