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Product Description
Sunday Times
'Donovan's disturbing novel brilliantly describes the pleasures of being alone and the simultaneous peril of loneliness.'
Guardian
'An intensely beautiful world of freezing starlit nights and hunters in the snow provides the backdrop to a ... revenge tragedy.'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Set in far northern Maine near the New Brunswick border, this exceedingly dark and precise novel examines what happens when a loner's territory is encroached upon. The simple story is told from within the titular middle-aged character's head, as he describes his upbringing deep in the Maine woods. Raised by his widowed WWII vet father in a cozy wood cabin built by his WWI vet grandfather, Julius lives a quiet contemplative life dominated by nature and the 3,000+ books that literally line his home. Summer landscaping and mechanical odd jobs in town provide him with what little money he needs, and the lack of human contact in his life seems to suit him fine: "Many men live in these woods who cannot live anywhere else. They live alone and are tuned close to any offense you might give them."
The catalyst for the story is the murder of Julius' dog by an unknown hunter. Getting a dog was the idea of Claire, a woman who wandered into his life several years before and left just as easily. The easy companionship of the dog deflected whatever pain he felt at her abandonment, so when the dog is killed, he is doubly alone. This leads to a scene of startling simplicity and power in which the reader suddenly understands that the quiet, remote, seemingly benign Julius has utterly lost it. It's a brilliant meditation on revenge that completely draws the reader into Julius' orbit and has one alternately rooting for and against his tragic quest. Ignore the terrible cover art, this is a book worth savoring.
The catalyst for the story is the murder of Julius' dog by an unknown hunter. Getting a dog was the idea of Claire, a woman who wandered into his life several years before and left just as easily. The easy companionship of the dog deflected whatever pain he felt at her abandonment, so when the dog is killed, he is doubly alone. This leads to a scene of startling simplicity and power in which the reader suddenly understands that the quiet, remote, seemingly benign Julius has utterly lost it. It's a brilliant meditation on revenge that completely draws the reader into Julius' orbit and has one alternately rooting for and against his tragic quest. Ignore the terrible cover art, this is a book worth savoring.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a gripping novel - a revenge thriller in a way - about loneliness and loss, written in a beautiful style. Every sentence is crafted by a master of prose; Donovan evokes place and character brilliantly. I don't think I've read a novel which so graphically shows how solitude can undermine a person's grip on existence and their sense of humanity.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This, the third novel from Donovan is a finely crafted work of literary fiction, glorious in its subtlety. It is beautifully executed and deceptively simple. What intrigues me most about the book is how Donovan cleverly manipulates the reader's sympathy to always lie with Julius. Despite the innocence of those he murders, they are of little consequence to the reader. This is interesting in itself for the very fact that it goes against the modern convention of empathy for the good hero. Julius retains our sympathy despite the course he has taken.
This novel in its subtext, is more about the power of love and isolation than the retribution executed on the back its loss.
What Donovan does so well is to get us inside Julius's head and rigorously control our empathy.
From the opening page, the perfectly bleak atmosphere captures the desolation of winters approach on the north of the world. As the cruel winter advances, Julius's plight darkens.
The beauty of the writing style lies in the sparse simplicity and unpretentious rhythm of the prose. This is a book for the reader.
My only criticism is not that it is too short - for its length is perfect - but that I was gasping for more as I closed it. I was, in fact, dreading the imminent end but was therefore able to digest every word in every carefully constructed sentence.
I was greatly pained to pick up an arduous Kafka novel after flitting through this beautiful piece in a few days.
Donovan's appealing style shows a mature reserve and in my opinion is a fine example of modern literary fiction and an inspiration to any aspiring writer.
This novel in its subtext, is more about the power of love and isolation than the retribution executed on the back its loss.
What Donovan does so well is to get us inside Julius's head and rigorously control our empathy.
From the opening page, the perfectly bleak atmosphere captures the desolation of winters approach on the north of the world. As the cruel winter advances, Julius's plight darkens.
The beauty of the writing style lies in the sparse simplicity and unpretentious rhythm of the prose. This is a book for the reader.
My only criticism is not that it is too short - for its length is perfect - but that I was gasping for more as I closed it. I was, in fact, dreading the imminent end but was therefore able to digest every word in every carefully constructed sentence.
I was greatly pained to pick up an arduous Kafka novel after flitting through this beautiful piece in a few days.
Donovan's appealing style shows a mature reserve and in my opinion is a fine example of modern literary fiction and an inspiration to any aspiring writer.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Another advert for the power of short novels
Gerard Donovan's short, powerful novel of loneliness and revenge illustrates perfectly what a well-written short novel can achieve. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Jl Adcock
Sparse and beautiful prose.
A really well-written novel. Short, concise, elegant in pace and style, but never lacking in impact and emotion. Read more
Published on 3 May 2010 by Nicodemus Jones
Awsone novel
I had read some favourable reviews about this book but I had never heard of its author. However, I took a chance - one of the best things I have done lately and one of the best... Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2010 by Ana Weyland
Julius Winsome
This is the most beautifully written book I have read - stunning poetic lines. The subject matter may be a little challenging for some but I thoroughly recommend it and have given... Read more
Published on 26 Feb 2010 by Ginny
Excellent
I guess it depends on what any reader really wants from a novel. IF you want a novel that will hold your attention, comprise superb use of the language, and leave you reflecting,... Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2010 by G. D. Busby
JULIUS WINSOME
i DID NOT KNOW THE AUTHOR; I read about him in a french magazine. I was happily surprised by his writting ; the atmosphere made me think about C. Mc Carthy. Read more
Published on 1 April 2009 by biron
In the bleak
A cracking read. A man's dog dies and revenge ensues. The revenge is clinical and merciless until towards the end. Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2008 by K. P. Quinn
Murderer on the rampage
I really did not expect this to be such a violent book from the blurb on the back. It came as a bit of a shock and would not have been my choice of read. Read more
Published on 19 July 2008 by DubaiReader
Henry David Thoreau with a rifle
A really good book. The eponymous protagonist is a loner who loves his dog. Parts of the book reminded me of Henry David Thoreau's Walden (though it is a million times better... Read more
Published on 26 May 2008 by Rufus
Murderer on the rampage
I really did not expect this to be such a violent book from the blurb on the back. It came as a bit of a shock and would not have been my choice of read. Read more
Published on 27 April 2008 by DubaiReader
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