This one almost got two stars, but the last act of the story came together nicely. Hawke writes an OK story, but as a novel, it's weak. The story centers on two characters. Each chapter is written in first person and switches between Jimmy & Christy. These could be two of the most annoying characters I've ever read. One bad choice after another. One moment they hate each other, the next they love each other. The climax happens on, of course, Ash Wednesday. Perhaps I would have enjoyed this book more when I was younger. But as a nearly 40 year old husband and father, these characters annoyed me. And the necessity to write in first person between two characters seemed a bit amateur.

I liked the writing style and how some of the book referenced Houston and even some of the setting was in Houston. I also liked the ending, happier than his last novel's ending, which I still enjoyed despite the unconventional ending. I also liked the twists the novel had which I genuinely did not see coming.

Un amore litigarello on the road.
Non male.

"C'è un punto in fondo al mio cuore dove mi sento in comunicazione con tutte le cose, non solo con gli alberi, con l'erba, con i cani, ma anche con i palazzi e con le scale, con i sassi e con i marciapiedi. È un posto dove regna un silenzio mortale e credo di non averci mai fatto entrare nessuno, anzi probabilmente anche volendo non ne sarei capace; un posto che è sobrio quando il mio corpo barcolla ubriaco, una coscienza alternativa che è immobile come un'antenna sintonizzata su qualche altra parte della galassia. Era questa parte di me che volevo portare al nostro matrimonio, un punto centrale di equilibrio da cui far partire i miei giuramenti. Immaginavo che quell'antenna segreta mi mettesse in comunicazione con l'eternità, qualunque cosa sia, e che fosse la parte di me che soltanto Christy percepiva e amava. Era la stessa parte senza tempo in lei che volevo sposare. Ma nell'oscurità di quella stanza di motel mi resi conto che, sposato o no, nessuno avrebbe mai potuto conoscermi del tutto: la parte più vera di me sarebbe rimasta sempre isolata e sola. Ero incapace di esprimere quella mia cazzo di fede limitata, e anche se ci fossi riuscito, l'avrei racchiusa in una definizione così melodrammatica che avrei finito per banalizzarla."

Great writing, but the characters were not likable. I was curious about their life, but I wasn't deeply moved by them.

This is a rollercoaster in every way possible. You hate both protagonists but you also feel so much empathy for them. A lot of good quotes that I underlined. Not that I agree with all of them, but they definitely made me think.
This quote sums up the relationship between two pretty well:

“People don’t want to hear what really being in love is like, ‘cause it sucks. It’s like a diamond; it looks pretty from the outside but inside it’s hard, angular and sharp. Truly loving somebody else should never be confused with a good time. Loving somebody is just as painful and disappointing as it is getting to know yourself. It’s probably the only thing worth doing, but that doesn’t mean it’s gonna be a picnic.”

Also, I’m really impressed with a Hollywood actor writing a novel that is this good!

Of all the books I've read, loved and put on my favorites shelf Ethan Hawke has written two of them.
Literally the only author that I've read one of their books, thought it was amazing, and tried another and it was just as amazing.
He's a literary genius.
HOW DOES THIS ONLY HAVE A 3.28 RATING.
Please Ethan, write more books. I need more books like this in my life.

I am unashamedly obsessed with this book.

It’s been some time since I read this but I absolutely loved it when I did. I’ve always been an Ethan Hawke fan but his writing felt like his writing. Maybe it was a ghost writer but this was well before the days of every celebrity needing to be in every medium. It was just a road trip book about lost Gen X-ers so it was a great read for me. I think I was in college or just out of when it came out, which helped. I do want to read his other books. We will have to see if it’s still something I like.

I only read this because I couldn't believe it was THE Ethan Hawke as author. It wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but it wasn't far off. It just really seemed to me that Ethan was trying his best to write about scumbags whilst envisioning what they were like when viewed from his ivory tower. The characters are bizarre to say the least and not very interesting fundamentally. There's barely any repercussions to any of their actions and they behave cartoonish the majority of the time. Safe to say that this book will be slotted into the penny dreadful section of my family library.

TLDR, would not recommend. Pretty shite.

I wanted the book for a while without knowing much about it, other than Ethan Hawke was the author. My then-boyfriend bought it for me. I was unable to like or even mildly stand any of the characters. The part that most bothered me is early on in the book, when the protagonist's future girlfriend lifts up her skirt and shows him "her pussy" because he said "I'm not afraid of you." I couldn't help but feel this was unrealistic (not to mention irritatingly stupid).

Two messy people in love figuring out their messy emotions about themselves and life and each other while trying to be better but not having enough faith in their ability to be but also having hope. They are fickle. They say stupid shit. They have all these ideas and beliefs they oscillate between. But does that make them bad people? No, it just makes them two people in their mid to late 20s (the male lead is 30) who are figuring shit out. Isn't that all of us in some iteration?

THE DETAILS⇣
⇢ 3 ✰STARS✰
⤏ WRITTEN & NARRATED BY ETHAN HAWKE (THE ACTOR)
⤏ TWO POV'S
⤏ REALISTIC MIXED WITH A SORT OF PULP FICTION
⤏ SOME GENUINELY HEARTFELT MOMENTS
⤏ LENGTH OF AUDIO - 7 HOURS, 10 MINUTES
⤏ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY

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MY THOUGHTS⇣

This book is full of moments, heartfelt ones, juvenile ones, and some that are just scattered with rambling delusions. When you put all these moments together you are left with a story that has heart and even depth...when you dig deep enough. The problem is it's a real challenge to grasp anything long enough to dig deep enough...his thoughts fly by and he's on to another. It really made it difficult to connect.

At its core, this is a story of a young couple coming to grips with impending parenthood and marriage. Filled with rambling reflections on everything to do with life, love, and the pursuit of happiness.

Rating wise...this was the most hurt by the lack of a second narrator for Christy's POV. Why did he think he could narrate both characters...I don't know...obviously he was good for the part of Jimmy...but he crashed and burned on Christy's part. It was disappointing...I feel like he could have easily gotten an actress to narrate the heroine of the story.


BREAKDOWN⇣
Narration Rating ⇢ 3½ STARS
Plot ⇢ 3/5
Characters ⇢ 3.5/5
The Feels ⇢ 3/5
Pacing ⇢ 2.8/5
Addictiveness ⇢ 2.7/5
Theme, Tone or Intensity ⇢ 3/5
Originality/Believability ⇢3.8/5
Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ⇢ 2.5/5
Romance/Chemistry ⇢ 3.5/5
Ending ⇢ 3.3/5
Summation ⇢ 3 STARS

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