Where No Gods Came

by Sheila O'Connor

Winner 2003 Michigan Literary Fiction Award for original novelWinner of Minnesota Book Award

"Written with precision and perception, this is a highly recommended work from a writer to watch."
--- Library Journal

"O'Connor . . . remains a consummate artist, true to her vision of a work that is bleak, truthful, and lacking any overt sentimental overtures. Her eye, a poet's eye, misses nothing."
--- three candles

". . . a touching odyssey of a girl poised between the emotional abyss and the reader's heart."
--- Minneapolis Star-Tribune

"A sensitive, often disquieting book that rings true throughout. . . . It's the skill of an accomplished writer that we see Faina's extraordinary spirit, while simultaneously experiencing her pain and despair. The end result is an uplifting, even inspiring book without any of the sugarcoating often found in stories like this."
--- California Literary Review

Where No Gods Came is author Sheila O'Connor's compelling story of Faina McCoy, a young girl caught in a perilous scheme of elaborate lies created for her own harrowing system of survival. Enmeshed in a tangled family web, Faina is abruptly uprooted against her will from her father and finds herself half a continent away on the doorstep of a mother who abandoned her years before-but who can't live without Faina now. Alone, persecuted, and exploited, Faina must fend for herself as she searches for love and answers, navigating the streets of a strange city and forging bonds of feeling with liars and outlaws.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Young Adult, Book Club

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 21, 2003

Reviews

[Bre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may have to revise or add to this review after I have more time to digest it.
I liked this book. It was depressing and heavy and awful, but I appreciated the raw emotions that ran through all 3 main characters. It was relatively flat - it didn't have the build up to a huge climax. Definitely very realistic and raw. I liked it. Looking forward to meeting the author later this summer at Wild Rumpus books in Minneapolis.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh boy, was this book depressing. That being said, it was still an enjoyable page-turner. My Book Team had some interesting conversations about the origins of the title. This also lends itself easily to discussions about family and self-identity. It was fun to contrast the characters in the book to our own suburban youth, growing up in a decidedly safer Minneapolis.

[Steve Voiles]

The book is a detailed view of one version of poverty and alcoholism in the back streets of Minneapolis in the last decades of the 20th century. O'Connor hits every mundane detail and yet builds a sense of tension that is palpable as her 12 year old displaces "hero" contend with the realities of poverty and addiction and the contrasts of church and social services.

It is a portrait of lives we don't like to look at closely, and one that leaves us wiser and, hopefully, more prepared to be empathetic without enabling those caught in cycles of dysfunction that demand ways of coping that they never wanted, but must employ for sake of survival. Innocence meets the nitty-gritty of life unplanned.

[Ena Lekovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished the entire book in one day. Physically could not bring myself to put it down. Easily my favorite book. Only reason it isn’t five stars for me is because i didn’t find it a challenging read. The topics in the book itself were very clearly for an adult audience but the vocabulary used was a bit middle school level. Nonetheless amazing novel that really resonated with me in a multitude of ways. Would definitely recommend to anyone who is in for a cry. Lol.

[B.B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entertaining, weird...made me want to stop reading it a couple times but I finished it. Not sure what the message exactly was, that part was confusing. The characters were all the same to me, so I wish it could've been told from just one perspective honestly, would've made it better in my opinion. The cut and dry tone throughout made the differing perspectives obsolete. The ending was a mess, and the family dynamic doesn't make any sense. Wouldn't recommend, sorry.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a little surprised this one had lower ratings than some other books I've read lately. I absolutely loved this book and think it will stand out in my mind as time goes on. I found myself very invested in each of the characters and thought the storytelling was well done.

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, very powerful story....just sad...

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! What some kids are put thru because of the failings of their parents! wow. It's one of these stories.

[Manda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d maybe give this book a 2.5. It reads more like a YA book and most of the plot points were either predictable or went nowhere.

[Brenda V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written story about family relationships gone wrong that takes place in a somewhat fictional (but recognizable) Minneapolis.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story! Loved it! Highly recommend!

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
I started reading this book simply because it is required reading for one of my classes, but I did find myself enjoying it more than I thought I would. I sped through the first half of it, and became curious about all of these interesting, unique, and a little bit strange characters Sheila O'Connor has painted for her readers. I love that it takes place in Minneapolis, a city I've grown up exploring. That definitely added a new element to the story that made it more interesting and relatable to me.
Where No Gods Came is a coming-of-age story about family and the hardships Faina McCoy endures when her father travels to Australia to pay off his gambling debt. Definitely an interesting read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow-what a sad book! I've known people who have gone thru similar experiences with disfuntional parents so I understand & feel it was very real & true to life. I agree with others who commented that the ending wasn't the best-think the author wasn't sure what to do & didn't want to leave it with Faina in the childrens home but that probably would have been a little more realistic. I don't think in real life the father would have come back but after all the sorrow Faina went thru at least the ending didn't have her being left behind by everyone who cared for her but for as realistic as the book was it would have been a better fit. I really enjoyed having the 3 main people tell the story from their POV. Will definitely look for other works from this author.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Faina is a young girl sent to live with her mother and sister, neither of whom she has ever known, while her father takes a job on an Alaskan rig to pay off gambling debts. It is a coming of age story as Faina learns to deal with an unfair world, an environment where she does not know all the facts about her history and her relationship with her family. I enjoyed it, but something was missing although I couldn't put my finger on it. The characters were interesting and despite the selfishness of both the mother and sister, they invoked my sympathy - their lives weren't fair either. Worth a read, but not as compelling as I hoped.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takes place in Minnapolis early 1970s. 12-year old girl is the main narrator, but shifts narrator pov in alternating chapters so we hear from everyone firsthand. Normally I find this device distracting and overly-done, but here it works beautifully. It feels natural, and ultimately there is always the one main character. It's a very human story about profound familial dysfunction, but also profound love.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book although it was quite depressing. I was pretty surprised at the ending - it didn't seem to "fit". Sorry - don't want to give anything away...I have a feeling the author grew up w/ an alcoholic parent cuz it was pretty descriptive and felt very real. While set in Mpls I was disappointed that the author changed the names of some very recognizable landmarks, such as Dayton's. Yet kept the names of Sears on Lake Street and the Chicago Lake liquor store. What's up w/ that?

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 12-year-old girl, Faina McCoy, moves to Minneapolis to live with her mother and older sister while her father goes to Australia to work on an oil rig. Very good. I liked it despite the bleak portrait it paints of Minneapolis. It doesn't try to answer questions or take sides, and in this case I felt like removing a child from an alcoholic/negligent household maybe wasn't the right answer.

[Micki · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you liked Where the Crawdads Sing, this book may appeal to you as well as young adults. Its the story of Faina who must leave the dad she loves to live with a mother she has never met. Supposedly a one-year placement, Faina is put in some life-changing situations. Suspenseful and heart-wrenching at times.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chose to read this after reading an amazon.com review that claimed "This book is one of the best books I have read in my 66 years of enjoying fiction. No wonder the Author won those awards!!" I got tired of hearing about Papa Roy. The setting takes place in San Diego and Minneapolis (my home turf)...so that made it interesting. Would not recommend due to unlikable characters.

[Debbie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read. A good story about a young girl from a dysfunctional family having to take care of her Mother and get to know her sister. Well written and a sad story about how a young girl will do anything for a mother who doesn't seem to care about anyone but herself.

[suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this dismal book! I especially remember the parts that take place at Sears on Lake street, in particular where the main character's sister scams the guy that likes her for cab/bus fare.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay. The story was better than the prose, which struck me as being uninspired.

[Jenn]

a favorite...

[Jukka]

Where No Gods Came - Sheila O'Connor

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the story very easy to read and engrossing, and the characters believable. It just seemed like the story ended prematurely with unnecessary loose ends.

[Margie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had hoped for better. Interesting story, but ordinary

[Claire Walthour · Rating 4 out of 5]

A raw glimpse into a young girl's life as she finds out just how strange and disfunctional family can be.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

An OK story overall. The prose was what made the story memorable. Without it, this story would not have held up well.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book about 14 yo that has to go live with her mentally disturbed Mom. A bit disturbing.