Here They Come

I almost put this down after the first 20 pages; it read like a spoof of an mfa fiction thesis. But I'm very very happy I didn't. So ably written -- we never learn the name of the young girl protagonist but she appears almost in negative as the space around her is filled in: an apartment filled with sacks of garbage, lecherous hot-dog sellers, a majestic police horse whose connection with our narrator highlights the distance between her and horse-loving literary girls before her.

Another one of those books about New York, but this one isn't lame. The narrative voice is strong and individual, the detail sparse and effective, and the feeling understated and a little raw. Worth it.

I didn't find this to be a satisfying book, which is a pity as Murphy is a fantastic stylist and 'Here They Come' starts so very eloquently. But style alone does not make for a good read extended beyond 200 pages, and Murphy does little to truly engage the patient reader in the lives of the dysfunctional family that form the basis for this smartly intentioned novel. "Here they Come" attempts to weave a narrative around the strangely intelligent yet emotionally detached impressions/memoirs of a precocious 13 year old girl growing up in a remarkably intense urban and home environment - absent father, alcoholic mother, suicidal brother and the molesting hot dog man the supporting players to the girl & her sisters (who are barely sketched). show more

Around page 200 I realised that I no longer believed in any of the characters motivation, felt the incidents and lurid yet admittedly lucid descriptions ever more contrived, the shifting narrative puzzling, and the only thing that kept me going was Murphy's remarkable talent for delivering on occasion a transcendent stream of consciousness turn of phrase that would light up the page. I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did, and hope that in her next outing Murphy can better control narrative, pace and _intent_. Style and a coverage of difficult themes do not automatically make for a 'good' book or read.

I felt the same way reading this as I do looking at a certain kind of contemporary art - where one is bedazzled by the artistry or craft, but left feeling rather shortchanged by the emotional impact of the actual creation. show less

Three stars? Four stars? It was a difficult choice. While it contained some exceptional writing, I searched in vain for a plot. Perhaps that was the intention of the author. The narrator is a young girl growing up in poverty in New York City in the 1970's. She is never given a name and many others also remain nameless. The mother is always "our mother." While her sisters have names, I never recall the brother being anyone other than "our brother." Rather humorously, the father's girlfriend, who is a rather significant character in the book, is always referred to as "the slut." The book is worth four stars for literary value, but since I really did not enjoy reading it and was glad when I finished it, the final verdict was three stars. show more (For those who may be interested, it is a McSweeney's publication.) show less

Too narrow. Very funny, though. I think the really great parts - strange narrative structure and the individual hang-ups and quirks of each family member - end up making too many walls, and Murphy doesn't have the precision to execute without any [b:elbow room|538059|Elbow Room|James Alan McPherson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175628629s/538059.jpg|183367].

A story of a dysfunctional family, New York City, 1970s. Narrated by a 13 year old, intelligent, precocious girl. If you liked "Lullabies for Little Criminals", you will probably like this one, too.

I enjoyed this book, and the writing kept me turning those pages, waiting to see how everyone would make out in the end. In retrospect, this is somewhat surprising, since most of the characters are not well developed ... I don't even know how old the narrator's two sisters are! But, the voice of the 13-year-old narrator rang true, whether dealing with mundane issues, or with divorce, sexual abuse or attempted suidice. That is the real strength of this writing -- the portrayal of the main character -- which was able to compensate for the fact show more that every other character was a bit "fuzzy". show less

The voice of the main character, at 13 years old, is bold, unapologetic, and definitely unforgettable.

The novel presents one completely dysfunctional family in New York in the 1970s and the narrator's attempts to navigate adolescence. She is able to transcend poverty, sexual abuse, a suicidal brother, a missing father, and an alcholic mother with perfect aplomb.

Read it.