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Five Windows
"Darkly funny and surreal, FIVE WINDOWS is a timely, page-turning debut about alienation and breakdowns communal and individual."
- Vanessa Hua, author of River of Stars At a busy intersection on a crammed city hillside, an overworked book editor looks up long enough to watch a trio of houses go up in flames. Once the smoke clears, he becomes increasingly concerned by what he sees out his windows and starts asking questions he never bothered with Is the encampment in the park responsible for the fires―or are his new upscale neighbors somehow to blame? Has the man upstairs even bothered to notice, or is his time better spent battling with his boyfriend? What's his own ex-wife doing, resurfacing now just when things are getting tense? Is everyone safer with more fire trucks around? And, just a block down the hill, is the new mixed-use project the perfect urban remedy, or will it do even more damage? By the time the home across the street catches fire, he has to face a few questions about himself, too, including his own role in the neighborhood's upheaval. Inspired by Hitchcock's Rear Window and set in San Francisco, Jon Roemer's debut novel explores a fabled American city divided by rapid and aggressive change.
- Vanessa Hua, author of River of Stars At a busy intersection on a crammed city hillside, an overworked book editor looks up long enough to watch a trio of houses go up in flames. Once the smoke clears, he becomes increasingly concerned by what he sees out his windows and starts asking questions he never bothered with Is the encampment in the park responsible for the fires―or are his new upscale neighbors somehow to blame? Has the man upstairs even bothered to notice, or is his time better spent battling with his boyfriend? What's his own ex-wife doing, resurfacing now just when things are getting tense? Is everyone safer with more fire trucks around? And, just a block down the hill, is the new mixed-use project the perfect urban remedy, or will it do even more damage? By the time the home across the street catches fire, he has to face a few questions about himself, too, including his own role in the neighborhood's upheaval. Inspired by Hitchcock's Rear Window and set in San Francisco, Jon Roemer's debut novel explores a fabled American city divided by rapid and aggressive change.
- GenresFiction
184 pages, Paperback
Published September 24, 2019
2 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 18, 2020
I thought the premise of this sounded interesting, and since it was a debut novel by an SF author and set there (my native city), I wanted to take a look. It's a quick, relatively easy read, and one does become engrossed in the goings-on of the unnamed narrator and his neighbors. My main problem is that there is a lot of material that doesn't tangibly lead anywhere - these aren't really even 'red herrings', more like anachronisms that pop up and are never explained; they may lend an eerie atmosphere, but the story deflates at the end when everything is left hanging.
Questions abound: Whys does Sylvie return, and what's her connection to the lesbian couple and their baby making exploits? What causes the explosions coming from that couple's abode? Why does Marleen bring comforting soup one minute, and then flip off our narrator the next? Who's setting all the fires and why? What's the reason for all the hatred towards bestselling author Beau Bram's book - and why does he offer it to our narrator, when he could go to major publishers? So many, many things left unresolved.
Also - this has GOT to be one of the most execrable copy-editing jobs I've seen in a long time ... virtually every 3 or 4 pages there is a word missing/duplicated/transposed/misspelled - disgraceful!!!
Questions abound: Whys does Sylvie return, and what's her connection to the lesbian couple and their baby making exploits? What causes the explosions coming from that couple's abode? Why does Marleen bring comforting soup one minute, and then flip off our narrator the next? Who's setting all the fires and why? What's the reason for all the hatred towards bestselling author Beau Bram's book - and why does he offer it to our narrator, when he could go to major publishers? So many, many things left unresolved.
Also - this has GOT to be one of the most execrable copy-editing jobs I've seen in a long time ... virtually every 3 or 4 pages there is a word missing/duplicated/transposed/misspelled - disgraceful!!!
September 23, 2019
‘I don’t know their names, and I’m not looking for anyone, but now and then, it’s worth a look out the windows at the city and the skyline and the leather-soled rabble on the sidewalks below.’
Our unnamed narrator spends his days at home, reading submissions for a publishing firm, and watching the world go by outside his window. But strange things are happening: fires are being started across the neighbourhood; his upstairs neighbours, a gay couple called Kenny and Darrel, argue and one of them ends up in hospital; unexplained explosions can be heard coming from nearby houses; the city authorities have started demolishing buildings to create a new transit hub. Nothing is really explained, but there is a creeping sense of unease, of conflict, and a rising tension. A local encampment is perhaps to blame for the arson attacks, and our narrator starts being wooed by a famous author Beau Bram to publish a short novel that many others have turned down. Bram starts to act increasingly bizarrely, and our narrator’s life starts to disintegrate: he resigns from his job, he falls down the stairs and ends up with a leg in a brace, and his ex-wife seems to have agreed to be a surrogate mother for a local lesbian couple…
All in all, this was an oddity. I’m left slightly perplexed as to whether I actually enjoyed it or not. At one point, the new novel by Beau Bram is described thus: ‘The book has some hidden eggs. Some coded subtext, which you may have missed.’
And that’s kind of how I feel about this. There is clearly a lot of oblique references to modern-day America: fear of the incomer, conflict between parts of society, an overall sense of fear in which the fires seem to be symbolic of the tension. The comedy teeters on farce at times, but there are some genuine comic moments. And as the fires creep ever closer to our narrator’s home the novel ends on a suitably ominous note.
This is a well-written book which has layers of meaning, but for all that I was left rather bemused, a little unsatisfied, and also a little deflated. It was fine, but didn’t get my juices flowing. An interesting but not earth-shattering 3 stars.
Our unnamed narrator spends his days at home, reading submissions for a publishing firm, and watching the world go by outside his window. But strange things are happening: fires are being started across the neighbourhood; his upstairs neighbours, a gay couple called Kenny and Darrel, argue and one of them ends up in hospital; unexplained explosions can be heard coming from nearby houses; the city authorities have started demolishing buildings to create a new transit hub. Nothing is really explained, but there is a creeping sense of unease, of conflict, and a rising tension. A local encampment is perhaps to blame for the arson attacks, and our narrator starts being wooed by a famous author Beau Bram to publish a short novel that many others have turned down. Bram starts to act increasingly bizarrely, and our narrator’s life starts to disintegrate: he resigns from his job, he falls down the stairs and ends up with a leg in a brace, and his ex-wife seems to have agreed to be a surrogate mother for a local lesbian couple…
All in all, this was an oddity. I’m left slightly perplexed as to whether I actually enjoyed it or not. At one point, the new novel by Beau Bram is described thus: ‘The book has some hidden eggs. Some coded subtext, which you may have missed.’
And that’s kind of how I feel about this. There is clearly a lot of oblique references to modern-day America: fear of the incomer, conflict between parts of society, an overall sense of fear in which the fires seem to be symbolic of the tension. The comedy teeters on farce at times, but there are some genuine comic moments. And as the fires creep ever closer to our narrator’s home the novel ends on a suitably ominous note.
This is a well-written book which has layers of meaning, but for all that I was left rather bemused, a little unsatisfied, and also a little deflated. It was fine, but didn’t get my juices flowing. An interesting but not earth-shattering 3 stars.
October 25, 2019
Five Windows, Jon Roemer’s debut novel, centers around the quotidian affairs of an introverted workaholic who’s resolved to interact with the world through computer screens and a handful of windows that look down onto the bustling neighborhood below. From his vantage point, he is witness to the daily comings and goings of commuters, the unfolding and unraveling lives of newcomers and mainstays alike. Unfortunately, the overworked editor seems to always take notice of things a touch too late. His tardiness makes him bystander to a monstrosity of modern convenience being erected in his own neighborhood, the spoiling of the food delivered to him fresh daily, the torching of homes belonging to newcomers as seemingly content to mind their own business as he, and the literal shattering of his home’s five windows from which he, and we, look through while life ebbs and flows, for better or worse, come what may—waiting for the other shoe to drop all the while. Roemer’s narrator perfectly encapsulates the conundrum of a life lived spent resisting what a new day may bring with the line, “Some days it feels like I started remodeling but never got past the demolition.” As you take note of the thinning remaining pages, you’ll slow your reading or find yourself putting the book on a nearby shelf so you can dive into its pages again, and soon. No one should skip this book.
September 9, 2019
4.5 ⭐️ This book was eerie in that it’s dealing with something so real and so human. The story touches on about how we can live surrounded by so many people and not know any of them. It’s a “whodunit” style book that leaves you questioning what is actually happening? The story ties together at the end and it makes you think about your life and the choices you make. I recommend reading this.
November 27, 2019
Review will be out on the Independent Book Review soon!
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November 19, 2021Finishing this book left me feeling confused. I could detect themes in the text--isolation, gentrification, how little we truly know the people who surround us--but at the same time I wasn't sure what the story was trying to tell me, exactly. That's not necessarily a bad thing: reading the reviews here shows that everyone has a different interpretation, each valid and interesting. They've given me a lot to think about!
One thing I particularly can't make sense of is the narrator's tendency to repel, anger, or annoy people after seemingly innocuous interactions. It feels like some kind of victim complex made real, if that makes sense. I think because of this, I convinced myself that the narrator was totally unraveling and was unable to retain memory of the harmful things he was doing. In that sense, the ending was a letdown, but after some reflection I don't think that was the point. I will have to take some time to think about this novel as a whole.
One thing I particularly can't make sense of is the narrator's tendency to repel, anger, or annoy people after seemingly innocuous interactions. It feels like some kind of victim complex made real, if that makes sense. I think because of this, I convinced myself that the narrator was totally unraveling and was unable to retain memory of the harmful things he was doing. In that sense, the ending was a letdown, but after some reflection I don't think that was the point. I will have to take some time to think about this novel as a whole.
October 6, 2020
A dark satire about gentrification and its discontents that has only taken on more resonance during the pandemic. A divorced publisher who works from home, living on app-delivered groceries, becomes preoccupied with the new occupants of the renovated building across the street. Houses are going up in flames. The couple upstairs keeps having gory “accidents.” An otherwise highly competent employee has turned flat-earther, and a famous author is making him an offer he can’t refuse. Roemer has a sharp eye for the blind spots of the creative class, but he doesn’t let his reclusive protagonist off the hook either. He’s eating pudding cups as his city burns, but aren’t we all?
December 3, 2019
A very literary, interesting little novel. Narrated by a book editor in San Francisco, who wtches through his condos windows as the worl goes by and his neighborhood gentrifies. As eventual turns him into more of a hermit than he was already becoming, while he contemplates his life, his neighborhood and neighbors, and his career and business. While the blurbs call it a thriller and hilarious, I found it to be neither. But on its own merits its a very enjoyable read.
August 18, 2020
This short novel is a great study of San Francisco just before the coronavirus pandemic. Arsons, homeless suffering, people relying on food delivery for their contact with humanity, the brief encounters we have with people who live near us... the mood of the city was well captured in this book about an unhappy editor/publisher who spends far too much of his time looking out his windows.
May 16, 2022
I enjoyed this book for about the first two thirds, then it started to fall apart and become slightly confusing and repetitive. But there are many very funny lines about authors and books and spot-on observations of modern big city life.
February 25, 2023
Much enjoyed the mood, not Hitchcock's in REAR WINDOW, but its own hopeful noir. Reminds the reader of all the windows we see through. Most memorable, the main character's POV. Grateful that my local library [small town!] even had a copy of it.
January 6, 2023
is this just about gentrification
March 7, 2024
In the bustling confines of a densely populated hillside city, our narrator, a diligent book editor, observes the ebb and flow of his neighborhood with keen interest. His routine is disrupted when three houses are consumed by flames, prompting concern and speculation, yet no inquiries into the cause are pursued. Amidst this backdrop, the narrator finds solace in the annual library gatherings, where he becomes intrigued by the seemingly idyllic relationship between his neighbor Kenny and his partner Darrel—a union that has endured longer than the narrator's own marriage.
As the narrator navigates the complexities of his personal life, including the return of his ex-wife Sylvie and the unwavering support of neighbors Max and Marleen, he grapples with professional challenges at his publishing house. The arrival of acclaimed author Beau Bram and the subsequent collaboration with the narrator's small publishing firm raise suspicions, leading to a confrontation and a series of unexpected revelations.
Through trials and tribulations, including confrontations, injuries, and a pervasive sense of disillusionment, the narrator learns the invaluable lesson that amidst life's adversities, the presence of supportive companionship can provide solace and strength. Despite grappling with feelings of isolation and existential angst, the narrator ultimately finds resilience and hope in the bonds forged with his community.
While the narrator's journey is marked by moments of introspection and self-doubt, the narrative resonates with authenticity, capturing the nuances of human relationships and the complexities of navigating life's uncertainties. Roemer's adept storytelling delves into themes of injustice, bravery, and the quest for connection, offering readers a poignant and relatable exploration of the human experience.
In its portrayal of everyday struggles and triumphs, this novel serves as a poignant reminder of the power of community and the enduring resilience of the human spirit. I wholeheartedly recommend it to readers seeking a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant narrative. Many thanks to Dzanc Books for providing an advance copy, and mark your calendars for its release on September 24, 2019.
As the narrator navigates the complexities of his personal life, including the return of his ex-wife Sylvie and the unwavering support of neighbors Max and Marleen, he grapples with professional challenges at his publishing house. The arrival of acclaimed author Beau Bram and the subsequent collaboration with the narrator's small publishing firm raise suspicions, leading to a confrontation and a series of unexpected revelations.
Through trials and tribulations, including confrontations, injuries, and a pervasive sense of disillusionment, the narrator learns the invaluable lesson that amidst life's adversities, the presence of supportive companionship can provide solace and strength. Despite grappling with feelings of isolation and existential angst, the narrator ultimately finds resilience and hope in the bonds forged with his community.
While the narrator's journey is marked by moments of introspection and self-doubt, the narrative resonates with authenticity, capturing the nuances of human relationships and the complexities of navigating life's uncertainties. Roemer's adept storytelling delves into themes of injustice, bravery, and the quest for connection, offering readers a poignant and relatable exploration of the human experience.
In its portrayal of everyday struggles and triumphs, this novel serves as a poignant reminder of the power of community and the enduring resilience of the human spirit. I wholeheartedly recommend it to readers seeking a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant narrative. Many thanks to Dzanc Books for providing an advance copy, and mark your calendars for its release on September 24, 2019.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews