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The Empress of Idaho
Bestselling and award-winning author Todd Babiak returns with an immersive and affecting story about a teenager's fascination with an enigmatic new woman in town whose past is catching up with her.
Summer 1989. Fourteen-year-old Adam Lisinski has a lot going for him in Monument, Colorado. He's hoping to be a starter on his high school football team, even though he's only a sophomore. He has a part-time job at Eugene's Gas Stop where he works with his best friend, Simon Kinoro. He'd like to see his girlfriend, Phoebe Brandt, more if he could, but he makes do with time alone at Monument Lake after her ballet lessons. He and his mother, Helen, have a close relationship, but Adam knows she worries.
And then Beatrice Cyr comes to town. From the second she steps out of his neighbour Marv Walker's truck, Adam is mesmerized. He neglects everything that matters to him and he's desperate to be around her, even if he's confused about what she wants or where she comes from. He begins to find himself alone with Beatrice--in the change room at Modern You, the clothing store on Second Street, at the Chapel Hill Cinema, in Marv's truck--and Adam is soon lying to everyone he cares about. And when Beatrice convinces Helen to quit her job to partner in an ambitious real estate venture, the stakes get higher until Adam is forced to make an impossible choice.
Riveting, emotionally complex, and sparkling with moments of compassion and humour, The Empress of Idaho is a story about loyalty, friendship, and the vulnerability and confusion of adolescence. It's a poignant, unforgettable portrait of a boy's difficult coming-of-age.
Summer 1989. Fourteen-year-old Adam Lisinski has a lot going for him in Monument, Colorado. He's hoping to be a starter on his high school football team, even though he's only a sophomore. He has a part-time job at Eugene's Gas Stop where he works with his best friend, Simon Kinoro. He'd like to see his girlfriend, Phoebe Brandt, more if he could, but he makes do with time alone at Monument Lake after her ballet lessons. He and his mother, Helen, have a close relationship, but Adam knows she worries.
And then Beatrice Cyr comes to town. From the second she steps out of his neighbour Marv Walker's truck, Adam is mesmerized. He neglects everything that matters to him and he's desperate to be around her, even if he's confused about what she wants or where she comes from. He begins to find himself alone with Beatrice--in the change room at Modern You, the clothing store on Second Street, at the Chapel Hill Cinema, in Marv's truck--and Adam is soon lying to everyone he cares about. And when Beatrice convinces Helen to quit her job to partner in an ambitious real estate venture, the stakes get higher until Adam is forced to make an impossible choice.
Riveting, emotionally complex, and sparkling with moments of compassion and humour, The Empress of Idaho is a story about loyalty, friendship, and the vulnerability and confusion of adolescence. It's a poignant, unforgettable portrait of a boy's difficult coming-of-age.
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2019
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794 people want to read
About the author
Todd Babiak
13 books77 followersWhen I think no one else is around, I conduct pretend orchestras.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
January 5, 2019
This book sweats with the heat it depicts and is dirty with the poor it describes.
I was fascinated to read this book from the first chapter and inspired to continue to read due to powerful story telling and deft writing.
The details described and the emotion captured felt real and raw.
With a climax that you can see coming from far out yet blindsides you when it happens.
Glad to have read this book and look forward now to reading more of Todd Babiak work- as this is the only book of his I have read.
I was fascinated to read this book from the first chapter and inspired to continue to read due to powerful story telling and deft writing.
The details described and the emotion captured felt real and raw.
With a climax that you can see coming from far out yet blindsides you when it happens.
Glad to have read this book and look forward now to reading more of Todd Babiak work- as this is the only book of his I have read.
March 21, 2019
QOTD: What are the qualities you’re looking for in someone you want to grow old with?
My Review:
This book is not at all what I expected, it was better. I thought it was going to be a light read and I was totally wrong. This book deals with difficult subjects such as sexual abuse of a teenager by an adult, hustling, and deception. It is the Summer of 1989 and in the span of a few months, everything will change in Adam Lisinki’s life. Trouble has a name, it is Beatrice Cyr, a 37 years old woman who just moved to Monument, Colorado. Things will never be the same for this town where nothing ever happens.
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Goodreads for my advanced copy of this fascinating book. The Empress of Idaho by Todd Babiak will be available at your favourite bookstore on April 30, 2019.
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May 25, 2019
I powered through this novel, it took me back to my teenage years and at some points had me laughing out loud. Although the topic was disturbing it’s also more common than is typically discussed. Had some dark twists that left me pleasantly surprised and gave me everything I want in one great book.
August 10, 2022
This was not what I expected at all.
It's my fault for not reading the full description; I'm a sucker for a cute cover.
I thought this was going to be a fun Summer read about kids being kids.
Instead it ends up being
This was not for me.
Writing's decent, but the story felt forced(?) in too many directions.
It kind of comes together in the end, but by then I was spacing out and wishing for the end to have arrived faster.
It's my fault for not reading the full description; I'm a sucker for a cute cover.
I thought this was going to be a fun Summer read about kids being kids.
Instead it ends up being
This was not for me.
Writing's decent, but the story felt forced(?) in too many directions.
It kind of comes together in the end, but by then I was spacing out and wishing for the end to have arrived faster.
October 29, 2024
Wow, what a book.
This is definitely a book to look at the trigger warnings prior to reading because it's a pretty intense novel. Some of the trigger warnings are for: sexual abuse, child abuse, suicide, depression, racism, and homophobia. There honestly is probably even more.
It feels odd to say that I 'liked' such an intense, grotesque, and disturbing novel but it was a story that was incredibly well written and had you entrenched and captivated.
Even though it's a book that will have you horrified and shocked, it's also book that is hard to put down and difficult to stop reading. I read this book in less than a day but even more than that, in mostly one sitting. Between the writing and uniqueness of this story, I couldn't help but want to read more.
I am a little confused by the ending and judging by a little investigation, I don't think I'm the only one. Maybe I missed something? Either way, this book although incredibly disturbing was a read that I don't think I could forget even if I tried.
***I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
This is definitely a book to look at the trigger warnings prior to reading because it's a pretty intense novel. Some of the trigger warnings are for: sexual abuse, child abuse, suicide, depression, racism, and homophobia. There honestly is probably even more.
It feels odd to say that I 'liked' such an intense, grotesque, and disturbing novel but it was a story that was incredibly well written and had you entrenched and captivated.
Even though it's a book that will have you horrified and shocked, it's also book that is hard to put down and difficult to stop reading. I read this book in less than a day but even more than that, in mostly one sitting. Between the writing and uniqueness of this story, I couldn't help but want to read more.
I am a little confused by the ending and judging by a little investigation, I don't think I'm the only one. Maybe I missed something? Either way, this book although incredibly disturbing was a read that I don't think I could forget even if I tried.
***I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review***
June 19, 2019
The five stars I gave this novel doesn’t mean I loved reading it. It means that it was a very well crafted novel, believable enough to have really happened, and so engaging that I had a hard time putting it down. Truthfully though, as a 67ish woman who has lived a life fairly sheltered from the darker side of the world, I found it difficult to read the graphic details of the sexual abuse that transpired in this story. Aside from that aspect( without which of course, the story would not have had the same impact) I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, and the subtle, underlying humor which punctuated many parts of the book. I thought the characters were well developed, and was able to envision them in my mind. The narrator’s obsession with the woman who seduced and abused him, was so palpable and I wanted to shout at him and shake him, and yes, kill that horrible woman. I like the way Helen’s character evolved, and became strong, and exacted revenge for the damage done to her son. I also like Simon’s character, and the fact that it was never made clear whether he was or wasn’t “Wendy”, was done I think to make us realize that a person’s sexuality is his/her own business entirely, and quite irrelevant in the big picture.
So yeah, a difficult but memorable read. Good job, Todd.
So yeah, a difficult but memorable read. Good job, Todd.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2019
I fairly ripped through this one! It's situated during the summer, that cover screams summer, so it turned out to be a good one to read during the summer right? It does leave you feeling a little unsettled given the subject matter - it's a unlawful coming of age for Adam for certain. I'm a little disappointed perhaps with the way it ends? It's okay, but it kind of did melt/drizzle out like that ice cream cone on the cover of the book.
July 22, 2019
I have read some of Todd's earlier books, and man..... he has outdone himself. (I didn't read any of the crime ones).
I read an interview about this book, which is based on an actual incident that happened to Todd. The story is told from the point of view of a 14-year-old boy named Adam. Adam lives in the poor section of his town, and he is overshadowed by his older brother, a football star. Adam meets a 30-something woman who has married his neighbour, and they start an affair. But the affair is not a romance. It is very abusive, but Adam thinks he is in love.
I found the story compelling and I breezed through this book. This is also a story about social class. It's set in a town in Colorado, but Todd comes from Leduc, the same town as my partner. Even though the story is set in the States, it feels and seems like Leduc. I liked the way that social class was a theme throughout the novel. I also liked all the 80s references (the story is set in 1989). The writing is very good and there are some clever sentences and some damn beautiful sentences. The voice and pacing are good. There's a lot of confusion in the narrator's voice.
I would not be surprised if this novel gets optioned as a screenplay. I had a few issues with the ending, but most of it really worked for me.
I read an interview about this book, which is based on an actual incident that happened to Todd. The story is told from the point of view of a 14-year-old boy named Adam. Adam lives in the poor section of his town, and he is overshadowed by his older brother, a football star. Adam meets a 30-something woman who has married his neighbour, and they start an affair. But the affair is not a romance. It is very abusive, but Adam thinks he is in love.
I found the story compelling and I breezed through this book. This is also a story about social class. It's set in a town in Colorado, but Todd comes from Leduc, the same town as my partner. Even though the story is set in the States, it feels and seems like Leduc. I liked the way that social class was a theme throughout the novel. I also liked all the 80s references (the story is set in 1989). The writing is very good and there are some clever sentences and some damn beautiful sentences. The voice and pacing are good. There's a lot of confusion in the narrator's voice.
I would not be surprised if this novel gets optioned as a screenplay. I had a few issues with the ending, but most of it really worked for me.
May 26, 2019
I really liked Todd Babiak's previous book and was very excited to get my hands on this new one! He has this way of writing about people and emotions, you just have to read it to see. This was really good, and I thought I knew where it was going but I was wrong. His descriptions of life in a lower class American household will stick with me for a long time
February 10, 2022
A sad story and I think I would have enjoyed it more if it didn’t feel so obviously written by a man. I found myself losing interest at times because I didn’t find the story very exciting or interesting story.
*Gifted by Penguin Random House Canada*
*Gifted by Penguin Random House Canada*
July 11, 2019
He’s a wonderful writer. I loved his last two books which were totally different. Before, he was a somewhat guilty pleasure; now I realize how good he really is.
August 12, 2020
A quick, but rather hard read. What a young man views as love, is actually sexual abuse by an adult, and the fallout from that certainly changed his life.
July 10, 2019
While most coming-of-age stories feature some challenge the protagonist must overcome,
The Empress of Idaho
flips this idea on its head a bit. 14-year-old Adam doesn't think anything particularly unusual has happened to him — he has fallen in love, with the most glamorous person he's ever seen in his small town of Monument, Colorado.
The problem is the object of his love is 30-something Beatrice. Her arrival is a bit of a shock: she's married the balding and rather average next-door neighbor Marv. Beatrice quickly becomes friends and business partners with Adam's mother and is kind at first to Adam, dropping hundreds of dollars on a new suit so he can fit in at an event with his well-off girlfriend Phoebe.
However, soon, the relationship becomes predatory and sexual. As the novel progresses, it challenges the overriding societal ideas of what it means to "take advantage" of a young boy. Adam, of course, is blind to the inappropriateness of the relationship. His friendship with Simon, who warns him that Beatrice is trouble, is a great — if slightly underdeveloped — part of the story.
Todd Babiak's writing is well done. The book is set in 1989, and you definitely feel that through the cultural references. The narrative moves at a great pace but the last chapter feels rushed while revealing the scars that Beatrice has left on Adam over the years. Overall, The Empress of Idaho will definitely make you think about the nature of masculinity and (after a twist near the end) morality long after you put it down.
The problem is the object of his love is 30-something Beatrice. Her arrival is a bit of a shock: she's married the balding and rather average next-door neighbor Marv. Beatrice quickly becomes friends and business partners with Adam's mother and is kind at first to Adam, dropping hundreds of dollars on a new suit so he can fit in at an event with his well-off girlfriend Phoebe.
However, soon, the relationship becomes predatory and sexual. As the novel progresses, it challenges the overriding societal ideas of what it means to "take advantage" of a young boy. Adam, of course, is blind to the inappropriateness of the relationship. His friendship with Simon, who warns him that Beatrice is trouble, is a great — if slightly underdeveloped — part of the story.
Todd Babiak's writing is well done. The book is set in 1989, and you definitely feel that through the cultural references. The narrative moves at a great pace but the last chapter feels rushed while revealing the scars that Beatrice has left on Adam over the years. Overall, The Empress of Idaho will definitely make you think about the nature of masculinity and (after a twist near the end) morality long after you put it down.
July 10, 2019
I was at a local bookstore recently and this book caught my eye. I gave the synopsis a little glance and it sounded like a story I hadn't read before. I thought it sounded like a nice light summer read. To preface this I tend to read a book in a day or two max. This book took me weeks to get through. Not because the subject matter was heavy or that it was difficult to read but because I was so bored. Nothing was interesting enough to keep me reading or made me want to pick it up.
I thought the entire book was written like the author's wet dream about a young boy being seduced by an older mysterious women. It was as if a young man was showing off to his teen friends about how cool it was t hat he was sleeping with an older lady. It was gross. The entire book I just kept thinking this is a child and this is gross. It was written like we are supposed to understand the thoughts of this very dumb young boy, and find the thrill that he finds but it never worked. The characters were never well fleshed out. They were all one dimensional or caricatures that we have seen a million times before. The clique and predicable story went nowhere. The ending just fizzled out and I was left bored and grossed out.
Highly do not recommend, and regret my spur of the moment purchase.
I thought the entire book was written like the author's wet dream about a young boy being seduced by an older mysterious women. It was as if a young man was showing off to his teen friends about how cool it was t hat he was sleeping with an older lady. It was gross. The entire book I just kept thinking this is a child and this is gross. It was written like we are supposed to understand the thoughts of this very dumb young boy, and find the thrill that he finds but it never worked. The characters were never well fleshed out. They were all one dimensional or caricatures that we have seen a million times before. The clique and predicable story went nowhere. The ending just fizzled out and I was left bored and grossed out.
Highly do not recommend, and regret my spur of the moment purchase.
July 22, 2019
Thirty-seven-year-old Beatrice Cyr is a mysterious woman who captivates everyone when she moves to the quiet Jefferson St. Fourteen-year-old Adam isn't sure what it is about her, but suddenly he wants to be near her, and he finds himself dismissing everything else he previously found important - school, football, his best friend, his girlfriend. As he becomes wrapped up in Beatrice's world, Adam becomes more and more uncertain about who she is, what she wants and whether this is what he wants. This book is not what you think - it's about relationships, yes, but also seduction, adolescent confusion, the risks you'll go through to save the people you love. It's going to hit you hard and I guarantee you won't see the end coming. Definitely worth a read - just make sure you've got someone to talk to about it once you're done.
July 2, 2019
I blew through this book as it was fucking nuts. I expected some kind of catharsis at the end, but I think the last chapter really ruined the whole book for me. It ended really weakly.
The characterization in this book is also quite weak, overall. There were no characters that I actually liked, except maybe Simon but even then there was no depth to him. I can’t believe that Adam really has no self awareness, never comes to terms with his trauma, and still pines for the woman who raped him when he was 14. It was just a wacky ride for no reason. I wanted to know more about Beatrice’s story. I didn’t like that the epilogue covers 30 years of character history.
The characterization in this book is also quite weak, overall. There were no characters that I actually liked, except maybe Simon but even then there was no depth to him. I can’t believe that Adam really has no self awareness, never comes to terms with his trauma, and still pines for the woman who raped him when he was 14. It was just a wacky ride for no reason. I wanted to know more about Beatrice’s story. I didn’t like that the epilogue covers 30 years of character history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2019
Intense read. It didn't quite hit all the right points for me, personally, and I'm unsure about the ending. There are a few things I wish had been a little more fleshed out. That said, the story was captivating. It's sad and it's traumatic and it's tragic in multiple ways. Definitely not for the faint of heart, and massive CW for statutory rape.
July 12, 2019
Clear your schedule because you won't be doing anything else once you start reading this. A big, juicy, emotionally and morally complex coming-of-age novel with a smart, sweet hero at its core. My heart is still a little broken for him 💔
June 13, 2020
This was an entertaining book to read. Great easy read but a little out there with a 14 year old having an affair with an older woman.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
May 16, 2019
this book was well written but the plot was just so??? not what i was expecting or wanted from this book???
September 2, 2019
Compelling to continue to read, but left many unanswered questions (not is a good way)
September 2, 2019
I became so engrossed in this story, I was nearly late for my dental appointment! The skillful storytelling creates a spell biding adventure of young Adam and his next-door neighbor, Beatrice!
October 6, 2019
An amazing story that turns everything you thought you knew about illicit romance on it's head.
not-finished
October 27, 2019Just couldn't find any enthusiasm to finish.
September 11, 2025
So, this wasn't a *bad* book. The prose is actually pretty great, and there's some real solid, coming-of-age teenage moments & dialogue. I'm also not one for trigger warnings, but The Empress of Idaho was in definite need of having some sort of reader advisory notes on it. The fun, poppy cover belies the book's serious subject matter of child abuse, rape, and adult-child(teen) relationships. I have more that I can say about it from a personal standpoint, but I won't jumble up the stripped-down nature of my review with any unnecessary points.
January 20, 2025
This is about a promising high school football player in a small American town who becomes involved with a manipulative woman and falls in love with her. Author Todd Babiak does a sensitive job of showing Adam's confusion and sexual infatuation as he ignores the warnings of his friends and adults. I liked the book.
June 15, 2024
In 1989 America fourteen year old Adam becomes captivated by his neighbor’s new wife. While an interesting story, the unsavoury subject matter was offputting and wasn’t enjoyable for me to read.
March 10, 2020
A staple of the Alberta book scene, Todd Babiak is a familiar name to most. In addition to his talents as a writer, he is quite simply, a very funny person. He hosted the Alberta Literary Awards a few years ago, keeping the audience laughing throughout, and believe me, this is no easy task (I’ve done it myself, so I can say this with certainty!). Because he has such a wonderful sense of humour, I’ll admit I unfairly expected his latest book to read like a comedy. And although it had its funny moments, it is most definitely not a comedic novel.
The Empress of Idaho is told from the perspective of fourteen-year-old Adam, a polite, promising teen who lives in small-town Colorado, a place where nothing ever happens and high school football is the main source of entertainment. Adam gets good grades, is a star football player, and dating one of the richest girls in his town; he is ‘going’ somewhere. But the arrival of Beatrice Cyr (which we later discover, is not her real name) distorts Adam’s perfect-looking future when she becomes his next-door neighbor. Her high-heels and expensive clothes are even more extraordinary when it’s revealed she’s married Marv, a slovenly older man who’s nice enough, but twice the age of Beatrice and not half as attractive as her. Right from the beginning her entrance is suspicious, and Babiak does a superb job at heightening the tension and dread as it’s revealed she has a darker sexual side.
It’s no spoiler to reveal that Adam begins a sexual relationship with Beatrice, and it doesn’t take the reader long to realize that she is abusing Adam, whether he realizes it or not. Yes, he’s a teenage boy, and society jokes about this sort of thing as a ‘dream come true’ for male adolescents, but Babiak makes it clear she is manipulating him in a negative way, even if Adam thinks he is in love with her. As we know, many people who experience domestic abuse are also deeply in love with their abuser, and even though the genders in this book don’t conform to what we typically expect of this kind of sexual abuse, this situation does not seem far-fetched at all. In fact, Adam slips into this horrendous state-of-mind so easily, as a reader I was shocked at how easily Beatrice was able to deceive him and his family.
Which brings me to the characterization of Beatrice; although we never see the world through her own eyes, I badly wanted to. She has everyone under her spell, except for the reader. Adam lives with his single mother, (his father ran off long ago), and like her son, she also falls for Beatrice, but in a completely different way. For Adam’s mother, Beatrice is a symbol of hope and independence, and together, they create an investment scheme that the locals buy into, essentially getting something out of nothing. So Beatrice is deeply problematic; we can’t call her evil because she does bring about (very few) positive things, but it’s also clear she’s suffered as a child, and although the abuses she experienced herself are only hinted at, it doesn’t take much to imagine what turned her into the offender she becomes. If this is all making you uneasy, it should be! I felt a sense of dread deep in the pit of my stomach throughout my entire reading of this, but I was also eager to see how
it turns out for each character, and thank god Babiak doesn’t leave it open-ended, he tidily answers all our questions by the end.
Many people have called this book a modern-day Lolita, but there is a very big difference between the two books, and that is the clear condemnation of Beatrice’s acts. Although it has been awhile since I’ve read Lolita, a criticism of it is the subtle justification the adult man’s behavior, who was so clearly a predator. In Empress, there is no question that Beatrice is the predator, and though her despicable actions may be triggered by something in her past and we feel a bit of sympathy for her, no character remains untouched by her contagion.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
or follow me on twitter:
https://twitter.com/ivereadthisblog
The Empress of Idaho is told from the perspective of fourteen-year-old Adam, a polite, promising teen who lives in small-town Colorado, a place where nothing ever happens and high school football is the main source of entertainment. Adam gets good grades, is a star football player, and dating one of the richest girls in his town; he is ‘going’ somewhere. But the arrival of Beatrice Cyr (which we later discover, is not her real name) distorts Adam’s perfect-looking future when she becomes his next-door neighbor. Her high-heels and expensive clothes are even more extraordinary when it’s revealed she’s married Marv, a slovenly older man who’s nice enough, but twice the age of Beatrice and not half as attractive as her. Right from the beginning her entrance is suspicious, and Babiak does a superb job at heightening the tension and dread as it’s revealed she has a darker sexual side.
It’s no spoiler to reveal that Adam begins a sexual relationship with Beatrice, and it doesn’t take the reader long to realize that she is abusing Adam, whether he realizes it or not. Yes, he’s a teenage boy, and society jokes about this sort of thing as a ‘dream come true’ for male adolescents, but Babiak makes it clear she is manipulating him in a negative way, even if Adam thinks he is in love with her. As we know, many people who experience domestic abuse are also deeply in love with their abuser, and even though the genders in this book don’t conform to what we typically expect of this kind of sexual abuse, this situation does not seem far-fetched at all. In fact, Adam slips into this horrendous state-of-mind so easily, as a reader I was shocked at how easily Beatrice was able to deceive him and his family.
Which brings me to the characterization of Beatrice; although we never see the world through her own eyes, I badly wanted to. She has everyone under her spell, except for the reader. Adam lives with his single mother, (his father ran off long ago), and like her son, she also falls for Beatrice, but in a completely different way. For Adam’s mother, Beatrice is a symbol of hope and independence, and together, they create an investment scheme that the locals buy into, essentially getting something out of nothing. So Beatrice is deeply problematic; we can’t call her evil because she does bring about (very few) positive things, but it’s also clear she’s suffered as a child, and although the abuses she experienced herself are only hinted at, it doesn’t take much to imagine what turned her into the offender she becomes. If this is all making you uneasy, it should be! I felt a sense of dread deep in the pit of my stomach throughout my entire reading of this, but I was also eager to see how
it turns out for each character, and thank god Babiak doesn’t leave it open-ended, he tidily answers all our questions by the end.
Many people have called this book a modern-day Lolita, but there is a very big difference between the two books, and that is the clear condemnation of Beatrice’s acts. Although it has been awhile since I’ve read Lolita, a criticism of it is the subtle justification the adult man’s behavior, who was so clearly a predator. In Empress, there is no question that Beatrice is the predator, and though her despicable actions may be triggered by something in her past and we feel a bit of sympathy for her, no character remains untouched by her contagion.
To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/
or follow me on twitter:
https://twitter.com/ivereadthisblog
March 4, 2023
I didn’t know what to expect when I picked it up but I was still surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The descriptions make it easy to picture what is happening (this can be tough at times because of the subject matter) and I loved the characters. It is also a dark book at times so be prepared for that too.
November 24, 2021
The Garneau Block is one of my all time favourite reads. Chokehold also excellent. The pace and style of this book are as good as the others, so it is a compellingly crafted tale. The first person narrator starts as a 14 year old boy and is later that boy grown up. I did not find the perspective of the 14 yr old convincing as such; it is more palatable as an adult reflection after the fact. That’s not really how it’s presented though.
I think the book would have been stronger with more of the disjunction between those teen vs adult perspectives explored, or perhaps exposed. This book has blended them together too much. The book is poised on the continuity of much of that 14 yr old obsession over time though. I think that it dodged some complexity around that. I think that the author chose a more ‘entertaining’ rather than authentic path for the story. I think that’s what didn’t sit well with me about it. There was bravery in the choice of topic and leaning into the raw, graphic elements of it, but it stopped short of making the leap from novel to literature through an insistence on an overall lightheartedness that didn’t really ring true.
I think the book would have been stronger with more of the disjunction between those teen vs adult perspectives explored, or perhaps exposed. This book has blended them together too much. The book is poised on the continuity of much of that 14 yr old obsession over time though. I think that it dodged some complexity around that. I think that the author chose a more ‘entertaining’ rather than authentic path for the story. I think that’s what didn’t sit well with me about it. There was bravery in the choice of topic and leaning into the raw, graphic elements of it, but it stopped short of making the leap from novel to literature through an insistence on an overall lightheartedness that didn’t really ring true.
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