The Unnamed

by Joshua Ferris | 320 pages, published 2010

The main character in The Unnamed, Tim Someone, is on his third relapse of a strange compulsion: he walks. He walks until he collapses from exhaustion. He walks out of meetings, out of buildings, across towns, in the dead of winter. Despite seeing numerous doctors, having tests of every sort done, visiting psychiatrists, no one can explain what it is or why it happens. The compulsion is “the unnamed,” of course.

It’s an interesting premise, and it was carried out nicely. I liked how Ferris depicted Tim’s gradual descent into madness (sorry, spoiler) and how the compulsion takes over so completely. There was a little too much swearing for me, and I felt like several potentially interesting storylines were brought up but not adequately addressed.

Big spoiler: you never find out what the unnamed really is. I suppose that’s fair, but as Americans don’t we desperately need closure? Even (especially) in our entertainment?

Also, I’m pretty sure that one of my ancestors actually did walk compulsively. I vaguely recall hearing stories like that. Anyone want to confirm or deny?

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Open Me

by Sunshine O’Donnell | 230 pages, published 2007

I must have put this on my list because of the description, “Mem is a wailer, a professional mourner hired to cry at funerals. One of the few remaining American girls in this secret, illegal profession, Mem hails from a long line of mourners, including her mother, a legendary master wailer hired for the most important funerals in her hometown of Philadelphia.”

It does sound intriguing, doesn’t it?

But the whole book was just bizarre. Almost like The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus bizarre (but not quite). I felt as if the whole book were meant as an allegory, or was actually about prostitution or something? No? I almost wish one of you would read it so we could talk about it, but life is too short. Let’s discuss Pathfinder instead.

I feel odd after reading this book…

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Stardust

by Neil Gaiman | 256 pages, published 1998

You’ve seen the movie, right? True to form, I liked the movie more because I saw it before I read the book. I thought it was a great adaptation and the added drama/conflict was well done. The book seemed to end abruptly. So, here’s a rare stick-with-the-movie recommendation from me.

Buy Stardust (the book) on Amazon

Buy Stardust (the movie) on Amazon