Racked by guilt after an accident, Johnny has spent the last eight years away from his family's home in California. He returns home in this book, and has to begin to fix everything he left behind eight years ago, as well as everything that has happened in the meantime. Dubbed "Sierra-Noir" this book is stylistically just like the old noir fiction novels. Told through the eyes of Johnny, with the story moving along as he figures things out and witnesses events, we are very much stuck in his head for this one. There's the classic exploitation that you would come to expect from Noir fiction, and a lot of working out the past. Though Johnny isn't a detective, and this isn't a mystery, the book is full of clues and hints of what's happened and who is to blame.
I have covered one of Stokoe's books previously - 1998's Cows, which was released 12 years before this one was. And stylistically, this book is mile away from Cows, which was an explicit gross out affair, full of bodily fluids and bestiality, which would make any normal person feel unwell. Empty Mile is also not for the faint hearted, but not because of sick imagery, but the brutality of the novel. There is so much blackmail and evil deeds in this book it should come with a warning sticker. Every female character in the book is used as a sexual object for the men to fight over and manipulate.
That's not to say it is tasteless though - it isn't gratuitous or vulgar, just a bleak world that these characters inhabit.
The story is strong, and has lots of turning points and twists and big reveals, however our main character seems to miss out on so many clues I spent a while wondering if he was the full ticket. If you read this book be warned you will feel like you are about 10 pages ahead of Johnny. He is seriously slow and misses so many clues it makes the book frustrating at times. I don't now if this was stylistic choice by Stokoe, but it made the read a little less enjoyable for me.
There was also very little back story on our main man. We don't know what he was up to in London, or why he decided to come home. I think knowing his reasons and motivations for coming back would help give this book a bit more depth. I assume he came to see his ex-girlfriend, but we don't know this. Also, it isn't made clear why he left in the first place. I assume it due to the accident, but this happened when he first got together with his girlfriend, and when he left they living together in their own house. Why did he decide so long after the accident to run away?
Anyway, if we don't focus on these questions, and look at what happens in the book rather than before the story starts, it's a good one. There's no happy bits and nothing particularly nice happens but the story is interesting and well worked out.
Stokoe has obviously grown up since Cows, and matured greatly. If you are a fan of Noir fiction, check this out. I would give this a 6, maybe a 6.5 out of 10
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments
I have not read this book or heard of this author but I am intrigued by your review. Do you think the main character's willful ignorance towards is surrounding environment is meant to be a metaphor for contemporary American attitudes towards sex, violence, poverty, and corruption?
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent question and the truth is I'm not sure.
DeleteWhen I was reading the book I felt like it could be an attempt to draw the reader in - I felt like I had to read another chapter because I needed to know how Johnny would react to this clue or that coincidence. But throughout this book, no matter what evil deed he is the victim of, Jonny keeps his naivety, so yes, in that sense I think this is a very fitting way to read into this. (Although not being an American I wouldn't know!)
I may come back to you after a good night's sleep with a better response.