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novabird's review
3.0
"Be Good," is indeed a Canadian version of the concrete jungle. Fowles writes an incredibly incisive account of disaffected twenty somethings who are struggling to find their feet in a world they have grown up to believe is based on lies. They all have trust issues and fight to construct their own truths, however reliable or unreliable that may be. Yet this book doesn't quite cut a swathe through this fog of unreality and leave them in a more grounded position from where they began. Instead it borders on a shared cohort paranoia that everyone is out to fuck me over, so I'll either fuck myself over first or fuck them over first. It is like watching well drawn weak characters in a melodrama of their own making, made from their self absorbed and nihilistic points of view. You'll want to watch or read something lighter after this.
emmatarswell's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book and Stacey May Fowles' writing style. I loved that it jumped around three major Canadian cities and each one was described in recognizable ways.
I did, however, feel that there were too many characters. The novel could have worked just as well if only the main two characters were given the narrative. Throwing in boyfriends, and roommates seemed like too much and it made it so the story did not feel complete. I felt that I was only given a glance at these characters and much more could have been done with them to make a more complete story.
Overall, for a first novel it was pretty good.
I did, however, feel that there were too many characters. The novel could have worked just as well if only the main two characters were given the narrative. Throwing in boyfriends, and roommates seemed like too much and it made it so the story did not feel complete. I felt that I was only given a glance at these characters and much more could have been done with them to make a more complete story.
Overall, for a first novel it was pretty good.
ellstar's review
5.0
Fowles creates these characters (who perhaps, create each other) who completely dominant the page. I tore through this book not because it was an easy read but because I was absolutely absorbed by the drama, the lack-there-of, the fantasy and the blatent deceit of the characters to the reader. What sounds, on page, as a cliched look at the revolving relationships surrounding two former best friends (or were they ever really?) the chapters are full of ego, love, loathing and reluctance to change or be changed, only to change or allow change.
The book really feels as if it's merely the anecdotes of reality, and who's to say certain elements haven't been lifted while others created out of the sparkles of dust in the air.
Really, read this book, if only for the familiarity. You may have been here before.
The book really feels as if it's merely the anecdotes of reality, and who's to say certain elements haven't been lifted while others created out of the sparkles of dust in the air.
Really, read this book, if only for the familiarity. You may have been here before.
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