oriana's review
Vacation
by Deb Olin Unferth
oriana's review
Vacation by Deb Olin Unferth
oriana's review
rating:
bookshelves:
read-2008,
read-for-work
Oh stunning, my goodness, what a wonderful, devastating book. I was bewildered and despondent for an entire evening after finishing this (for the second time in a row -- just one of the benefits of being a copyeditor). Much like the previous McSweeney's I did, at a certain point (this one is clearly marked, by an earthquake), you have a sharp intake of breath because you realize that things are just going to get worse and worse and there's nothing you can do to slow it down or wish it better.
But oh, it's a fantastic journey to get there. And also, this book has something of a restorative quality, for me, on a meta sort of level; it reaffirms my faith in uniqueness. (I know that's kind of a played-out word, but fuck you, it's also totally accurate, so what else should I say?) I mean, Deb not only has an utterly original way with words, which is weird and funny and sad and disassociating and closening too, but the book is extremely twisty, plotwise. You keep thinking you know what st...more
But oh, it's a fantastic journey to get there. And also, this book has something of a restorative quality, for me, on a meta sort of level; it reaffirms my faith in uniqueness. (I know that's kind of a played-out word, but fuck you, it's also totally accurate, so what else should I say?) I mean, Deb not only has an utterly original way with words, which is weird and funny and sad and disassociating and closening too, but the book is extremely twisty, plotwise. You keep thinking you know what st...more
