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kristianawithak's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book immensely, beside the fear that it would end with the narrator writing it. There are books that incorporate a readers love of books and this is one of them. The family story was wonderfully written and the structure was great. It's been awhile since I've really enjoyed a fiction book and this was really enjoyable.
b00kh0arder's review against another edition
5.0
In the North Carolina mountain town of old Buckram, there’s a house on a hill. Known as the “Vulture House” by locals, it clings like a sinister carbuncle of steel and glass to the forested slopes of Ben Hennom. With a history as macabre as its exterior, it’s hard to believe that anyone would want to live there much less raise a family. But that is just what Henry Aster and his wife Eleonore decide to do. Henry is something of a prodigal. A ferociously intelligent child, whose love of reading marked him out as something of an oddity, Henry left to go to college, intending never to return, but has come back to help care for his ailing mother. He has become obsessed with writing the Great American Novel and spends hours sequestered away in his writing room, his only companions a stuffed blackbird and copious amounts of alcohol. This obsession, however, is doomed, and, after a series of tragic events,his son – also named Henry – leaves for college, vowing, like his father before him, not to return, even if that means leaving his beloved sister, Threnody, behind. But, once again, home will beckon, for pasts that are shared can never be completely left behind.
Philip Lewis’s debut, The Barrowfields (named for a place in the novel, where the vegetation has been fossilized by a creeping grey moss; an eerie location which is used for the scene of an attempted book-burning, both of which are apt and potent metaphors for Henry sr.’s thwarted ambitions), is a beautiful book in the southern Gothic tradition. It’s about obsessions and how we work through them or lose ourselves to them. For me, it is summed up very nicely by a quote from West with The Night by Beryl Markham that Eleonore reads to her son the day he’s to leave for college:
“If you must leave a place that you have lived in and loved and where all of your yesterdays are
buried deep – leave it any way except a slow way; leave it the fastest way you can. Never turn back and never believe that an hour you remember is a better hour because it is dead. Passed years seem safe ones, vanquished ones, while the future lives in a cloud, formidable from a distance. The cloud clears as you enter it.”
The future is, undoubtedly, the better place to live in, but the past cannot be completely left behind nor should it be. For if the demons of the past are not dealt with, or, at the very least, acknowledged, then you’ll never be able to live fully in the present. Henry the father can never quite let go of his subconscious desire to prove himself as a writer to his mother, a mother who loved him but failed to understand him and his love of reading. This precipitates his downward spiral, as he wants his writing to be perfect and is never satisfied with what he produces, prompting him to work harder and moving him ever further away, mentally, from his family. Until it’s too late and everything comes to a tragic and, perhaps, inevitable, conclusion. Henry the son is haunted by what occurs and becomes determined to leave it all behind, even if it means abandoning his sister, with whom his relationship is close. An action he will justify by claiming she won’t need him for much longer, which he knows not to be true, and the guilt of which he will bury. Whilst away, he falls in love and becomes obsessed with a girl named Story, who in turn also obsessed with the question of her biological parentage. It is only through accompanying her on this journey, and seeing what it does to her and those around her, that Henry realizes that the past needs to be made peace with &
forgiveness sought, lest it ends up repeating itself.
I saw – when looking at advance reviews and publicity for this book – that someone had described it as being like a forgotten classic and this is absolutely true. The Barrowfields is a very literate book, full of references (including Poe (the stuffed blackbird), a car named Arthur Radley (because it’s a scout, get it?) and, my particular favourite, a dog whose favourite toy is a teddy described as a ‘canine Sebastian Flyte’) and beautiful writing. The language is at once lyrical and controlled (those who don’t like encountering words they have to look up may find this problematic but the use of obscure language is judicious and is done in such a way that you feel you’re learning something rather than the author flaunting their intelligence) with some wonderful evocations of place: from the Gothic fever dream that is the “Vulture House” and its surroundings, to the rural poverty of Old Buckram that renders it almost outside of time, from the modern to the beautiful, crumbling remnants of the Old South. The references to literature and classical music are not overused but they are an integral part of the story – as they are interests of the main characters and, therefore, are important to them, so if you really can’t tolerate that sort of thing, it may be best to give this
one a miss.
To conclude, The Barrowfields is a beautiful first novel that I highly and heartily recommend. Some may struggle with the writing style but the rewards are worth the perseverance.
*I won an ARC of this novel in a Goodreads giveaway, all the opinions expressed in the review are my own.*
Philip Lewis’s debut, The Barrowfields (named for a place in the novel, where the vegetation has been fossilized by a creeping grey moss; an eerie location which is used for the scene of an attempted book-burning, both of which are apt and potent metaphors for Henry sr.’s thwarted ambitions), is a beautiful book in the southern Gothic tradition. It’s about obsessions and how we work through them or lose ourselves to them. For me, it is summed up very nicely by a quote from West with The Night by Beryl Markham that Eleonore reads to her son the day he’s to leave for college:
“If you must leave a place that you have lived in and loved and where all of your yesterdays are
buried deep – leave it any way except a slow way; leave it the fastest way you can. Never turn back and never believe that an hour you remember is a better hour because it is dead. Passed years seem safe ones, vanquished ones, while the future lives in a cloud, formidable from a distance. The cloud clears as you enter it.”
The future is, undoubtedly, the better place to live in, but the past cannot be completely left behind nor should it be. For if the demons of the past are not dealt with, or, at the very least, acknowledged, then you’ll never be able to live fully in the present. Henry the father can never quite let go of his subconscious desire to prove himself as a writer to his mother, a mother who loved him but failed to understand him and his love of reading. This precipitates his downward spiral, as he wants his writing to be perfect and is never satisfied with what he produces, prompting him to work harder and moving him ever further away, mentally, from his family. Until it’s too late and everything comes to a tragic and, perhaps, inevitable, conclusion. Henry the son is haunted by what occurs and becomes determined to leave it all behind, even if it means abandoning his sister, with whom his relationship is close. An action he will justify by claiming she won’t need him for much longer, which he knows not to be true, and the guilt of which he will bury. Whilst away, he falls in love and becomes obsessed with a girl named Story, who in turn also obsessed with the question of her biological parentage. It is only through accompanying her on this journey, and seeing what it does to her and those around her, that Henry realizes that the past needs to be made peace with &
forgiveness sought, lest it ends up repeating itself.
I saw – when looking at advance reviews and publicity for this book – that someone had described it as being like a forgotten classic and this is absolutely true. The Barrowfields is a very literate book, full of references (including Poe (the stuffed blackbird), a car named Arthur Radley (because it’s a scout, get it?) and, my particular favourite, a dog whose favourite toy is a teddy described as a ‘canine Sebastian Flyte’) and beautiful writing. The language is at once lyrical and controlled (those who don’t like encountering words they have to look up may find this problematic but the use of obscure language is judicious and is done in such a way that you feel you’re learning something rather than the author flaunting their intelligence) with some wonderful evocations of place: from the Gothic fever dream that is the “Vulture House” and its surroundings, to the rural poverty of Old Buckram that renders it almost outside of time, from the modern to the beautiful, crumbling remnants of the Old South. The references to literature and classical music are not overused but they are an integral part of the story – as they are interests of the main characters and, therefore, are important to them, so if you really can’t tolerate that sort of thing, it may be best to give this
one a miss.
To conclude, The Barrowfields is a beautiful first novel that I highly and heartily recommend. Some may struggle with the writing style but the rewards are worth the perseverance.
*I won an ARC of this novel in a Goodreads giveaway, all the opinions expressed in the review are my own.*
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
"The Barrowfields" is a beautifully written book that gets stuck in its own self. Phillip Lewis is so invested in following in the footsteps of other wonderful North Carolina writers that he forgets to propel the story forward. You keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and it's a long wait and slow-mo action.
The first part of the novel that deals with the narrator's father, also named Henry, and his obsession with writing. The family tiptoes around him as he writes, drinks, and practices some law. It is creepy dysfunctionality, heightened by the fact that they have bought a large weird house in their small town where murders occurred. Young Henry's take on his father and family is the most compelling part of the novel, because by the time young Henry is off on his own both he and the book become unmoored.
Son Henry is just not as interesting as his dad, and his struggles did not engage me. His mother and sister behave in ways that don't seem to fit with the people we met in part one. The relationship with Story--argh.
Phillip Lewis is a wonderful writer, and that's what kept me reading. I see a someone who will develop in plotting skills and then, boy will he be someone to watch out for!
"The Barrowfields" is a beautifully written book that gets stuck in its own self. Phillip Lewis is so invested in following in the footsteps of other wonderful North Carolina writers that he forgets to propel the story forward. You keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and it's a long wait and slow-mo action.
The first part of the novel that deals with the narrator's father, also named Henry, and his obsession with writing. The family tiptoes around him as he writes, drinks, and practices some law. It is creepy dysfunctionality, heightened by the fact that they have bought a large weird house in their small town where murders occurred. Young Henry's take on his father and family is the most compelling part of the novel, because by the time young Henry is off on his own both he and the book become unmoored.
Son Henry is just not as interesting as his dad, and his struggles did not engage me. His mother and sister behave in ways that don't seem to fit with the people we met in part one. The relationship with Story--argh.
Phillip Lewis is a wonderful writer, and that's what kept me reading. I see a someone who will develop in plotting skills and then, boy will he be someone to watch out for!
machadofam8's review against another edition
3.0
so. long in parts, too fast in others. nice story but a bit uneven.
rebeccarennerfl's review against another edition
There are many things I liked about this novel: the prose, the voice, the southern gothic setting. Garish and grotesque characters reminded me of Flannery O'Connor's sinners, and the small-town atmosphere was reminiscent of To Kill A Mockingbird. The story rambles and meanders, sort of like talking to an aged Southern relative whose reminiscences of time immemorial flow forth with languid ease.
Read The Barrowfields if you're into Southern gothic settings, grotesque characters, and that indelible southern voice that speaks of iced tea glasses sweating in the heat of a Sunday afternoon.
I received an ARC from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.
Read The Barrowfields if you're into Southern gothic settings, grotesque characters, and that indelible southern voice that speaks of iced tea glasses sweating in the heat of a Sunday afternoon.
I received an ARC from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.
justjoel's review against another edition
4.0
I liked The Barrowfields much more than I expected to.
It's a slow-paced debut novel that almost feels like it belongs to another era. It's literary fiction that follows a young man who yearns to know his father, who is either (or possibly both) a genius or mentally ill. His search for identity and understanding is what drives the narrative, and there is a gentle exploration of the similarities and dissimilarities between the two. There is a romantic element to the story, but it is not the primary focus.
I did enjoy the author's storytelling. Coming from a small town myself, I felt like the protagonist's voice rang true, and was able to identify with him, and to a larger extent, I identified with his quest to know his father. The Gothic home on the hillside lent a gloomy and troubling air to the book's already somewhat depressing atmosphere but in a good way.
I enjoyed most of the book, except for part of Story's story. I thought the resolution to her quest to know her own father came too soon and far too simply, though it did provide a counterpoint to Henry's own quest to know his father.
My only other real issue with the book came from the repeated use of "could of" instead of "could've."
Yes, I know, it's not a big deal to many, but I don't care if it only exists in dialogue: I don't see why it is difficult to write properly. Why add something promoting illiteracy to a book that is pure literary fiction? It makes no sense.
It's a slow-paced debut novel that almost feels like it belongs to another era. It's literary fiction that follows a young man who yearns to know his father, who is either (or possibly both) a genius or mentally ill. His search for identity and understanding is what drives the narrative, and there is a gentle exploration of the similarities and dissimilarities between the two. There is a romantic element to the story, but it is not the primary focus.
I did enjoy the author's storytelling. Coming from a small town myself, I felt like the protagonist's voice rang true, and was able to identify with him, and to a larger extent, I identified with his quest to know his father. The Gothic home on the hillside lent a gloomy and troubling air to the book's already somewhat depressing atmosphere but in a good way.
I enjoyed most of the book, except for part of Story's story. I thought the resolution to her quest to know her own father came too soon and far too simply, though it did provide a counterpoint to Henry's own quest to know his father.
My only other real issue with the book came from the repeated use of "could of" instead of "could've."
Yes, I know, it's not a big deal to many, but I don't care if it only exists in dialogue: I don't see why it is difficult to write properly. Why add something promoting illiteracy to a book that is pure literary fiction? It makes no sense.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
Set in a rural town in the Appalachian Mountains,The Barrowfields is a melancholy yet interesting debut by Phillip Lewis.
After tragedy strikes their family, young Henry Aster reminisces about his father, also named Henry, who managed to leave his rural roots only to return with his pregnant wife, Eleonore, when his mother's health begins to fail. Henry Sr is a prodigious reader with dreams of writing of his own novel and works as a lawyer to support his family. After winning a lucrative case, he purchases a rather spooky house that overlooks the town where he works on his novel while drinking heavily. Following a tragic loss, young Henry eventually follows in his father's footsteps as he leaves for college only to eventually return to his birthplace where he must finally come to terms with the events that occurred before striking out on his own.
The flashbacks from Henry Jr about his childhood offer a somewhat bleak portrait of his rather dysfunctional family. Henry Sr spends night after night writing his novel and drinking which leaves Henry Jr. taking on paternal duties with his much younger sister Threnody. Most of Henry's reminiscences focus on his dad with only passing mention of his mom, Eleonore, who is apparently quite devoted to her husband. After Henry's paternal grandmother passes away, Henry's family undergoes a few changes that end in tragedy and culminate with Henry Sr.'s continued downward spiral.
The pacing of the novel picks up when Henry Jr goes to college where he also goes on to law school. He spends a lot of his time drinking and mooning over Story, the young woman who has stolen his heart. However, Story has her own drama to contend with but Henry is a willing participant in her quest to attain answers that no one is willing to give. It is not until Henry returns to face his own past that he figures out the truth she has searching for. In the process of coming to terms with his family's history, Henry attempts to repair his long fractured relationship with Threnody.
Although a bit slow paced, The Barrowfields is an imaginative debut novel. Phillip Lewis brings the setting vibrantly to life and it is quite easy to visualize the rural town and its inhabitants. The characters are richly developed and life-like with all too human frailties and foibles. An atmospheric coming of age novel that leaves readers hopeful Henry Jr and Threnody will find a way to avoid repeating the mistakes that took their father down a somewhat dark path.
After tragedy strikes their family, young Henry Aster reminisces about his father, also named Henry, who managed to leave his rural roots only to return with his pregnant wife, Eleonore, when his mother's health begins to fail. Henry Sr is a prodigious reader with dreams of writing of his own novel and works as a lawyer to support his family. After winning a lucrative case, he purchases a rather spooky house that overlooks the town where he works on his novel while drinking heavily. Following a tragic loss, young Henry eventually follows in his father's footsteps as he leaves for college only to eventually return to his birthplace where he must finally come to terms with the events that occurred before striking out on his own.
The flashbacks from Henry Jr about his childhood offer a somewhat bleak portrait of his rather dysfunctional family. Henry Sr spends night after night writing his novel and drinking which leaves Henry Jr. taking on paternal duties with his much younger sister Threnody. Most of Henry's reminiscences focus on his dad with only passing mention of his mom, Eleonore, who is apparently quite devoted to her husband. After Henry's paternal grandmother passes away, Henry's family undergoes a few changes that end in tragedy and culminate with Henry Sr.'s continued downward spiral.
The pacing of the novel picks up when Henry Jr goes to college where he also goes on to law school. He spends a lot of his time drinking and mooning over Story, the young woman who has stolen his heart. However, Story has her own drama to contend with but Henry is a willing participant in her quest to attain answers that no one is willing to give. It is not until Henry returns to face his own past that he figures out the truth she has searching for. In the process of coming to terms with his family's history, Henry attempts to repair his long fractured relationship with Threnody.
Although a bit slow paced, The Barrowfields is an imaginative debut novel. Phillip Lewis brings the setting vibrantly to life and it is quite easy to visualize the rural town and its inhabitants. The characters are richly developed and life-like with all too human frailties and foibles. An atmospheric coming of age novel that leaves readers hopeful Henry Jr and Threnody will find a way to avoid repeating the mistakes that took their father down a somewhat dark path.
gracescanlon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide
lola425's review against another edition
4.0
This is the kind of book that you just get lost in. The characters are just quirky enough to be interesting, but also just honest enough to be believed. Examines the complexity of family ties: how closely they bind, how they unravel, how arbitrary and tenuous they can be, how sometimes they are too much and sometimes not enough.
rglossner's review against another edition
3.0
Beautifully written family and coming of age story. The narrator relates his growing up in the strange, enormous house built into the mountain near a tiny North Carolina town. His father, who makes his living as a lawyer, is obsessed with books and literature and spends his nights drinking and writing a novel which is never finished. Tragedy splits his family and drives him away for college, and law school, where he meets a fellow law student named Story, with whom he falls in love. She has secrets and tragedies of her own. This novel was enjoyable, although I thought the women characters--his mother Eleonore, his sister Threnody, and Story--were all still mysteries to me at the end. Character and place take center stage here, so if you are looking for plot you will be disappointed.