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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
I believe that this is the first Andrew Vachss book that I read since he finished his Burke series. Not that there was any expectation he would, but Vachss has not lost any skills. His words are terse but loaded with meaning. He sets the scene with minimal descriptions but quickly illustrates what we should see. He gives us characters who are complex and reveal themselves slowly. Together they illustrate a side of New York City that I reckon most never see. And for those of us nowhere near New York, we can wonder what the underbelly of our city is like.
While HAIKU is mainly centered on Ho, a Japanese man who in order to find his honor walked away from teaching martial arts, the story also revolves around the men that Ho calls his family. They are all living on the street and dealing with their problems: alcoholism, schizophrenia, PTSD, gambling addiction, and an unknown mental disorder of some sort. As a group, they help each other to survive; each has their own tasks but no one rules the group. While the story focuses at first on a "mortal lock" or guaranteed big score, it morphs into a mission to save one of their own. It comes down to a family fighting to protect one of its members.
There's no denying that Vachss is a master at his writing. However, I didn't find this book to be as strong as other ones by him. There wasn't anything big that I can point to and say "yucko" but I just didn't connect as much as I hoped. Some of the characters sounded very much like characters from the Burke series. The imagery was still gritty and real. The truths dispensed were enlightening and deep. The standards that his characters live up to are high; I look at myself and hope that I am half as honorable and true as his characters are. And while I know those are fictional characters, I also know some of what Vachss has actually done. Hell, to be completely honest, I would love to meet almost every one of my favorite authors and fanboy gush over them. Vachss though kind of scares me. If I ever met him, I feel like I would never measure up to his expectations. That rather than simply reading his books and donating to some of the same causes, that I should be doing more. I know it's all my own projections but that is how reading Vachss makes me feel. It reminds me that I should not settle and that I should be better. It humbles me and makes me work harder. Anyway, enough self-psychoanalysis. If you aren't already, read Vachss's books. He will leave an impact on you.
While HAIKU is mainly centered on Ho, a Japanese man who in order to find his honor walked away from teaching martial arts, the story also revolves around the men that Ho calls his family. They are all living on the street and dealing with their problems: alcoholism, schizophrenia, PTSD, gambling addiction, and an unknown mental disorder of some sort. As a group, they help each other to survive; each has their own tasks but no one rules the group. While the story focuses at first on a "mortal lock" or guaranteed big score, it morphs into a mission to save one of their own. It comes down to a family fighting to protect one of its members.
There's no denying that Vachss is a master at his writing. However, I didn't find this book to be as strong as other ones by him. There wasn't anything big that I can point to and say "yucko" but I just didn't connect as much as I hoped. Some of the characters sounded very much like characters from the Burke series. The imagery was still gritty and real. The truths dispensed were enlightening and deep. The standards that his characters live up to are high; I look at myself and hope that I am half as honorable and true as his characters are. And while I know those are fictional characters, I also know some of what Vachss has actually done. Hell, to be completely honest, I would love to meet almost every one of my favorite authors and fanboy gush over them. Vachss though kind of scares me. If I ever met him, I feel like I would never measure up to his expectations. That rather than simply reading his books and donating to some of the same causes, that I should be doing more. I know it's all my own projections but that is how reading Vachss makes me feel. It reminds me that I should not settle and that I should be better. It humbles me and makes me work harder. Anyway, enough self-psychoanalysis. If you aren't already, read Vachss's books. He will leave an impact on you.