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A review by katherineflitsch_
Odsburg by Matt Tompkins
2.0
Readers who enjoy Kurt Vonnegut will be pleased to spend time with the narrative voice of Odsburg, a book whose voice communicates that same entertained quality of whimsy, and, also like in the case of a Vonnegut story, all is within a context of curious magical realism. I'm a big fan of Vonnegut's work, and so I enjoyed the narrative voice of Odsburg; however, my one qualm with Odsburg was that the voices of the vignettes were not distinguishable from one another, which felt like a considerable missed mark considering that each story is told from a different character's point of view. As each sub-story is presented as a transcription of a recording, you'd think that the character's unique personality should shine through in the local narrative voices. Instead, however, it feels like the same narrator is telling us each story. I would have enjoyed the opportunity to get to know the townspeople of Odsburg as individuals had I gotten to receive their stories via their unique voices.
However, I did find it fun to piece together the personality of the town as a whole through reading "leaflets" and announcements and other such evidentiary documents. The approach that Odsburg takes towards storytelling is unique enough to be novel and intriguing while still being familiar enough that it's not completely disorienting. The self-ascribed label of "a socio-anthropo-lingui-lore-ological study" that Odsburg claims is certainly befitting, and as someone who has dabbled in anthropology and linguistics, I opened this book with excited expectations that were indeed fulfilled.
If you are a reader who enjoys the narrative concept of an anthropological exposé and the narrative voice of Vonnegut stories (think: the short stories collected into Look at the Birdie), you will have plenty to find enjoyment in in Odsburg! Though it is disappointing that the voices of the stories are not unique, the sole voice we do get is enjoyable enough that I can let it slide.
However, I did find it fun to piece together the personality of the town as a whole through reading "leaflets" and announcements and other such evidentiary documents. The approach that Odsburg takes towards storytelling is unique enough to be novel and intriguing while still being familiar enough that it's not completely disorienting. The self-ascribed label of "a socio-anthropo-lingui-lore-ological study" that Odsburg claims is certainly befitting, and as someone who has dabbled in anthropology and linguistics, I opened this book with excited expectations that were indeed fulfilled.
If you are a reader who enjoys the narrative concept of an anthropological exposé and the narrative voice of Vonnegut stories (think: the short stories collected into Look at the Birdie), you will have plenty to find enjoyment in in Odsburg! Though it is disappointing that the voices of the stories are not unique, the sole voice we do get is enjoyable enough that I can let it slide.