Ash Wednesday by Ethan Hawke Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Ash Wednesday
Book Review: Unlikeable Characters
Summary: 2 Stars
This is the story of two unlikeable characters who profess to be in love with each other. Not only did I not like them, but it is obvious that neither likes him/herself and during much of the book each other. The characters are girl and boyfriend. She gets pregnant, they break up, he insists he wants to marry her, she insists on going home (why is never clear to her or to a reader) and he insists on taking her. On the way they get married and talk and talk and think and think.There are many books that are enhanced by characters who are not likeable. This, however, is not one. The author goes back and forth from one to the other telling the story. They do not only tell the story, however. The reader is treated to their inner-most thoughts and dime store psychoanalysis of themselves, the other one and any other person who happens into the book.
This constant analysis gets tedious to say the least. Not only is it tedious, it does not fit the characters. The male, for instance can hardly string a sentence together - at one point he uses the word "perturbed" hoping he used it correctly - yet his thoughts are filled with what we are to believe are intellectual insights and deep analysis. Frankly, the characters were too dumb for the thoughts the author was putting into their heads.
I always shudder when I hear someone say: "I'm the type of person who..." because most of the time they are the furthest thing from that type of person. This book was page after page of that same type of high-brow psycho-analysis. Mr. Hawke may be a great actor and may have been jilted out of an Oscar, but as an author I put him in the so-so range and would not recommend this book.
Book Review: Utter Waste of Time!
Summary: 1 Stars
I was extremely disappointed with this novel. After reading Hawke's, The Hottest State, and loving it...I was expecting to have a similar experience with Ash Wednesday. Boy, was I ever wrong! I didn't even want to finish the drawn out book that seemed like 200+ pages made up entirely of pointless dialogue. I found myself skimming the exaggerated, neverending chapters. Please, don't waste your time on this one.Book Review: Worth the time
Summary: 4 Stars
Hawke has proven himself not only as an actor but also as an accomplished author. The Hottest State, his debut novel was well written and set the standard very high for Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday lived up to The Hottest State and pleasently fulfilled expectations with a surprinsing amount of depth and insight.
Ash Wednesday is a true to life, coming of the ages, loss of innocence novel. Lenghty character development in the beginning of the book seems to drag on, but the book builds some momentum and finishes very strongly. There is a unique and interesting style that this book is written in, swapping back from the perspective of the two main characters. This adds a well deserved depth to the book. A well written book that is an easy and enjoyable weekend read.
Book Review: Wow! Great Job.
Summary: 5 Stars
I was blown away by this book. I would rate it as one of the best books I've ever read. I think is captures the emotional cycles of marriage and parenthood as The Catcher in the Rye captured teen angst.
Strange that some people did not like it. Not sure I understand their points. I think it was a true to life, original, and well written story. But then again, hundreds of people said gave Catcher in The Rye a bad review. Again...Wow!
Book Review: You've got to deliver the goods if yer gonna write a "road" novel
Summary: 3 Stars
This novel is what would happen if a jazz-less, dyslexic Jack Kerouac collided head on with an adolescent version of Tom Wolfe. Hawke's prose hustles along in a cute, jingly-jangley sort of way stuck somewhere between immature versions of the above mentioned authors. This novel isn't bad, but it isn't good either. We see genuine flashes of exceptional writing, but a lack of consistency. The story is occasionally graceful, but the characters often present themselves as clichés. Hawke manages to tell his story but at no point does a definitive, individualized style present itself. Ethan never puts his stamp on this one and we're reminded that good writing simply has to move beyond what we've read and experienced before.