Book: The Solace of Leaving Early
Author: Haven Kimmel
Like/Don't Like: Love. Love. Love. With all my heart. You should read this book. You can buy it here.
I heard about this book from the Red Hot Eyebrows girl. I've actually never met them. They're friends of my friend Rac. But I've come to trust their judgement and if you're looking for insightful and witty reviews, instead of an outpouring of rambling opinions like you get here, you should have a look.
I owe those girls. If I ever meet them I'm going to bring them cookies because this book was amazing, beautiful, intelligent, heartbreaking, funny. All the things I love in a novel.
I really wish I had the skills to express why I loved it so much. I can always say why I don't like something but I have a hard time not gushing when I love a book. I wish I could express how I felt about the pacing (which was perfect. Just enough information exactly when you needed it), or the details (like when she described a man sitting in a dinner who always wore braided suspenders. You can totally see him, right?), of the characters (how I got to know the main characters, Langston and Amos, through their thoughts first, and then they spoke and their actual voices, the ones they use with their family and friends, were completely different and added a whole new complex layer to them that made them much more flawed than I had originally thought but also more easy to like.) But I don't have those kinds of skills. I can just say that I loved it. The story itself was powerful and original and well told. I would never ask for more than that.
If you're going to read it, which I think that you should, I'll give you a few warning:
1.) It is littered with Christian philosophy. I was amazed at how intellectual it was, and kind of intimidated. But after the first few pages of it I got over it and couldn't put it down. It doesn't stop. They're talking about Kierkegaard and Kant all the way to the end, but if anything it makes you think that much more about what's going on in the story.
2.) Read it with a dictionary. A good one. Mine, which even has the word "Oxford" on the cover, failed me a few times.
2 comments:
It makes me so happy when people love this book. Didn't you just want to hug Langston and Amos and cry all down their fronts until your face swelled up like you were having an allergic reaction? Or maybe just hug them, you know, whatever.
Boy howdy, I can't wait until I get some cookies! I love anything with chocolate and nuts. I'll see if I can get Caren to put in her request as well.
Love your blogs, by the way. If it weren't for Rac, I wouldn't know that I definitely need to be a Elegant Woman of Leisure and that there are some freaky people living in California. Well, I probably did know that last part, but your version is stinkin' hilarious.
I love it when my friends become friends, even if it's just online. You guys are such kindred spirits. Isn't the internet a beautiful thing? If you'd like me to be the cookie courier, I only charge a few cookies. And now that both of my friends have recommended this book, I'll definitely have to read it!
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