The Wake of Forgiveness in Around the World in 80 Books

Nov 05, 2010 Juliana Philippa rated it really liked it

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Beautifully stark and well-written prose, but a difficult story that left me somewhat unfulfilled (4 stars)

This book took me much longer to read than most books, and I cannot quite put my finger on why. What I do know is that Machart is a very talented writer whose prose often read like stark and lyrical poetry and sometimes reach the quality of genius. Sounds dramatic, I know, but as a writer myself I was impressed - and envious - of his talent with the written word.

Machart's characters are com Beautifully stark and well-written prose, but a difficult story that left me somewhat unfulfilled (4 stars)

This book took me much longer to read than most books, and I cannot quite put my finger on why. What I do know is that Machart is a very talented writer whose prose often read like stark and lyrical poetry and sometimes reach the quality of genius. Sounds dramatic, I know, but as a writer myself I was impressed - and envious - of his talent with the written word.

Machart's characters are compelling, if not always likable - this last being one of the reasons that I think it took me a little longer than usual to finish the book. Karel the boy arouses a variety of emotions in the reader, but none of them negative, which was not at all the case with Karel the man, whom I found unsympathetic and unlikable. My feelings towards him grew increasingly complex as I learned more about both the boy and the man; he's complicated and like everything and everyone else in this novel, while the words describing him are clear-cut, he himself is anything but.

One somewhat side-note is that for those who read a summary and think that a love story is a big part of this novel, I would warn them that it is not. Yes, Karel's longing for Graciela seems to haunt him, but to me it either felt inauthentic or as if Karel had made his longing and its importance bigger things than they actually were - and maybe realizes this in the end. Either way, none of it felt like a love story to me.

The overall plot isn't really much of one, with the variety of the novel focusing on the back and forth between the flashbacks and the present, providing the reader with a picture of Karel Skala, his life, and what led him to this point in it. There is a subplot that moves things along and brings about a change in his world, but in the end, nothing is really "resolved." Karel sees certain things that he did not allow himself to before and there is the possibility or promise of change, but there is no real finishing.

While this lack of an ending left me feeling somewhat unfulfilled, I do not necessarily think that this should have been changed. In a way, I do not think another type of ending would have been appropriate, given the tone and tenor of the rest of the novel. Although I did not feel wholly satisfied, that feeling seemed fitting for the novel, for the story it tells, and for the people it portrays. The best books often leave us somewhat unsettled or off-kilter and I don't think that being uncomfortable is always a bad thing.

Bottom Line
Know that it's a hard book - emotionally, not experientially - so be prepared: if you're wanting a calming and soothing novel after a long day at work, leave The Wake of Forgiveness on the nightstand for another time. Make sure that other time eventually comes though, because for anyone who enjoys beautiful writing and compelling characters, this book is a must-read.
[This review is of an advanced copy format of the book]

(Written on February 7, 2011) ...more

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Apr 07, 2011 Chantal rated it it was amazing

Race horses play an instrumental role in this carefully crafted debut novel. By cultivating winning race horses, Vaclav Skala acquires most of the land in LaVaca county. His love for winning horse races, however, comes at the expense of his family.

After his beloved Clara dies, Vaclav is an embittered man who uses his sons as "work horses" to plow the fields. He exempts his own horses from working since he uses them to race. What proves to be Vaclav’s undoing, however, is his blind hubris.

Vacla ...more

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