Reviewed by violetpeanut on
Will has been extremely sheltered. His mother is agoraphobic and has kept him in the house his entire life. He has never been exposed to anyone other than delivery people. Will is at that age when he starts to question things and he realizes on some level that the way they are living is not normal. He decides to venture outside. He makes a friend, starts going to school and even tries some dangerous things.
The author really does a fantastic job of showing just how awkward Will is. Other characters look at him funny because of the things he says which makes Will feel more uncomfortable. Sometimes he knows he's said something wrong, but he's not quite sure what. Throughout the book, Will adjusts to the "Outside" and the reader takes that journey with him, from awkward home-bound boy to normal rebellious, risk-taking, individual. In the beginning, Will is babied by his mom and seems happy with the status-quo, yet even then, we see glimpses of his curiosity and his spirit. As the book progresses, Will develops a courage and individuality that were unexpected. Will's awkwardness becomes a double-edged sword, though. At times, he's so awkward that I found it hindered my enjoyment of the book. I never really felt completely immersed in it. It never really "grabbed" me.
The book also shifts to his mother's perspective at various points throughout. During these chapters, we learn about Diane's past and how she came to be the way she is. Her character is also complex. Her fear is almost another character in itself. It's potent and consuming and controls her in every way. As the book continues, it becomes clear that she must make a choice between her fear and her son.
The plot and setting were also very good. A boy goes missing and Will and his new friend take it upon themselves to find him. There's some mystery involved which should have kept things interesting. The book is also very atmospheric. It's set in a Canadian town that used to be a hub for shipping grain. Diane grew up there and through her flashbacks, we see how important this port is and how important the industry is to the town. It employs pretty much everyone. In present day, the warehouses are abandoned and the waterfront is now a hub for criminal activity. There aren't any jobs and relations between the town folk and the Natives are more strained than ever. There's a clear parallel between Diane's downward spiral and the town's.
I think my biggest problem was in the pacing. I felt like despite the writing style, the plot and the great characters, I was slogging through most of the book. The chapters from Diane's perspective seemed to pop up at random and, while they were important and necessary to understand the story, they broke up the flow and made the book feel very choppy. There's also one entire section that focuses on a third character and that really brought me out of the groove.
Overall, this book is well-written with complex characters and an interesting plot but the pacing was off and I just never really got into this the way I hoped I would. This is a book that I can definitely appreciate as being very good but unfortunately, it wasn't a favorite of mine. However, if you're a fan of literary fiction, have an interest in agoraphobia or really love a character-driven book, I would urge you to check it out.
Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 29 March, 2015: Finished reading
- 29 March, 2015: Reviewed