When I read Jenners' review of The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris I just had to get the book. She described it as a "personal dystopia" and that fascinated me.
Tim Farnsworth is an attorney in New York with a major problem. He has a totally uncontrollable compulsion to walk. Day, night, rain, snow.... Tim never knows when the urge is going to hit and he walks until he drops. It might be during the night while sleeping, it might be in the middle of a meeting at work. He might wake up in a back alley or in a roadside ditch. It's a constant challenge. However, Tim is not the only one affected by his illness. He has a wife, a daughter, and a job at a prestigious law firm. His walking takes its toll on both his personal and professional life. However, it's the relationship between Tim and and his wife Jane that is the true heart of the story.
Tim Farnsworth is an attorney in New York with a major problem. He has a totally uncontrollable compulsion to walk. Day, night, rain, snow.... Tim never knows when the urge is going to hit and he walks until he drops. It might be during the night while sleeping, it might be in the middle of a meeting at work. He might wake up in a back alley or in a roadside ditch. It's a constant challenge. However, Tim is not the only one affected by his illness. He has a wife, a daughter, and a job at a prestigious law firm. His walking takes its toll on both his personal and professional life. However, it's the relationship between Tim and and his wife Jane that is the true heart of the story.
I'm still not 100% sure what I thought of this book. Did it hold my interest? Yes. It wasn't the book's fault that it took me awhile to get through it. Could I empathize with the characters? Usually. At times its poignancy was almost depressing. Did I find it believable? Well, I think this is where the book fell short for me. I had problems with the whole concept of Tim's illness and how it was dealt with. There were some issues and inconsistencies that I couldn't seem to wrap my mind around. Finally, am I glad I read it? Yes. I liked the basic concept. Besides, I had to see for myself what its appeal was for so many others.
12 comments:
It really does seem to be one of those books people really like or don't quite get. I've read reviews and thought oh I must read this, then others that have left me thinking that I'll give it a miss. Still unsure, I think, like you, I'll have to read it for myself to see if it holds any real appeal for me. Then again, do I really want to read it at all?
Thanks for an honest review Kelly. Do you think it is one of those books you will have to read again (and possibly again) in order to get the most from it OR is it one of those books that once is enough, you really can't see yourself reading it again?
It sounds pretty interesting, but I'm like you: if it not's believeable, I can't read it. They have to do the following to keep me interested:
There's a literary phrase called suspension of disbelief. Check this out:
"Suspension of disbelief or "willing suspension of disbelief" is a formula for justifying the use of fantastic or non-realistic elements in literature. It was put forth in English by the poet and aesthetic philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who suggested that if a writer could infuse a "human interest and a semblance of truth" into a fantastic tale, the reader would suspend judgment concerning the implausibility of the narrative."
So the book is fiction? I never read fiction.
I will have to get this book. I hope it's available on Kindle. I didn't read all the way to the end, though, because I didn't want it to give away too much.
Tracy - No, I won't read it again. I'm one of those who rarely (if ever) reads a book a second time. I have far too many books I haven't read to spend time doing that!
Marion - You should click over and read Jenners' review. It wasn't a bad book at all. I just wish I had liked it as much as she did.
Joey - Yep, fiction. I hardly ever read nonfiction even though I do have a few sitting in my TBR pile.
Bragger - I looked and it is available on Kindle. You'll have to let me know what you think of it.
Kelly,
After reading your very honest review
(as well as Jenners' review)
of this book, I am not sure about it.
Though it sounds very interesting.
Raven
I'm sorry it didn't grab you as much as it grabbed me. But I am one of those readers (and movie watchers) who doesn't tend to get bogged down in the details of "could this happen?" or "is it realistic?" or "does this hold together well?" For me, I was just drawn into this insane world that Tim and Jane had to deal with and just felt like I was there with Tim on the road at points. It isn't a happy book, by any means, and it isn't the easiest of reads.
I'm glad that you didn't find it unreadable or horrible, but I wish you'd liked it as much as I did as I feel responsible for you reading it!! : )
Raven - I'm glad you read Jenners' review. She really did a good job of getting across what the book is about. The book really was quite interesting.
Jenners - Don't worry, I certainly don't feel like it was wasted time reading it. You're right...it wasn't a happy book, but nothing on the level of something like "The Road". Now THAT was a depressing book!!
I'm often hooked when I learn that a novel makes for divided camps. As for the suspension of belief thing, that's usually no barrier to me, although I'm noticing it's becoming more so as I get older.
Hm. Not quite sure this one is my thing. (But perhaps that is just as well. I have just bought ten books ;D)
Hal - It's not really the "disease" as much as some of the stuff that went along with it. It would be easier to explain to someone who has read it.
Dorte - I bet all those new books were bought for your Kindle!
:)
Actually they weren´t. Thanks to two sales that overlapped, I could get 10 novels from the UK for £ 17 - and the shipping was free!
Who could resist that? Not me.
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