bronade's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexism
Moderate: War and Animal cruelty
rachel_reads_regularly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
popcornhistory's review against another edition
4.0
loved it. great story about growing up and discovering your limits and flaws. i do wish they'd had some resolution around june's storyline, but maybe that is the final flaw.
mossay43's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
rapgamenancyreagan's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
katreadsagain's review against another edition
3.0
I loved August so much as a character but I wanted more from this book, more plot more atmosphere higher stakes.
emma_naomi's review against another edition
4.0
I adored 'Dog, Run, Moon' - Callan's debut short story collection, despite never having been a lover of short stories in the past! So I've been waiting for this for a long time!!
This is a wonderful, quiet and emotional coming of age novel, beautifully written and the descriptions of the landscape and people of Montana are one of my favourite things about it. But it is an odd novel in the sense that August is not much of a character - he's just trying to quietly figure his life out. The characters around him are much more rounded, which is intentional of course and I imagine very hard to pull off, and it's through them that we really get a sense of August. But in a way this is also it's downfall - it can't help but feel like a string of short stories in some sense. I feel perhaps Callan has a preference for the short story form as there are so many perfectly formed stories within this novel that would easily stand alone,and in fact the novel is obviously an expansion of one of his short stories from 'Dog, Run, Moon'.
This isn't a book for everyone - it's very masculine, it has barely any plot and it has some a couple of very brutal incidents that will make me think carefully about who I recommend this to. But I will make no secret of the fact that I adore Callan's writing, and I am already excited again for what he will write next! He has this incredible ability to write such real characters and relationships - the telephone calls between him and his father are some of the most touching and poignant scenes of the whole book, despite most of them being spent talking about the weather! The final 30-40 pages of this novel are absolute perfection and had me completely welling up.
This is a wonderful, quiet and emotional coming of age novel, beautifully written and the descriptions of the landscape and people of Montana are one of my favourite things about it. But it is an odd novel in the sense that August is not much of a character - he's just trying to quietly figure his life out. The characters around him are much more rounded, which is intentional of course and I imagine very hard to pull off, and it's through them that we really get a sense of August. But in a way this is also it's downfall - it can't help but feel like a string of short stories in some sense. I feel perhaps Callan has a preference for the short story form as there are so many perfectly formed stories within this novel that would easily stand alone,and in fact the novel is obviously an expansion of one of his short stories from 'Dog, Run, Moon'.
This isn't a book for everyone - it's very masculine, it has barely any plot and it has some a couple of very brutal incidents that will make me think carefully about who I recommend this to. But I will make no secret of the fact that I adore Callan's writing, and I am already excited again for what he will write next! He has this incredible ability to write such real characters and relationships - the telephone calls between him and his father are some of the most touching and poignant scenes of the whole book, despite most of them being spent talking about the weather! The final 30-40 pages of this novel are absolute perfection and had me completely welling up.
tommooney's review against another edition
5.0
The kind of really great book that I did not want to end.
This is Callan Wink's debut novel and he knocked it out the park on the first try. It is a masterful coming-of-age tale, a gorgeous rendering of that time in a young man's life when he's trying to figure out who the hell he is and what the hell he's supposed to do about that.
I felt deeply, painfully for August as he tries to discover what it is to be a man. He's such a well wrought character, the kind who, after you finish the book, you feel despair that you are no longer part of his life. I believe him, I believe in him. I want to fly to Montana to find him and check he's alright.
It's one of those books where, when I finished, I was puzzled as to how the author managed to write it specifically for me. As if we were family and he'd crafted exactly what he knew I'd love.
I really, properly loved it.
This is Callan Wink's debut novel and he knocked it out the park on the first try. It is a masterful coming-of-age tale, a gorgeous rendering of that time in a young man's life when he's trying to figure out who the hell he is and what the hell he's supposed to do about that.
I felt deeply, painfully for August as he tries to discover what it is to be a man. He's such a well wrought character, the kind who, after you finish the book, you feel despair that you are no longer part of his life. I believe him, I believe in him. I want to fly to Montana to find him and check he's alright.
It's one of those books where, when I finished, I was puzzled as to how the author managed to write it specifically for me. As if we were family and he'd crafted exactly what he knew I'd love.
I really, properly loved it.
reb97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mjessie's review against another edition
3.0
It was slow and solid, but I enjoyed the slowness and the day-to-day storytelling of rural ranch life. I didn't dislike this, although I'd hesitate to recommend it without caveats since its quietness is something a lot of people don't enjoy.
I found some of the dialogue doing heavy handed work in characterization and August is the kind of quiet, introspective character than can be frustrating at times, since his motivations seem just as unclear to him as they do to the reader. If asked, I'd say his primary trait is that he eats a lot of cereal over the sink.
Still, I keep thinking about the book and how what is left unsaid and unclear might just be what makes it memorable. I think the blurbing might do this book an injustice. This isn't a loud story. We don't see big repercussions or shocking exposes of the secrets and violence, but that's what the book is about, right? It's about how most things in life are communicated via whispers and shame.
I found some of the dialogue doing heavy handed work in characterization and August is the kind of quiet, introspective character than can be frustrating at times, since his motivations seem just as unclear to him as they do to the reader. If asked, I'd say his primary trait is that he eats a lot of cereal over the sink.
Still, I keep thinking about the book and how what is left unsaid and unclear might just be what makes it memorable. I think the blurbing might do this book an injustice. This isn't a loud story. We don't see big repercussions or shocking exposes of the secrets and violence, but that's what the book is about, right? It's about how most things in life are communicated via whispers and shame.