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A review by lucasgarner
Each of Us a Desert by Mark Oshiro
4.0
Just when you thought that truly every story has been told, that true, untapped creativity is dying, Mark Oshiro is here to tell you that it is, in fact, still thriving. Each of Us a Desert is without a doubt one of the most unique, inventive books with a strong, fresh voice that I have read in recent memory. Oshiro writes in such an assured style, that you would think that this novel had been written toward the end of his career, not his second novel. Impressive, impressive stuff. Oshiro combines several genres to tell the story of a girl from a small desert town, who sets on a quest across an arid landscape to discover the meaning of her life. This is an intricate tale, and it would be a disservice to fully explain the world without letting the novel speak for itself, so I’ll leave it at that.
The only reason I have to knock one star off this book is for the pacing. This is a novel with a very specific, serious tone, which is fine, but I never felt it let go. There was never a shift into high gear, except for several small scenes that seemed to end before they even began. For such a perilous journey, I wanted to feel that threat of the desert that the characters felt, but with a calm, solemn voice and pacing, that never came together. It made small sections of the novel feel like a slog, and I never felt compelled to sit for long periods of time to read the novel. Despite that, this book is an absolute must read.
The only reason I have to knock one star off this book is for the pacing. This is a novel with a very specific, serious tone, which is fine, but I never felt it let go. There was never a shift into high gear, except for several small scenes that seemed to end before they even began. For such a perilous journey, I wanted to feel that threat of the desert that the characters felt, but with a calm, solemn voice and pacing, that never came together. It made small sections of the novel feel like a slog, and I never felt compelled to sit for long periods of time to read the novel. Despite that, this book is an absolute must read.