Book Review: Starve Acre by Andrew Michael Hurley
Title: Starve Acre
Author: Andrew Michael Hurley
Release date: October 1st, 2019
I must admit, I’ve been keen to read this one since it was first released and when I first laid my eyes on that stunning cover. Over the years, it’s had a few different cover variations, but that cover with the red rabbit always kept whispering to me that I should read it and over the last six months or so, that whisper has increased in volume, growing almost to an ear-shattering scream.
One thing that had prevented me from reading it was that I’d always heard Hurley’s work was highly intellectual and that always scares me. I’m not a highly intellectual genre reader. I’m not someone who reads ambient literary fiction and easily grasps metaphors or symbolism when it’s not fully handed to me on a platter. When I do connect with a book like that, I’ll often take my time re-reading some passages, even making notes so that I can make sure my dumbass is seeing the deeper meanings within the surface words.
When it got to the point that I was certain this was going to be my next read, I reached out to my friend Gavin from Kendall Reviews and asked him about the book. He’d previously read it and loved it and frequently suggested I read it. He assured me that this isn’t one of those hard to get into books, that it was very accessible and with that re-assurance, I took a trip to Starve Acre.
What I liked: The story follows Richard and Juliette Willoughby, who’ve moved out to Richard’s parents former home – Starve Acre. While there, their young son, Ewan begins to exhibit subtle changes, outbursts and shockingly dies.
Hurley splits the story into pre and post death. We get to see the changes in Ewan before he died, how the family struggles to comprehend that their little boy is becoming who he’s becoming, while also dealing with living in Starve Acre itself. We also get to see the ripples caused by Ewan’s death, Juliette’s depression, her desire to bring him back and her inability to process that Ewan became who Ewan became.
Hurley also gives us some of the back history of Starve Acre itself. How it used to have a massive tree in the back field that was involved in a notorious moment in the surrounding town’s history and was cut down. We also learn that the search for the tree’s remains drove Richard’s father mad.
It’s a sublime set up that allows the reality of what happened to Ewan and what eventually occurs after Richard finds the skeleton of a rabbit buried in the field to be executed so perfectly.
The writing here is purposefully stilted. Or at least this reader thought so. It’s used as a misdirection technique, making it so that you grow frustrated with every single character as the story progresses. This frustration is a sleight of hand, it keeps you from seeing all the subtle clues, but when you do and when the absolutely gut-wrenchingly unnerving ending arrives, I finished with a ridiculous grin on my face.
What I didn’t like: I’ll be honest here – I hated how frustrating the dialogue was. I believe it was written like that specifically, but far too often I wanted to smack the speaker for talking like that. It worked very well to keep me from seeing every clue, but it also made me want to punch the grandma, grandpa, sister and family friend.
Why you should buy this: I didn’t find this one inaccessible, which made this reader very happy. It kept me on my toes and absolutely delivered on the grief/folklore elements that it promised. This one was a hard – emotionally – read that had me racing through the final quarter to see just what insane point it was going to end on and when I go there, it was pristine.
If you’ve not read this one yet and are looking for a dark, densely layered grief/folklore book, look no further. This is now a movie – though I’m not sure if I’ll watch it as the book was done so perfectly – so for those who love comparing the two formats, you’re set up to read it and watch it in short order.
A phenomenally frustrating yet perfect read.
