Review date: 10/12/2024
Author: Chris Whitaker
Title: We Begin at the End
This was such a consuming novel! Between the pages of this masterpiece lies such intricate prose I had to read and reread the majority of this novel in order to understand what exactly Mr. Whitaker was trying to say.
I thought at first the story was going to be about a young girl whose mother was caught in the throes of alcoholism, but that was only one tip to this iceberg of a sick family. Mr. Whitaker made believable the roles they each fell into because of the affliction of addiction. I understand personally how alcoholism can affect the dynamics of a family and this story had it all; from secrets to be kept, secrets to be shared and the wisdom to know the difference.
Rising from the ashes of their sorrow was a beautiful story of family and what one will do for theirs’.
Just a sample of Cris Whitaker’s prose I took note of from page 179. ‘I am high in the sky and Montana is a footnote, patchwork fields stitched by tractors like ants, people that bob like they are drowning in ordinary.’ That my friends is profound!
One thing I feel compelled to add. I wasn’t going to, but after having slept on it I believe I should. The ending. It just wasn’t big enough to wow me. Don’t get me wrong, it was good and I’m not sad I read it (took me 4 days) but I am sad that the ending didn’t have more of the champagne bottle pop I was hoping for.