Licorice

by Abby Frucht

An exquisitely written novel about the delicate balance between loss and desire, abandonment and renewal, and the fragility of relationships.

Genres: Fiction

197 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a while since I read this book so I don't remember the details. What I do remember is that it took me getting through a portion of the book before I really became interested. I ended up enjoying the book so much that I kept it, a priviledge reserved for very few books.

[Robert Wechsler · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those quirky novels that I generally don’t like, and yet it somehow managed to keep me interested. Frucht’s writing is good and matter-of-fact, yet full of feeling that falls short of sentimental. She’s simply a good writer, and that was enough for me.

[Taya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very strange book, which fell into my hands, which seems appropriate. It's hallucinatory, lovely in a way, and I floated through it, but its world, though contextless, is thorough and absorbing. I wouldn't exactly recommend it, but if it happened to fall into your hands, it's an interesting, atmostpheric experience.

[Angela Mcentee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this a long time ago but the descriptions of licorice drove me to seek out and eat many many packs of Callard and Bowser licorice toffee while reading the book . C & B and their lovely toffee are no longer in existence. This is not a review,really.

[Elayne Berger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning this year with good intentions of finishing some piles of interesting, accumulated thrift store books, I grabbed this unknown novel from long ago with very little expectation. I actually did judge this by the cover (not the one featured on this website)when I chanced upon it in some Goodwill within the past 5 years. I am a sucker for slender hardback books.

Sigh. Didn’t hate it. But rushing through the final 40 pages, just to get it over with is not really the way one should read a book. After finishing, I read the author info and saw that she is from Oberlin. This explains the literary style. Also, this was a popular style now 31 years past. Usually not seen in any books except those by Nobel prize winners. I actually enjoyed the style.

The characterizations were relatively well-done. In other words, I think most readers would care about most of them, and they seemed plausible, but when the short novel ends, they are forgettable. This probably is what keeps the book from a 5-star rating.

But after finishing the last page, I realized my disappointment was more from a) having discerned some things that were probably meant to be a surprise, b)wondering about the fate of a couple of characters, and c) )not feeling as if I wanted to read anything more by the author.

I am always sad to think of all the books like this that will languish on a library or a used bookstore shelf.

But then again, perhaps it does make me or other readers appreciate a favorite author all the more. So, what next...? The year is starting off to be as challenging as we all knew it would, so perhaps a bit more escapist chuckling from Christopher Moore!

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm. What the heck was that?
I don't get it, I guess, I don't know what happened, or why. And I am not sure whether the book resolved or not.
I don't think I liked it much.
I guess I needed some answers. I can't even tell what HAPPENED or what was just happening in the point-of-view character's imaginings.
Funny how dated the book was. Floppy discs, records, tape recordings - remember that stuff? (I do, I'm old enough to remember. Been awhile since I THOUGHT about some of them!)
Interesting writing style, descriptive, sensuous: tastes, smells, sounds, sights, textures.
But I'd prefer some answers.

[Lukie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago and loved it. I felt a bit more conflicted with this second reading. I loved the sense of place, oddball characters, unpredictability, and differentness. It is suspenseful while maintaining a dreamy pace. It would translate well to film. I did not like Liz's incomprehensible obsession with Joe and unfortunately that's a major thread in the novel. Other things did not make sense, clearly were not meant to, but I was better able to just go with them. The mystery of human behavior and emotions, impulsiveness, obsession, the compelling and sudden need to just walk out of your life, communities struggling to survive and failing--these are the ideas I get from this novel. The cover art is very similar to Lily King's Writers & Lovers and there are other similarities between the two novels, though they're quite different, too. Hmm.

[rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

abby frucht is married to someone who teaches at oberlin, i believe. i remember seeing this at that used bookstore whose name slips my mind. and thinking it had a nice cover (not-pictured). anyway, that was unaffordable at the time, but now! pretty exciting. also on the spoonbill one-three dollar racks. (I also bought "the wire" magazine and an art pamphlet, because i am idiotic about managing my money).

[Shaindel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a small Midwestern college town, the residents are inexplicably disappearing. This novel chronicles Liz, the first person narrator, and her husband Daniel's attempt to hold on to their lives in a place where everything seems to be slowly disappearing. I especially enjoyed Frucht's writing style, which often feels like lucid dreaming, and the fact that this book doesn't do what anyone would expect--it doesn't try to solve the mystery of where everyone is going.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember really liking this book when I read it years ago. However, I haven't really liked any of her other books. Not sure if it was just the right book at the right time.

[Denise]

Recommended by YouThink friend.