Bleak and Not Really Captivating

I was quite interested in this book when I saw it published, because I have recently been interested in works on the subject of aging. I do not wish to ding this book too harshly, because it is clear a lot of effort and energy went into creating it; however, it was far too bleak and gray for me. Most poems focus on the losses that mount as we grow old (loss of friends, family, health, abilities, faculties) and yearn for the glory days of youth. The style of prose is a simple, one I did not feel was terribly creative or deeply poetic.

In the end, this may be a fine read for some, but the lack of depth in style and approach keep me from recommending it.

Boy, was this book a surprise. I was expecting a parable, which it is, but assumed it would be predictable and dry. It was anything but.

The writing was refreshing. The story--about a man who comes to the conclusion life is pretty bogus and artifical, from which the only true escape is death--has been played out in countless books before this one came out. Turner tweaks the story nicely, though, with hints of fantastical Lewis Carroll mind trips and Chuck Klosterman pop references dotting the pages. And it gives a most welcome frank approach to depression and suicide.

Our protagonist, Freddy, finds his decision to end it all takes him to places and people he couldn't have possibly imagined before--and that's the point, of course. It's a beautifully constructed, good-humored, naked emotion of a novel that I wish I could have read back in my college days. It's still a great read as an adult but the beauty of this book is that it can bring a wide array of meaning to people at different points in their life. Highly recommended!