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Perry's Reviews > The Little Friend
The Little Friend
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Prelim. Review (aka, a personal steam valve):
Well, I declare! I just don't know what Donna Tartt did to open the floodgates to venom for her last 2 novels: The Goldfinch, preceded by The Little Friend.
I say this not to gripe about your subjective opinion that you found The Little Friend boring, you detested the subject matter, or you simply dislike Donna Tartt's writing style or personality.
Intelligent people don't quibble over such matters, since opinions are like a__holes. I am also not claiming you are somehow misguided by animus if you gave it one or two stars "just because I thought it stunk."
On the other hand, if you based your poor rating on your opinion that the novel lacked literary merit, I kindly ask you to consider the reviews of a legion of regularly published critics (those I could find on a recent search) who almost unanimously and certainly resoundingly applauded the worthiness of The Little Friend.
I'll finish by offering my answers to criticism that the novel's subject matter or dialogue is unrealistic. Ms. Tartt is a couple of years older than I am, but we both grew up in small town Mississippi (for both of us, a majority of our formative years were spent in 1970s MS). I assure you that I know the characters in this novel, in a manner of speaking. Though I've never met Ms. Tartt, I've known these character traits, and feelings, and dialect and thought processes (or lack thereof), in both the young and the old. I am also very familiar with the setting, generally; yes, Mississippi has many water towers (and, btw, fire towers).
Okay. Thank you. I needed to vent a little. I'll write a full review in the near future.
Well, I declare! I just don't know what Donna Tartt did to open the floodgates to venom for her last 2 novels: The Goldfinch, preceded by The Little Friend.
I say this not to gripe about your subjective opinion that you found The Little Friend boring, you detested the subject matter, or you simply dislike Donna Tartt's writing style or personality.
Intelligent people don't quibble over such matters, since opinions are like a__holes. I am also not claiming you are somehow misguided by animus if you gave it one or two stars "just because I thought it stunk."
On the other hand, if you based your poor rating on your opinion that the novel lacked literary merit, I kindly ask you to consider the reviews of a legion of regularly published critics (those I could find on a recent search) who almost unanimously and certainly resoundingly applauded the worthiness of The Little Friend.
I'll finish by offering my answers to criticism that the novel's subject matter or dialogue is unrealistic. Ms. Tartt is a couple of years older than I am, but we both grew up in small town Mississippi (for both of us, a majority of our formative years were spent in 1970s MS). I assure you that I know the characters in this novel, in a manner of speaking. Though I've never met Ms. Tartt, I've known these character traits, and feelings, and dialect and thought processes (or lack thereof), in both the young and the old. I am also very familiar with the setting, generally; yes, Mississippi has many water towers (and, btw, fire towers).
Okay. Thank you. I needed to vent a little. I'll write a full review in the near future.
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Robin
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rated it 5 stars
Feb 16, 2017 02:49PM
REALLY..........
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Robin wrote: "REALLY.........."yes really, my little friend. I must read this middle, *home state* novel by my Mississippi sister after my heritage tour last week.
I've had a copy of this for years but all the naysayers scared me off. Now you've made me want to try it. Thanks.
I love the prelim review Perry! And I loved this book :)
I'm so glad to see you found it 5-star worthy - though I can't say I'm surprised. She's a magnificent writer. I can't wait to read this.
Good, it is decided. I will read this. I loved The Goldfinch. The Secret History is one of my favorites of all time. I will give this a go now that you've reminded me how much I love Donna Tart's writing! :)
Sorry for the misspelling, Tartt!
Yesssss, Donna Tartt is one of my absolute favourites with this being her only novel I haven't read yet. Your review makes me so excited for it!
Perry wrote: "I assure you that I know the characters in this novel, in a manner of speaking."I know what you mean, Perry. I grew up in eastern Colorado; and, I know those folks in a Kent Haruf novel.
I enjoyed this review.
Everyone's opinion is equally valid; it's just that some opinions are wrong! (Not yours, I hasten to add.) I believe literary criticism is a science of sorts - there are criteria for evaluating what makes a novel work and though you can never prove one novel is better than another you can make strong arguments - which is what we're all learning to do here in many ways. Loved your review.
The depiction of the town and the characters were my favourite feature of this novel, Perry. It was some of the cartoonish plot devices I had problems with. Loved your defence of her though. Just how I feel when my favourite authors come under attack.
A wonderful review, Perry. And I appreciate your personal reflections on southern Mississippi in the 1970s. I loved the book as I have Donna Tartt's other books so now I await her next novel.
