Book Review - The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
When a woman’s friend commits suicide, he leaves his great dane to her. She knows nothing of raising a dog and lives in a tiny apartment. But together, they speak the universal language of grief together and find comfort in one another.

The only drawback: I’m not 100% sure if I liked this book. It takes a lot (A. LOT.) of diversions. The narrator chases after trivia like a dog who’s caught the scent (see what I did there). I could make the argument that this was her way of processing her grief. But I’m still not fully convinced.
_
Connect with me!

Music: YouTube

[bettychapin]

The narrator is grieving. That's what it feels like to grieve.

[Koshesha]

I think it is a mistake to judge this book solely on its plot (or lack thereof). The plot may have been sparse, but I honestly don't think it required much of one to communicate what Nunez was trying to get across. The skeletal plot was simply a frame-work to support us as we swam around this grieving woman's interior life and witnessed the way she projected her complicated feelings toward her friend onto the dog. Those diversions, those "tributaries, " aren't a distraction; they *are* the story.

[Refaen_nasmeya]

Does this book having a secondary source

[lilliannieswender]

Great review Beth!  I can relate to being somewhat intelligent, but somewhat scatter brained.  I am easily distracted by shinny objects.  I haven't read this book, but you have stoked my curiosity enough that I just might check it out, at least I think so.  : )

[Robert.Sheard]

I haven't read it yet, but have it on reserve at the library. It was on our longlist, but didn't advance to the quarterfinals, so it hasn't been a top priority for me. But I do plan to read it in the next month or two.

[insiderobinsworld]

I have not read it! It does not sound like something I would like! Great review, as usual!

[melaniesview]

I share your views! To me, the parts about Rilke and other authors were a bit unnecessary and to me, seemed a bit far-fetched (even though she's a literature professor - but as you said, it didn't really help the story to move forward). In addition, I felt a bit betrayed as a reader, as !! spoiler !! at the end of the book, it turns out that the friend has actually not died.