OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Outhouse" by David W. Gordon.]

A gritty, visceral, page-turning, emotional roller coaster. I can't think of any better way to describe The Outhouse by David W. Gordon. And if you know me, you know that is the equivalent to being speechless, because I hate to sound like an official blurb on the back of a book. I like my descriptions to be a little more.....well, descriptive and down to earth. However, in this case I will make an exception because it is very hard to encapsulate the experience that you will have if you decide to make the journey to the Outhouse, but I highly recommend that you do!

Set in and around the time of the Great Depression, this book will take you there in ways that you never thought possible. The story begins with a gruesome discovery and a confession that will make your jaw drop. From there, the emotional roller coaster doesn't stop until the last page, and at times you will want to look away. Paul Miller relays the story of his life to his son Jeffrey, and it is a story of heart-wrenching loss, horror, betrayal, love and war. There are not a lot of places that we can go in this review without saying too much, and that in itself is also a reflection of Mr. Miller's tragic story. A life lived with the inability to express anything, as anything you reveal will seem too horrible to mention, and could cause even more pain to the ones you love.

The themes present throughout this book are common themes, but are approached in an unimaginable and thought-provoking way. How far would you be willing to go to protect the ones you love? What circumstance would be bad enough to change who you are as a person? How much would you be able to conceal if you thought the outcome would destroy the ones that you love? The Depression stands as the harbinger of darkness in this story, but it is the human soul that either overcomes with light or submits to the darkness. Which would you be? Which will you be going forward?

The characters are very well done and believable; there was not one character that I did not love or love to hate. The story was gripping and left you wondering what lay around every corner and on every page. I will say that I love everything about this book except one thing: Similes. For such a gritty book, it seemed that there were one too many. The story is being recounted by a man who has seen a lot in life, a hardened war veteran, and yet he sounds like a confused poet at times. Too many things were described with a like. Things like, "Our relationship meandered like a babbling brook, until it ran into a lake of love." Granted, I'm being dramatic here, but it was just distracting at times. With that being said, it would be something to consider in future edits, but it is by no means a huge problem when compared to the greatness of the overall experience. There were also a few typos and misspellings and such, but again, nothing too distracting for the most part.

I give The Outhouse by David W. Gordon 3 out of 4 stars. There were some issues, but overall the story is gripping, thought-provoking, and will leave you turning the page with one eye closed wondering what is going to happen next. I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes history or a good thriller. When taken in context with the economic crash of 2008 and the current world climate, the questions within take on new pertinence, and will have you looking within yourself. And that is the mark of a good book!

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The Outhouse
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Great review! I have read (and reviewed) his second book and enjoyed it. It was gritty as well.

Nice, insightful review. Your enjoyment of the book really shined through. You reminded me how the excessive use of similes in a book can be really annoying!

Fantastic review. I found it really engaging and insightful.

Thank you all so much, it's good to be back!! I loved this book and it's inside take on the depression. I can't imagine going through that, and how hard it would be to make decisions while trying to feed a family. I love these kinds of stories also because they make you look at yourself, and also make you feel for those on the other side of the aisle, and that makes being judgemental in your life that much harder. Well done, Mr. Gordon!!

Really brilliant review! It's also really engaging - this doesn't seem like the type of book I read, but I was easily caught up in your excitement. It's very clear that you enjoyed the book.

Thank you very much, it's always nice to know when you do a good job, especially when it's on a positive note. And it's easy when you really enjoy the book.

Your enthusiasm for the book is very apparent! The thing that I respect is that though you obviously are a fan of the book, you still gave a complete and thorough review of it for the rest of us without covering up any of the flaws you came across. Excellent job on the review!

Thank you @rssllue it's good to hear positive feedback since I thought I might be a little rusty. It's always nice to contribute to a piece like this that deserves the attention!

You are most welcome...and not rusty at all!

I find myself a little too mischievously tempted to come up with a simile

However, I'm feeling merciful

Nice review

Ha ha ha, thank you @Graverobber. Always good to have your humor around.

Wait...was she funny?!

Your review sang like a symphony of notes dancing across the ballroom.

I am a little rusty in the simile department.

Thank you ever so much to the illustrious Owlie. But really, all joking aside, it was a minor gripe and the book itself was fantastic. The Great Depression, or any situation like it, has the potential to reveal true character, and the author did an amazing job presenting that. It was hard not to say too much, but you should check it out.