A review by vishmili
Pastoral by André Alexis

3.0

A fine little story filled with too many threads but in the end, Alexis did a well enough job in its closing pages to remind me of the poetic quality contained therein. Mostly though, the book felt shallow, as if told from afar, the characters mere names on a page and the story's strange details and choices weirdly ridiculous - but overall still mundane. I think Alexis succeeds stylistically (in pace and descriptive prose) but ultimately fails at plot and characterization. This book is dim compared to Fifteen Dogs, but at least was much better than The Ring. Alexis should keep to narratives about animals, not people.