Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon
Publication date/ Length: 2009 / 320 pages
Synopsis (from the front cover): The lives of three strangers interconnect in unforeseen ways — and with unexpected consequences… [I can't include any more with spoiling the delicious mystery of this novel...].
First line: “We are on our way to the hospital, Ryan’s father says. Listen to me, Son: You are not going to bleed to death.”
Review: I requested this novel from the library after it appeared on many, many “best of 2009″ lists and boy am I glad! This was my first experience with Chaon’s writing and I could immediately sense his dominant genre of short story writing. His character sketches were right on the mark and every detail of the narrative was well-placed and significant. Await Your Reply is a suspenseful psychological thriller that had me guessing until the very last few pages — and left me wanting more! One reason for this was just how fast a read it was — I recommend this at any time, but if you
have a long plane ride or jury duty or are experiencing any situation that you want to escape, pack this novel and watch the minutes fly.
The narrative structure is masterful — Chaon plays with time, but never in a disorienting fashion. Most of the novel appears to be three separate (fascinating) short stories, unconnected initially, although common themes involving identity and escape soon begin to emerge.
The effect of each narrative is a snapshot into a gripping life (certainly not any life I would want to lead) – a life that becomes increasingly more fascinating as it unfolds. For example, one of the vignettes begins in a cabin in the Michigan woods with a young man on his way to the hospital after having his hand cut off (see first line above). Then, Chaon leads us through the events that resulted in this horrifying scene.
Each individual vignette is equally as interesting as the other two, so I was never disappointed when I had to switch narratives and was always excited to return to the intial tableau. While the three narratives initially seem disperate, eventually themes involving identity intertwine the three stories.
Here’s a passage that represents one perspective on identity:
“Her future was like a city she had never visited. A city on the other side of the country, and she was driving down the road, with all her possessions packed up in the backseat of the car, and the route was clearly marked on her map, and then she stopped at a rest area and saw that the place she was headed to wasn’t there any longer.”
I really can’t reveal much more about the plot — or characters — without ruining what is truly a great mystery, so I’ll just whole-heartedly recommend this to… well, everyone! I think it is a crowd-pleasing tale that will make short work of an afternoon.
Sounds like a good thriller. I like those and other mysteries too. My Sunday Salon.
Like you, this book caught my attention from the “best of” lists from 2009. It’s on my TBR list, but your review just bumped it up! Great review – thank you for not spoiling!
I loved this book as well, and his previous book (title escapes me) was excellent as well. Great review Kristen.
Oh, I hadn’t heard of this, but it sounds fabulous! I love the excerpt about “identity.” Compelling…
Here’s my Salon:
http://laurel-rainsnowsaccidentallife.blogspot.com/2010/04/sunday-salon-happy-easter.html
I’m so glad to get the word out about this wonderful novel!! I’ll find Chaon’s earlier novel and check it out…
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