The Free
question
Let's Discuss The Free by Willy Vlautin
Roxanne
Feb 23, 2014 07:31AM
I would love to discuss so many things about this novel.
1. What were your thoughts about the dream sequences - or were they dream sequences? If not dreams - what were they?
2. Some of the passages just seemed to open me emotionally. Can you remember what you were reading when you felt the most emotion?
3. Are the characters believable? If not - why. If so - why?
4. Can you describe the novel's resolution? Was it resolved? What was your overall sense of the book when you closed the book and the few hours after finishing?
5. Please post any other question for discussion. I hope we can continue to talk about the book as others read it.
1. What were your thoughts about the dream sequences - or were they dream sequences? If not dreams - what were they?
2. Some of the passages just seemed to open me emotionally. Can you remember what you were reading when you felt the most emotion?
3. Are the characters believable? If not - why. If so - why?
4. Can you describe the novel's resolution? Was it resolved? What was your overall sense of the book when you closed the book and the few hours after finishing?
5. Please post any other question for discussion. I hope we can continue to talk about the book as others read it.
My sense of the resolution was that it was appropriate.....I know that it seems I'm damning with faint praise but I'm not. I think that a thread that runs through Vlautin's writing (both music and literature) is the small, hard fought victory......not happy endings per se. Leroy is dead, but at peace, and Jeanette can move on with him in her heart. Freddie has his children back, and you get the sense that while his road is still hard, he has a fighting chance. Pauline has a new job at the school, she's caring for the outsiders at school, she's in a relationship but completely on her terms......again, small victories
My sense of the book.....I thought there were some minor missteps.....I'm still not sure how well Leroy's internal monologue story worked, but the further I'm removed from it, the less it nags me. I think Vlautin is building toward a great American novel, step by step.....and The Free fits into the patterns of his first three books really well.
My sense of the book.....I thought there were some minor missteps.....I'm still not sure how well Leroy's internal monologue story worked, but the further I'm removed from it, the less it nags me. I think Vlautin is building toward a great American novel, step by step.....and The Free fits into the patterns of his first three books really well.
deleted member
Dec 19, 2014 08:01AM
0 votes
Roxanne,
I think kicking off a discussion of "The free" is an admirable effort. I have to admit, Willy Vlautins writing does not turn me on or excite me. Many of my friends are.
However I do like discussing literature I like or not.
My review of "The free" reads:
The Free is to diluted with words. What is Willy Vlautin cause? Mentioned alongside Steinbeck, Hemingway and Carver. Steinbeck recreated a world, Hemingway was a storyteller and Raymond Carver...he sure knew how to economize. However,"Pauline" is a lovable character.
But yes (3) the characters are believable. I think they all originates from WV's life. To me (4) nothing much is resolved. Freddie travels deeper into his dead end. Pauline travels another alley, but I believe, everything will stay the same. And so on...
I mentioned Carver. His excellent way of planting the words/the story, trusting the reader to contribute and enrich the world surrounding it.
I think kicking off a discussion of "The free" is an admirable effort. I have to admit, Willy Vlautins writing does not turn me on or excite me. Many of my friends are.
However I do like discussing literature I like or not.
My review of "The free" reads:
The Free is to diluted with words. What is Willy Vlautin cause? Mentioned alongside Steinbeck, Hemingway and Carver. Steinbeck recreated a world, Hemingway was a storyteller and Raymond Carver...he sure knew how to economize. However,"Pauline" is a lovable character.
But yes (3) the characters are believable. I think they all originates from WV's life. To me (4) nothing much is resolved. Freddie travels deeper into his dead end. Pauline travels another alley, but I believe, everything will stay the same. And so on...
I mentioned Carver. His excellent way of planting the words/the story, trusting the reader to contribute and enrich the world surrounding it.
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Jan 21, 2015 01:21PM · flag