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A Key to Treehouse Living
A Key to Treehouse Living is the adventure of William Tyce, a boy without parents who grows up near a river in the rural Midwest. In a glossary-style list, he imparts his particular wisdom on subjects ranging from ASPHALT PATHS, BETTA FISH, and MULLET to MORTAL BETRAYAL, NIHILISM, and REVELATION. His improbable quest—to create a reference volume specific to his existence—takes him on a journey down the river by raft (see MYSTICAL VISION, see NAVIGATING BIG RIVERS BY NIGHT). He seeks to discover how his mother died (see ABSENCE) and find reasons for his father’s disappearance (see UNCERTAINTY, see VANITY). But as he goes about defining his changing world, all kinds of extraordinary and wonderful things happen to him.
Unlocking an earnest, clear-eyed way of thinking that might change your own, A Key to Treehouse Living is a story about keeping your own record straight and living life by a different code.
Unlocking an earnest, clear-eyed way of thinking that might change your own, A Key to Treehouse Living is a story about keeping your own record straight and living life by a different code.
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 4, 2018
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884 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
July 24, 2018
3.5 An inventive way to tell story. William, a adolescent orphan uses glossary terms to tell his story. Starting with the word "absence" we follow him through the important things and memorable events in his life. Some of the connections he makes are humorous, some sad, though most things and definitions are related in a deadpan voice. Very matter of fact. As he grows older, the meanings change, the stories longer, yet the tone never does. I couldn't read this straight through, had to put it down for s bit, and come back to it. It is a clever way to tell a story, and some of the pieces show a wonderful insight. Alas, the sameness of the tone became too much for me to overcome, hence my rating. I just couldn't connect emotionally, when there was so little emotion in the telling. Some variance in tone would have been welcome, and by the ratings others were able to overcome what I could not.
One part I have to quote though because I could relate it to my grandson, whose favorite food, not mine, is Salisbury steak. Be aware I am quoting from an uncorrected proof,
LOOSE MEATS: SALISBURY STEAK
"Consuming Salisbury steak leads to extreme indigestion and difficulty breathing. Steak is either completely blsnd or salted to a point where it could be classified as toxic, and is served beneath a brown slurry that develops a reflective skin at room temperature."
Too funny, and will not be quoting this to said grandson, as he is a fussy eater and eats little enough as it is.
ARC from Edelweiss.
One part I have to quote though because I could relate it to my grandson, whose favorite food, not mine, is Salisbury steak. Be aware I am quoting from an uncorrected proof,
LOOSE MEATS: SALISBURY STEAK
"Consuming Salisbury steak leads to extreme indigestion and difficulty breathing. Steak is either completely blsnd or salted to a point where it could be classified as toxic, and is served beneath a brown slurry that develops a reflective skin at room temperature."
Too funny, and will not be quoting this to said grandson, as he is a fussy eater and eats little enough as it is.
ARC from Edelweiss.
July 29, 2018
4+ stars
This is a different kind of book, not a straightforward narrative, and maybe a little risky for a debut novel, but it worked for me. Through glossary entries, the reader is left to piece together the story of a young boy named William Tyce. By very nature of the key, the glossary is alphabetical and the thoughts can seem scattered, but taken together make a story, a portrait of loneliness, of self discovery of an amazingly perceptive and courageous young orphan boy. When we first meet William, he’s ten years old and through the entries in his key, we get glimpses of his past and then follow him on a journey over the next several years. Through understatement at times, innuendo and simile, he helps us understand what has happened to him. I found this moving in its simplicity and affecting in its matter of fact telling in a non conformist way, funny, sad and astute. Child narrators appeal to me so many times with innocence and naïveté combined with an alertness and awareness that tells the truth that adults don’t always see. William was no exception.
His mother has died. His father deserts him and he’s left with his uncle, who isn’t always there . There’s an understanding of his circumstances in AFTER THE FACT. He’s afraid and has nightmares as we learn from BETTA FISH, both moving and funny.
The entry for FALLACY is a heartbreaking thought on his father’s disappearance. At some point after running from an orphanage of sorts, LIVING IN BUNKHOUSES FOR GIRLS AND BOYS WHO ARE WARDS OF THE STATE, William is on his own. He’s 15 and floating down the river on a raft , alone with a photograph of a bridge perhaps taken by his father, looking for his father, wanting to know why he left.
There’s a distance between William and the reader, and what feels like a self imposed distance to himself. Using the phrase “say your a kid” or similar ways of speaking about himself as someone other made me think that this was how he dealt with the things that happened to him. But that distance is what moved me and brought me to feel what William was feeling. At times the “I” comes through, as he matures. A touching story that left me wanting to know the WILD BLUE YONDER of William’s future.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Tin House Books (W. W. Norton) through Edelweiss.
This is a different kind of book, not a straightforward narrative, and maybe a little risky for a debut novel, but it worked for me. Through glossary entries, the reader is left to piece together the story of a young boy named William Tyce. By very nature of the key, the glossary is alphabetical and the thoughts can seem scattered, but taken together make a story, a portrait of loneliness, of self discovery of an amazingly perceptive and courageous young orphan boy. When we first meet William, he’s ten years old and through the entries in his key, we get glimpses of his past and then follow him on a journey over the next several years. Through understatement at times, innuendo and simile, he helps us understand what has happened to him. I found this moving in its simplicity and affecting in its matter of fact telling in a non conformist way, funny, sad and astute. Child narrators appeal to me so many times with innocence and naïveté combined with an alertness and awareness that tells the truth that adults don’t always see. William was no exception.
His mother has died. His father deserts him and he’s left with his uncle, who isn’t always there . There’s an understanding of his circumstances in AFTER THE FACT. He’s afraid and has nightmares as we learn from BETTA FISH, both moving and funny.
The entry for FALLACY is a heartbreaking thought on his father’s disappearance. At some point after running from an orphanage of sorts, LIVING IN BUNKHOUSES FOR GIRLS AND BOYS WHO ARE WARDS OF THE STATE, William is on his own. He’s 15 and floating down the river on a raft , alone with a photograph of a bridge perhaps taken by his father, looking for his father, wanting to know why he left.
There’s a distance between William and the reader, and what feels like a self imposed distance to himself. Using the phrase “say your a kid” or similar ways of speaking about himself as someone other made me think that this was how he dealt with the things that happened to him. But that distance is what moved me and brought me to feel what William was feeling. At times the “I” comes through, as he matures. A touching story that left me wanting to know the WILD BLUE YONDER of William’s future.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Tin House Books (W. W. Norton) through Edelweiss.
March 16, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
A Key to Treehouse Living is a very unusual book and I like unusual things so I couldn’t wait to dive in. The plot begins with ten-year-old William Tyce. William’s mother died when he was little and his father took him to stay with his uncle and never came back for him. His uncle is rarely around so he spends most of his time on his own, although he did build him a treehouse.
Through a glossary of words in alphabetical order (although only by the first letter, the order of those words beginning with the same letter can come in any order), William tells the reader the story of his life beginning with Absence.
I’ve never read a book like it. Part of me felt like I was reading an encyclopedia or a non-fiction book, whilst another part was enjoying how the story was laid out and intrigued to learn how each word fitted into William’s life.
The way in which the book is written has you getting inside the main character’s head as he shares his thoughts with you. It was engaging and fascinating the way William shared his life and the way he viewed his past and how it has affected his present. Just imagine getting inside the head of a child!
The book is certainly like riding an emotional roller coaster as we share some fun times as well as some sad times with William, all are very important to him. As William ages, the words become more drawn out and richer in detail.
I feel that the author has taken a very big risk in the way he has written the book. I also feel that readers will find this book a bit like Marmite – they will either love it or hate it. I personally found it a breath of fresh air. Would I read a book like this again? Probably not. Did I enjoy the story? Most definitely.
A Key to Treehouse Living is a very unusual book and I like unusual things so I couldn’t wait to dive in. The plot begins with ten-year-old William Tyce. William’s mother died when he was little and his father took him to stay with his uncle and never came back for him. His uncle is rarely around so he spends most of his time on his own, although he did build him a treehouse.
Through a glossary of words in alphabetical order (although only by the first letter, the order of those words beginning with the same letter can come in any order), William tells the reader the story of his life beginning with Absence.
I’ve never read a book like it. Part of me felt like I was reading an encyclopedia or a non-fiction book, whilst another part was enjoying how the story was laid out and intrigued to learn how each word fitted into William’s life.
The way in which the book is written has you getting inside the main character’s head as he shares his thoughts with you. It was engaging and fascinating the way William shared his life and the way he viewed his past and how it has affected his present. Just imagine getting inside the head of a child!
The book is certainly like riding an emotional roller coaster as we share some fun times as well as some sad times with William, all are very important to him. As William ages, the words become more drawn out and richer in detail.
I feel that the author has taken a very big risk in the way he has written the book. I also feel that readers will find this book a bit like Marmite – they will either love it or hate it. I personally found it a breath of fresh air. Would I read a book like this again? Probably not. Did I enjoy the story? Most definitely.
November 2, 2018
“A Key to Treehouse Living” is inventive and clever in style. Author Elliot Reed uses an alphabetical index to tell his story. Protagonist William Tyce is the author of this key to his life story. Poor William had a mother, who apparently didn’t want him, and a father who abandoned him. Luckily, his uncle takes him, and then his uncle lets him down.
This is a sometimes sad, sometimes sweet, and sometimes funny story of a boy who grows up to a young man. I wouldn’t call it a coming of age story; it’s more of a reflection upon his life. William decides to write a key to his life to make sense of his life.
The first word in his key is “absence”. In that definition, the reader learns that “not all mothers want to be with their children,” While that is sad, “Beef in Bed” informs the reader that his uncle gave him an ice pack and a hamburger while William was in bed suffering from eighteen beestings. Yes, those made him feel better.
There’s the index of “Court Order”. You can imagine how that turns out. There’s “Mortal Betrayal”; “Ominous”; “Ruminations of the Elderly” and “Sardines A La Ketchup”. Through each index, the story is told in a nonlinear way, but in a way that makes sense and the reader can follow. I enjoyed this method of telling a story. It is unique. It’s a short story, 226 pages, which can be read quickly. It’s not a book that you can put down and catch up on a week later. One needs to keep with the flow. It’s worth it!
This is a sometimes sad, sometimes sweet, and sometimes funny story of a boy who grows up to a young man. I wouldn’t call it a coming of age story; it’s more of a reflection upon his life. William decides to write a key to his life to make sense of his life.
The first word in his key is “absence”. In that definition, the reader learns that “not all mothers want to be with their children,” While that is sad, “Beef in Bed” informs the reader that his uncle gave him an ice pack and a hamburger while William was in bed suffering from eighteen beestings. Yes, those made him feel better.
There’s the index of “Court Order”. You can imagine how that turns out. There’s “Mortal Betrayal”; “Ominous”; “Ruminations of the Elderly” and “Sardines A La Ketchup”. Through each index, the story is told in a nonlinear way, but in a way that makes sense and the reader can follow. I enjoyed this method of telling a story. It is unique. It’s a short story, 226 pages, which can be read quickly. It’s not a book that you can put down and catch up on a week later. One needs to keep with the flow. It’s worth it!
February 3, 2019
I'm fascinated with books that surprise me; this book surprised me.
A Key to Treehouse Living is the coming-of-age story of a young boy who grows up without parents, who comes to live with an eccentric uncle, who builds a treehouse in a park, who takes off on a river journey, and the entire story is told through a series of glossary words.
It's captivating. It's novel. It's deeply touching.
A Key to Treehouse Living is the coming-of-age story of a young boy who grows up without parents, who comes to live with an eccentric uncle, who builds a treehouse in a park, who takes off on a river journey, and the entire story is told through a series of glossary words.
It's captivating. It's novel. It's deeply touching.
May 27, 2018
(Note: ARC provided by Tinhouse.)
This is a charming and engaging Reed! Erm, READ.
I may be a sucker for non-linear stories, or inventive storytelling methods, but this novel was written in such a delightful tone and with such a keen sense of purpose that I was not once distracted by the fact it is structured much akin to a glossary. Perhaps most easily compared to Huck Finn, though not the same thing.
Is it perfect? Maybe not. But the clarity of what the author wanted to tell and say, the heart with which it seems to be delivered with, a reader can't help but follow William Tyce's story and feel he/she is in a GYPSY PARACHUTE HOUSE of Reed's telling.
This is a charming and engaging Reed! Erm, READ.
I may be a sucker for non-linear stories, or inventive storytelling methods, but this novel was written in such a delightful tone and with such a keen sense of purpose that I was not once distracted by the fact it is structured much akin to a glossary. Perhaps most easily compared to Huck Finn, though not the same thing.
Is it perfect? Maybe not. But the clarity of what the author wanted to tell and say, the heart with which it seems to be delivered with, a reader can't help but follow William Tyce's story and feel he/she is in a GYPSY PARACHUTE HOUSE of Reed's telling.
August 28, 2018
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
'Expectation The Brain spends a huge amount of time expecting things. The brain lives on patterns the way a blade of grass lives on sunlight.'
This is a lovely novel written in alphabetical order, to make some sense of the disorder in orphan William Tyce’s life. There is a lot of talk about absence, as both his mother and father have vanished from his life for different reasons we slowly begin to understand. Living with an eccentric, wealthy “bugling” uncle who lets him run free, there are still secrets beneath the surface, things his uncle has yet to tell him about his parents. When he isn’t exploring, or floating boats in a flooded basement he is entering neglected forts in the woods or meeting locals from all walks of life. Each entry shows wisdom beyond his ears, a coming of age in the rural midwest, and the setting is beautifully rendered by an entry as simple as canoeing through the reeds.
It is a look into a boy’s life that is sometimes an adventure, other times heavy with sorrow and confusion but always engaging. Sometimes he finds trouble, other times trouble finds him. Even when the adults try to give him gravity, they let him go like a balloon see under Facts– the first sad fact we learn in life… This novel has a certain charm in how it reveals William’s life through glossary entries, it hints at, it guides us through what is happening, much the way we all come of age with our missteps and lessons. We ease into things or get hit in the face by them.
He is abandoned by his father, his mother is dead but we don’t quite know why anymore than he does, until later. Life unfolds as he gets older and loses his childhood innocence (blindness), comes more and more into adult consciousness, as happens to all of us. We confront his life through his reflections, written from the male perspective as he isn’t looking for pity or a good cry, he is just stating the facts with the protective shell most boys use. Not to say boys feel any less, he certainly has depths to swim but it’s more quiet revelations. He becomes very real for the reader. I always enjoy these stories that make me feel like I am getting a birdseye view into another’s life. There is a connection but it’s not forceful, it’s not begging you to feel bad for the character, but you do anyway as life beats him up but he is funny too! “Dogs, however, are an exception, and they love to mate in public. It’s possible they do this because they enjoy being squirted with water hoses in the act.” It’s a journey with beautiful writing, though you are reading a coming of age, it’s very relatable to adults. He is wounded but keeps on trucking! Yes, read it!
Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Tin House Books
'Expectation The Brain spends a huge amount of time expecting things. The brain lives on patterns the way a blade of grass lives on sunlight.'
This is a lovely novel written in alphabetical order, to make some sense of the disorder in orphan William Tyce’s life. There is a lot of talk about absence, as both his mother and father have vanished from his life for different reasons we slowly begin to understand. Living with an eccentric, wealthy “bugling” uncle who lets him run free, there are still secrets beneath the surface, things his uncle has yet to tell him about his parents. When he isn’t exploring, or floating boats in a flooded basement he is entering neglected forts in the woods or meeting locals from all walks of life. Each entry shows wisdom beyond his ears, a coming of age in the rural midwest, and the setting is beautifully rendered by an entry as simple as canoeing through the reeds.
It is a look into a boy’s life that is sometimes an adventure, other times heavy with sorrow and confusion but always engaging. Sometimes he finds trouble, other times trouble finds him. Even when the adults try to give him gravity, they let him go like a balloon see under Facts– the first sad fact we learn in life… This novel has a certain charm in how it reveals William’s life through glossary entries, it hints at, it guides us through what is happening, much the way we all come of age with our missteps and lessons. We ease into things or get hit in the face by them.
He is abandoned by his father, his mother is dead but we don’t quite know why anymore than he does, until later. Life unfolds as he gets older and loses his childhood innocence (blindness), comes more and more into adult consciousness, as happens to all of us. We confront his life through his reflections, written from the male perspective as he isn’t looking for pity or a good cry, he is just stating the facts with the protective shell most boys use. Not to say boys feel any less, he certainly has depths to swim but it’s more quiet revelations. He becomes very real for the reader. I always enjoy these stories that make me feel like I am getting a birdseye view into another’s life. There is a connection but it’s not forceful, it’s not begging you to feel bad for the character, but you do anyway as life beats him up but he is funny too! “Dogs, however, are an exception, and they love to mate in public. It’s possible they do this because they enjoy being squirted with water hoses in the act.” It’s a journey with beautiful writing, though you are reading a coming of age, it’s very relatable to adults. He is wounded but keeps on trucking! Yes, read it!
Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Tin House Books
August 31, 2018
I requested this book because the premise sounded so interesting; a book written as a glossary? However--and I know I'm in the minority here--it just didn't work for me as it did for many others. Apparently I have more of a linear brain as I struggled with the structure. And as sweet as the story was, I just kept wishing it had been told in a more traditional form as my mind kept wandering. Again, I think it's me, not the book as it is a tender and heartwarming story.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
July 6, 2018
What an impressive debut. So much so, in fact, that I regret being unable to give it my infamous “Debut Star Bump” and bring my rating to 5 Stars. A few minor “first novel flaws” prevents that, but in no way does that lessen how much I enjoyed reading this. Creatively rendered, poignant story, told in a voice that is at once childlike and chillingly insightful and mature. So glad that my husband brought the ARC home, and put this clearly gifted author on my radar.
March 8, 2022
A novel written as a glossary—how cool is that?
Recommended for readers of YA who enjoy interesting structures.
Recommended for readers of YA who enjoy interesting structures.
October 17, 2018
I go back and forth on the precocious boy books, but from the description, this one sounded interesting. At first, the book written as a glossary was a innovative way to tell the book’s story. But I grew weary of the plot device, and of the plot itself, pretty quickly. It just wasn’t my kind of book, but others might differ.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2018
Most reviews for this book focus on the structure of the book--with good reason, it's a huge factor in the readers' enjoyment of the text. For me, it was both a blessing and a curse.
As a writer, let me start by saying I appreciate the author for having the guts to do something so different with the structure. While at first the index of topics seems disjointed, the longer you stick with the book the more the narrative circles back to topics in the list. The list makes cohesive sense in the grand scheme of things.
Beyond the structure, this is a beautiful book with some touching moments. The book is nearly poetic in its efforts to tell a story through these small interconnected snapshots of a boy's live. In fact, by the time you get to the later half of the book (i.e. his river journey to find more information on his father) you're not even really aware of the structure any longer. The book transcends its form and the story starts to flow backwards and forward regardless of the limits of its narrative form. I really enjoyed that.
However, for me this evolution of the story was also the book's weakness. I didn't really enjoy reading the first half of the book at all. I mainly stuck with it because I had read reviews that said I should do so because the format would become less annoying as I went (totally true, BTW).
In the end, the part of the book I enjoyed the most was the part where the index seemed almost irrelevant. In other words, how much did I REALLY appreciate the author's moxie and experimental approach if the only part of the book I enjoyed was the part that transcended it?
I guess, overall I was more impressed with the ambition and artistry of the book than the book itself and I connected more to the story when it started being presented in a more traditional narrative structure/hero's journey. That could of course be the fault of the reader (me) than the text.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
As a writer, let me start by saying I appreciate the author for having the guts to do something so different with the structure. While at first the index of topics seems disjointed, the longer you stick with the book the more the narrative circles back to topics in the list. The list makes cohesive sense in the grand scheme of things.
Beyond the structure, this is a beautiful book with some touching moments. The book is nearly poetic in its efforts to tell a story through these small interconnected snapshots of a boy's live. In fact, by the time you get to the later half of the book (i.e. his river journey to find more information on his father) you're not even really aware of the structure any longer. The book transcends its form and the story starts to flow backwards and forward regardless of the limits of its narrative form. I really enjoyed that.
However, for me this evolution of the story was also the book's weakness. I didn't really enjoy reading the first half of the book at all. I mainly stuck with it because I had read reviews that said I should do so because the format would become less annoying as I went (totally true, BTW).
In the end, the part of the book I enjoyed the most was the part where the index seemed almost irrelevant. In other words, how much did I REALLY appreciate the author's moxie and experimental approach if the only part of the book I enjoyed was the part that transcended it?
I guess, overall I was more impressed with the ambition and artistry of the book than the book itself and I connected more to the story when it started being presented in a more traditional narrative structure/hero's journey. That could of course be the fault of the reader (me) than the text.
Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2021
"To write a story in alphabetical order is unorthodox, but if you're trying to tell a lot of stories all at once and you're trying to tell them for a lot of different reasons, you must resort to unorthodox methods."
A Key to Treehouse Living is a dictionary of sorts in which the narrator attempts to tell the story of his short life as an orphan. Absence begins the novel where the reader is told “not all mothers want to be with their children” and ends with Yonder, The Wild Blue “where characters go at the ends of books.”
William Tyce is abandoned by his parents, and lives in his uncle’s mansion near a river somewhere in the Midwest. William explains his life through many human emotions and actions; he talks about boredom, loneliness, jealousy, anger and fear.
As I was reading the novel, I would be engaged in William’s definitions of words and then realized how the word and its definition was his life, feelings and perception of the world. Elliot Reed’s A Key to Treehouse Living creates a portrait of a perceptive adolescent through its simple structure. The story is often times dark and but also humorous. It is the journey of a young man who is searching for home, family and connections. The reader is continually surprised by William’s resilience and perseverance. It is a journey that the reader will take and be astounded.
A Key to Treehouse Living is a dictionary of sorts in which the narrator attempts to tell the story of his short life as an orphan. Absence begins the novel where the reader is told “not all mothers want to be with their children” and ends with Yonder, The Wild Blue “where characters go at the ends of books.”
William Tyce is abandoned by his parents, and lives in his uncle’s mansion near a river somewhere in the Midwest. William explains his life through many human emotions and actions; he talks about boredom, loneliness, jealousy, anger and fear.
As I was reading the novel, I would be engaged in William’s definitions of words and then realized how the word and its definition was his life, feelings and perception of the world. Elliot Reed’s A Key to Treehouse Living creates a portrait of a perceptive adolescent through its simple structure. The story is often times dark and but also humorous. It is the journey of a young man who is searching for home, family and connections. The reader is continually surprised by William’s resilience and perseverance. It is a journey that the reader will take and be astounded.
April 28, 2018
This was certainly a unique style of writing. The book is written in the form of a glossary and tells the tale of a boy who spends some time in treehouses. The book is a bit hard to follow to be honest. The entries in the glossary are arranged alphabetically and are quite confusing. There is a bit of a story that eventually develops in this novel but it takes a number of pages to actually transpire. The idea is pretty creative but the execution was just a bit muddled.
April 26, 2018
I love the way the story slowly unfolds through the glossary entries. There are so many passages I wanted to highlight or quote!
March 18, 2020
Thanks to the wonderful Nikki from MHPBooks for inviting me on the blogtour for 'A Key To Treehouse Living', out now in paperback and ebook wherever good books are sold.
''A final thing about brightness and its use in the nighttime:my uncle once told me that things are the same whether or not there's light shining on them.He taught me about how if you're alone in your room and it's dark out and you start to see things grow and transform in the darkness of your room, just picture the way you room looks when the sunlight is shining in through your window.You won't be scared anymore and the next thing you know, it will be morning.''
I honestly did not know what to expect from this novel, it is an explorration of the mindset of a young boy, whose experiences are collated in an encyclopedic fashion.
This,by rights, should have made it feel difficult to flow and get into, giving the impression that it is a novel that you can pick up and dip into. However, I found it difficult to put down nce begun, as I wanted to see where it ended up.
The experimental style of writing means that it can be read in a non-linear way-for example, some ebtries in the book cross reference others so by flipping to those pages, you experience the story telling in an alternative manner.
The narrator/compiler of this guide is William, a young boy living with his uncle and trying to make sense of his situation and the world that he lives in.
By seperating and dissecting the different portions of his life, he not only presents the reader with a personal history, he is giving you a guide to himself even as he writes about what he knows. For example, his companion, the Betta Fish.
''Betta fish can cure you of nightmares if you hold them in your mouth for ten seconds each night before you go to sleep.Fill your mouth with water from the tap, lean your head back and open your mouth,then drop in the fish. Close your mouth and let him dust his fins on the inside of your cheek.This relationship is like the one between remora and sharks.By cleaning your cheeks,the fish is absorbing your nightmares.The darker the Betta fish is, the more nightmares it has absorbed,and once it is black, it cannot absorb anymore nightmares,so you will want to pick out a light-coloured Betta Fish''.
You, the reader, need to work at this book to unlock its secrets,what at first appears whimsical and novel reveals itself to be deeply affecting, moving and immersive. I am not ashamed to say I was moved to tears by Will's narrative and thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading his 'key'. This is a debut of strength, talent and wit, and I would recommend this book to those looking for something outside their usual reads which will stretch and challenge them
''A final thing about brightness and its use in the nighttime:my uncle once told me that things are the same whether or not there's light shining on them.He taught me about how if you're alone in your room and it's dark out and you start to see things grow and transform in the darkness of your room, just picture the way you room looks when the sunlight is shining in through your window.You won't be scared anymore and the next thing you know, it will be morning.''
I honestly did not know what to expect from this novel, it is an explorration of the mindset of a young boy, whose experiences are collated in an encyclopedic fashion.
This,by rights, should have made it feel difficult to flow and get into, giving the impression that it is a novel that you can pick up and dip into. However, I found it difficult to put down nce begun, as I wanted to see where it ended up.
The experimental style of writing means that it can be read in a non-linear way-for example, some ebtries in the book cross reference others so by flipping to those pages, you experience the story telling in an alternative manner.
The narrator/compiler of this guide is William, a young boy living with his uncle and trying to make sense of his situation and the world that he lives in.
By seperating and dissecting the different portions of his life, he not only presents the reader with a personal history, he is giving you a guide to himself even as he writes about what he knows. For example, his companion, the Betta Fish.
''Betta fish can cure you of nightmares if you hold them in your mouth for ten seconds each night before you go to sleep.Fill your mouth with water from the tap, lean your head back and open your mouth,then drop in the fish. Close your mouth and let him dust his fins on the inside of your cheek.This relationship is like the one between remora and sharks.By cleaning your cheeks,the fish is absorbing your nightmares.The darker the Betta fish is, the more nightmares it has absorbed,and once it is black, it cannot absorb anymore nightmares,so you will want to pick out a light-coloured Betta Fish''.
You, the reader, need to work at this book to unlock its secrets,what at first appears whimsical and novel reveals itself to be deeply affecting, moving and immersive. I am not ashamed to say I was moved to tears by Will's narrative and thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading his 'key'. This is a debut of strength, talent and wit, and I would recommend this book to those looking for something outside their usual reads which will stretch and challenge them
December 19, 2018
An odd and enjoyable book. Reed's narrative is an odd gambit that I've never seen before, and may never see again. The book is written as a glossary of terms relevant to the main character's life. At first, it seems like Reed wrote a novel, split it into paragraphs, pulled a key phrase out of each paragraph, and sorted them into alphabetical order. So, for example, instead of hearing a narrative about a character who wants to play in a baseball game from which he's excluded, you get a definition of Anger, Jealous that involves a boy astride his bike in the outfield watching the game from a distance. Then you realize that there is a linear narrative thread through these alphabetical entries; and that thread is a fairly characteristic Bildungsroman. That game (and many other events) reappear throughout. The narrative thread persists, despite all the fractures.
Reed borrows a lot from Huckleberry Finn: the boy with the absent father, the rafting trip down a large river somewhere in the Midwest (it's never clear where he's located, but he seems to end up in Louisiana). But these are casual borrowings, not (I think) substantive: the "companion" (such as he is) is a Native/Hispanic/Gypsy/American, and absents himself before the rafting begins; there is a "Jim," but he's not black runaway slave, and he's (possibly) an ex-friend of the boy's father (apparently dead by suicide). The uncle, who's sort of a stand-in father--I'll leave him for you to decipher.
It's a book that could fail in many, many ways, but it doesn't. Once you figure out what's going on, the narrative is engaging--perhaps even more engaging because Reed frequently gives us little more than hints about what's happening, and those hints are scattered among other more oblique clues. It's about constructing, decoding, and preserving your past, creating a private language that's almost photographic (watch for the camera).
Is this the American Odyssey? I think not (though I wouldn't be surprised to find some allusions). But it does record a displaced survivor's stoicism that, in the oddest of situations, finds ways to be generous. If Huck ends his book by fleeing commitments, this boy ends by embracing them.
Reed borrows a lot from Huckleberry Finn: the boy with the absent father, the rafting trip down a large river somewhere in the Midwest (it's never clear where he's located, but he seems to end up in Louisiana). But these are casual borrowings, not (I think) substantive: the "companion" (such as he is) is a Native/Hispanic/Gypsy/American, and absents himself before the rafting begins; there is a "Jim," but he's not black runaway slave, and he's (possibly) an ex-friend of the boy's father (apparently dead by suicide). The uncle, who's sort of a stand-in father--I'll leave him for you to decipher.
It's a book that could fail in many, many ways, but it doesn't. Once you figure out what's going on, the narrative is engaging--perhaps even more engaging because Reed frequently gives us little more than hints about what's happening, and those hints are scattered among other more oblique clues. It's about constructing, decoding, and preserving your past, creating a private language that's almost photographic (watch for the camera).
Is this the American Odyssey? I think not (though I wouldn't be surprised to find some allusions). But it does record a displaced survivor's stoicism that, in the oddest of situations, finds ways to be generous. If Huck ends his book by fleeing commitments, this boy ends by embracing them.
July 29, 2020
What drew me to this book, when I found it at my local used bookstore having never before heard of it, was its structure—it is written not as a standard narrative, but as a series of alphabetized encyclopedia entries. It starts with ABSENCE, and includes such subjects as CAMPFIRE, LIGHT-UP WATCH, LUMINESCENCE, SKIPPING ROCKS, and TENDERNESS. Through these entries, we get a hazy idea about the main character's past and present, and we follow him on a journey involving a raft on a river.
I thought this idea was innovative and interesting, but found that its charm wore off a bit as the book continued, especially when it felt like the author had to strong-arm it into working for the story he was trying to tell. This was especially noticeable in entries like GETTING IN CARS WITH STRANGERS, KERNELS OF THE PAST, LOOSE MEATS: SALISBURY STEAK, NAVIGATING BIG RIVERS BY NIGHT, and OCCUPANTS OF HOLDING AREAS IN RURAL JAILS, all of which clearly stray from what one might find in an actual encyclopedia.
Regardless, this is a quick and unique read, and if you're into experiments with form, you might enjoy picking it up.
I thought this idea was innovative and interesting, but found that its charm wore off a bit as the book continued, especially when it felt like the author had to strong-arm it into working for the story he was trying to tell. This was especially noticeable in entries like GETTING IN CARS WITH STRANGERS, KERNELS OF THE PAST, LOOSE MEATS: SALISBURY STEAK, NAVIGATING BIG RIVERS BY NIGHT, and OCCUPANTS OF HOLDING AREAS IN RURAL JAILS, all of which clearly stray from what one might find in an actual encyclopedia.
Regardless, this is a quick and unique read, and if you're into experiments with form, you might enjoy picking it up.
April 14, 2020
Many thanks to Turnaround Books and Melville House for providing an ARC for review.
This is unlike any other book I have read with no real beginning or end, told by a glossary of terms from A-Z. Each one a memory, a wisdom or a thought on a specific topic in life. Many of which are moving, funny and heartwarming.
Yet while written in such an unusual format, it clearly tells the boys coming of age story, perhaps in a very jagged way but it reveals his personality and inner thoughts which some books fail to deliver, and the sections cleverly weave together to form a single narrative. He grows up without either parent to help guide or influence him with only an absent uncle (looking for shortcuts in life) and a couple of friends (often taking advantage of him) for company.
As he outgrows his treehouse and curiosity gets the better of him, he takes off on a river journey to find his father from a picture taken many years ago and the answer to why he was abandoned. This journey is full of adventure, danger and encounters that lead him to learn about his parents' past and set out his own future.
As with many books that attempt something a little 'different' format-wise, it does take a little getting used to, and I always fear that with the format demanding our attention the story may fall a little flat. Here the book's continuous stream of facts, third-person voice and use of phrase repetition make it difficult to feel as though you are part of the story or have any real connection to the boy or the events around him. But it is a gentle story, and a light read, so it's certainly worth a shot; just don't expect too much from it.
This is a book I should have picked up, read half a dozen terms and put down. It's a book to chip away at, it is not a book to get lost in for hours on end and realise you have just lost your weekend.
3.5 unusual stars!
This is unlike any other book I have read with no real beginning or end, told by a glossary of terms from A-Z. Each one a memory, a wisdom or a thought on a specific topic in life. Many of which are moving, funny and heartwarming.
Yet while written in such an unusual format, it clearly tells the boys coming of age story, perhaps in a very jagged way but it reveals his personality and inner thoughts which some books fail to deliver, and the sections cleverly weave together to form a single narrative. He grows up without either parent to help guide or influence him with only an absent uncle (looking for shortcuts in life) and a couple of friends (often taking advantage of him) for company.
As he outgrows his treehouse and curiosity gets the better of him, he takes off on a river journey to find his father from a picture taken many years ago and the answer to why he was abandoned. This journey is full of adventure, danger and encounters that lead him to learn about his parents' past and set out his own future.
As with many books that attempt something a little 'different' format-wise, it does take a little getting used to, and I always fear that with the format demanding our attention the story may fall a little flat. Here the book's continuous stream of facts, third-person voice and use of phrase repetition make it difficult to feel as though you are part of the story or have any real connection to the boy or the events around him. But it is a gentle story, and a light read, so it's certainly worth a shot; just don't expect too much from it.
This is a book I should have picked up, read half a dozen terms and put down. It's a book to chip away at, it is not a book to get lost in for hours on end and realise you have just lost your weekend.
3.5 unusual stars!
June 19, 2018
Received as ARC from Tin House.
Like other reviewers, I enjoyed the interesting structure and deadpan voice of the narrator of this debut novel. Each passage/entry in this guidebook is almost like a stand-alone piece of prose, gathering momentum as you progress through the pages. If anything, this stand-alone feature made it hard for me to feel a sense of urgency; I didn't spend long stretches of time reading this one, but would instead pick it up, put it down and return later. This isn't necessarily a critique, just that each little morsel needed to be savored, rather than consumed in a gulp. (See also Extended Metaphor.)
Like other reviewers, I enjoyed the interesting structure and deadpan voice of the narrator of this debut novel. Each passage/entry in this guidebook is almost like a stand-alone piece of prose, gathering momentum as you progress through the pages. If anything, this stand-alone feature made it hard for me to feel a sense of urgency; I didn't spend long stretches of time reading this one, but would instead pick it up, put it down and return later. This isn't necessarily a critique, just that each little morsel needed to be savored, rather than consumed in a gulp. (See also Extended Metaphor.)
October 15, 2018
The ebook version of “Treehouse Living” was almost a DNF for me. Luckily, the audio version, read by Michael Crouch, became available at my library, and I tuned in on a long drive where I had hours to listen.
Although the book uses a gimmick, the story is told as an (almost) alphabetical list of words important to the narrator, Elliot Reed still manages to convey a strong sense of time and plot moving forward.
I recommend a bit of patience through the first part of the book. It gets its rhythm going at about the 25% point and moves along engagingly from there.
Although the book uses a gimmick, the story is told as an (almost) alphabetical list of words important to the narrator, Elliot Reed still manages to convey a strong sense of time and plot moving forward.
I recommend a bit of patience through the first part of the book. It gets its rhythm going at about the 25% point and moves along engagingly from there.
September 7, 2018
For William Tyce, the only way to narrate his life was to put it to paper, separating each event and memory in glossary form. After the death of his mother, his father abandons him and he is left in the care of his uncle and cousin. This is truly an unique coming-of-age story told in the most unpredictable way. Will's story will make you laugh and cry and perhaps you may learn a bit more about yourself. Very clever.
March 24, 2019
I really enjoyed the style of this book, with the unfolding of a story through short entries, that reveal a little bit more over time. The voice of the main character comes through in its own way. I almost felt like I would rather there be less plot (less the narrative arc of a child searching for his long lost father) because the writing and style carried the novel for me.
September 16, 2018
I thought this book was brilliantly written. The style was unusual and I didn’t believe, at first, that it would even tell a story. Not only was a story told, but the main character was one who will stay with me for a long time. I loved this little book!
November 22, 2022
Fun read, interesting layout for a novel (alphabetical entries as in dictionary/encyclopedia form). That style made it a little difficult to follow the narrative, however.
Read
December 30, 2022DNF @ 48%
My new year resolution is to stop reading books I’m not enjoying. This one has potential but I just can’t get into it.
My new year resolution is to stop reading books I’m not enjoying. This one has potential but I just can’t get into it.
November 2, 2019
Elliot Reed's debut novel is wonderfully inventive and packed with sweet innocence and peculiarly detailed folly. Although, it sometimes felt lacking in narrative drive, I really admired the tangible world it created out of the young narrator's voice.
June 20, 2019
The book was a delightful read. Obviously very unique, and maybe my first time reading in this manner inhibited my ability to fully appreciate it. The entries were often humorous and even thought-provoking. The story was a bit difficult to piece together and required some jumping around, but the author does a good job with cross-references to jump back and forth as is helpful, in most instances. The ending is a bit uneventful, and the take-away, if any, unclear. It was a good read for me, and I would definitely try this type of book again.
September 30, 2025
I really enjoyed this uniquely written book. Highly recommend this tale with echoes of Huck Finn.
May 12, 2023
Weird but wonderful.
Wes Anderson, make this into a film.
Wes Anderson, make this into a film.
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