In the Fall : A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries (Paperback))

Rating:
Summary: Breaking up is hard to do
Review: The author is apparently one of those humans who are very aware of emotions and thoughts about them, moment to moment. The good news is that personality - and the ability to get it on paper - allows him to explore characters' thinking in depth. The bad is that it often isn't clear who is thinking, the author or his characters. This is especially a problem during the first half, where thoughts go on so long that they often get separated from accompanying actions in a way that is tedious.

Another problem from this perspective is that to the manically aware personality, a lot of what goes on in everyday human affairs is writ so large as to seem cruel. This I suspect lends to the author's recurring theme of the cruelty of humans. That's too bad, because there is a lot of thoughtful insight in this book about life and racism and, much of it comes from of all places, one of the cruelest characters.

For a book that spans over 60 years, there is little of the world around these characters. That's how the author can seem very profound isolating on family relationships, yet miss the pull of the world and history (weren't there, e.g., a world war and several economic depressions during this period?). That leaves the story a bit about life in a bubble, a little thin.

Finally, however, Lent has met the universal "how to end" problem and faltered. In the last long section of the book, he gives the reader a rural-raised 16-year old who, even recognizing that kids used to grow up faster, is mature far beyond his years or believability. At the same time, he turns this 16-year old, one who can see through and outwit a wily, cruel old man over the course of a few days, into a naif unable to recognize the transparent desperation of a local girl looking to escape rural Southern life. It makes for a happier ending than a satisfying story.

Rating:
Summary: Language Tedious
Review: This book is incredibly descriptive and verbose, but I like that style most of the time. I felt deeply compelled to keep reading this interesting family saga but was very disappointed by the last section where Foster goes to learn the truth behind the mystery of his grandmother's life. It falls flat and is just disturbing but not truthful sounding. What I liked best was the story of the love between Leah and Norman and the parts where Foster grows to know his 2 Aunts, who are the best characters inthe book. Much of the praise for this book is about the language and the depth of the story but I have to agree with some who criticize and say it often feels contrived. Still, I feel Mr. Lent did a fine job and has great promise.