I’ve loved Karen Joy Fowler’s books in the past, so I was mystified by Wit’s End. It has all the elements of a good story: a young woman (Rima, our heroine) who has just lost her father and who has questions about his past; an older woman who happens to be Rima’s godmother as well as being a reclusive mystery writer, who may have the answers to some of Rima’s questions; a box of old letters; a connection to a cult; some old unsolved crimes; even a wacky fan or two. But somehow the story never gels. The dead brother subplot feels forced; characterizing Rima’s loss of her family as just one more example of her losing things seems flippant and almost crass; and the whole fans-taking-over-your-fictional-characters never really gets off the ground (or maybe it just never really gets interesting). I was left wondering where the Karen Joy Fowler of Sarah Canary and Artificial Things fame had gone.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Wit’s End by Karen Joy Fowler (a review)
I’ve loved Karen Joy Fowler’s books in the past, so I was mystified by Wit’s End. It has all the elements of a good story: a young woman (Rima, our heroine) who has just lost her father and who has questions about his past; an older woman who happens to be Rima’s godmother as well as being a reclusive mystery writer, who may have the answers to some of Rima’s questions; a box of old letters; a connection to a cult; some old unsolved crimes; even a wacky fan or two. But somehow the story never gels. The dead brother subplot feels forced; characterizing Rima’s loss of her family as just one more example of her losing things seems flippant and almost crass; and the whole fans-taking-over-your-fictional-characters never really gets off the ground (or maybe it just never really gets interesting). I was left wondering where the Karen Joy Fowler of Sarah Canary and Artificial Things fame had gone.
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Now and then when I need to read something just quirky and witty, this looks like it would fit the bill.
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