Padgett Powell

The concept of weaving a novel out of questions is luminous, full to bursting with possibilities that Powell disappointed soundly in this book. The execution is scattered, each question interesting on its own but rarely staying on topic to a second or third question in a row. The reader is assaulted with these disconnected ideas and given nothing to round them into a plot. A few scattered threads gave me hope for discovery of the narrator, particularly the recurrence of certain questions (e.g. do you remember when I asked you...?) and questions that involved himself in third person (a rarity, e.g. do you think that the birds flitting around the crown of the tree in my yard...?). Without exponential extrapolation, however, nothing could be knitted together of these. The other logical way to construct an interrogative story, to create some sort of plot or theme for the reader through use of second person, was not used at all. For this interrogative style to work, I think the later questions need to answer in some way the older questions, so that information can accumulate.
As it was, the conceit of this method could have carried on enjoyably for maybe the length of a ten-page "short story," but it seems I have dragged myself through the rest of it to no narrative purpose.… (more)

In this book, every sentence was a question. This sounds like it could be gimmicky, but I found it delightful. At first I wanted to only read a page or so a day as some of the questions really made you think. But I quickly decided I had to read them all because I didn't want to put it down.

Makes you examine yourself, the author, the world and your beliefs on some level. A book filled with endless conversations and ideas. Thoughtful, hilarious, preposterous and fascinating. Even when/(especially when?) there are repeat questions. Some of the questions were my favorites due to a lyrical turn of phrase rather than merely the question itself.

Definitely not a book for everyone, but I LOVED it!!!… (more)