Ten Thousand Saints. Eleanor Henderson (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
I enjoyed this book start to finish. Enjoyed in the way it made me consider the characters, their relationships, and the setting. I really loved the New York parts because I lived in NYC in the late 80s and had a fascination with the lower East side and Alphabet City. I still think about my visits there so much. So it was really interesting to read a book set in that very time and place. I really warmed up to Jude as the story went on, and found something to like in every character -- not necessarily something to love, but definitely I found them all compelling and with redeeming qualities. Really found the last several chapters to form a satisfying ending. Note that this review will contain a few, while not too heavy, spoilers.I had initially picked up the novel upon hearing that it would be made into a film. Of course, on impulse, I bought it without thoroughly reading the summary (it's a bad habit of mine: "It's a movie? Well it's gotta be awesome!" I've lost a lot of money that way) And, while I couldn't say this was a life changing book, it's stayed with me for quite some time now. In all honesty, I don't think this review'll be useful because I really liked the book for some reason. I don't know why. If you asked me to rate it, on impulse I'd say four. But after thinking, three is better.One thing I find interesting is the time that this book took place in. In the 80s, and I haven't read too many books of that time period. Also because of the theme, maybe. Majority of the time I avoid books in the music scene because about half of it is about how music flows through me etc etc. But this one stressed more on their lives, which I liked. Another point: the scene. The Straight-Edge scene. It's a subculture of a subculture and that, I think for lots of people, is an interesting perspective to read from. I doubt there are many other books written about that. From what else I have read so far, the punk rock scene was portrayed as wild and rabid and drug addled and etc, but this isn't. But the sequence of events were just....what? As a reader, I think it's a given that we should have at least a taste of what's going to happen, but for most part I was running blindly. A lot of little pieces of it ended up useless. Like for example, the revelation of Jude's FAS and all the stressing on his potentially alcoholic biological mother was just confusing. I was actually expecting for every sub-plot to end, but a lot of it was left hanging (the epilogue too). I also thought that Teddy's death was a tad slight unneeded. Characters:Well....I don't actually find them that interesting. Nothing particularly special. Their relationship? Yeah. It's a messed up family. I especially liked Johnny further into the story. When I eventually found out he was gay, gradually and gradually and gradually, despite its very smooth flow i was just all, "Oh. Oh. Wait...oh. Woah then."Jude and Eliza were....average. Not the things each of them went through but each character individually.So....overall, this is a book that whether you like it or not, will really depend on YOU and your taste.I recommend you try?
What do You think about Ten Thousand Saints. Eleanor Henderson (2013)?
Very well written. Strong characters. Decent plot
—jojo
