My favourite Klosterman book so far! ( )

Downtown Owl is the debut novel of non-fiction writer and essayist Chuck Klosterman. As I read primarily fiction, I was unfamiliar with Klosterman's prior work--which may have been a blessing. I came to this novel with no preconceived notions. And you know what? It's the most delightful debut I've read all year. I loved it!

Downtown Owl is a character study, but rather than a close look at a single person, it's a study of a small town. Specifically, a study of Owl, North Dakota from August 1983 to February 1984. It's a close look at several citizens of Owl, such as Mitch, a high school student; Julia, a young teacher new to town; and Horace, an elderly widower and life-long resident. These characters and many others give slices of life that make up the whole of this insular community.

And, oh my God is it funny! I listened to this novel as an unabridged audiobook. As a rule, I am not a huge fan of audiobooks, but I give `em a whirl every now and again. This has to be the best produced audiobook I've ever listened to. It was narrated by six different readers--one of them the author himself--and their wonderful performances added immeasurably to my enjoyment of the book. The line readings were priceless. A line as simple as "I love to drink" is flat on the page, but in actress Lily Rabe's hands had me in hysterics. On the bus. It was embarrassing. I could not keep from eruptions of laughter as I listened to this novel. Don't think just because it takes place in a small town that this story is cute or quaint. No, it's just very, very human.

As others have noted, this is not a plot-driven novel, but that doesn't mean nothing happens. Small town life happens. The novel opens and closes with the same event, and yet I was still completely unprepared for the poignant ending. Klosterman has told this story with so much warmth and affection, I hope, I hope that he returns to Owl someday. ( )

There’s a new novel by Chuck Klosterman who as many of you know is one of my favorite writers. While his past 4 books were all non-fiction, this new book, called Downtown Owl, is a fiction novel that takes place in 1983 North Dakota.

I think it’s a pretty good book and it definitely captured my attention. My big issue with the book is that it’s all description and details. There is very little interaction or plot. It’s a 300 page summary of a time and people in North Dakota with some interesting anecdotes. It’s funny, witty and well-written but it’s not necessarily a story.

That said, it’s very Klosterman-ish and has some great elements. As usual he explores deeply the frivolous. There are entire chapters about a theoretical fight between a hulking giant of a boy named Grendal and a smaller, wrong-side of the tracks type kid name Cubby who loves to fight. With a typical Klostermanish metaphor, the scenario is more than just a “who would win” but a nice little metaphor for what you believe in the world. Do traits like physical appearance or genes win out in our world or will characteristics like desire and passion? Peolpe will lean different ways and that debate is by far the best part of the book.

One thing i really like is how he sets up the small town feel. One character in high school relates Owl to the book 1984 - the Orwell book his class was assigned saying:

“Everyone knew everything. So how was ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ a dystopia? It seemed ordinary. What was so unusual about everyone knowing all the same things?”

“People always say that nothing changes in a small town, but — whenever they say that — they usually mean that nothing changes figuratively. The truth is that nothing changes literally: It’s always all the same people, doing all the same things.”

Discussing the differnce between literal thoughts and figurative is something Chuck loves to do. He’s typically done it with popular culture but in Downtown Owl he does it with a 1980’s North Dakota town. And it makes for a pretty fun read ( )

Real downer. ( )

Klosterman has been a favorite essayist and music journalist of mine for quite some time now. As a fan, I was worried that his foray into fiction would disappoint. Although not quite as enjoyable or funny as his previous non-fiction, Downtown Owl is a solid first novel with an ending that is anything but disappointing. I found myself growing attached to the characters and the goings-on of the small fictional town. I can't quite decide if the not-so-subtle pop culture references sprinkled throughout the text were warranted or not; either way, it is undeniably Klosterman in style. ( )