*I received this book from Hachette Book Group Canada in exchange for an honest review.*
Title: I Crawl Through It
Author: A. S. King
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: September 2015
ISBN: 9780316334099
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Four teenagers are on the verge of exploding. The anxieties they face at every turn have nearly pushed them to the point of surrender: senseless high-stakes testing, the lingering damage of past trauma, the buried grief and guilt of tragic loss. They are desperate to cope, but no one is listening. So they will lie. They will split in two. They will turn inside out. They will even build an invisible helicopter to fly themselves far away…but nothing releases the pressure. Because, as they discover, the only way to truly escape their world is to fly right into it. The genius of acclaimed author A.S. King reaches new heights in this groundbreaking work of surrealist fiction; it will mesmerize readers with its deeply affecting exploration of how we crawl through traumatic experience-and find the way out.
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I wasn’t sure what to expect when I agreed to read and review A. S. King’s latest novel, but I’d loved Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future so much that I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. Yet again, King has blown me away with her skills as a story teller. I Crawl Through It is a surreal story with a purposefully disjointed narrative that expresses the anxiety of a group of misfits just trying to make survive those tumultuous teen years. Each copes in a different way, struggling and often failing to maintain a grasp on reality.
King has a voice that is uniquely and utterly her own. Although her story is strange, each character and each elements weaves together to create an ingenious tale. Characters thoughts flow freely, sharing their inner most fears and desires, their struggles and regrets. Their anxieties are so truthful that although you, dear reader, may not understand completely what is occurring, you understand the emotions and drives that each character discloses. It’s not important what exactly is happening, but the importance lies in listening to the experiences and in believing that someday things might be okay. The plots are captivating and teasing. It’s a wonderful first experience for anyone who has not yet encountered a work of surrealist fiction, and for anyone who loves this delightful genre.
This is, without a doubt, one of my favourite books of this year. It’s a surprise and a delight. Set your rational mind aside and just allow yourself to experience. King’s words will take you on an incredible journey in this latest book, I Crawl Through It. Five stars.
Worn Pages and Ink 