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Untouchable
It is the autumn of 1999. A year has passed since Lucy Darby's sudden and unexpected death, leaving her husband David and son Whitley to mend the gaping hole in their lives. David, a trauma-site cleanup technician, spends his nights expunging the violent remains of strangers, helping their families to move on, though he is unable to do the same. Whitley - an 11 year-old social pariah known simply as The Kid - hasn't spoken since his mother's death. Instead, he communicates through a growing collection of notebooks, living in a safer world of his own silent imagining.
As the impending arrival of Y2K casts a shadow of uncertainty around them, their own precarious reality begins to implode. Questions pertaining to the events of Lucy's death begin to haunt David, while The Kid, who still believes his mother is alive, enlists the help of his small group of misfit friends to bring her back. As David continues to lose his grip on reality and The Kid's sense of urgency grows, they begin to uncover truths that will force them to confront their deepest fears about each other and the wounded family they are trying desperately to save.
Scott O'Connor lives in Los Angeles. His 2004 novella Among Wolves was praised by the Los Angeles Times Book Review for its "crisp, take-no-prisoner's style" and hailed the author as "one to watch."
As the impending arrival of Y2K casts a shadow of uncertainty around them, their own precarious reality begins to implode. Questions pertaining to the events of Lucy's death begin to haunt David, while The Kid, who still believes his mother is alive, enlists the help of his small group of misfit friends to bring her back. As David continues to lose his grip on reality and The Kid's sense of urgency grows, they begin to uncover truths that will force them to confront their deepest fears about each other and the wounded family they are trying desperately to save.
Scott O'Connor lives in Los Angeles. His 2004 novella Among Wolves was praised by the Los Angeles Times Book Review for its "crisp, take-no-prisoner's style" and hailed the author as "one to watch."
380 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2011
About the author
Scott O'Connor
14 books95 followersScott O’Connor is the author of the novels 'Zero Zone', 'Untouchable', and 'Half World', and the story collection 'A Perfect Universe'.
He has been awarded the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award, and his stories have been shortlisted for the Sunday Times/EFG Story Prize and cited as Distinguished in Best American Short Stories. Additional work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Paris Review, Zyzzyva, and The Los Angeles Review of Books.
He has been awarded the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award, and his stories have been shortlisted for the Sunday Times/EFG Story Prize and cited as Distinguished in Best American Short Stories. Additional work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Paris Review, Zyzzyva, and The Los Angeles Review of Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
September 9, 2011
This is a very disturbing and yet fascinating book. David Darby is a big, tattooed technician for a trauma-site clean-up crew. He spends every night cleaning up the remains of suicide and murders. His son, Whitley, called The Kid, is a sixth-grader who is a talented artist but who is badly bullied at school. Darby's wife / The Kid's mother, Lucy, died under some fairly mysterious circumstances a year earlier and since her death Darby has not been able to sleep in the house and The Kid has not spoken.
This is a difficult story to read and yet I couldn't quite put it down. Darby is trying to be a good father but he's dealing with demons of his own. The Kid is so traumatized both by the loss of his mother (whom he does not believe is dead) and the constant bullying he endures, that he is ashamed to let his father know what he is putting up with at school. O'Connor does a very good job of developing the characters of this pain-filled father-son relationship.
The writing style takes some getting used to. The POV cuts back and forth between Darby and The Kid, often without any warning at all. Since I read it on Kindle I felt maybe there were missing line-breaks because I often didn't know which character's perspective was being written about. There is a good deal of repetition -- especially with Darby -- but, once I adjusted to it I felt it was an effective way of expressing the kind of obsessive thought patterns Darby was slipping in to.
I was happy that the ending was uplifting because, given the story, it could have been quite dark. This is not for everyone but it is a fascinating character study of two interesting people.
This is a difficult story to read and yet I couldn't quite put it down. Darby is trying to be a good father but he's dealing with demons of his own. The Kid is so traumatized both by the loss of his mother (whom he does not believe is dead) and the constant bullying he endures, that he is ashamed to let his father know what he is putting up with at school. O'Connor does a very good job of developing the characters of this pain-filled father-son relationship.
The writing style takes some getting used to. The POV cuts back and forth between Darby and The Kid, often without any warning at all. Since I read it on Kindle I felt maybe there were missing line-breaks because I often didn't know which character's perspective was being written about. There is a good deal of repetition -- especially with Darby -- but, once I adjusted to it I felt it was an effective way of expressing the kind of obsessive thought patterns Darby was slipping in to.
I was happy that the ending was uplifting because, given the story, it could have been quite dark. This is not for everyone but it is a fascinating character study of two interesting people.
March 26, 2012
I've read over a hundred books on my kindle in the past year. This is the one that stayed with me. It dark and heartbreaking, human pain is exposed to the core. I never stopped to think what was coming next in this book cause I wanted to listen to the author. It hurts to read this book but it was a story worth hurting for.
May 29, 2012
3.75
I struggled to put a rating on this one. It isn't because it's a bad book but it's not a book to fall in love with. Most people aren't going to like this book. It's not a happy book. This isn't a book you take to the beach to read while you're laying out. This is a book that saddens you.
"Untouchable" is the story of a broken family and an examination of how profoundly each member of the family is devastated by the destruction of that family unit. I won't rehash the plot - there's a book summary for that - but this book focuses on two individuals: David and his son, Whitley (aka "The Kid") and how they deal with the loss of their wife and mother, respectively, and how they ultimately come to grips with her death and the circumstances surrounding it.
This book deals with some tough subjects (death, suicide, bullying) and doesn't shy away from the darker side of those subjects, but it treats them honestly. If you aren't afraid of dealing with tough subjects then this book is a must read. If your goal in reading is escapism and fantasy, skip this book - you won't appreciate it.
As a side note: This book does a remarkable job demonstrating how kids are bullied and how easily that bullying gets overlooked by teachers and parents.
I struggled to put a rating on this one. It isn't because it's a bad book but it's not a book to fall in love with. Most people aren't going to like this book. It's not a happy book. This isn't a book you take to the beach to read while you're laying out. This is a book that saddens you.
"Untouchable" is the story of a broken family and an examination of how profoundly each member of the family is devastated by the destruction of that family unit. I won't rehash the plot - there's a book summary for that - but this book focuses on two individuals: David and his son, Whitley (aka "The Kid") and how they deal with the loss of their wife and mother, respectively, and how they ultimately come to grips with her death and the circumstances surrounding it.
This book deals with some tough subjects (death, suicide, bullying) and doesn't shy away from the darker side of those subjects, but it treats them honestly. If you aren't afraid of dealing with tough subjects then this book is a must read. If your goal in reading is escapism and fantasy, skip this book - you won't appreciate it.
As a side note: This book does a remarkable job demonstrating how kids are bullied and how easily that bullying gets overlooked by teachers and parents.
October 8, 2012
This book is a tough read. It's about how a father and son deal with extreme grief after the sudden loss of their wife/mother. The book really looks at denial (the Kid) and reaction formation (the dad). The shock of the mother's death sent both father and son nearly over the edge. As a reader, you are in the two main character's point of view.
As the child (or The Kid) in the book, you begin to doubt (or I did) whether or not the mother is really dead (I'll not give anything away). You go into denial with him. The author does an outstanding job of painting this character and his extreme insecurities. O'Connor also shows the Kid's talents and gives the reader hope that he'll get through the trauma he faces. As a teacher himself, the author painted a beautiful and painful picture of how cruel children can be to one another.
The Kid's father, who is his only stable adult figure, is far from stable. As the book progresses, the father goes further and further off the deep end. The reader worries about what he will do next. He works in a very stressful job--a cleaning service that cleans up after crime scene teams finish. They clean up blood and bodily fluids in places where people have died a violent death. As a reader, I wished the author had selected another kind of work for this father. It was hard enough reading about the trauma of the loss of the mother, but to read about other people's violent loss as well, that was extreme.
But, O'Connor was very skillful and he knew he had to make us all understand the pain the man and his son were going through.
One reviewer called this story bleak. Tragic might be a better word. But, things work out in the end. It's not a Hollywood ending, which wouldn't have fit the theme or the voice and would have insulted the readers. Instead, I felt satisfied. I felt as if there was hope that the two people would work through their grief.
Congratulations to a new writer. I can't wait to read more from him. Anyone who give this book less than 5 stars knows nothing about writing.
As the child (or The Kid) in the book, you begin to doubt (or I did) whether or not the mother is really dead (I'll not give anything away). You go into denial with him. The author does an outstanding job of painting this character and his extreme insecurities. O'Connor also shows the Kid's talents and gives the reader hope that he'll get through the trauma he faces. As a teacher himself, the author painted a beautiful and painful picture of how cruel children can be to one another.
The Kid's father, who is his only stable adult figure, is far from stable. As the book progresses, the father goes further and further off the deep end. The reader worries about what he will do next. He works in a very stressful job--a cleaning service that cleans up after crime scene teams finish. They clean up blood and bodily fluids in places where people have died a violent death. As a reader, I wished the author had selected another kind of work for this father. It was hard enough reading about the trauma of the loss of the mother, but to read about other people's violent loss as well, that was extreme.
But, O'Connor was very skillful and he knew he had to make us all understand the pain the man and his son were going through.
One reviewer called this story bleak. Tragic might be a better word. But, things work out in the end. It's not a Hollywood ending, which wouldn't have fit the theme or the voice and would have insulted the readers. Instead, I felt satisfied. I felt as if there was hope that the two people would work through their grief.
Congratulations to a new writer. I can't wait to read more from him. Anyone who give this book less than 5 stars knows nothing about writing.
March 1, 2012
I would give this one 3.5 stars, really. It's the kind of book that still has me thinking about it after I'm done reading it, and in that sense it is a great book. But then, it's so sad and depressing and I wanted to cry for Darby and Whitley over and over. Again, that's probably what makes it a great book, but I can't give it 4 stars, and I definitely can't recommend it to all my friends, and I can't say that I loved it. There were parts I loved.
I loved the flashbacks - I loved how we got to know these characters a piece at a time, how they came together and put the puzzle together. I figured there was something more to Lucy's death than what Darby told The Kid, but I had no idea.
I loved how good and honest the Kid was. I wanted to cry for him over and over. I wanted to scoop him up in my arms and tell him he was loved and that things would be okay, that the world really isn't as bad as it seems, but then I knew he would probably see through that, just like he saw through his dad's lie. Oh, that poor boy just broke my heart. I can just tell you that Whitley Darby is a character I won't soon forget.
Truly, the reason I started reading this book was because of the psychology aspects of it. I asked myself, "What kind of a person works as on a trauma cleanup crew?" I wanted to know more about David Darby and what would make a man like that tick. I wanted to know why The Kid would stop talking after his mother's death. But, this was so much more than just an interesting look into the human psyche. It was poignant and pulled on the heartstrings without being over the top.
Now, to the reasons why I wouldn't be able to recommend this book to my friends. There are certain of my friends (you know who you are) who need a language warning... consider yourselves warned. There is a young lady in this book who needs a mother badly to wash her mouth out with soap. The F word abounds whenever she's in the picture, so to those of you who are sensitive to that kind of thing, don't pick up this book. To the others, well, you can choose for yourselves whether you want to read this. I do own a Nook copy and would be willing to share.
I loved the flashbacks - I loved how we got to know these characters a piece at a time, how they came together and put the puzzle together. I figured there was something more to Lucy's death than what Darby told The Kid, but I had no idea.
I loved how good and honest the Kid was. I wanted to cry for him over and over. I wanted to scoop him up in my arms and tell him he was loved and that things would be okay, that the world really isn't as bad as it seems, but then I knew he would probably see through that, just like he saw through his dad's lie. Oh, that poor boy just broke my heart. I can just tell you that Whitley Darby is a character I won't soon forget.
Truly, the reason I started reading this book was because of the psychology aspects of it. I asked myself, "What kind of a person works as on a trauma cleanup crew?" I wanted to know more about David Darby and what would make a man like that tick. I wanted to know why The Kid would stop talking after his mother's death. But, this was so much more than just an interesting look into the human psyche. It was poignant and pulled on the heartstrings without being over the top.
Now, to the reasons why I wouldn't be able to recommend this book to my friends. There are certain of my friends (you know who you are) who need a language warning... consider yourselves warned. There is a young lady in this book who needs a mother badly to wash her mouth out with soap. The F word abounds whenever she's in the picture, so to those of you who are sensitive to that kind of thing, don't pick up this book. To the others, well, you can choose for yourselves whether you want to read this. I do own a Nook copy and would be willing to share.
March 16, 2012
It takes a talented writer to keep you reading a book that gets bleaker and bleaker, but Scott O'Connor definitely fits that bill. Untouchable is, for the most part, a book in which the situations the main characters find themselves are getting increasingly hopeless, and at some point they need to decide whether it's worth fighting at all.
It's the fall of 1999, nearly a year since Lucy Darby's sudden death. Her husband, David, a crime scene clean-up technician, immerses himself in helping others purge any traces of their loved ones' deaths, while he is unable to do the same in his own life. Their son, 11-year-old Whitley (known as The Kid), has not spoken for a year, communicating instead via a series of notebooks in which he shares his thoughts. The Kid is treated horribly by his classmates, so much so that he begins to believe his unworthy and horrible, and starts blaming himself for Lucy's death, wondering if she actually died, or simply disappeared because she, too, was disgusted with him. And as the atmosphere around The Kid grows even more charged and potentially dangerous, David is starting to lose his own grip on reality, which also could have potentially harmful effects. All of this plays out against the backdrop of a country riveted by the uncertain fears of the coming millennium and the worries of what Y2K could bring.
Scott O'Connor has created some tremendously vivid, heartbreakingly poignant characters, in David and The Kid, as well one of David's coworkers and one of The Kid's classmates. But so much of this book is so bleak, I worried what would happen to characters in which I had invested so much emotion. This is a well-written book that was hard to love, because I just wanted to shake the characters and those around them, to make them aware of all that was going on. But it truly is a testament to O'Connor's excellent writing ability that you want to keep on reading a book that disturbs you so much.
It's the fall of 1999, nearly a year since Lucy Darby's sudden death. Her husband, David, a crime scene clean-up technician, immerses himself in helping others purge any traces of their loved ones' deaths, while he is unable to do the same in his own life. Their son, 11-year-old Whitley (known as The Kid), has not spoken for a year, communicating instead via a series of notebooks in which he shares his thoughts. The Kid is treated horribly by his classmates, so much so that he begins to believe his unworthy and horrible, and starts blaming himself for Lucy's death, wondering if she actually died, or simply disappeared because she, too, was disgusted with him. And as the atmosphere around The Kid grows even more charged and potentially dangerous, David is starting to lose his own grip on reality, which also could have potentially harmful effects. All of this plays out against the backdrop of a country riveted by the uncertain fears of the coming millennium and the worries of what Y2K could bring.
Scott O'Connor has created some tremendously vivid, heartbreakingly poignant characters, in David and The Kid, as well one of David's coworkers and one of The Kid's classmates. But so much of this book is so bleak, I worried what would happen to characters in which I had invested so much emotion. This is a well-written book that was hard to love, because I just wanted to shake the characters and those around them, to make them aware of all that was going on. But it truly is a testament to O'Connor's excellent writing ability that you want to keep on reading a book that disturbs you so much.
September 3, 2011
I like stories with children in them. This one had a boy, troubled by the death of his mother so his covenant involved silence. For more than a year, he spoke not at all. He, however, was a victim of bullying and that upset me. In addition, his father had his own problems. Both of these characters were not especially appealing, even tho I did feel sorry for them. The few incidental characters were also unappealing. The story revolved around the mother's death. This was a free download to my Kindle, and I'm glad that I did not pay for it. If I had, I would have felt cheated. The only reason why I finished it was to see if the boy would get better, to see if the father would get worse. I didn't like it but as the 2 stars imply, it was okay.
Oh, the transitions in paragraphs from the father to the son (and from the son to the father) were not obvious. I would be reading about one and the next paragraph would be about the other. This happened so many times that I found it disturbing and detrimental to the flow of event.
Oh, the transitions in paragraphs from the father to the son (and from the son to the father) were not obvious. I would be reading about one and the next paragraph would be about the other. This happened so many times that I found it disturbing and detrimental to the flow of event.
July 8, 2012
Adults forget how children view the world, how they process information.
Mom (Lucy) is missing from the Darby family. Dad (David) tells one story. The son, Whitley a/k/a"The Kid" has a completely different version of what happened to his mother. Both father and son are consumed by grief and are adrift in a sea of pain. They are unable to connect at a time when the need is critical.
As if losing one's mother is not bad enough, The Kid is also the victim of horrendous bullying. Do parents ever really understand the world of middle school? Do they remember all that angst? Poor Whitley is alone in navigating these troubled waters.
My heart broke for The Kid and his father.
Scott O'Connor's prose flowed smoothly and I was completely absorbed in the lives of these characters. High recommendation!!!
Mom (Lucy) is missing from the Darby family. Dad (David) tells one story. The son, Whitley a/k/a"The Kid" has a completely different version of what happened to his mother. Both father and son are consumed by grief and are adrift in a sea of pain. They are unable to connect at a time when the need is critical.
As if losing one's mother is not bad enough, The Kid is also the victim of horrendous bullying. Do parents ever really understand the world of middle school? Do they remember all that angst? Poor Whitley is alone in navigating these troubled waters.
My heart broke for The Kid and his father.
Scott O'Connor's prose flowed smoothly and I was completely absorbed in the lives of these characters. High recommendation!!!
May 13, 2014
Untouchable is not the type of book that will appeal to many readers. This is a emotionally raw, gritty and heartbreaking story. David Darby and his son, Whitley are still reeling from the unexpected death of their wife and mother, Lucy. They are still struggling to come to terms with her death and are not doing well. Darby's crime scene clean up job is stressing him out and the Kid is abused and tormented in school. This was a hard book to read but it was well written and believable. The author's edgy writing style pulls you and makes you feel the pain and fear this family is experiencing. This book isn't for those who want a happy ending or light subject matter, however, if you can appreciate a dark but well written book give this a chance.
November 6, 2011
Untouchable by Scott O'Connor
high school & up
It has been almost a year since Lucy Darby died. Her husband and son are not coping well with the loss. Darby is a trauma site technician; in other words, he cleans up the mess left behind by suicides and murders. His son, Whitley, know mostly as "the Kid" hasn't spoken since shortly after Lucy's death. He believes that his mom has left because she was tired of him and he hopes that by not speaking he will convince her he is different so that she will come back. Darby is unable to help his son because the trauma associated with his job is slowly developing into an obsession.
This is one of those books that English teachers will enjoy dissecting. There isn't much action in the book but we get great access to the inside of the character's minds. The pair's internal struggles and emotions are well detailed. We get thoughts and experiences from both Darby & the Kid without any formal separation. Because really, their problems are the same: they can't speak about how awful they feel. Towards the end of the book I found it highly necessary to pay attention. The narrative switched back & forth from paragraph to paragraph with no warnings.
high school & up
It has been almost a year since Lucy Darby died. Her husband and son are not coping well with the loss. Darby is a trauma site technician; in other words, he cleans up the mess left behind by suicides and murders. His son, Whitley, know mostly as "the Kid" hasn't spoken since shortly after Lucy's death. He believes that his mom has left because she was tired of him and he hopes that by not speaking he will convince her he is different so that she will come back. Darby is unable to help his son because the trauma associated with his job is slowly developing into an obsession.
This is one of those books that English teachers will enjoy dissecting. There isn't much action in the book but we get great access to the inside of the character's minds. The pair's internal struggles and emotions are well detailed. We get thoughts and experiences from both Darby & the Kid without any formal separation. Because really, their problems are the same: they can't speak about how awful they feel. Towards the end of the book I found it highly necessary to pay attention. The narrative switched back & forth from paragraph to paragraph with no warnings.
May 24, 2012
I will let the Amazon.com description suffice: It is the autumn of 1999. A year has passed since Lucy Darby's unexpected death, leaving her husband David and son Whitley to mend the gaping hole in their lives. David, a trauma-site cleanup technician, spends his nights expunging the violent remains of strangers, helping their families to move on, though he is unable to do the same. Whitley--an 11-year-old social pariah known simply as The Kid--hasn't spoken since his mother's death. Instead, he communicates through a growing collection of notebooks, living in a safer world of his own silent imagining.
As the impending arrival of Y2K casts a shadow of uncertainty around them, their own precarious reality begins to implode. Questions pertaining to the events of Lucy's death begin to haunt David, while The Kid, who still believes his mother is alive, enlists the help of his small group of misfit friends to bring her back. As David continues to lose his grip on reality and The Kid's sense of urgency grows, they begin to uncover truths that will force them to confront their deepest fears about each other and the wounded family they are trying desperately to save.
As the impending arrival of Y2K casts a shadow of uncertainty around them, their own precarious reality begins to implode. Questions pertaining to the events of Lucy's death begin to haunt David, while The Kid, who still believes his mother is alive, enlists the help of his small group of misfit friends to bring her back. As David continues to lose his grip on reality and The Kid's sense of urgency grows, they begin to uncover truths that will force them to confront their deepest fears about each other and the wounded family they are trying desperately to save.
October 19, 2012
This was a ‘Free Friday’ selection for the Nook that I downloaded a while ago. I’ve not had great luck with many of the free books, and I’m beginning to realize that there’s a reason why they’re free. The book had an interesting concept and I think it had potential. Unfortunately, the author just didn’t make it work. The story was sort of all over the place with a father and son dealing with (or NOT dealing with) the death of their wife and mother. The author switched between the father and ‘the Kid’, seemingly from one paragraph to the next in spots. I never know whether those are formatting issues with the ebook or whether the book needed a better editor, but given the overall feel of the book I feel like this was deliberate on the author’s part. In any case, I found it frustrating, often reading several paragraphs before catching on to the fact that we had moved from father to son. The book also had several side plots, including one relating to Y2K, that never really went anywhere. I’m not sure what they were even there for. I couldn’t quite bring myself to give the book only one star, but I can’t really recommend the book either.
November 29, 2012
O’Connor paints a very vivid LA, as our story takes place on the edge of Echo Park just off Sunset and at the Everclean cleaning service in a lost corner of Glendale overlooking the river–a corner I happen to know well. The writer gives us details of streets, textures, colors and things to look at without bogging us down in geographical details—there’s no “at the corner of this and that, where the metro stop is.” It’s a case for letting your reader get into a physical space, rather than worrying about the geography. The writer knows exactly where his characters are, but it’s subtly portrayed. Through the Kid’s eyes, O’Connor gives us his neighborhood, including a massive mural in an underpass, which is being continuously covered by graffiti—the kid tries to capture it in a drawing before it’s completely obscured.
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December 6, 2011
I have been 'reading' this book that i downloaded for free many months ago. I have read about five other books while reading this. I can't explain why I keep going back to it because the narrative is very frustrating, with no flashback breaks or definitive character point of view breaks, but I keep returning to it. It's like a morbid train wreck that you just can't let go. Right now I'm at the point of finding out what happened to Michelle and Darby is truly losing it. I can't rate how i feel about this book because at time I completely hate it but I'm compelled to find out how it finally resolves itself.
Being that this is probably the longest review that I have ever written about a book, and I'm not even done reading it, really says something. A good story makes you feel and think and wonder...
UPDATE: Finally finished it...well, that about sums it up!
Being that this is probably the longest review that I have ever written about a book, and I'm not even done reading it, really says something. A good story makes you feel and think and wonder...
UPDATE: Finally finished it...well, that about sums it up!
June 13, 2013
I'd like to thank Goodreads First-Reads for this free book I won through their giveaway.
I really wanted to like this book and I'm not sure what it was about it that made it seem so much longer than it was. Maybe it was the endless descriptions of meaningless tasks that made it so laborious to continue reading. Maybe it was the characters that were so flawed that they needed a lifetime session with Dr. Phil. Maybe it was the darkness that surrounded the characters and their lack of seeking help from a friend but instead wallowing in that darkness alone. Whatever it was, it made this book more of a chore to read than anything else.
I really wanted to like this book and I'm not sure what it was about it that made it seem so much longer than it was. Maybe it was the endless descriptions of meaningless tasks that made it so laborious to continue reading. Maybe it was the characters that were so flawed that they needed a lifetime session with Dr. Phil. Maybe it was the darkness that surrounded the characters and their lack of seeking help from a friend but instead wallowing in that darkness alone. Whatever it was, it made this book more of a chore to read than anything else.
August 31, 2011
Imagine writing about twenty first person stories by a troubled father and equally troubled 12 year old son. Then cut the stories into lengths of a a half a page to a couple of pages and randomly interleave them. Insert no transitions separating any of the interleaved sections. With this, you will have the narrative style.
The odd narrative style, in this case, complements the complex emotional and communicative problems of the family – what is true and what is not? Do they even know?. It’s hard to say more without revealing the truths.
The odd narrative style, in this case, complements the complex emotional and communicative problems of the family – what is true and what is not? Do they even know?. It’s hard to say more without revealing the truths.
August 23, 2011
Whoa. This book was emotionally draining and yet at the same time, very difficult to stop reading. The main characters are a father and his sixth grade son. I hate to think that the brutality the boy endures by classmates is remotely possible in today's schools, but I imagine it is probably true. The two of them are at a pivotal point in their lives and the reader really doesn't know until the end how they will survive it all. Very good, very sad.
September 14, 2011
Heartbreaking story of a father and son as they navigate life in the year following the death of Lucy, wife and mother. The most realistic rendering of magical thinking that I have ever read. What Whit does (or doesn't do) to get his mother back is breathtaking. Sad, painful story that ultimately ends in hope. Highly recommend.
December 28, 2016
A different kind of read, but interesting none the less. A little boy who is an outcast at school and also mute has lost his mother. His father works as a clean up mostly of post crimes. Both are dealing with the death of their wife/mother, and it takes a lot for them to heal. In the end, they both realize that each other are hurting in their own ways, but need and love each other.
September 9, 2011
An intense, compelling story of the separate, simultaneous ordeals of father and son following the death of the woman in the center of their family. It's dark, but not sentimental, a real page-turner, very well written.
August 25, 2017
I received a copy of Untouchable from Goodreads Giveaways. What follows is my honest opinion of this novel.
Let's start by saying that this is NOT the genre I normally read. There is an incredible amount of sadness, darkness, death, and stark cruelty in this story. There is also an incredible amount of hope and love. This is Mr. O'Connor's first novel. I love reading first novels. Nothing is held back. Mr. O'Connor's writing style is excellent; the story itself just short of amazing.
The best parts of this novel? The scenes where "The Kid", considered a misfit by most, shows exactly how to be a true friend to all, no matter what the circumstance or consequence. The descriptions of Lucy and David Darby ("The Kid's" parents), Michelle and Matthew and Arizona, "The Kid's" friends, so wonderfully detailed that I felt I knew them all. The strength that is shown in the novel's main characters in face of terrible loss and eventual acceptance of resulting circumstances.
The worst part of this novel? Finishing it. This is one of those stories you read slowly so it won't have to end too soon. I loved the ending, the way everything was tied together in the final chapters.
I am very much looking forward to reading more novels by Mr. O'Connor in the future!
Let's start by saying that this is NOT the genre I normally read. There is an incredible amount of sadness, darkness, death, and stark cruelty in this story. There is also an incredible amount of hope and love. This is Mr. O'Connor's first novel. I love reading first novels. Nothing is held back. Mr. O'Connor's writing style is excellent; the story itself just short of amazing.
The best parts of this novel? The scenes where "The Kid", considered a misfit by most, shows exactly how to be a true friend to all, no matter what the circumstance or consequence. The descriptions of Lucy and David Darby ("The Kid's" parents), Michelle and Matthew and Arizona, "The Kid's" friends, so wonderfully detailed that I felt I knew them all. The strength that is shown in the novel's main characters in face of terrible loss and eventual acceptance of resulting circumstances.
The worst part of this novel? Finishing it. This is one of those stories you read slowly so it won't have to end too soon. I loved the ending, the way everything was tied together in the final chapters.
I am very much looking forward to reading more novels by Mr. O'Connor in the future!
February 1, 2019
If Goodreads allowed a half score, I would have easily given this novel a mark of 4.5. How do you describe this novel? A coming of age story? A mystery? A crime drama? A story about grief? All of the above? I would start to describe it as saying the writing was electric. For a novel about a son and husband grappling with the death of their mother and wife, it was a book difficult to put down. But, because the writing was so good, the sadness became so palpable it was like a dark cloud hanging pervasively over the story in a way that I did have to put the novel down at times to have respite. Also, I am a pretty good reader at predicting the outcome of a novel, but with this story, I kept asking myself where this plot was headed and when I did get to the plot twists, I was completely surprised. So, why not a full score of 5? At 381 pages, the novel could have been shaved down just a bit as some plot lines became repetitive and a few plot lines were either left loose or messy by the end. Very minor complaints for an incredible debut novel.
March 28, 2019
What did I just read?? This book has no storyline or any redeeming qualities... Every single character needs some serious counseling. Nothing is logical. I’ve never read a book in which the characters make so many ridiculous assumptions. It’s difficult to follow at times, because it jumps between two points of view, both people’s dreams, and random scenes from the past - and the author doesn’t inform the reader when it changes. If reading about suicide and bullying makes you uncomfortable, then don’t read this book. The only reason I started reading was because of the narrator, and he’s the only reason I didn’t give up, even though the recording quality was awful... I don’t want to hear the narrator swallowing and smacking no matter how good of a narrator he may be.
May 21, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the writers style. The characters pain and grief were very real, it was an overall good, well written, heavy, and emotional read.
I was captivated in the beginning, but I couldn’t help but feeling bored almost halfway through the book though. I kept waiting and thinking something exciting was going to happen, a turn of events, but kept getting disappointed. I often wondered where the author was going with this book. I ended up skimming through the second half of the book, thinking of not finishing, but really wanted to know how the story ended. It’s not my usual kind of book that I read, and I thought it would be something else. It wasn’t a bad book, but wasn’t one that sticks with me, and won’t be something I read again.
I was captivated in the beginning, but I couldn’t help but feeling bored almost halfway through the book though. I kept waiting and thinking something exciting was going to happen, a turn of events, but kept getting disappointed. I often wondered where the author was going with this book. I ended up skimming through the second half of the book, thinking of not finishing, but really wanted to know how the story ended. It’s not my usual kind of book that I read, and I thought it would be something else. It wasn’t a bad book, but wasn’t one that sticks with me, and won’t be something I read again.
January 14, 2023
The main character, Whitley Darby, known to everyone including his parents as The Kid, is someone I would like to know. Bullied at school, The Kid uses his alter ego as Smooshie Smith, talk show host of the future, to be confident and popular, opposite to his real life. His parents are troubled as well. Father David cleans up after tragedies, and might or might not have PTSD. Mom Lucy, a school teacher, suffers from anxiety and depression. The family is hanging together by a thread when Mom suddenly dies, and The Kid stops speaking. This is a gripping and moving study of the different ways that these quirky characters cope with loss.
August 29, 2017
I received this book from the Goodreads giveaways and I'm glad I did. I couldn't read it as fast as I would have liked but if I didn't have other things going on, I would have read it in one sitting. Page after page I kept asking myself, what happens next? I alao felt emotionally invested. But in the end, everything you think you know...You don't.
I would have given 5 stars, but there were parts that were a little choppy and had to reread a line or two, to get back on track. Other than that, this was a good read!
I would have given 5 stars, but there were parts that were a little choppy and had to reread a line or two, to get back on track. Other than that, this was a good read!
August 2, 2017
Not for the squeamish, this book tells the story of a widower who works cleaning up sites of suicides, murders, etc and his misfit son who endures constant bullying. They are both trying to deal in their own way ( denial, bargaining) with their grief. The point of view shifts often and is a bit jarring at times as you try to adjust. It's a dark story, but like a train wreck, you can't look away. It does end on an upbeat note. (My conservative friends will not like the lauguage.)
July 11, 2018
I don't know if this the kind of book that you "love". It was dark, depressing and brought me close to tears once or twice.
For some reason, the bullying aspect bothered me as though The Kid was real. I was probably thinking of all the kids that are bullied in real life everyday and feel so alone and have no way to make it stop.
I put this book down for years and recently picked it back up. I was ready to tackle it again.
3.5 stars.
For some reason, the bullying aspect bothered me as though The Kid was real. I was probably thinking of all the kids that are bullied in real life everyday and feel so alone and have no way to make it stop.
I put this book down for years and recently picked it back up. I was ready to tackle it again.
3.5 stars.
November 26, 2024
This book really picks up in the middle. I got annoyed with the main character not being addressed by his name Whitley but being referred to as The Kid too frequently. Although this was a Knick name from his mom which has significance but it was overused. I’m still unsure of what happened to his mother. There were unexpected turns. There is good descriptive language and lots of engaging scenes. I was invested in how things turn out for Whitley.
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