Some may consider Willy Vlautin's The Left and the Lucky heartbreaking and bleak, but it is also compassionate, generous, and above all loving. 8 year old Russell, and his neighbor, the 40 something year old house painter Eddie, live in rainy and cold Portland Oregon. Russell's family is a disaster. Eddie is lonely, with a sad backstory. As their lives intertwine, their connection strengthens. Vlautin makes us ask what is a family and what is of value. I cried in the middle of this story, but not at the end. I loved Vlautin's last novel, The Horse, and I give The Left and the Lucky five stars too.
No comments:
Post a Comment