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Well
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Critically acclaimed Well marks the astonishing debut of an author with a singular and unflinching voice and vision. Set primarily among the working-class of a Seattle suburb called Federal Way, this highly original novel-told in the form of interlinked short stories- extols the lives of a large cast of characters lost in various modes of darkness and despair. Whether stru
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Paperback, 288 pages
Published
June 2nd 2004
by Grove Press
(first published 2003)
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Initially, this book evoked Denis Johnson’s “Jesus’ Son” and Raymond Carver’s short stories, but it soon became apparent that McIntosh’s characters came from a similar milieu to those in William T. Vollmann’s “The Rainbow Stories” and “The Royal Family” (only Seattle's Federal Way versus San Francisco's Tenderloin).
The major difference between McIntosh and Vollmann is that the former is more interested in the people, whereas the latter self-consciously prioritises their transgress ...more
Initially, this book evoked Denis Johnson’s “Jesus’ Son” and Raymond Carver’s short stories, but it soon became apparent that McIntosh’s characters came from a similar milieu to those in William T. Vollmann’s “The Rainbow Stories” and “The Royal Family” (only Seattle's Federal Way versus San Francisco's Tenderloin).
The major difference between McIntosh and Vollmann is that the former is more interested in the people, whereas the latter self-consciously prioritises their transgress ...more
There's a Hubert Selby Jr. quote on the cover:
'A book that still resonates in my heart.'
I can see why they sent him a copy. A large portion of the early stories in the book read like somebody affectionately imitating Last Exit to Brooklyn. They're not bad, just a bit bland in comparison. Even the time period, written some two or three decades after Selby's book, is oddly undeveloped. The down and outs, strippers and alcoholics that populate the stories would be just at home in 1970's New York as ...more
'A book that still resonates in my heart.'
I can see why they sent him a copy. A large portion of the early stories in the book read like somebody affectionately imitating Last Exit to Brooklyn. They're not bad, just a bit bland in comparison. Even the time period, written some two or three decades after Selby's book, is oddly undeveloped. The down and outs, strippers and alcoholics that populate the stories would be just at home in 1970's New York as ...more
Oct 21, 2017
Nathan "N.R." Gaddis
added it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
signed,
2017-gelesen
Matthew McIntosh's fantastic(ly brutal) themystery.doc was recently published. This is his first novel (2003). What he does in this one is pretty much what he does in the second one. But he does it better today. So much better. So so so much better. I mean, Well starts out almost in cliche land re: the sadness and brutal life of the depraved and society's most bottom dreck. Both books get blurbed by Selby Jr ; but it's the first that fits in his world ; the second is pretty much beyond him. Nice
...more
May 23, 2011
Alan
rated it
really liked it
Recommended to Alan by:
can't remember but some bugger on GR
Shelves:
novels,
short-stories
I've put 'novel' and 'short stories' down as they are really connected stories (in the manner of Winesburg, Ohio)...
review later
was a bit annoyed by it really, all the capitals, columns, silly titles (to my mind, here's one of the 'chapter' titles - THOUGH OCCASIONALLY GLARING OR VIOLENT , MODERN COLOR IS ON THE WHOLE EMINENTLY SOMBER. Is it though, as Catherine Tate's Lauren* would say?). And it purports to be a novel when in fact it is a collection of stories, albeit sometimes linked. And it d ...more
review later
was a bit annoyed by it really, all the capitals, columns, silly titles (to my mind, here's one of the 'chapter' titles - THOUGH OCCASIONALLY GLARING OR VIOLENT , MODERN COLOR IS ON THE WHOLE EMINENTLY SOMBER. Is it though, as Catherine Tate's Lauren* would say?). And it purports to be a novel when in fact it is a collection of stories, albeit sometimes linked. And it d ...more
This is not a book about like-able characters, and McIntosh forces the reader into their minds. Much of the book is written in a particular style of first-person that is unusual, but sometimes creepy - the characters are either talking directly to you, the reader, or you are part of their thoughts. These characters deal with fear, pain, and addiction - not always in the best ways or ways they can even express. The connections between stories, when I found them, were thrilling, but I'm not sure i
...more
I couldn't work out whether to give this book a 3 or a 4. But then I thought, if this book was in my shoes it would give itself a self depricating 3 - so a 3 it is.
Whilst it was almost captivating that a book could feel so hopeless and bleak, I kept feeling as if round the next corner, there would be some sort of redemption or glimpse of contentment...
This book will leave you clawing at the walls of your own well, and I hope you make it out, because you're on your own.
Whilst it was almost captivating that a book could feel so hopeless and bleak, I kept feeling as if round the next corner, there would be some sort of redemption or glimpse of contentment...
This book will leave you clawing at the walls of your own well, and I hope you make it out, because you're on your own.
Fantastic, very reminiscent of Bret Easton Ellis without the explicitness. The novel has no main characters, rather vignettes about people dealing with some kind of loss or despair. Some experience it to a greater degree than others, and how they cope is what makes this book work. It's not a downer despite some of the depressing subject matter, but exhilirating in its scope and potent in its power. Highly recommended.
Dark, memorable -- busted places and people. Young writer with a bunker full of talent. The stories are subtly connected, at least by place, and a lot of them don't follow any kind of standard structure, which is refreshing, as is his voice. Hard to triangulate but I can't forget these characters. Reminds me of Hubert Selby Jr.'s style.
In the Library of Congress information about this work, one category for it turns out to be "working class fiction" --- a term I haven't seen before, but an apt one in this case. This book turns out to be a series of mini-stories and vignettes set in and around Seattle --- some of them were previously published in some magazines. Occasionally some characters turn up in several of the chapters/situations, so the degree of inter-weaving of the tales is limited. It's hard to say that the chapters -
...more
I started this having read Mystery.doc first. There is a part of this one that is reprised (almost paragraph for paragraph for at least two pages) in his later book, and I can see how his mindset hasn't changed much when he writes.
This is definitely a "guy" book -- there's a story in here that was published in Playboy, and as soon as I started it, I was like, "This feels like it belongs in a men's magazine". His stories have that voice, that masculinity that feels guilty for existing and danger ...more
This is definitely a "guy" book -- there's a story in here that was published in Playboy, and as soon as I started it, I was like, "This feels like it belongs in a men's magazine". His stories have that voice, that masculinity that feels guilty for existing and danger ...more
Came highly recommended but not for me.
Not my cup of tea
I'm not really sure what happened in this book but that didn't stop me from completing the thing in a matter of days. Weirdly wonderful.
A work of fiction that offers glimpses of dark realities. Human but not trite.
A quick but heavy read.
A quick but heavy read.
This book is by E.T. Barton of the BookReviewersClub. E.T. says this book is aboutA young Adult Novel. The author wrote this book back in the 70's. She likes the writers voice. A story about a boy named ender. He lives in a world that is being attacked by aliens. Earth is in pretty panic and they created this program where they implant a monitor in the back of children's head. They monitor their thoughts, the monitor their lives and the ones they find qualified for their program they then take t
...more
This past weekend I was in Silverlake and I stopped into Skylight Books, a very cool new bookstore discovery! I found "Well" on the staff recommendation table. Apparently, it had been one of the stores top ten best selling novels for the past several years. I had never heard of it, but it looked promising, so I bought it.
I finished it in one day. It's one of those books that I kept wanting to read just one more chapter and couldn't put it down. The book is hard to describe. It's a sort of a seri ...more
I finished it in one day. It's one of those books that I kept wanting to read just one more chapter and couldn't put it down. The book is hard to describe. It's a sort of a seri ...more
The author is definitely talented, but this is his first book, and it shows.
Basically a scattershot of loosely connected essays, all of which center around the sad people in a sad town who go about their sad lives being sad.
After a while, the style and content became a little too repetitive, and I lost interest. However, it's clear that the author is talented (and sad) so I will check out his future work.
Basically a scattershot of loosely connected essays, all of which center around the sad people in a sad town who go about their sad lives being sad.
After a while, the style and content became a little too repetitive, and I lost interest. However, it's clear that the author is talented (and sad) so I will check out his future work.
The most depressing thing ever. Matthew McIntosh's well-written a bunch of vignettes about assorted miserable, down on their everything Americans mostly around Federal Way, Washington. The characters mostly blend into one another, seeing the one common thing is just how horribly miserable their lives are. Enjoy!
While this collection of inter-related short stories is inconsistent in parts, it does ultimately coalesce into a tight package of narratives all of which challenge the reader with a fundamental question: how does one handle a desire that they are not fully aware of?
Most of the time it feels like McIntosh is trying to get through his chapters or stories at Hemingway speed, with less success. Most everything feels incomplete. There's a great variety of outlooks, narrations, moments, but it was hardly ever fulfilling to read. Fun titles.
Series of essays shedding light on the dark side of life and humanity. Set in a local bar, dingy apartments and the neighborhood off a major freeway, people's lives persist, and hope struggles to find a stronghold.
"...and it's getting closer and I'm waiting, and I don't know what I was thinking while I waited other than it's taking so damn long to get here, and I'm tired and I feel like I've been waiting all my life."
Not as even or accomplished as it could be, and more a collection of short stories than an actual novel. But moody, atmospheric and well-written - a fascinating piece of work where location is a more real character than the humans who inhabit the stories.
A disturbing book, depressing and dark. But well written and wholly captivating.
Well written, but occasionally becomes tedious. It is more a series of interconnected short stories than a traditional novel.
Are you looking for some local lore? Look no further than McIntosh with his portrayal of Federal Way... Aurora gets some airtime as well.
Sort of interesting......
Very reminiscent of last exit to Brooklyn. The author has a good sense of dialog but I felt the stories felt a bit lacking. Still, looking forward to reading the authors next work.
An interesting voice. The penultimate chapter is easily the best, and it alone garnered the fourth star.
I need to reread this...I gave up after one character dropped the F bomb 20+ times in row. (Great writing?) UGH
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Matthew McIntosh (born in 1977) is an American writer best known for his 2003 novel Well.
McIntosh is a native of Federal Way, Washington. He graduated from the creative writing program at the University of Washington after years of being enrolled on-and-off, during which time he held numerous menial jobs. He also attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa. As a second-year works ...more
McIntosh is a native of Federal Way, Washington. He graduated from the creative writing program at the University of Washington after years of being enrolled on-and-off, during which time he held numerous menial jobs. He also attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa. As a second-year works ...more
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