What do You think about As Simple As Snow (2005)?
I love this book. I read this book nearly ten years ago and I can honestly say that it is a book that I think about all the time. Looking at the reviews for As Simple as Snow, I feel that readers generally fall into one of two camps: the lovers or the haters. There is no middle ground. And that's because you either get it or you don't. And by 'get it' I don't mean you've figured out Anna's riddles or solved her many mysteries. I mean that you get the narrator. You either get what it feels like to be milk, or you don't. The narrator is unnamed, not to be a hook (although I do have a theory about his name), but to be an empty space in the story where you can insert your own insecurities, fears,experiences, quirks and honest thoughts. A few reviewers have called the narrator selfish. Yes, he is. So is Anna. So am I and so are you. And it's supposed to be that way. The narrator's thoughts and beliefs are honest and untempered by what anyone else may think of him and as result, seem to many readers to be harsh and unfeeling. One reviewer called him cruel for his secret hope that Anna had been kidnapped or murdered rather than run away, because running away would mean she had left him. That isn't a cruel thought. It is not malicious. It's the thought of a boy who, before Anna, didn't really care about anything or anyone. The thought of a boy who, before Anna disappeared, didn't know he was insecure and lonely. It's the thought of a boy trying to play it cool when when the thing he cares about the most suddenly vanishes and leaves him alone again. It's an honest thought of a hurt and scared boy who doesn't know how to handle what is happening in his life, but it is not cruel thought. The narrator is not a cruel boy. If you or I were to relate our lives as honest and unflinchingly as the narrator, we would not always be seen in the best light either. Ultimately, the biggest hiccup readers seem to have with this book, is how unresolved Anna's case is. There is no satisfaction of a mystery solved. And that's because the mystery surrounding Anna's death/disappearance and the narrator's reaction to it isn't a puzzle that is meant to be solved. It's not so simple as that. It's something as simple as snow. It's like Anna says: "It means that everyone else thinks the world is simple, but it's not. It's like snow- most people think that it's just white, but if you look at it, really observe it, you'll see that there are different shades, from a sort of grayish white to a brilliant white [...] And then there's the texture. Some snow is dry and granular, almost like sugar, while other snow is wet and clumpy. And that's just the superficial stuff--once you start looking at each flake, it gets really interesting." (Galloway, 113).This is not an easy read, by any means. But if you can get it, it is so worth the time spent. P.S. My theory on the narrator's name: Remember how Anna says that she loves the narrator's name? It's on page 7. She says: "It's almost a perfect double dactyl [...] Higgledy-piggledy. That's a perfect double dactyl. two three syllable words with the stresses on the first syllables. Your first name and your last name have the same number of syllables and almost the same sounds--they mirror each other, or are parallel or parallax or something." Now remember how any time his parents are referenced by another character, they are always referred to as Mr. or Mrs G- ? Think about that for a few moments then tell me whose last name starts with a G and sounds the same as his first name so that they are parallel, or parallax or something? How about Gregory Galloway. Almost a perfect double dactyl, don't you think?
—Jen Himes
I loved this book, which I read in a day. It's a young adult mystery/romance/coming-of-age story. Bland, normal, nameless narrator boy meets razor sharp and reference-full "Goth" girl. They fall in love, then girl disappears. What happened? The book is littered with clues and coincidences, which are open to interpretation (for mine, see below). The mystery and numerous references make the book fun; it's also suspenseful, well-written, and strangely touching. It deals with heavy issues but isn't
—g
4.5 Stars. I read this and want to again - more slowly. Clues are given early in the story that definitely answer some questions at the end. This would be a great book for English Lit teachers to have students read, or a book club. The discussion to follow will be interesting, and Galloway has even provided the questions at the end. I have a pretty good hunch what happened, but I'm not a plot spoiler so all I can say is this is worth the read. One of the best young adult novels told through a boy's point of view I've read. Complicated, emotional, realistic and yes, frustrating. Writing is excellent and I look forward to reading more from Gregory Galloway. I deducted 1/2 star only because of the "dangling chad."
—Harley Brooks
