Review of And Throw Away The Skins

[Matteson Hansen]

[Following is a volunteer review of "And Throw Away The Skins" by Scott Archer Jones.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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And Throw Away The Skins follows Rebecca “Bec” Robertson as she struggles to find herself again, or maybe for the first time, after battling breast cancer and seeing her husband overseas with the Army. Deciding it was time to move on from her stagnant position in Dallas she moves to a small town in New Mexico where she would collect a rag-tag but loyal group of friends. Bec starts to feel alive again; but, struggles with feeling like the woman she was before. Follow as Bec struggles to find her footing and deal with the hurdles in her way. Whether it’s her strained relationship with her husband, her mastectomy, or the moody marine that unsettles even her.

I’ll admit, when I first started reading I did not think I was going to enjoy this book as much as I did. However, Scott Archer Jones crafted a novel filled with the struggle of maintaining your femininity and sanity, truly, when you don’t feel like yourself. When you’re isolated.

He led us through a character’s lowest points and showed us her resilience and strength all the same. She crafted a new life for herself with purpose, where she could stand up for herself. The storyline felt so raw and real it was easy to empathize and get angry along with the characters. Jones was able to present characters filled with flaws, whether it be mental, physical, or emotional. But more importantly than depicting who people may deem ‘misfits’, he created a dialogue of understanding and navigating new people.

What was good about the book was the wholeness of the character. She was by no means perfect and it was a relief to read that. Jones wrote her so vividly, it made it easy to immerse yourself. What I did not like about the book was the lack of clarity in the ending, which is a purely personal opinion. The rest of the novel had depth even in the briefest moments, and while impactful it left me longing for more explanation.

I rate this book a 4 out of 4 stars. It was well edited and a shorter read that did not compromise on detail. I would recommend this book people who like gritty novels, in the sense that this novel is about rural folk going through some difficult times. I would definitely say this book is for an older audience. And Throw Away The Skins explores some rough themes and may be difficult for some people to read, casually.

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And Throw Away The Skins
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