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A review by filmingpages
The Nix by Nathan Hill
5.0
This is probably the best book I read in 2018. No kidding. It elicited solid reactions from me, there were times where I'd almost shout at the book or others when I had to restrain myself and not throw the book across the room. Not because it was bad, but because I was so into the story and the events that when something big happened, I couldn't take it! So if you ask me whether I recommend this book or not, my answer is "hell yeah"! Be prepared to feel confusion, anger, sorrow and overall excitement about this story. Nathan Hill really knows what he's doing, every major and minor character is written so well, that you don't feel bored for even a second!
Samuel is a college professor that has his life not figured out at all. His mother left him when he was a child and he never really recovered, he has no chance to win the love of his life over and he loathes his job. So one day, a lawyer calls to say that his mother attacked a politician and really needs his help. Samuel can't help but visit her and he leaves with more questions than answers. In an attempt to write a book about her, he takes a crazy journey to his and his mother past, trying to find the root of all their mishaps.
I had no favourite character in this book. None. But there were three characters that I loathe with all my heart! First and foremost, we have Faye's father. I knew something was fishy about him and the further into the book we got, my sucpisions where coming true. In the end, just a few pages before we learn his life story, I thought that maybe I was wrong and he could be redeemed, but no! My hatred was simply solidified after reading about his life before he had Faye and I believe that he truly is a bad person, not a person made bad because of circumstance. Next on my list is Officer Charlie Brown, who destroyed Faye's life simply because he was an obsessive and lust-driven man, borderline crazy, filled with hatred about a girl he didn't actually know. Just because he didn't want to return back to his boring, stupid family, he had to completely change Faye's future! I think he got what he deserved though and very early on! Last but not least, we have dear Bishop Fall, who even though I sympathasized with, as he went through a lot as a kid, I completely lost it when I read the letter he left for Samuel. I closed the book at that point, because Samuel's decision was so obvious and I hated Bishop for making him do that, even though he knew that it was killing Samuel inside.
Regarding the previous paragraph, I've left things quite vague on purpose, since I don't want to spoil anything from the book, as I believe it should be read with as little information as possible. Another aspect I really liked is how every character was so well rounded and you could sense that Hill had a very specific plan in his mind about them, he wasn't just throwing characters in the book to fill a blank space.
All in all, The Nix is an amazing book that had me thinking about it long after I finished it. I love books that not only make me think, but also make me react to the plot, as I believe it's quite difficult to elicit a proper reaction from a reader that's more than a frown or a smile. This book has the ability to completely engorss you in its story and I think it's going to be loved by many in the years to come.
Samuel is a college professor that has his life not figured out at all. His mother left him when he was a child and he never really recovered, he has no chance to win the love of his life over and he loathes his job. So one day, a lawyer calls to say that his mother attacked a politician and really needs his help. Samuel can't help but visit her and he leaves with more questions than answers. In an attempt to write a book about her, he takes a crazy journey to his and his mother past, trying to find the root of all their mishaps.
I had no favourite character in this book. None. But there were three characters that I loathe with all my heart! First and foremost, we have Faye's father. I knew something was fishy about him and the further into the book we got, my sucpisions where coming true. In the end, just a few pages before we learn his life story, I thought that maybe I was wrong and he could be redeemed, but no! My hatred was simply solidified after reading about his life before he had Faye and I believe that he truly is a bad person, not a person made bad because of circumstance. Next on my list is Officer Charlie Brown, who destroyed Faye's life simply because he was an obsessive and lust-driven man, borderline crazy, filled with hatred about a girl he didn't actually know. Just because he didn't want to return back to his boring, stupid family, he had to completely change Faye's future! I think he got what he deserved though and very early on! Last but not least, we have dear Bishop Fall, who even though I sympathasized with, as he went through a lot as a kid, I completely lost it when I read the letter he left for Samuel. I closed the book at that point, because Samuel's decision was so obvious and I hated Bishop for making him do that, even though he knew that it was killing Samuel inside.
Regarding the previous paragraph, I've left things quite vague on purpose, since I don't want to spoil anything from the book, as I believe it should be read with as little information as possible. Another aspect I really liked is how every character was so well rounded and you could sense that Hill had a very specific plan in his mind about them, he wasn't just throwing characters in the book to fill a blank space.
All in all, The Nix is an amazing book that had me thinking about it long after I finished it. I love books that not only make me think, but also make me react to the plot, as I believe it's quite difficult to elicit a proper reaction from a reader that's more than a frown or a smile. This book has the ability to completely engorss you in its story and I think it's going to be loved by many in the years to come.