Customer Reviews

Fade

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

When the average person thinks about 'super-powers', what likely comes to mind is the usual conglomeration of superhero comic books, cartoons, movies, and television shows; a muscular gentleman in tights and a cape, not unlike a professional wrestler. But far more intriguing, and satisfying, are the more literal takes on the theme, whereby ordinary people react in a realistic manner to powers they have no possibility of comprehending. I think of novels such as Stephen King's THE DEAD ZONE (telekinesis), Paul Auster's MR. VERTIGO (levitation), and Jim Munroe's FLYBOY ACTION FIGURE COMES WITH GASMASK (transmogrification), or the Bruce Willis/Samuel L. Jackson movie UNBREAKABLE; examples of day-to-day people struck down by the impossible. Into this more rarefied genre enters a sterling example of the hazzards of the unknown, FADE, by Robert Cormier.

FADE follows the life of Paul Moreaux, a young boy growing up in early 20th century America. His family is constantly struggling with the labour and union problems of the time, and Paul himself has learned from his similarly inflicted uncle that he is cursed with a gift that is not what it seems; Paul has inherited the ability to 'fade', to disappear into nothingness on a whim. While at first appropriately thrilled at the prospect, Paul soon realizes the dilemma that comes with such a gift. His juvenile thrill-seeking leads to discoveries of a sexual nature both exciting and perverse, and deeply unsettling. And as his father becomes enmeshed in the violence of the labour revolts, Paul finds himself compelled to commit an act that will haunt his every move for the rest of his life.

To give away any more of the plot would be to ruin the pleasures that such a novel provides. As Paul's story progresses, it is contrasted with a modern-day account of his life by his niece. Playing the innocence of youth off the wisdom of maturity gives FADE a poignant, and sometimes more horrific edge. Cormier plays his hand close to this chest, never revealing more than the reader needs to know, yet constantly imparting a foreboding sense of unease as the story unfolds. His presentation of Paul's early life, the nature of youth, is both nostalgic and realistic. Paul is just at that age where the seriousness of life has become evident, yet the thoughtlessness and frivolity of immaturity still pulls strong on his psyche. Every person has that one event in their life that separates childhood from adulthood, and it is just Paul's misfortune that 'fading' is his introduction to the complexities of the world. The power of invisibility is never presented as the 'cure-all' that some people would like to believe. It is a power for which there is no practical purpose, yet is a power that can extract a terrible toil upon those unfortunate enough to possess it. Paul's adult persona, after swearing off the use of his fade, learns the perils that such a path provides, as he discovers the next generation of the gift.

Cormier's true gift in this narrative is to never lose sight of the way the world works. A person with a power has to adapt to a world unprepared for such an event. The knowledge of his difference serves to affect his every waking moment; his refusal to travel, or have his picture taken, or even associate beyond his close circle of family and friends. The insular nature of being different is a universal theme that everyone copes with on one level or another. The popular child who realizes that he or she has nothing to offer beyond appearance. The powerful executive who cannot cope with people on a less-than-professional basis. Look at the afflicted Johnny Smith of THE DEAD ZONE, living as a target for every weekly news-rag and sad-sack, because he had the bad idea to go public with his gift. Being different than everyone else leaves you a target for the uninformed, the uncaring, and the ignorant. Cormier knows this, perhaps as a byproduct of all the 'young adult' novels he has written. Everyone has a fear of being different; it's how we handle this fear that helps define who we are.

FADE is a truly fine novel, a memorable exploration of the tried-and-true theme, "With great power comes great responsibility". Paul's life is a testament to this idea, and his failures to fully comprehend this credo leads to some terrible consequences. God forbid someone less able to cope should be afflicted with such a power. As Paul comes to realize, the world itself would never be safe with such a threat.

From the opening line of Fade, Robert Cormier pulls the reader into 13-year-old Paul Moreaux's world. Paul is looking at a photograph of his father's family and there is one person missing from the picture - his Uncle Adelard. According to family lore, Adelard was standing right there when the photo was snapped, but when the picture was developed, Adelard was nowhere to be seen. What Paul learns later, is that Adelard faded at the moment the photo was taken, and Paul has inherited this same ability to disappear. The ability to fade is passed down from uncle to nephew and only one member of each generation inherits the trait. The plot is unpredictable and complex. The first part of the novel, narrated by Paul, takes him from pleasant tentative attempts at fading to witnessing actions that horrify him.

Fade is classic Cormier. It is filled with details that bring the reader right into the story. He honestly and convincingly portrays Paul's internal struggles and Paul quickly learns that the ability to become invisible is more a curse than a blessing. The rich narrative is as absorbing, suspenseful, and captivating as the events are dark and troubling. Touching on mature topics including incest and serial murder, with some truly graphic descriptions, this novel is best suited for older teenagers.

Robert Cormier's unique knack for capturing the turmoil of adolescence (and to a lesser extent adulthood) with a haunting sense of melancholy is displayed perfectly in this beautiful novel.

The book focuses on Paul, a boy who discovers he can "fade," or become invisible; a gift inherited from his uncle and passed on to Paul's future nephew. Paul sees it as a useful feature, but the things he sees while in the Fade shock and disturb him, alienating his from his friends, causing him to view the world in a different way. The bits narrated by Sally, the interlude by Paul's cousin, and the Olly section at the end are all well done and spice up the plot, but it's Paul's narration that I find most fascinating.

The author hasn't written a fantasy novel, he uses the fade to expand the idea of coming to terms with change and the pain suffered because of this supernatural ability. Just as Cormier exaggerated the search for identity in I Am The Cheese, he seems to use the fade as a metaphor for growing up. The initial delight, the confusion and disgust towards the things that corrupt innocent eyes, the weary character that emerges... all seem to link to the author's recurring theme of adolescence.

As usual, the characters conjured up are memorable and unique, and I love the way Paul's cousin casts them in different lights and adds a new dimension, challenging us to choose who we believe.
Aside from Paul, Olly is probably the boy that I remember most vividly; Paul's nephew who inherited the fade. Unwanted, he goes through life lonely and rejected, loved only by the nun that takes pity on him. When he discovers his ability to Fade, he sees it as a great tool and a secret only he knows, but soon becomes paranoid that people know about "his secret" and plan to conspire against him. His conscience wrestles with the voice inside his head, encouraging him to kill the few people who take an interest in his sorry life.

Haunting, gorgeous... All in all, a perfect book. Well worth your time and money.

"Imagine what might happen if Holden Caulfield stepped into H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man, and you'll have an idea how good Fade is... I was absolutely riveted." --Stephen King

Stephen King gave Fade a great blurb because he traffics in irresistible premises, and if Fade has anything, it's an irresistible premise. The blurb does the book a great service by attracting interest, but does a disservice by raising expectations that the story can't fulfill--and ironically, invites conjecture on what King might have done with this material.

Cormier has a grasp of the possibilities, but settles for a routine outing. There are flashes of narrative brilliance, as when Paul tries to close his eyes but realizes he can see through his eyelids. There are a few vividly evocative phrases, as when the family listens to radio news of Hitler "gobbling up countries in Europe." In general the historical setting is vividly evoked.

The problem is that the book doesn't realize its own strengths, and underuses them. It strains too hard to make obvious and irrelevant points (as in the drawn-out subplot of the factory strike), and skims over what's really juicy, such as how Paul feels toward the people he's spied on. The book throws out intriguing tidbits left and right but never follows up on them.

Cormier's protagonist is frustratingly unimaginative. After all, couldn't this power be used for good as well as evil? Paul's family is poor--can none of the family "faders" think to use their power for honest profit? Why, indeed, must the fade be kept a secret? I can think of some reasons, but none of them are addressed.

Like the family portrait from which Paul's uncle is missing, Cormier's snapshot of the "fade" misses the most intriguing face of all: Paul's own. Is there anyone under the sun who'd miss out on the opportunity to hear what others are saying about them? Cormier's final shot is underdeveloped. His novel The Chocolate War famously portrayed one who dared to disturb the universe, dared to eat a peach, and eschewed the unquestioning hypocrisy around him. Just think of thematic richness of "invisibility" in relation to being an outsider--in relation to observing society and calling out what's rotten in Denmark. Cormier could have done much more with these possibilities: the narrative loses force in an ironic embodiment of the title.

In 1938 13 year old Paul discovers he can "fade" - or turn invisible. At first it seems a fantastic gift, but it is one that he finds soon enough comes with both an emotional and physical price.

This novel is very evocative of the time and places the stories within in it take place. It is in some ways like a linked chain of short stories moving from the 1930's to the 1980's.

While aimed at teen readers, this novel would be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys a dash of the fantastic in their stories and well drawn characters. To top it off the fade itself is somewhat creepy and the author makes it clear what a two edged sword such an ability might be.

Have you ever wished to be present somewhere yet not be seen? Explore these possibilities in Robert Cormier's book, FADE. In the French-Canadian town, Monument, Massachusetts in nineteen thirty eight, thirteen year old Paul Moreaux discovers that he has an unavoidable gift, the ability to fade, or become invisible. His family secrets begin to unfold as his long-lost uncle, who shares the gift of fading and is the only person who knows Paul has it, suddenly appears to teach Paul of his powers. Paul soon discovers the dangers of abusing this gift and experiences the strange consequences of simply possessing the ability to fade. His attitude and views change as he realizes that along with the power he holds great responsibilities. Twenty-five years later, Paul, a successful writer, encounters the next to inherit the fade, Ozzie Slater, a forgotten nephew and troubled teen, and finds that he is suffering from complications as well.

This book was captivating from start to finish, with many intriguing twists in the plot. I enjoyed reading FADE, because the author's use of detail made the impossible seem as though it could happen. This book is best suited for older teenagers, as there are violent secions not suitable for young children. Overall, Cormier's riveting adventure is sure to keep the reader on edge and fascinated.

This book is great! It totally reveals the different aspects people view on certain subjects. How this book was written also enhances the addictive plot in this book.
The book was bisected into two different time periods, flashing back and forth, starting off with Paul the main character's autobiographical letter. In this writing, Paul described the ability of fade and how his long-gone uncle came and explained to him about when this ability originated and offered some past experience of his. Acquiring this ability, Paul eventually found himself dismal and lost later. After thirty years later, his far cousin Susan and her grandfather - Paul's cousin - gave their opinion on the ability of fading.
We, in our daily lives, would sometimes wonder if we acquired such and such supernatural powers, and what we would do with such and such powers. The truth is, when we actually get these powers, the vicious minds of ours would emerge and the world would fall into chaos. The book Fade pointed this out clearly. Susan and her grandfather's views on the power of fading are also reflected in this world. To believe or not believe, I think the characters in us would interfere this issue. Just like Susan's grandfather, being a detective had surely shaped him into a more logical person. This book Fade stated many situations and thoughts encountered either spiritually physically in our lives and personally I think it's a must for every reader.
The author Robert Cormier has also written some well received books such as the Chocolate War, which both my friends and I found pretty interesting, and if some of you have read it, you would not be disappointed with this fascinating book of his - Fade.

Fade is one of the most disturbing and riveting novels I have ever read. Paul and his family know the secret of some of the members that can become invisible but refuse to face it. By introducing the publisher and granddauther into the story the credibility of Paul's story comes into question. Cormier never shies away from violence and fear- these elements are present in each of his stories. Stephen King said it best when he described Fade as a cross between Holden Caulfield and the invisible man. Tis most makes the reader question what he would do if he had this power- would the invisibility unlease the darker side of our natures? Older teens and adults would find this a great book for discussion.

If you like other books by Cormier, you're sure to like this one too. It is has several different settings and characters, and they take a lot of unexpected turns. Once I started reading, I had trouble putting the book down. Paul is 13 years old when he learns he has inherited the ability to become invisable. But, he soon finds out that it is not as great as it sounds, and that the Fade seems to have a mind of its own. We follow him throughout his first summer with the fade, until the terrible thing happens. Paul vows to never enter the fade again. As an adult, he must track down his nephew, Ozzie, who has just realized his ability to fade. It is up to Paul to stear him away from the evil that comes with the fade. But, will he succeed?

P.S. I would recommend this book for older teenagers. However, it does have some mild sexual content and violence.

I'd like to start by saying i'm over 13! I'm 15! But this book was great - I loved it and so did the large number of friends inc. my mum that I recommended it too. Anyway about the book - i have to admit I started to get a bit confused at first but I kept on with it - I couldn't put the book down! (It is now just slightly soggy from when I took it to read in the bath!!!). I can't really say much about it as nothing I said would bring it justice, apart from it IS his best novel so far. Since reading Fade i've read others of his and theyr'e just no comparison (actually Tenderness came close). Anyway it's an absolute must even if you have to get your mum or dad to read it to you!