A review by neenor
The End of Eddy by Édouard Louis
2.0
Pre-book group review
The End of Eddy was chosen as the monthly book for the translated fiction reading group I’ve started attending, and to begin with I was really, really excited to get started. The front and back covers are filled with praise for the novel, saying how “mesmerising” and “rare” it is. However, I found that halfway through the story, I had already clocked out.
Don’t get me wrong - I understand how important novels like this are, as they act as stepping stones towards conversations about inequality and injustice. However, I found that The End of Eddy was incredibly detached - it’s practically based on the author’s life, but there was no emotion in it. Some parts of the novel hit you like a ton of bricks, because not only was the subject uncomfortable, but it was told in a very stark, cold manner - it felt like being slapped. I mean, maybe that was the point? Maybe it’s supposed to shock, because the events described (the horrendous bullying, the continuous homophobia, what was essentially rape/paedophilia) are shocking, and they are a problem that needs to be addressed. If that’s the point, then fair enough, message noted - but it just didn’t sit well with me. It’s a miserable, unhappy book, and can only be read in small doses. Not for me, I’m afraid.
Post-book group review
So, it turns out I was the only one who didn’t enjoy the novel, but having come away from listening to everyone’s interpretations, I do feel a bit differently. I still stick by my first impression, which is that it’s cold and shocking, and the lack of enjoyment I got from it made me struggle to want to read it. However, during the discussion, other members brought up the fact that at the beginning, the author states that his life was not all bad, but that the terrible bits seemed to dominate the good - and being reminded of that somehow made me like the novel more? At no point does the author set you up for a happy story or a happy ending - he’s very honest, and thinking back, I do believe that the book delivers what it intends to deliver.
Discussing the novel, I also realised that maybe part of my disinterest in the story is because I absolutely cannot relate to it. The protagonist is a white male homosexual who grew up in a small and very poor village in France; I am a black female, who although identifies as pansexual, is in a heterosexual relationship, and has always lived in cities in the UK. My reality is far different from the reality of the author - I couldn’t connect with the story because it is hard for me to understand. And I think that’s valid. I am grateful at having been directed towards this book, however, and after hearing what everyone else thought, I think I’m going to give his second novel a try - maybe with more of an open mind.
The End of Eddy was chosen as the monthly book for the translated fiction reading group I’ve started attending, and to begin with I was really, really excited to get started. The front and back covers are filled with praise for the novel, saying how “mesmerising” and “rare” it is. However, I found that halfway through the story, I had already clocked out.
Don’t get me wrong - I understand how important novels like this are, as they act as stepping stones towards conversations about inequality and injustice. However, I found that The End of Eddy was incredibly detached - it’s practically based on the author’s life, but there was no emotion in it. Some parts of the novel hit you like a ton of bricks, because not only was the subject uncomfortable, but it was told in a very stark, cold manner - it felt like being slapped. I mean, maybe that was the point? Maybe it’s supposed to shock, because the events described (the horrendous bullying, the continuous homophobia, what was essentially rape/paedophilia) are shocking, and they are a problem that needs to be addressed. If that’s the point, then fair enough, message noted - but it just didn’t sit well with me. It’s a miserable, unhappy book, and can only be read in small doses. Not for me, I’m afraid.
Post-book group review
So, it turns out I was the only one who didn’t enjoy the novel, but having come away from listening to everyone’s interpretations, I do feel a bit differently. I still stick by my first impression, which is that it’s cold and shocking, and the lack of enjoyment I got from it made me struggle to want to read it. However, during the discussion, other members brought up the fact that at the beginning, the author states that his life was not all bad, but that the terrible bits seemed to dominate the good - and being reminded of that somehow made me like the novel more? At no point does the author set you up for a happy story or a happy ending - he’s very honest, and thinking back, I do believe that the book delivers what it intends to deliver.
Discussing the novel, I also realised that maybe part of my disinterest in the story is because I absolutely cannot relate to it. The protagonist is a white male homosexual who grew up in a small and very poor village in France; I am a black female, who although identifies as pansexual, is in a heterosexual relationship, and has always lived in cities in the UK. My reality is far different from the reality of the author - I couldn’t connect with the story because it is hard for me to understand. And I think that’s valid. I am grateful at having been directed towards this book, however, and after hearing what everyone else thought, I think I’m going to give his second novel a try - maybe with more of an open mind.