A review by clapton_pond
The Red Arrow by William Brewer
5.0
An excellent debut that has echoes of some of my favourite clever authors (Ben Lerner, Bolaño, Auster) whilst retaining an original voice.
The constant bending and folding of narrative time (an intriguing theme throughout) is impressive, causing scenes and thoughts to almost become nesting dolls. But this is entirely outdone by the narrator's - and therefore the author's, he's writing from experience here - self awareness and bravery regarding the crippling depression suffered for a staggering 20 years.
Seriously, the clarity of thought here is on another level... I can't stop thinking about this book.
Oh and did I mention it's often very, very funny? What follows after the narrator's brother tells him to "go downstairs" to their father's basement is an extraordinary scene, simply breathtaking.
The constant bending and folding of narrative time (an intriguing theme throughout) is impressive, causing scenes and thoughts to almost become nesting dolls. But this is entirely outdone by the narrator's - and therefore the author's, he's writing from experience here - self awareness and bravery regarding the crippling depression suffered for a staggering 20 years.
Seriously, the clarity of thought here is on another level... I can't stop thinking about this book.
Oh and did I mention it's often very, very funny? What follows after the narrator's brother tells him to "go downstairs" to their father's basement is an extraordinary scene, simply breathtaking.