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A review by zoolmcg
Never Was by H. Gareth Gavin
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This book is enamouring. I picked it up because Cipher Press have been on my radar for a while, and the blurb of this one looked fascinating. Gavin makes an extremely philosophical novel blend with transsexual coming of age in a stunningly formatted display of prose and beyond.
What I loved the most about this was how fearless Gavin is to work with tense. We can hop between time and spaces fluidly, without ever needing a moment to catch up with where we are. So much of this novel is liminal, but the topics it discusses is always concrete and real. I think my favourite use of this were in the parts that Daniel took on Mika’s voice and experience. It was excellently crafted.
My only hang up here would be in the repetition and the over use of exposition. In the final 60 pages, I found a lot of information dumping and prospective philosophy on ‘Never Was’ which brought me out of my immersion and into a deconstruction of the story world. That being said, I’m sure this is only my experience because it was my first read, and if I ever return to it, I might appreciate it more.
I have to recommend this to anyone getting into groundbreaking and subversive literature. I’m going to keep my eye on Gavin, and check out some of his essays, too.
What I loved the most about this was how fearless Gavin is to work with tense. We can hop between time and spaces fluidly, without ever needing a moment to catch up with where we are. So much of this novel is liminal, but the topics it discusses is always concrete and real. I think my favourite use of this were in the parts that Daniel took on Mika’s voice and experience. It was excellently crafted.
My only hang up here would be in the repetition and the over use of exposition. In the final 60 pages, I found a lot of information dumping and prospective philosophy on ‘Never Was’ which brought me out of my immersion and into a deconstruction of the story world. That being said, I’m sure this is only my experience because it was my first read, and if I ever return to it, I might appreciate it more.
I have to recommend this to anyone getting into groundbreaking and subversive literature. I’m going to keep my eye on Gavin, and check out some of his essays, too.