In the Woods and The Likeness by Tana French
By tom on November 08, 2008 | 4 comments
Several staff members have read and loved Tana French's In the Woods, and I also read and enjoyed The Likeness. We had a lot of customers really like, and a few who were really frustrated, by the ending. How about you? If you haven't read the book you probably shouldn't read this thread.
I felt like the book was really about the two main characters, and less about the plot. So when one of the two mysteries central to the novel is never solved it really didn't bother me. Maybe because I read a lot of short stories and contemporary literary fiction, where the writing and characters take center stage.
Thoughts?
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I loved In the Woods so much I couldn't wait to read the Likeness but was sorely disappointed in most of it. But my question is, Who was the father of Lexie's baby? I am not clear on that part, even though I reread that page several times I still can't be sure. Can someone please let me know?
thanks
By KD - July 27, 2009 - 2:19pm
On a more general point, taking off from your comment Tom: why do authors feel drawn to writing series?
Very few characters are interesting enough for one novel let alone several. In too many series the characters are just there as frames on which to hang the various plots. Can you imagine "The Further Adventures of Ishmael?" Or "Hester Prynne's Later Years?
On the other hand, I am looking forward to reading Marilynne Robinson's new book where, if I am not mistaken, she makes a minor character from Gilead into her narrator and main character.
By Zeke - December 3, 2008 - 4:04pm
By Tom - December 2, 2008 - 11:22pm
You can credit the blog with at least one book sale. In the store the other day looking for a book to help pass nine hours on a bus, I recalled this cover from the blog. It helped me through the bus trip--and also through my mother-in-law's visit on Thanksgiving day.
SPOILER WARNING
I thought the paired plots were key to the book. Neither would have sustained my interest on its own. Like Tom, I was not too disturbed that one plot was left unresolved: Life is like that. I think the character discovered that his obsession with revisiting what happened long ago wound up destroying the life he had built since.
Procedurals, mysteries or thrillers that are too plot driven generally bore me. I need an interesting locale or interesting characters to carry me through. This book provided the characters. I really liked Cassie and I was sorry things didn't work out for Ryan and her.
I also value careful writing. When I read little things like these examples, I know the writer is not just "cranking out" the plot.
"...a face like a hyperthyroid turkey..."
Speaking of jobs the narrator reflects: "Maybe she, like me, would have loved the tiny details and inconveniences even more dearly than the wonders, because they are the things that prove that you belong."
Describing a character via a description of his belly: "No cheap Guinness in here, sunshine, this was built by restaurants you couldn't afford in a million years."
"I felt as if I had been filleted."
"...like some goofy cartoon character blundering obediently into the right place for the Acme anvil to drop on his head."
"...in spite of his best efforts he is not a despot at heart."
I've heard the sequel is not as good. But I would be interested to follow what happens to Cassie.
By Zeke - November 28, 2008 - 3:15pm
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