Fun fact about me; I had an alcohol problem when I was in my late teens/early twenties. I didn't know who I was, and I relied on it for socialising. Every weekend. I thought it made me more fun, more myself. I wasn't an alcoholic, but it put me in awkward situations and made my mental health awful. I was in a bad place, but I got out when I was about 21.

I'm not saying what I experienced was anything like what happens to the MC in this book, but it was shocking to me that I could think to myself, 'wow this could've been me if I went down a different path'.

I can see why people think this is pretentious. It is a LOT. Its harsh and weird and done through the lens of someone who is not in their right mind. But to me, it's pretentious-ness is perfect, as it shows just how poetic it can be to be in a certain state, it's what keeps you there, it's sticky sweet language keeping you wanting more.

It shows the crossover of uncertainty of identity and relationships, and the abuse of substances making that easier too. Being queer and leaning on such things is something that's probably more common than we'd like to think.

This story has hope in it too. It shows the ups and downs. It wasn't either fail or fine. There's rebounds, there's fuck ups, and that's okay.

So yes, it's not the perfect book, it's strange and in-your-face. But I think this one will continue to mean quite a bit to me.

Quoyle, a reporter in his thirties who is fairly rotten at his job, loses his parents, his cheating wife, and nearly loses his two small daughters as well, before deciding to move back to his family home in Newfoundland with his aunt to try to turn his life around.
I'm afraid that this one just wasn't for me. The story is bleak and mean, the characters unlikable, and writing to match - too sparse and in the wrong ways.

Well. Now I have to live with that.

Quoyle, a reporter in his thirties who is fairly rotten at his job, loses his parents, his cheating wife, and nearly loses his two small daughters as well, before deciding to move back to his family home in Newfoundland with his aunt to try to turn his life around.
I'm afraid that this one just wasn't for me. The story is bleak and mean, the characters unlikable, and writing to match - too sparse and in the wrong ways.