O'Nan, Stuart. The Odds: A Love Story. New York: Penguin 2012. Print
First Sentences:
"The final weekend of their marriage, hounded by insolvency, indecision, and, stupidly, half-secretly, in the never-distant past ruled by infidelity, Art and Marion Fowler fled the country.
North to Canada. "Like the slaves," Marion told her sister Celia.
Flynn, Gillian. Gone Girl
"The final weekend of their marriage, hounded by insolvency, indecision, and, stupidly, half-secretly, in the never-distant past ruled by infidelity, Art and Marion Fowler fled the country.
North to Canada. "Like the slaves," Marion told her sister Celia.
Description:
It is a rare thing when the plot of a book is resolved on the very last page in the final paragraphs. The anticipation and tension that had built up over page after page of dialog and action finally is released as all elements come together, the characters' fates are sealed, and the consequences are set into motion.
Such a book is The Odds: A Love Story by Stuart O'Nan. This book of twists and turns keeps readers reading, wondering what unexpected aspect of each character's life will unfold next, and guessing about the resolutions to the situations and mental challenges they soon will face.
Art and Marion Fowler, a long-time married couple, are at the crossroads of their relationship. To settle their future, they decide to drive to Niagara Falls in Canada and gamble all their remaining money one last time. The outcome will determine whether they stay together or separate and go their individual ways. They have a system to their gambling strategy, untried, but seemingly a winner, yet both accept that they will be risking their future on the unpredictability of luck at the tables.
Along the drive to Niagara Falls, we learn much more about both Art and Marion as they anticipate their future. The tension builds as the characters, their thoughts, and their dreams are exposed little by little, all leading up to that one final moment that will determine the course of their lives.
Both have big plans for themselves after the rolling of the dice, but are they the same plans as those of their partner? Do they both really want to win? What are the repercussions of success versus failure? Is one result actually better for one or both partners?
These are real characters, evoking sympathy for their memories and future plans. One minute you are in complete agreement with Art's feelings and plans, and the next it is Marion who we feel we understand better.
A great build-up and concluding final page such as in The Odds means the story requires no additional pages of denouement, no epilogue, and no further explanations. Readers by the end are so familiar with the characters inside and out that they can easily can understand the implications of this final action and imagine the characters and their world after that final page.
So what will be the outcome? Do they win or lose or both? It is so difficult not to glance ahead for the answers, even when reading the final pages. But please let the story unfold and delay reading the outcome until you reach that point on the very last page. The anticipation is the most delicious you can imagine.
It is a rare thing when the plot of a book is resolved on the very last page in the final paragraphs. The anticipation and tension that had built up over page after page of dialog and action finally is released as all elements come together, the characters' fates are sealed, and the consequences are set into motion.
Such a book is The Odds: A Love Story by Stuart O'Nan. This book of twists and turns keeps readers reading, wondering what unexpected aspect of each character's life will unfold next, and guessing about the resolutions to the situations and mental challenges they soon will face.
Art and Marion Fowler, a long-time married couple, are at the crossroads of their relationship. To settle their future, they decide to drive to Niagara Falls in Canada and gamble all their remaining money one last time. The outcome will determine whether they stay together or separate and go their individual ways. They have a system to their gambling strategy, untried, but seemingly a winner, yet both accept that they will be risking their future on the unpredictability of luck at the tables.
Along the drive to Niagara Falls, we learn much more about both Art and Marion as they anticipate their future. The tension builds as the characters, their thoughts, and their dreams are exposed little by little, all leading up to that one final moment that will determine the course of their lives.
Both have big plans for themselves after the rolling of the dice, but are they the same plans as those of their partner? Do they both really want to win? What are the repercussions of success versus failure? Is one result actually better for one or both partners?
These are real characters, evoking sympathy for their memories and future plans. One minute you are in complete agreement with Art's feelings and plans, and the next it is Marion who we feel we understand better.
A great build-up and concluding final page such as in The Odds means the story requires no additional pages of denouement, no epilogue, and no further explanations. Readers by the end are so familiar with the characters inside and out that they can easily can understand the implications of this final action and imagine the characters and their world after that final page.
So what will be the outcome? Do they win or lose or both? It is so difficult not to glance ahead for the answers, even when reading the final pages. But please let the story unfold and delay reading the outcome until you reach that point on the very last page. The anticipation is the most delicious you can imagine.
Happy reading.
Fred
Fred
www.firstsentencereader.blogspot.com
If this book interests you, be sure to check out:
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If this book interests you, be sure to check out:
O'Nan, Stewart. Emily Alone
Eighty-year-old woman gains new independence when her caregiver is no longer available, exploring her life and family in this gentle read.
Flynn, Gillian. Gone Girl
On their fifth wedding anniversary, the wife disappears, but did the husband murder her or is some other game afoot?
