Being Henry David
Cal Armistead
Page: 320
Published: March 1st, 2013 by Albert Whitman Teen
ISBN: 9780807506158
Good Reads Summary:
Seventeen-year-old "Hank" has found himself at Penn Station in New York City with no memory of anything --who he is, where he came from, why he's running away. His only possession is a worn copy of Walden, by Henry David Thoreau. And so he becomes Henry David-or "Hank" and takes first to the streets, and then to the only destination he can think of--Walden Pond in Concord, Massachusetts. Cal Armistead's remarkable debut novel is about a teen in search of himself. Hank begins to piece together recollections from his past. The only way Hank can discover his present is to face up to the realities of his grievous memories. He must come to terms with the tragedy of his past, to stop running, and to find his way home.
My Review:
I am a little rusty at reviewing, so bare with me while I get the formula up and going again. I just wanted to say that I miss writing on here and I hopefully can stay motivated by wonderful Young Adult literature to do so.
I sat down yesterday evening not really sure what to read. I mean how does one follow up a book about demi-god like mermaids with attidued problems???
I guess they pick something in the complete opposite direction, and let me tell you Being Henry David was just that. I loved this book, I engulfed in about two sittings.
I went into this book knowing nothing of Henry David Thoreau or of Walden. I learned about both. The author in fact motivated me into wanting to read Walden, something that I would never even consider.
The book starts at a nice stead pace, I mean after all you are instantly thrown into the head of a teenage boy in New York City with no memory. It could have gone horribly wrong, however Armistead approach it with such ease that she gently pulled the reader in before having the world explode with chaos.
Though this book had a few bumps and so nice plot twists, well more like gradual turns, I found it oddly compelling and unique for the teen genre. I felt that at times the main character was on autopilot, "Hank" moved through the motions of his new found life rather naturally, this part seemed a little bit of a push for me. I would have loved to seen "Hank" in at least one more location before finding his new home in Concord.
I give the book 4 out of 5. The action was there I was just left wanting at least 1 or 2 more weird run ins.
