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Left Coast Justin's Reviews > Zorrie
Zorrie
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In Laird Hunt's skillful hands, we follow Zorrie Underhill's busy life from early childhood through her senescence. I believe the author was successful in accomplishing exactly what he'd set out to do, and it's hardly his fault that I prefer a different tenor in my reading.
Listen to me: "A different tenor". Sheesh. What I am coming to understand is that I'm a big old drama queen, at least where my literary tastes are concerned. Laird approached his project with restraint, and the tone was in keeping with the behavior of its principal characters: These are midwestern farmers who keep their eyes open and their mouths shut, who agonize over each sentence they utter, and whose beans, corn and livestock keep them distracted from the loneliness in their lives.
There are different ways to tell this story. When I meet a true introvert, I generally assume there is a rich and active imagination churning away behind the quiet eyes, greater depths than I will ever be allowed to see. Laird chooses to reflect their opacity in his writing. Here's Zorrie during a long, sleepless night of the soul:
Fair enough, but nosy readers like me want to take some of that journey with her.
I'm going to remember Zorrie for a good long time. But I can't really say I got to know her.
Listen to me: "A different tenor". Sheesh. What I am coming to understand is that I'm a big old drama queen, at least where my literary tastes are concerned. Laird approached his project with restraint, and the tone was in keeping with the behavior of its principal characters: These are midwestern farmers who keep their eyes open and their mouths shut, who agonize over each sentence they utter, and whose beans, corn and livestock keep them distracted from the loneliness in their lives.
There are different ways to tell this story. When I meet a true introvert, I generally assume there is a rich and active imagination churning away behind the quiet eyes, greater depths than I will ever be allowed to see. Laird chooses to reflect their opacity in his writing. Here's Zorrie during a long, sleepless night of the soul:
She thought about it all too much to too little purpose for far too much of the night, and the next morning she got up early and made a pie.
Fair enough, but nosy readers like me want to take some of that journey with her.
I'm going to remember Zorrie for a good long time. But I can't really say I got to know her.
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Reading Progress
October 5, 2021
– Shelved
October 5, 2021
– Shelved as:
to-read
October 28, 2021
–
Started Reading
October 30, 2021
–
Finished Reading
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Nataliya
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Oct 31, 2021 12:42AM
I was thinking around the lines of the “different baritone”, actually 😁
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I hope it's clear that this is a really well-written novel, just not one that appeals to my more gregarious nature. Different baritones, indeed.
I think you wrote an excellent review about a book that’s good but not the best match for you. I was just being silly.
That is completely allowed!
From one (literary) drama queen to another: great review!And even though it wasn't for you, I'm intrigued to read this author. Does he write dark, somewhat frightening books? I seem to think his name came up when I was asking for October-y book recs a little while back.
Robin, I've only read this one book by him, which points out that your family will grow old and die, your friends will grow old and die and you will grow old and die. How frightening that is depends on your own outlook :DHe's a very good author, though; doesn't waste words, doesn't mess up timelines or points of view. Just a little too restrained for my tastes, at least in this case.
Thanks, Stephen! Thar was really kind of the crux, for me.
Is this kinda like M Robinson’s Gilead/Lila stories?
A lot faster-moving than Gilead, which is the only one of those stories I've read.I'd say the subject matter is similar, but in Gilead the danger was too much introspection, while Zorrie had perhaps too little. I might have rated them differently had I read Zorrie first and Gilead afterwards; hard to say.
This is how I felt exactly. I liked Zorrie but wanted to know what made her tick.
Thanks for stopping by, Manda, and letting me know I'm not alone!
Helpful review and comments, Justin! I especially appreciate the ones about pacing, and finding that balance of introspection. I haven’t this author yet, and have been curious…
