...
Show More
**"Crow Road: A Multi-faceted Exploration"**
It was the day my grandmother exploded. I sat in the crematorium, listening to my Uncle Hamish quietly snoring in harmony to Bach's Mass in B Minor, and I reflected that it always seemed to be death that drew me back to Gallanach.
This famous opening line of "Crow Road" immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets a tone that is both darkly humorous and thought-provoking.
Prentice McHoan's sarcastic and flippant running commentary on his family's history and his own growing up process is entertaining, but there is more beneath the surface. His obsession with death is understandable, given the many losses he experiences throughout the novel.
The quest to define his place in the world and come to terms with loss overshadows the more conventional storyline of chasing girls and learning about sex. While the romantic angle could have been stronger, Prentice's descriptions of the girl he loves are beautifully written.
Compared to "Stonemouth," "Crow Road" has its own unique strengths. The fractured timeline and random jumps in point of view add depth and diversity to the story, exploring themes beyond teenager angst.
Childhood memories play an important role in Prentice's self-discovery, as do the cyclical nature of events and his connection to the land of his birth. The West Coast of Scotland comes alive in the novel, with its beautiful scenery and unique dialect.
Despite some flaws, such as the forced crime investigation and the less-than-perfect romance, "Crow Road" is a novel that grows on you. It is full of funny moments, poignant commentary, and great quotes that make it worth re-reading.
In conclusion, "Crow Road" is a multi-faceted exploration of life, death, love, and loss. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
All your nonsense and truths,
your finery and squalid options,
combine and coalesce, to one noise
including laugh and whimper, scream and sigh,
forever and forever repeating,
in any tongue we care to choose,
whatever lessened, separated message
we want to hear.
It all boils down to nothing,
and where we have the means and will to fix
our reference within that flux;
there we are.
If it has any final signal,
The universe says simply,
but with every possible complication,
"Existence",
and it neither pressures us, nor draws us out,
except as we allow.
Let me be part of that outrageous chaos...
And I am.
It was the day my grandmother exploded. I sat in the crematorium, listening to my Uncle Hamish quietly snoring in harmony to Bach's Mass in B Minor, and I reflected that it always seemed to be death that drew me back to Gallanach.
This famous opening line of "Crow Road" immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets a tone that is both darkly humorous and thought-provoking.
Prentice McHoan's sarcastic and flippant running commentary on his family's history and his own growing up process is entertaining, but there is more beneath the surface. His obsession with death is understandable, given the many losses he experiences throughout the novel.
The quest to define his place in the world and come to terms with loss overshadows the more conventional storyline of chasing girls and learning about sex. While the romantic angle could have been stronger, Prentice's descriptions of the girl he loves are beautifully written.
Compared to "Stonemouth," "Crow Road" has its own unique strengths. The fractured timeline and random jumps in point of view add depth and diversity to the story, exploring themes beyond teenager angst.
Childhood memories play an important role in Prentice's self-discovery, as do the cyclical nature of events and his connection to the land of his birth. The West Coast of Scotland comes alive in the novel, with its beautiful scenery and unique dialect.
Despite some flaws, such as the forced crime investigation and the less-than-perfect romance, "Crow Road" is a novel that grows on you. It is full of funny moments, poignant commentary, and great quotes that make it worth re-reading.
In conclusion, "Crow Road" is a multi-faceted exploration of life, death, love, and loss. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
All your nonsense and truths,
your finery and squalid options,
combine and coalesce, to one noise
including laugh and whimper, scream and sigh,
forever and forever repeating,
in any tongue we care to choose,
whatever lessened, separated message
we want to hear.
It all boils down to nothing,
and where we have the means and will to fix
our reference within that flux;
there we are.
If it has any final signal,
The universe says simply,
but with every possible complication,
"Existence",
and it neither pressures us, nor draws us out,
except as we allow.
Let me be part of that outrageous chaos...
And I am.
