It’s been a helluva long time since I’ve read an entire book in one weekend, but in between the birthday party at the bowling alley for Julia and eight of her friends (which was awesome – nobody puked and only one kid got her fingers pinched by the balls) and painting the downstairs bathroom green (it’s getting there – it looks less like an Esso bathroom and more like one out of a washed-out no-tell motel), I managed to do just that. The book? The Outcast, and until I finished it on Sunday night it literally pained me to put it down.
Without giving too much away, the story starts with Lewis Aldridge, who, at nineteen, has returned home after spending two years in prison. What sent him to prison in the first place was the brewing result of a shocking tragedy almost a decade earlier and his homecoming winds up being, for lack of a better word, explosive.
I couldn’t believe that The Outcast was Sadie Jones’ first book. The thing that got me the most was her writing style – she wrote simply, yet said so much. She conveyed emotion beautifully with her words, and her portrayal of societal England in the 1940’s-50’s was brilliant. Reading it was like watching a movie in my head – the characters were so easy to slip in to and so well defined that I walked away from the book feeling like I knew them personally. It’s a haunting story, one I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since. It’s that good.
Anyone else read this book? What did you think of it? If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it.
21 Comments, Comment or Ping
I’m reading it now! well, in between petite anglaise, late nights on air and the latest issue of mothering, that is. so, i’ll get back to you in about 6 months.
June 11th, 2008
Any book that sucks you in that thoroughly sounds good! I LOVE your description of your bathroom…
June 11th, 2008
Haven’t read it, but I thinks I’ll add it to my list
June 11th, 2008
I haven’t read it, but I think it says something awful about me that I kept wantomg to correct the spelling to Outkast. =/
June 11th, 2008
wanting*
June 11th, 2008
Just added it to my growing list (one extra large post-it note with two smaller ones attached…all full of book titles) in my wallet. Thanks!
June 11th, 2008
Oooh. I love a good book rec. I’ll have to check it out.
Thanks.
June 11th, 2008
Sounds good – will check it out.
June 11th, 2008
Oooh I haven’t read it but am looking for a good book to suck me in! Will look out for it!
June 11th, 2008
Hmmm. May have to try to sandwich it in between the ENORMOUS stack somewhere…
June 11th, 2008
I’ve been looking for a good book to read. Thanks….
June 11th, 2008
Funny, that you should mention a good book. I just finished “Pillars of the Earth” and was going to email you asking for some recommendations. I will have to check it out! :)
June 11th, 2008
adding to my list of ‘must read’ books. Thank you.
June 11th, 2008
Chelle Y. mentioned Pillars of the Earth…I bought it but haven’t read it yet, not sure which one to read next The Outcast or Pillars of the Earth.
June 11th, 2008
We really should start a book exchange. Ali just sent me Petite Anglaise and I am already 1/4 into it.
I sent her the Glass Castle. Have you read that. It is awesome.
I think The Outcast will be my next read. I puffy heart reading actually paper. ;) And your blog too, of course.
June 11th, 2008
Not yet but look forward to it. Owen Meany is killing me…maybe you’re not supposed to read books, like, 5 times! argh…
June 11th, 2008
I love books, I will put it on my list.
June 11th, 2008
Ohh… That book sounds facinating.
Great to hear the party was fun. No puking is always a bonus!
June 11th, 2008
I just paid off a huge library fine, so now I have to make a list and check it out!!!
June 12th, 2008
sounds good, i’m gonna see if they have it at my lib. today.
June 12th, 2008
Heh – funny that you reviewed this at the same time as me! It really was terrific, and one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.
June 13th, 2008
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