Some Hell: A Novel

I can't recall the last time I enjoyed a book so much but hated the ending with such intensity. Patrick Nathan's debut novel is simply riveting. The author brilliantly paves a path into the mind of a tormented teenager. The complex characters in "Some Hell" are skillfully developed. The story is beautifully told. But the ending -- at least for me -- was incredibly disappointing. I won't divulge the punchline, but I found myself shaking my head and muttering, "Really?" Still, I can't wait to read Nathan's future works. He's definitely a talent.

I loved Some Hell, the debut novel by Patrick Nathan. A father’s suicide and how it impacts his wife and three children, one of who is gay, makes for fast paced absorbing reading. The stunning writing propels the novel through a perilous last act that almost undoes the richly rewarding characters. I was stuck to the book until the very end when the author went with an off the rails ending. I am hoping he’ll have a stronger editor on his next publication.

"Quaint" sums it up, despite such potential to problematize and subvert. Very "safe" first novel by a gay author — odd publisher for this one. This is like a wanna-be St. Aubyn, but for his skill and his satire and his nuance.