A review by andragel
The Sidewalk's Regrets by Kate Larkindale
4.0
Song vibes
Kids, drugs are bad!
Ah, this book. So many things I could say about it. Overall, a great book I enjoyed reading, emotionally heavy loaded and with strong, sharply drawn characters. I am not much into books which deal with music and musicians so I picked this out on a whim: having indulged into Where She Went, I thought a book which approaches a similar subject but also touches the issue of drugs was a potentially good read. And I was right. It is my two cents that in a society still heavily afflicted by addictions of various ways, continuing to explore their nature, the motivations of people who do it.
How it goes down
Sacha, violin prodigy and Dylan, rock musician, fall for each other. Then drugs happen and everything spirals completely out of control. Recently, the pop scene exploded with the news of Demi Lovato's overdose, after several years of being clean. Ariana's Grande ex, Pete Davidson, met his early death out of similar reasons. We were all baffled to how this could have actually happened. The book attempts to provide at least a potential answer for the fictional world. As Dylan slowly descends into desperation, the drugs offer the perfect lifeline.
Then, there is also the idea that drugs go hand in hand with creativity. All musicians in the book seem to have their performance enhanced by the drugs, and their absences remain to be felt like a real, physical void.
The descent into addiction, clearly perceived by the readers on the outside as such, becomes, in the novel, an insidious force which befuddles those who engage in it. Isn't it how it always goes, oh, but I am not addicted to it? "I grab the windowsill to keep standing." "He nods without meeting my eye. “Heroin. Not much, though. I’m not … hooked or anything." And as the descend gains speed and they turn into former shadows of selves, the eternal promise is always there, the illusion you are still in control: "It’s the last time,” he promises as he slides the needle into his flesh. I can see the self-loathing in his face, in the way his eyes won’t meet mine. I know how he feels."
The good
There are plenty of things which make this book quite splendid:
-The characters. Certainly a highlight of it. I dislike when books just throw characters at you, characters you aren't supposed to like or hate, characters you can simply ignore because they are incredibly one dimensional. In Sidewalk Regrets, you have a plethora of people navigating throughout the book but none is easy to ignore. Dylan's band members, Sacha's friends and parents, her music teacher, they are genuine people, whom we could meet at any corner of our streets who all add important bits to the story.
-The protagonists. For most of the book, I loved Sacha and Dylan, although I know they are not without a fault. They are brilliant musicians, kind souls, who share a beautiful thing before the addiction rears its ugly head. And man, is it ugly.
-The portrayal of drugs.
He hasn’t touched junk and I know he’s suffering. I see the way he shivers despite the warm weather, how carefully he moves on his aching joints. And I feel for him. This pain must be unbearable. Especially when he knows how to escape it.
Mostly, the topic is handled with care. We get to understand it as a physical need ourselves, as if we could be in the book, be the characters, partake their entire emotional spectrum. Rather than just judging, we are compelled to be empathetic, especially as, for some of us, it is quite easy to relate to the characters.
-The music's treatment is amazing. Multiple times, rather than seen as a hobby, it is described as a real life-altering force.
The music works its way into my chest, forcing my pulse to alter, to beat in time. Dylan’s guitar wraps around me, the notes slashing at my flesh, flaying strips from it, leaving me raw and exposed, bleeding. I gasp for breath between songs, needing the moments of quiet to gather my senses before the next assault
-The writing style just flows like a breeze. The author has a way with her words and The sensations rumbling in the pit of my stomach now and then helped me establish a real emotional connection with it.
The bad:
- The entire plotline of addiction on Sasha's side feels more than a little bit chaotic and underwhelmingly handled.
-The denouement of their relationship.
Uplifting at times, heartbreaking at others, Sidewalk Regrets is the book I didn't know I wanted to read but I am so happy I decided to.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Kids, drugs are bad!
Ah, this book. So many things I could say about it. Overall, a great book I enjoyed reading, emotionally heavy loaded and with strong, sharply drawn characters. I am not much into books which deal with music and musicians so I picked this out on a whim: having indulged into Where She Went, I thought a book which approaches a similar subject but also touches the issue of drugs was a potentially good read. And I was right. It is my two cents that in a society still heavily afflicted by addictions of various ways, continuing to explore their nature, the motivations of people who do it.
How it goes down
Sacha, violin prodigy and Dylan, rock musician, fall for each other. Then drugs happen and everything spirals completely out of control. Recently, the pop scene exploded with the news of Demi Lovato's overdose, after several years of being clean. Ariana's Grande ex, Pete Davidson, met his early death out of similar reasons. We were all baffled to how this could have actually happened. The book attempts to provide at least a potential answer for the fictional world. As Dylan slowly descends into desperation, the drugs offer the perfect lifeline.
Spoiler
And then there is Sacha who is so strongly attached to Dylan she would submit to heroin rather than risk losing him. Ah, the perilous ways of love.Then, there is also the idea that drugs go hand in hand with creativity. All musicians in the book seem to have their performance enhanced by the drugs, and their absences remain to be felt like a real, physical void.
The descent into addiction, clearly perceived by the readers on the outside as such, becomes, in the novel, an insidious force which befuddles those who engage in it. Isn't it how it always goes, oh, but I am not addicted to it? "I grab the windowsill to keep standing." "He nods without meeting my eye. “Heroin. Not much, though. I’m not … hooked or anything." And as the descend gains speed and they turn into former shadows of selves, the eternal promise is always there, the illusion you are still in control: "It’s the last time,” he promises as he slides the needle into his flesh. I can see the self-loathing in his face, in the way his eyes won’t meet mine. I know how he feels."
The good
There are plenty of things which make this book quite splendid:
-The characters. Certainly a highlight of it. I dislike when books just throw characters at you, characters you aren't supposed to like or hate, characters you can simply ignore because they are incredibly one dimensional. In Sidewalk Regrets, you have a plethora of people navigating throughout the book but none is easy to ignore. Dylan's band members, Sacha's friends and parents, her music teacher, they are genuine people, whom we could meet at any corner of our streets who all add important bits to the story.
-The protagonists. For most of the book, I loved Sacha and Dylan, although I know they are not without a fault. They are brilliant musicians, kind souls, who share a beautiful thing before the addiction rears its ugly head. And man, is it ugly.
-The portrayal of drugs.
He hasn’t touched junk and I know he’s suffering. I see the way he shivers despite the warm weather, how carefully he moves on his aching joints. And I feel for him. This pain must be unbearable. Especially when he knows how to escape it.
Mostly, the topic is handled with care. We get to understand it as a physical need ourselves, as if we could be in the book, be the characters, partake their entire emotional spectrum. Rather than just judging, we are compelled to be empathetic, especially as, for some of us, it is quite easy to relate to the characters.
-The music's treatment is amazing. Multiple times, rather than seen as a hobby, it is described as a real life-altering force.
The music works its way into my chest, forcing my pulse to alter, to beat in time. Dylan’s guitar wraps around me, the notes slashing at my flesh, flaying strips from it, leaving me raw and exposed, bleeding. I gasp for breath between songs, needing the moments of quiet to gather my senses before the next assault
-The writing style just flows like a breeze. The author has a way with her words and The sensations rumbling in the pit of my stomach now and then helped me establish a real emotional connection with it.
The bad:
- The entire plotline of addiction on Sasha's side feels more than a little bit chaotic and underwhelmingly handled.
Spoiler
She starts consuming just because she wants to be closer to him. In theory, it seems valid enough. But it didn't work out with Sasha's established personality: calculated, well-organised, thoughtful, wise, in no way reckless and impulsive. Consider the recent development of events it made sense, somehow, but it still felt rushed. And her desire to give up by the power of sheer will seems greatly exaggerated and virtually impossible.-The denouement of their relationship.
Spoiler
I find it impossible to believe that there was no real love between them, only a love of music. Can someone who says this: "His eyes meet mine and the trace of a smile lurks about his lips. Is this what love feels like? My heart expands in my chest, filling it so completely there’s no room for air. I can’t tear my eyes away from him" really be just under the spell of music? It also really doesn't explain the myriad of sacrifices Sacha makes. It's like a huge plothole which made me feel weirdly unsatisfied.Uplifting at times, heartbreaking at others, Sidewalk Regrets is the book I didn't know I wanted to read but I am so happy I decided to.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.