Confession: I did not finish THE LITTLE FRIEND by Donna Tartt which was a sad surprise to me. Donna Tartt was high on my list of Want to Try Authors; she is popular and the recipient of many awards, including a Pulitzer. The notes on the cover of the book made the story sound intriguing. Also, I was hooked by the first chapter. So, I wondered, what went wrong.
We first meet the extended Cleves family while everyone is gathered to celebrate Mother’s Day. The women are busy preparing the meal, four-year-old Allison and her infant sister, Harriet, are sitting on the front porch and the favorite of the family, their brother Robin, is running around the yard and playing with his cat. Moments later, Robin’s body is found hanging from a tree in the back yard.
Twelve years later the family remains devastated. Robin’s mother has withdrawn emotionally, his father has withdrawn to live with his mistress in another city and Allison has become a vague teenager. Only Harriet, now thirteen, seems to be alive. Harriet is bright, fearless, and loves books by Robert Louis Stevenson and Kipling. Much of her play time is spent making the neighborhood boys act out scenes, particularly the more sentimental parts.
Although no one in the family will talk about Robin’s murder, it is still a subject of speculation in town. Harriet becomes determined to solve the murder that she had been too young to remember. In doing so, she opens old wounds and crosses the town’s strict racial and social lines.
I have to admit that the story had me hooked. There were so many questions that I was intrigued by. The problem is that the author took so many detours into characters and situations that seemed to just fill the pages. Admittedly, Tartt is very good at describing scenes and getting into her characters, but she reminded me of the hostess who is an excellent cook, but puts all of her best dishes out for a party. The results can be overwhelming and does not make for a well rounded, balanced meal. (Or like the seamstress who adds one too many ruffles). I wish the story had moved toward the ending a little more economically.
This does not mean that I will not read another book by Donna Tartt, but I plan to ask a fellow reader who read
Confession: I did not finish The Little Friend by Donna Tartt which was a sad surprise to me. Donna Tartt was high on my list of Want to Try Authors; she is popular and the recipient of many awards, including a Pulitzer. The notes on the cover of the book made the story sound intriguing. Also, I was hooked by the first chapter. So, I wondered, what went wrong.
We first meet the extended Cleves family while everyone is gathered to celebrate Mother’s Day. The women are busy preparing the meal, four-year-old Allison and her infant sister, Harriet, are sitting on the front porch and the favorite of the family, their brother Robin, is running around the yard and playing with his cat. Moments later, Robin’s body is found hanging from a tree in the back yard.
Twelve years later the family remains devastated. Robin’s mother has withdrawn emotionally, his father has withdrawn to live with his mistress in another city and Allison has become a vague teenager. Only Harriet, now thirteen, seems to be alive. Harriet is bright, fearless, and loves books by Robert Louis Stevenson and Kipling. Much of her play time is spent making the neighborhood boys act out scenes, particularly the more sentimental parts.
Although no one in the family will talk about Robin’s murder, it is still a subject of speculation in town. Harriet becomes determined to solve the murder that she had been too young to remember. In doing so, she opens old wounds and crosses the town’s strict racial and social lines.
I have to admit that the story had me hooked. There were so many questions that I was intrigued by. The problem is that the author took so many detours into characters and situations that seemed to just fill the pages. Admittedly, Tartt is very good at describing scenes and getting into her characters, but she reminded me of the hostess who is an excellent cook, but puts all of her best dishes out for a party. The results can be overwhelming and does not make for a well rounded, balanced meal. (Or like the seamstress who adds one too many ruffles). I wish the story had moved toward the ending a little more economically.
This does not mean that I will not read another book by Donna Tartt, but I plan to ask a fellow reader who read THE LITTLE FRIEND -- and liked it-- how it all worked out. Tartt is a very prolific author so there are many choices for me to try.
P.S. Just came from a discussion of THE LITTLE FRIEND. I am glad that I did not finish. Enough said.
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