Jones

by Neil Smith

Abi Jones a la capacité de projeter son âme dans le corps des animaux – et dans celui d’un seul être humain : son frère Eli. Ce lien indéfectible leur permet de tenir le coup face à l’alcoolisme et la brutalité paternelle et à l’indifférence maternelle. Entre Montréal, Boston, Salt Lake City et Chicago, les deux enfants grandissent, unis par leur sens de l’humour décapant, leurs expériences douteuses et leur amour des mots.

La vie suit son cours à Jonestown, la ville qu’on ne peut jamais quitter même en déménageant à l’autre bout du continent. Mais un jour, Eli fait une découverte qui bouleverse son monde et révèle l’ampleur de la souffrance d’Abi. À l’aube de l’âge adulte, le frère et la sœur se soutiennent comme ils le peuvent, mais les ravages de Jonestown emportent Abi de plus en plus loin, là où Eli ne pourra bientôt plus la rejoindre.

Drôle, cruel, tendre et tordu, Jones est un roman initiatique inoubliable, une ode à la force des liens fraternels, le récit honnête d’une enfance meurtrie, d’une survie difficile et des limites de l’amour.

Genres: Fiction, Coming Of Age, Mental Health, Novels, Canada, Book Club

333 pages, Paperback

Published November 8, 2022

Reviews

[Pamela Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up in the 1970s and 80s, the two Jones siblings are incredibly close. Abi is vibrant, smart and beautiful; her awkward younger brother adores her. Their father, Pal, is often drunk and full of grandiose plans, uprooting his family on a whim from Montreal to various far-flung US cities. Their mother, Joy, is angry, selfish and rather baffled by her odd but brilliant children. What Abi and Eli want more than anything in life is to escape their toxic parents. But as Abi puts it, no matter where they go, they always end up in their own Jonestown, drinking the same Kool-Aid.

This is a daring, darkly humorous, moving novel, which I had the privilege of working on at Random House Canada. So yes, I'm biased - but I also happen to be pathologically sincere, so you can trust your friendly neighbourhood editor on this one.

[Brian Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, powerfully written exposé in fiction of family trauma, as relentlessly funny as it is sad. We've all heard the term tragi-comedy; but could this be called a comi-tragedy? Two bookish, punning, wise as well as wise-cracking siblings do their best to escape from a hellish Jonestown unleashed upon them by deeply flawed, abusive parents. I loved this book for its honesty, insight and panache.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Joneses: Abi, a beautiful and energetic girl, and Eli, a talented but socially awkward younger brother who adores his elder sister more than anything else. An emotionally taxing journey through familial trauma and finding one's way in the world is the subject of this riveting book. Two siblings flee their poisonous home, but no matter what, they seem to always wind up in what they call "Jonestown."

Incorporating Eli's passion for language and translation between French and English, as well as Abi's interest in art and photography, this novel brought a new level of character to the story through its unique use of playful language and literal translation of French words to English. Every word that Neil Smith chose, was there for a reason.

I think Smith may have just become one of my favourite authors.

[Dessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt so much like a Paul Auster book (young smart naive misunderstood male writer protagonist, troubled family, beloved but inexplicable woman who takes up much of our narrator’s time) that it reminded me of the scene in Nic Brewer’s Suture where a writer hooks up a bag of someone else’s blood to their word processor so they can sound like someone else. It was well written and engaging but also deeply and for some reason unexpectedly sad, even though BOO is one of the best saddest books I’ve ever read. And I wonder about portions of this being auto fiction… there are some sly nods to this in the text and again in the acknowledgements. Which… honestly would make me like it less.

[Carine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quelle vie pour ces Jones! C'est bouleversant...

[Geneviève Bossé · Rating 3 out of 5]

« S’aimer soi-même est le début d’une histoire d’amour qui durera toute une vie. »
-Oscar Wilde

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. I'm a sucker for resilient children, especially siblings. These two darlings stick with each other perfecting ever varying plans of escape from their horrid abusive parents. Written with much humor there is a heavy dark and disturbing side as well.

[Orlando Nicoletti · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful, extremely heart-breaking

[Gabrielle St-Arnaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

En lisant le résumé, disons que je ne m’attendais pas à une histoire de la sorte. C’est assez lourd comme lecture, les deux personnages ont vraiment la vie rough. Très bien écrit par contre!

[Aude · Rating 3 out of 5]

« — Tu penses qu’il m’a fait ça parce qu’il m’aimait plus que toi, dit Abi. Mais c’est peut-être parce qu’il m’aimait moins. Moi, il pouvait me briser. Toi, il t’a gardé intact. Son garçon. »

Jones, c’est un livre qui raconte l’histoire d’Abi et Eli, un frère et une soeur, qui grandissent au sein d’une famille dysfonctionnelle. Une fois adulte, malgré la distance qu’ils mettent entre eux et leurs parents, la misère et les traumatismes restent collés à leur peau. Un fil invisible les relis tous les quatre. Un secret lourd à porter. Abi est celle qui en souffre le plus. Les abus ont laissé une marque indélébile sur son corps, son coeur et son esprit. Elle valse avec la mort.

J’ai bien aimé ma lecture mais je vais t’avouer que je l’ai trouvé longue. J’avais de la difficulté à garder le focus parce que je trouvais le rythme lent. Mais chose certaine, je me suis vite attaché à Abi et Eli. Leur histoire m’a bouleversé et le destin funeste d’Abi m’a tordu le coeur.

Une belle découverte. ✨

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Les mots me manquent pour parler de ce livre, mais si Neil Smith a choisi de mélanger une part d'autofiction et de réalisme magique pour raconter, alors il ne mérite pas qu'on reste silencieux.

Préparez-vous à être bouleversés.

C'est une histoire qui va vous faire sourire, vous fâcher, vous émouvoir et vous faire pleurer.

Il y a une famille dysfonctionnelle. Il y a des drames. Il y a les nombreux déménagements entre le Québec et les États-Unis. Il y a des enfants qui essayent de se construire parmi tout ça. Il y a un frère et une soeur qui naviguent entre le français et l'anglais et qui s'amusent avec les mots. Il y a aussi ce qu'on ne dit pas et ce qu'on veut fuir. Il y a quelques moments qui ont fait les manchettes au Québec et qui resteront gravés dans la mémoire à jamais. Il y a, sans ressentir le besoin de l'énoncer, ce désir de ne pas choisir entre les filles et les garçons. Il y a comment chacun utilise l'imaginaire à sa façon pour tenter de s'évader du passé.



"-Pourquoi il faudrait que les malades soient des combattants. Le courage, mon cul. C'est épuisant. Le courage, ça tue. 

-T'es une commando, lui rappelle Eli.

-Oui, mais une commando avec une attitude négative. Une commando que Dark Vador étrangle au début du film pour cause d'insubordination."

[Katarina Soukup · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in 2 days. Beautiful, angry and heartbreaking but also so very (darkly) funny. I loved Abi and Eli, two "esprits indomptables." Bright lights that shine, shine despite the sludge of casual and almost indifferent familial abuse on the part of two parents who either have no thought or care for how deeply their actions (or lack there of) impact their children. I laughed out loud when Eli's mother informs him that he and his sister Abi (peak irony) "aren't parent material." Family - " the ultimate F word," as Neil puts it. As an anglo living in Montreal since the early 90s, I also loved the references to places in the city, events (even incredibly tragic ones like Polytechnique), and French turns of phrase. Such a great read, highly recommend.

[Trina Pion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neil Smith proved himself as a word-genius with his latest novel JONES. The wicked humour and subtle delivery make his telling of dark topics entertaining and powerful. Unique characters, perfect word choice, and vivid settings are packed throughout this heartbreaking story. I will definitely be reading this gem again.

[this.guy.books · Rating 1 out of 5]

I disliked almost everything about this book. I haaaaaaaaaated the audiobook narration so much it triggered an existential crisis - trying to determine if it was just the narration I didn't like or if the writing itself was bad. Both, the answer is both.

It's very... Quippy. The dialogue is desperate to sound snappy and sharp but grates harder than a cheese shredder (not a line from the book but might as well be)

The characters experience awful and triggering events constantly yet never seem to develop... Maybe that's the point but no sympathy or connection was cultivated so it was hard to muster the ability to care.

It was an explicit and frustrating book to read and I'm glad to be done with it.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roman difficile à lire tant l’histoire est dûr et crève-cœur pour ces 2 enfants. Eli un frère et Abi une sœur qui bien malgré eux partagent un secret avec leur deux parents. Le principe de ~ on ne choisit pas sa famille s’avère le plus vrai dans cette histoire de Neil Smith.

“Le dernier jour de sa vie, Diane Arbus s'est installée
dans sa baignoire, tout habillée, et s'est tailladé les
poignets.
- Jusqu'aux tendons, a dit Abi à Eli.
Du pied, il repousse l'album d'Arbus sous le lit,
préférant ne pas penser à ce suicide. Sa sour aime les
longs bains. Chaque fois qu'elle en prend un, faudra-t-il
désormais qu'il se fasse un sang d'encre?” §₽•

[Marie Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

La description m'a laissé croire que ça allait être un petit truc cute avec une enfant pleine de pouvoirs. Oups. C'est pas complètement trash parce qu'on tombe jamais dans les descriptions trop violentes, mais y'a de la maladie mentale, de l'abus physique, mental, de la drogue, des tentatives de suicide. C'est pas joyeux joyeux comme livre mettons - et c'est même pas une ode à la résilience, ni même une histoire particulièrement douce de fratrie qui traverse toutes les épreuves ensemble. C'est un récit de haine et de survie. Et ça fonctionne très bien.

[Liza_lo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I disliked about this book is that it's not more well-known.

Incredibly, achingly beautiful this hilarious and chilling book covers the coming of age of Eli Jones, and his (to put it mildly) dysfunctional family. In addition to being physically abusive there is incest at the heart of their relationship and it tears each family member apart.

This is unflinching but also funny, a novel told with real love that doesn't shy away from the way in which we fail victims and ourselves.

Reminds me deeply of a fictional The Glass Castle. An incredible work.

[Ophelie Boucher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had the chance to meet the author in one of my university class. It was actually a translation class and my late teacher was the one who translated his books (including Jones) in french. I’m grateful that she invited Neil Smith to talk to us and that i got the chance to meet one of her friends. What a book. So many emotions. Really well written story. This book has a special place in my heart because of the circumstances in which it was introduced to me.

[Robynne Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book, so much depth and sincerity along with excellent sarcastic wit. I was thoroughly engaged to the end and so thankful for the dedication to the author's sister, as it made me clearly understand the authenticity of what I had just read. A fantastically good book.

[Kandace Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neat to read a book with some Canadian settings. Their continuous adventures & people they met along the way kept me wanting to read to see what they’d get up to next. Mixed feelings on the overall as I love the story itself & the sly jokes but it makes me sad that this was someone’s truth.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un frère et une sœur qui tente de s’échapper que leur famille toxique et abusive. Les séquelles de leurs traumatismes vont les suivre pour le restant de leurs vies. Demi-autobiographie, demi-fiction, le roman est choquant, émouvant, réflectif.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ce n’est pas ce à quoi je m’attendais. De base, les histoires de drames familiaux sont moins ma tasse se thé, mais ça n’enlève rien au fait que Neil Smith a écrit un très bon roman. J’ai été surprise de m’attacher à ces personnages. Ils sont si près de la réalité, et si vivants, si humains.

[Mélina]

Boring, je n’arrive pas à lire plus que quelques phrases avant que mon attention se dirige ailleurs…

[Danielle Houstoun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story of the resilient siblings was harrowing and beautiful.

[Natalie Pereira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness this was a hell of a book.

[Arlette · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up
a beast of many colors
dark spots
rough spots
off sexual spots
angry spots
Love of another cover
A fAMILY

[Doe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel by Neil Smith is everything stated on the cover - "bold, sad and ruthlessly funny".

[Gary McGugan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful story, well-written!

[Mitchell Waldman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devastating, heartbreaking, and funny. A must read book of family tragedy.

[Laura Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure what to say about this read. it was difficult subject matter on multiple levels, wonderfully written. an interesting and often exquisitely painted study of complex family trauma.