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A review by nearlynina
Henry Henry by Allen Bratton
challenging
dark
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I'm conflicted with this novel. It was laught out loud funny when it started only to peter out quite quickly into boring rich person whining. And then the suprise content warning interaction happened...
It still managed to retain it's funny qualities (in the way that Angela's Ashes was funny), mixed in with slice of life tedium and honest understated trauma. Very oh well, stuff upper lip and carry on.
The MC is stuck in a holding pattern of floating through life with the help of drugs and sex. Situations that seemed funny & bizarre took on a sinister edge when seen in light of his trauma and I really appreciated the deftness with which the author was able to employ humor and tragedy. There are ridiculous scenarios but they are underpinned with sly wit & sparse details that indicate the MC's true internal feelings (hands shaking etc). I really enjoyed the way that depersonalization as a trauma response was tackled.
The ending was a bit of a let down for me. It is VERY understated and I went over it twice so make sure I'd gotten what was happening. The MC acts rather than just reacting in asking his father for something other than money and reconnects with his family. The understatedness of the ending was the point because change & growth is small & often there isn't a whole lot you can do & you don't magically get your life turned around, but I would have liked a little bit more.
Overall a very psychologically intriguing book and one I'll keep thinking about but I'm not sure I would reread it
It still managed to retain it's funny qualities (in the way that Angela's Ashes was funny), mixed in with slice of life tedium and honest understated trauma. Very oh well, stuff upper lip and carry on.
The MC is stuck in a holding pattern of floating through life with the help of drugs and sex. Situations that seemed funny & bizarre took on a sinister edge when seen in light of his trauma and I really appreciated the deftness with which the author was able to employ humor and tragedy. There are ridiculous scenarios but they are underpinned with sly wit & sparse details that indicate the MC's true internal feelings (hands shaking etc). I really enjoyed the way that depersonalization as a trauma response was tackled.
The ending was a bit of a let down for me. It is VERY understated and I went over it twice so make sure I'd gotten what was happening. The MC acts rather than just reacting in asking his father for something other than money and reconnects with his family. The understatedness of the ending was the point because change & growth is small & often there isn't a whole lot you can do & you don't magically get your life turned around, but I would have liked a little bit more.
Overall a very psychologically intriguing book and one I'll keep thinking about but I'm not sure I would reread it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest