Detour: Of Things Gone Astray

I went to the bookstore yesterday with the intent of buying some books from the list, but having only been able to find 2 of the 3 I was seeking, I picked up a new book which I honestly just chose based on looks.

Of Things Gone Astray by Janina Matthewson, in a very one-dimensional view, is written in a generically "new fiction" way that is so common now in artsy hipster-indie fiction.  "Strangers" simultaneously have a traumatic experience happen to them, and their stories become interwoven without their directly knowing it.  It has that very attractive, melancholy tone that I am drawn to, that lends itself to fantasy similar to The Boy Detective Fails by Joe Meno.

The beginning of the book, though enjoyable, honestly did not find me very impressed.  It felt familiarly sugary to me in a way that reminded me of my own writing.  As the story progressed however, certain moments of sweetness and creativity revealed themselves in rather impressive (for lack of a better term) ways.  It is a quiet, emotional book with extremely likable characters.

Personally, it was a good weekend to be reminded that things get lost and found all the time, but life keeps going on.  You must keep living it, you know?