Review of Discards
Posted: 06 Feb 2022, 05:43
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Discards" by Allan davis.]
When Harold ‘Salty’ Saltzmanous makes a fatal mistake, killing his wife and leaving his seven-year-old daughter, Sylvia, without a mother, he is quick to discard his former life and find a new, quiet place on the fringes of society. But the strings of fate, though slow, eventually begin to pull together relics from Salty’s past, starting with a strangely familiar dog, and then a young woman, who, fifteen years ago, lost both of her parents in the same night. As the date of a fated tragedy draws closer, Salty and Sylvia are forced to confront their shared pasts, and young Sylvia is willing to do almost anything to get the closure she needs.
Discards is an incredibly unique and impactful novel written by Allan Davis. It explores the complex relationship between a father and daughter, strained by tragedy and shame. Though both characters desperately seek peace of mind, they skirt around the inevitable confrontation until another critical situation arises. This poignant character-driven masterpiece takes the reader on a heart-rending and somewhat uncomfortable journey that they would be unlikely to forget too quickly.
There is a lot to praise about Allan Davis’s authorial skill, but I would like to begin with his characters. Few, but unforgettable, these characters easily shouldered the burden of carrying a story without a particularly exciting plot. A master of subtlety and “showing,” the author allowed the characters to define themselves to the reader with their flawed self-perceptions, and their interactions with other characters. Salty’s cowardly stoicism and Pavement’s blatant deliriousness made these two characters some of my personal favourites.
This book was perfectly paced as well, and at no point does the reader feel as though the narrative moves too quickly or slowly. Of course, it is all held together by the brilliant penmanship of the author. To me, his style was reminiscent of school curriculum reading, with the exception that I actually enjoyed this book.
This should come as no surprise; my rating of Discards is four out of four stars. With almost impeccable editing, the read was a smooth ride from start to finish, and I recommend this book to readers who enjoy more thoughtful kinds of fiction. If you liked The Last Good Man or anything similar, then this book is probably a good fit for you.
Warning, this book deals with some serious themes and characters tend to use profanity.
******
Discards
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
When Harold ‘Salty’ Saltzmanous makes a fatal mistake, killing his wife and leaving his seven-year-old daughter, Sylvia, without a mother, he is quick to discard his former life and find a new, quiet place on the fringes of society. But the strings of fate, though slow, eventually begin to pull together relics from Salty’s past, starting with a strangely familiar dog, and then a young woman, who, fifteen years ago, lost both of her parents in the same night. As the date of a fated tragedy draws closer, Salty and Sylvia are forced to confront their shared pasts, and young Sylvia is willing to do almost anything to get the closure she needs.
Discards is an incredibly unique and impactful novel written by Allan Davis. It explores the complex relationship between a father and daughter, strained by tragedy and shame. Though both characters desperately seek peace of mind, they skirt around the inevitable confrontation until another critical situation arises. This poignant character-driven masterpiece takes the reader on a heart-rending and somewhat uncomfortable journey that they would be unlikely to forget too quickly.
There is a lot to praise about Allan Davis’s authorial skill, but I would like to begin with his characters. Few, but unforgettable, these characters easily shouldered the burden of carrying a story without a particularly exciting plot. A master of subtlety and “showing,” the author allowed the characters to define themselves to the reader with their flawed self-perceptions, and their interactions with other characters. Salty’s cowardly stoicism and Pavement’s blatant deliriousness made these two characters some of my personal favourites.
This book was perfectly paced as well, and at no point does the reader feel as though the narrative moves too quickly or slowly. Of course, it is all held together by the brilliant penmanship of the author. To me, his style was reminiscent of school curriculum reading, with the exception that I actually enjoyed this book.
This should come as no surprise; my rating of Discards is four out of four stars. With almost impeccable editing, the read was a smooth ride from start to finish, and I recommend this book to readers who enjoy more thoughtful kinds of fiction. If you liked The Last Good Man or anything similar, then this book is probably a good fit for you.
Warning, this book deals with some serious themes and characters tend to use profanity.
******
Discards
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon