Review by Zoegirl17 -- Gathered by Kurt Hansen
-
Zoegirl17
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 23 Jun 2020, 11:00
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 3
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-zoegirl17.html
- Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
Review by Zoegirl17 -- Gathered by Kurt Hansen
[Following is a volunteer review of "Gathered" by Kurt Hansen.]
Gathered by Kurt Hansen follows the average life of Sol Severson. Based in the Chicago suburbs with a wife and daughter, Sol’s outward life seems enviable. Internally, Sol is complacent and nearly indifferent to his happy life. When a tragedy shakes up his routine, Sol embraces a journey into his past.
The descriptions in the book are striking, making visualizations incredibly straightforward. For instance, the passing of an uncle brings Sol to a funeral at the beginning of the book. Death and silence reek through the vivid descriptions. Between the grieving mourners and depleted church, the stage is set for Sol to question his choices and life’s meaning.
Scenes from the Severson family ring true to the disconnectedness found in modern families. Sol and his wife constantly engage in edgy conversations. Their daughter, Amy, is a typical teenager trying to solo navigate into adulthood. While there is love and loyalty, connection and togetherness lack. Sol is aware of the growing distance in his family and attempts to fix it in his own way.The need of heroes in modern fiction that value family and community is considerable. The redirection of American literature towards connection instead of independence and liberty is evident in this book.
Much of the book centers around the internal dialogue in Sol’s mind. The cheeky and self-assertive narration is hilariously realistic. The vocabulary is provocative and dynamic including words like “titrate” and “tornadic”. While Sol has noble intentions, he still falls short through his drinking and general apathy. His unpredictable behavior makes him a perfect focal point since he will either do what is right or what most people would do in his situation. The balance of what Sol does and who he should be is a motif throughout the book. Sol’s actions mirror the reader, challenging us in our own choices.
Based on the description, I thought this book would be more reflective and philosophical. However, much of the book was quite the opposite. There were startling events and unanticipated consequences, a slight step down from a mystery thriller. I preferred the book like this, but it was unexpected based on the summary. Fans of mystery or thriller books will enjoy it the most.
I give this book three out of four stars . The plot twists were unexpected and kept me reading. Unfortunately, the first fifty pages, the story was a bit slow and dry. It took too long for the action to start, but once it did, it never stopped. A reflective and gripping book that eases the reader into a curious journey of life’s meaning.
******
Gathered
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Gathered by Kurt Hansen follows the average life of Sol Severson. Based in the Chicago suburbs with a wife and daughter, Sol’s outward life seems enviable. Internally, Sol is complacent and nearly indifferent to his happy life. When a tragedy shakes up his routine, Sol embraces a journey into his past.
The descriptions in the book are striking, making visualizations incredibly straightforward. For instance, the passing of an uncle brings Sol to a funeral at the beginning of the book. Death and silence reek through the vivid descriptions. Between the grieving mourners and depleted church, the stage is set for Sol to question his choices and life’s meaning.
Scenes from the Severson family ring true to the disconnectedness found in modern families. Sol and his wife constantly engage in edgy conversations. Their daughter, Amy, is a typical teenager trying to solo navigate into adulthood. While there is love and loyalty, connection and togetherness lack. Sol is aware of the growing distance in his family and attempts to fix it in his own way.The need of heroes in modern fiction that value family and community is considerable. The redirection of American literature towards connection instead of independence and liberty is evident in this book.
Much of the book centers around the internal dialogue in Sol’s mind. The cheeky and self-assertive narration is hilariously realistic. The vocabulary is provocative and dynamic including words like “titrate” and “tornadic”. While Sol has noble intentions, he still falls short through his drinking and general apathy. His unpredictable behavior makes him a perfect focal point since he will either do what is right or what most people would do in his situation. The balance of what Sol does and who he should be is a motif throughout the book. Sol’s actions mirror the reader, challenging us in our own choices.
Based on the description, I thought this book would be more reflective and philosophical. However, much of the book was quite the opposite. There were startling events and unanticipated consequences, a slight step down from a mystery thriller. I preferred the book like this, but it was unexpected based on the summary. Fans of mystery or thriller books will enjoy it the most.
I give this book three out of four stars . The plot twists were unexpected and kept me reading. Unfortunately, the first fifty pages, the story was a bit slow and dry. It took too long for the action to start, but once it did, it never stopped. A reflective and gripping book that eases the reader into a curious journey of life’s meaning.
******
Gathered
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
