Skip to main content

Book Review | Idaho by Emily Ruskovich

Idaho by Emily Ruskovich {Goodreads}
Published by Random House in 2017
Paperback edition; 305 pages {BookDepository}

Idaho, Emily Ruskovich’s debut novel, deals with the repercussions of an accident – involving the mother and an axe – that happened to a family many years ago. I don’t want to give much away because I feel like it is better to go in not knowing the full details although most of it is revealed very early on. The consequences of this event are what the novel focuses on.

This is a story about people and how what happened in the mountains changed everything, how it affected those involved in it and those who came into the lives of these characters afterwards. This is not a novel about a crime; if you’re expecting a big jaw-dropping reveal you’re not going to get one. It is a quiet, slow and character-driven novel. The story is out of chronological order, it is told in a third person point of view and follows different characters: Ann, the new wife; Wade, the father; Jenny, the ex-wife and some others.

This book is about many things but one of the most interesting was the losing of one’s memory. Wade, the father, has a genetic illness that affected both his father and his grandfather. Both of them lost their memories and Wade knows that eventually, it will happen to him and he tries to battle it. So throughout the narrative there is this sense of certainty that he will lose his memory but also the fear of that certainty. Idaho deals as well with grief and how to cope with it but also about the possibility of forgiveness.

Ruskovich proves she’s a talented writer. She weaves the story very slowly, taker her time, with such stunning prose that makes you want to savour every word. However, and although I found it to be mesmerizing and definitely worth picking it up, I’m still not sure I grasped everything this novel has to offer. I believe Idaho is one of those books where you pick up more the more times you read it or maybe it is simply a book that works differently for each reader.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Vintage Classics: Brontë Series

Maybe you don’t know this about me but I collect different edition of Jane Eyre and when I learnt that Vintage was releasing the new Brontë series I just couldn’t say no. 

Book Review // Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

Because of Mr. Terupt  by Rob Buyea { Goodreads } Published by Yearling in 2011 Paperback edition; 288 pages { BookDepository } " Features seven narrators, each with a unique story, and each with a different perspective on what makes their teacher so special.  It’s the start of fifth grade for seven kids at Snow Hill School. There’s . . .  Jessica,  the new girl, smart and perceptive, who’s having a hard time fitting in;  Alexia,  a bully, your friend one second, your enemy the next;  Peter,  class prankster and troublemaker;  Luke,  the brain;  Danielle, who never stands up for herself; shy  Anna,  whose home situation makes her an outcast; and  Jeffrey,  who hates school.  Only Mr. Terupt, their new and energetic teacher, seems to know how to deal with them all. He makes the classroom a fun place, even if he doesn’t let them get away with much . . . until the snowy winter day when an accident changes everything—and everyone. "

Reading Diary | February Books | 2018

Feb, 1st - 15:15. Finished the second book in the first volume of the Riyria Revelations and I was pleasantly surprised. I still think the world building is the weakest thing about the story because it's not greatly developed but the story is well-written and entertaining. I'm planning on continuing reading the series because now I'm intrigued enough to want to know how everything will unfold. Feb, 7th - 10:33.  I'm finally prepared to go and see the movie Call Me By Your Name because I just finished reading the novel. I enjoyed it quite a bit. It is a celebration of love and an exploration of sex and identity. It's quite explicit though so if you feel uncomfortable with that keep it in mind if you're planning on reading it. My full review of the book is HERE (I also talk a little bit about the movie).