Garth Risk Hallberg A Field Guide to the North American Family
Fascinating structure. An alphabetical list of words associated in some way directly and I directly with families, relationships, life stages and ideas. Below this, a narrative from one of the members of the two families who are the focus of the book.
On the opposite page a public photo that sort of relates to the idea and below this, comments on the word ( say Adulthood) which also references other words. At the bottom of the page another series of references to the theme words.
Lots of ways of reading the book...left hand page sequentially, or follow the longer trail below the photo.
Think I read most of it but a certain rabbit-hole quality about the experience.
Feel thec technique is more interesting than the content but the random odd unexpected nature of the journey interestingkyvreflects the random nature of people's lives and experiences. Feel over praised thoug by critics...talk of ' the great American novel'....er no I don't think so. The different voices are well done though. Finally though characters and situations and sense of place rather ordinary. Style over substance.