The Persistence of Crows is a contemporary meditation on the coming-of-age themes of such novels as Less than Zero, or The Catcher in the Rye. More poignantly, it details the late teenage and early adulthood realizations of a young man named Henry Alfi. Henry, recently having quit drugs and alcohol, has become sickened and disenchanted by those institutions surrounding him: college, AA, relationships that go nowhere; and through a trip with his college newspaper away from his native Midwest he's able to realize a higher purpose within himself, that of becoming a writer, and pursuing what he believes in.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
I've fallen in love with New York and Henry Alfi, thanks to Maierhofer
July 7, 2012
The Persistence of Crows is a strange novel, but I don't mean this in a negative or derogatory way, it's this strangeness which made me enjoy it so much and feel like I really got to know the protagonist and narrator, Henry Alfi.
Henry's life has been less than ordinary, finding himself outside society and his childhood packed out with visits to psychiatrists, treatment for depression and then later, addictions. Henry doesn't see many positives in life yet despite this, his aims in life are very simple, become a writer and have a family/fall in love. When we meet him, Henry is sober and working his way through college, in a school he hates but he does have the chance to write for the school newspaper. It's through this that he gets the chance to visit New York City for a journalism conference.
I think Henry was written in a sensitive and beautiful way, even at his lowest moments, including stretches of the novel where the reader seems to slip into Henry's consciousness and I found it really refreshing to be drawn into his mindset in an attempt to figure him out. Henry's time in New York is fantastically written too and made me want to follow him there and enjoy all the experiences he enjoyed. I found the ending of the novel absolutely perfect, cannot be faulted.
One of the shining glories of this novel is the ease at which Henry comes across fantastic characters whilst in New York. From the old guy on the subway who he has a proper deep heart to heart with to the musician earning her bucks in Central Park, each of these people is instantly memorable and perfectly drawn.
Maierhofer's novel is about someone trying to grow up and reach their goals and the people they encounter along their way. However, it is much deeper than this too, dealing with the inner turmoil experienced by someone who yearns to write and find their way in the world. A fantastic read.
Bethan Townsend - The Kindle Book Review
Henry's life has been less than ordinary, finding himself outside society and his childhood packed out with visits to psychiatrists, treatment for depression and then later, addictions. Henry doesn't see many positives in life yet despite this, his aims in life are very simple, become a writer and have a family/fall in love. When we meet him, Henry is sober and working his way through college, in a school he hates but he does have the chance to write for the school newspaper. It's through this that he gets the chance to visit New York City for a journalism conference.
I think Henry was written in a sensitive and beautiful way, even at his lowest moments, including stretches of the novel where the reader seems to slip into Henry's consciousness and I found it really refreshing to be drawn into his mindset in an attempt to figure him out. Henry's time in New York is fantastically written too and made me want to follow him there and enjoy all the experiences he enjoyed. I found the ending of the novel absolutely perfect, cannot be faulted.
One of the shining glories of this novel is the ease at which Henry comes across fantastic characters whilst in New York. From the old guy on the subway who he has a proper deep heart to heart with to the musician earning her bucks in Central Park, each of these people is instantly memorable and perfectly drawn.
Maierhofer's novel is about someone trying to grow up and reach their goals and the people they encounter along their way. However, it is much deeper than this too, dealing with the inner turmoil experienced by someone who yearns to write and find their way in the world. A fantastic read.
Bethan Townsend - The Kindle Book Review
