Official Review: Brailling For Wile by James Zerndt
Posted: 08 Jan 2016, 00:15
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Brailling For Wile" by James Zerndt.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Imagine being a pre-teen and finding your father hanging by a noose in your home. This is the storyline that author James Zerndt bases his book, Brailling for Wile, on. Categorized in the Other Fiction genre, Zerndt explores the idea of loss and sorrow in the voices of several characters. Set in a small Colorado ski town, strangers come together to heal and forgive.
Twelve-year-old Mattias Long used to play Scrabble with his mom while waiting for his father to finish work. Whenever given the chance, Mattias would use brailling as way to help him win; brailling is the act of “feeling the surface of a tile while your hand is in the bag in order to draw a blank tile or specific letter”, states the Scrabble's Official Glossary, which isn't allowed. However, now when Mattias plays, he isn't waiting for his father any more.
About a year after his father's suicide, the Long family continues to endure pain and sadness. It is important to note that Mattias's father was nicknamed Wile (as in “Wile E. Coyote”) because many of Wile's well laid out plans crashed down like an anvil, including his plan to end his own life.
Mattias is filled with confusion and hatred towards his father for leaving everyone behind. His sister, Georgie, sleeps under the desk of where the event occurred, his mother hasn't left their home in a long time, and Mattias seems to be on his own. What makes the sorrow worse is the consent reminder of his father's death that lies within the four trees planted outside of their house, one for every family member. However, one day, Mattias's mother decides to have Wile's tree removed. What seems like a simple decision leads to a series of riveting events that unravel an interesting plot.
An important note: this book is not solely based on Scrabble, even though the concept of the game is mentioned a few times throughout the book. It is more of understanding Wile's actions and the repercussions it had on his family.
Brailling for Wile is filled with themes of sorrow, loss, redemption, and love. Having these deep, realistic themes create a story that can connect with many readers. Mattias's struggles are lifelike and understandable, which helped me sympathize with him more.
I enjoyed Zerndt's assortment of intriguing characters and plot details. Two of my favorite characters are Mattias and his extremely religious best friend, Helyana. Their almost comical relationship adds some lightness to the story. The plot helped me get acquainted with several different characters. It also through me for a loop at its gripping twist towards the end of the book.
I rate Brailling for Wile 4 out of 4 stars. The variety of characters and the twist at the end made the book interesting and memorable. I would recommend this book to mature teens and adults who like to read about people managing and overcoming life's hardships.
******
Brailling For Wile
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4 out of 4 stars
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Imagine being a pre-teen and finding your father hanging by a noose in your home. This is the storyline that author James Zerndt bases his book, Brailling for Wile, on. Categorized in the Other Fiction genre, Zerndt explores the idea of loss and sorrow in the voices of several characters. Set in a small Colorado ski town, strangers come together to heal and forgive.
Twelve-year-old Mattias Long used to play Scrabble with his mom while waiting for his father to finish work. Whenever given the chance, Mattias would use brailling as way to help him win; brailling is the act of “feeling the surface of a tile while your hand is in the bag in order to draw a blank tile or specific letter”, states the Scrabble's Official Glossary, which isn't allowed. However, now when Mattias plays, he isn't waiting for his father any more.
About a year after his father's suicide, the Long family continues to endure pain and sadness. It is important to note that Mattias's father was nicknamed Wile (as in “Wile E. Coyote”) because many of Wile's well laid out plans crashed down like an anvil, including his plan to end his own life.
Mattias is filled with confusion and hatred towards his father for leaving everyone behind. His sister, Georgie, sleeps under the desk of where the event occurred, his mother hasn't left their home in a long time, and Mattias seems to be on his own. What makes the sorrow worse is the consent reminder of his father's death that lies within the four trees planted outside of their house, one for every family member. However, one day, Mattias's mother decides to have Wile's tree removed. What seems like a simple decision leads to a series of riveting events that unravel an interesting plot.
An important note: this book is not solely based on Scrabble, even though the concept of the game is mentioned a few times throughout the book. It is more of understanding Wile's actions and the repercussions it had on his family.
Brailling for Wile is filled with themes of sorrow, loss, redemption, and love. Having these deep, realistic themes create a story that can connect with many readers. Mattias's struggles are lifelike and understandable, which helped me sympathize with him more.
I enjoyed Zerndt's assortment of intriguing characters and plot details. Two of my favorite characters are Mattias and his extremely religious best friend, Helyana. Their almost comical relationship adds some lightness to the story. The plot helped me get acquainted with several different characters. It also through me for a loop at its gripping twist towards the end of the book.
I rate Brailling for Wile 4 out of 4 stars. The variety of characters and the twist at the end made the book interesting and memorable. I would recommend this book to mature teens and adults who like to read about people managing and overcoming life's hardships.
******
Brailling For Wile
View: on Bookshelves
Like hsimone's review? Post a comment saying so!
