The Strange Truth About Us: a novel of absence

Number 1, for instance, reads: These first two parts are rich with references to the products and byproducts of our contemporary culture, including music, movies, martinis, paintings, politics, climate change, species extinction, the Oxford English Dictionary and books, books, many books, including some of my own frequently reread favourites: The third and final part, Other Prose Surrounding Absence, consists of 27 prose pieces that are something like stories, something like essays, mostly like ruminations on the end of the world as we know it delivered with intelligence, irony, wit and existential charm.

The Strange Truth About Us is impossible to summarize, save to say that it is both an acknowledgment of and an antidote to all the uncertainty we must shoulder in this, our age of anxiety and absence. Delightful and disturbing in all the best ways, this book addresses that which mostly remains unspoken in ways that have seldom been spoken before. Farrant, we need to talk. Diane Schoemperlen is a fragment of her own imagination.

Absence of Mind: The Dispelling of Inwardness from the Modern Myth of the Self

Her most recent book is At a Loss for Words: This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe. If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters globeandmail. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter. Comments that violate our community guidelines will be removed.

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Commenters who repeatedly violate community guidelines may be suspended, causing them to temporarily lose their ability to engage with comments. Read our community guidelines here. Article text size A. Open this photo in gallery: Reviewed by Diane Schoemperlen. And the country is just as divided now as it was then.

Auster has spent much of the last decade thinking about his childhood and the America he grew up in. When in his 50s, and after suffering a few bouts of ill health, he wrote a series of novels that centred on debilitated men Timbuktu , The Book of Illusions , Oracle Night and the presence of the dead in the thoughts of the living.

During his 60s, however, Auster has gone back in time. He has often mentioned a line from the poet George Oppen about growing old: His 13th novel, Invisible , featured a student at Columbia in the late 60s — when Auster studied there. Ferguson, as Auster did, begins his teenage years in The day Kennedy is shot is also the day Ferguson 1 has sex with Amy for the first time: All the Fergusons are in a state of plasticity, on the way to being formed. They are all notably precocious, sensitive, likable and right-thinking: It creates such a forcefield of energy.

This is not to say abandons his themes or all of his metafictional trickery. The reader, as so often with Auster, steps momentarily into a hall of mirrors. More significantly, ends with a characteristic piece of illusionism that changes the nature of the novel entirely. The author has, it seems, poured his whole life into this book. One instance from is a basketball match, played by Ferguson 4, which ends with a miraculous fluke of a shot and a fight between black kids and white kids. The borrowings go beyond incidents and places to include enthusiasms. Auster is able to indulge his well-known love of Laurel and Hardy when a troubled Ferguson 2 watches their films repeatedly at home on a projector screen.

The novelist resurrects his own past as a student translator of French poetry Ferguson 1 has a similar inclination with a new rendering of a poem by Apollinaire. Auster likes to pinpoint his beginnings as a writer to the day when, aged eight, he met his baseball hero Willie Mays at a New York Giants game and, mustering all his courage, asked him for an autograph. But neither his father nor his mother had a pencil, and eventually the player shrugged and walked away. Auster cried, and hated himself for crying, but from that day on — so the story goes — never left home without a pencil: From , he lived in France with the writer Lydia Davis, whom he had met in college.

They eked out an existence as critics and translators and shared a belief that their poverty was romantic — until the situation grew desperate. They eventually returned to the US, with nine dollars to their name, and were married in The following year, expecting a child — their son, Daniel — the couple bought an old house in Duchess County, New York.

On their arrival, Auster knew they had made a mistake. The following years were the bleakest of his life.

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The death of his father, Sam, the following year he had a heart attack while having sex with his girlfriend triggered a change. Brooke was a bit of a loner in the afterlife but her story also becomes much more intense as the story wears on. As Paige learns that she can inhabit the body of whomever as long as they are thinking about her at the time, we also meet a host of live characters as well.

There was the schools resident queen bee, Kelsey, who goes through an awesome progression herself. Also Lucas, the boy that Paige was secretly dating up until her death. I wasn't a fan of Lucas, he seemed as if he always had something sneaky on the go, and he wasn't exactly the nicest or most forthcoming person ever.

He doesn't change too much throughout the story but his actions get some explanation at the end that really threw me for a loop. The best character among the living was Wes. Wes was a "burner" as Paige would classify him. He was a stoner who was always outside smoking but he turned out to be a wonderful guy that any girl would be lucky to have by her side. In the progression of Absent we are presented with a wide array of issues as it tackles its fair share of them. None of it felt over the top or preachy and even the scenes that touched upon religion were presented in a questioning way and served to make me wonder in a really good way.

With all the issues this novel tackles and the break neck pace it is definitely a story that you can read in a single sitting. I was so absorbed in this story and went on a rollercoaster of emotions with the characters. I was quick to add Katie's other book to my TBR upon finishing.

She is another author who has written a novel that makes me wonder how so much emotion and connection can come from so little pages. I didn't feel as if I didn't get enough of anything from this story, I didn't feel as if I was robbed of any details or empathy for the characters, I was emotionally present for the whole thing. As our ghosts come to grips with the circumstances surrounding their deaths a beautiful story is woven.

Absent is the story of acceptance and of taking responsibility for our actions. This is not a novel to be missed. An Advanced Reader's Copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Oct 10, Kelly rated it really liked it Shelves: But people who liked either of those books will see how those comparisons work here.

Paige died slipping off the roof of her high school during physics class. Was it falling or was it jumping? Paige thought she knew how she died, but when she's observing the grief counseling session, mean girl Kelsey accidentally bl "Before I Fall" meets "Imaginary Girls.

Paige thought she knew how she died, but when she's observing the grief counseling session, mean girl Kelsey accidentally blurts out to the group that Paige had jumped. That her death was intentional, not accidental. It's from there Paige realizes she needs to find out why Kelsey would spread the rumor and whether or not it's true. When exploring this rumor, Paige discovers she has the ability to inhabit the bodies of the people who are thinking about her.

She can literally press into them and become them. This ability allows her to not only learn why her former best friend Usha isn't grieving the way that Paige wishes she would. It allows her to inhabit the bodies of her former boy-interest's friends and the body of mean-girl Kelsey herself. Paige is also able to visit her former boy-interest, watch him behave in odd and erratic and non-Lucas ways which she can't comprehend.

And then there is Wes. Wes, the loser, loner, weird kid who has an entire book full of sketches of Paige. Wes, the guy who Paige blew off before she died. It's only through inhabiting Kelsey, unlocking the truth of Kelsey, wherein she's able to see Wes as Wes and not as who she believes him to be, based on her social hierarchical structure.

What caused her death wasn't slipping or jumping. It was something else entirely. Something with which Paige is herself utterly familiar. Not all of the characters in this book are reliable or trustworthy, and it's not the characters you'd expect it from, either. Or at least that's how I read it. The only characters who can't get out of high school are the same ones who discuss how high school is purgatory.

These three characters are the same ones doomed to never rest in peace after death because all three killed themselves at the school. And because this character accepts responsibility, admits to their weakness and their decision owning their own selfishness in the process , they get the chance to move up and on. Another character stuck also owns responsibility, but for another act, which is why that character and the third are also able to move on and up.

Yes this is vague, but that's because there are many tiny little details that make this work. It's also about bitterness, cruelty, jealousy, and the inability to live after death -- and sometimes, the inability to live while alive. Longer, longer, longer review to come. There is a LOT to unpack in this little book. I'm going to be thinking about it for quite a while. Dec 07, Ericwilliams rated it it was amazing. I had been saving this book until its release date I obtained an ARC from the author but I broke down and read it in one sitting--I couldn't put it down. She is, however, not alone in I had been saving this book until its release date I obtained an ARC from the author but I broke down and read it in one sitting--I couldn't put it down.

She is, however, not alone in her ghostly wanderings through art, physics, gym and other classes. She has two other ghost friends, also students who had died at the school.

Absent by Katie Williams

Indifferent to her living classmates' opinions and feelings about her, she watches her best friend and her secret boyfriend move on with their school year. Until, well, a popular girl starts spreading a rumor that her death wasn't an accident, but a suicide. Well, that doesn't set well with our protagonist and she starts to figure out how she might set the record straight. A vexing problem since she's a ghost and cannot affect the material world until she makes a miraculous discovery. Observing her best friend about to make a mistake on a test, she finds that the moment her friend thinks her name-- thinks about her dead friend-- our protagonist can inhabit her best friend's body and impulsively corrects the test question for her.

With this discovery, she now devises a plan to clear her name about the circumstances of her death. This is a delicious story with all the angst of high school jealousies, triumphs and dynamics. And a plot twist so unexpected that the story stays with you long after you finish the last page.

There are no wasted words as this story is tightly woven and compact. And, thinking back on my high school experience, I can't help but think, What If? View all 3 comments. Feb 05, Lindsay rated it it was amazing Shelves: I don't know what's wrong with me but it seems that as of lately all I read are depressing books that make me cry. I feel like I'm going through one of those phases and it sucks but its amazing all at the same time. Honestly, I was surprised that I loved this book so much.

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It wasn't that I was judging it by its cover - because the creepy moth cover is kind of awesome - I just felt that it wouldn't be good. I am so incredibly thankful that I received an arc from review from Library I don't know what's wrong with me but it seems that as of lately all I read are depressing books that make me cry. I am so incredibly thankful that I received an arc from review from Library Thing. The author creates a whole new concept on death and what happens after and I must say it was creepy.

Now I can see why some people may not like this book however, I happen to think it was amazing. I learned a lot and yes cried a lot and I got angry a lot. This is just one of those books that tugs on your emotions and makes you appreciate life a thousand times more. I felt that Katie Williams really got inside a teenager's head because everything that Paige did, even if it wasn't right, made sense. All of the characters were realistic which I loved.

It was crazy how everyone just kind of fell into place. I mean, there's not really a whole lot more to say because at the end of the day, I could write the longest review ever. But you'd have to read the book to get it. Feb 14, Mara rated it it was ok Shelves: I do like the simplistic, slightly creepy cover art. It's what caught my attention in the first place. However, I wish the actual story had been as intriguing as the cover. It's safe to say that I didn't exactly care about anyone.

It's not that I disliked them, but I really could not have cared less whether or not they got what they wanted - or what they deserved. This is mostly due to how short the book was. Paige had every right to be angry and upset, and I d Cover Blurb: Paige had every right to be angry and upset, and I didn't fault her for her quest for revenge against Kelsey, who spreads nasty rumors about her supposed suicide. But I was not emotionally invested in the outcome. Lucas was a jerk; I don't care how much the Author tried to justify some of his actions.

You can't ignore that there were things that simply came down to selfishness. Brooke was a bundle of bad attitude, Evan was just kinda there, and everyone else just faded into the background. Even Kelsey, the classic popular mean girl. Lucas is about the only one I had strong emotions about.

It's a little odd. And I can't say that I was much interested in Paige's love interest. He was a pot-head; I don't dig pot heads, thank you very much. Thankfully, though, the romance didn't really take centerstage; it was just there, and had a rather unsatisfying conclusion. Without giving away spoilers, it just really work for me. Paige was normal high school girl, hanging out with her best friend and getting picked on by the popular girls. She didn't hate high school, and she was pretty happy.

Until the day she fell off the high school roof during a Physics class experiment. Now she's a ghost, permanently stuck at the high school, and powerless to comfort her friend or stop the nasty rumors popular girl Kelsey is spreading about her fall - that it wasn't an accident at all, but suicide. Paige can't stand the idea of becoming "the girl who jumped," but as a ghost, she can't do much about it. Until she discovers that whenever people think about her, she can enter their body and make them do and say pretty much whatever she wants!

Maybe Paige can restore her good name after all! So the premise was relatively interesting; the last book I read about a ghost stuck on a school campus was Liv, Forever , and I loved it. With Absent being such a short read, I thought it couldn't hurt to try it. Well, sadly, it fell into the "boring" category. I kept waiting for something sinister to be thrown in - and for a while, it looked like there might be!

But it eventually boiled down to a high school struggles story, and I don't really care for those. First person, present tense. The flashbacks are told in past. You guys are probably tired of me saying this: I don't like present tense. Oddly enough, I didn't mind it in this book all that much. The style itself, though, wasn't anything special. Paige had a distinctive voice, and I did enjoy it somewhat, but overall it was nothing special. Nothing beyond references to drugs. This is where it started to get a tiny bit interesting, because the Author pulled a sudden twist that I was not expecting.

However, she pulled back in the end, and tried to redeem all of the nasty characters in ways that I was not buying. Overall, Absent could have been better if the Author had stayed on the sinister path. But she didn't, so it was merely okay. A short read, but not one I'd do again. Girl-read, seventeen-and-up, fans of supernatural and contemporary.

Apr 29, Kayla rated it really liked it Shelves: Some of what is shown is heavy material for teens in high school, blatantly speaking about drugs, alcohol, suicide, and the less horrible problems-teen love, friendship, and trust. The characters in this were fantastic and flawed, both the living and the dead.

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I loved the hint of mystery surrounding him for most of the book as well as the plot twists that keep appearing throughout the novel, all culminating in an ending that I really loved and think perfectly suited the story and the characters. I really liked the characters and setup of Absent, so readers that might not have loved the other novel will definitely find something more in this one. Paige,the main character, bugged me at times with her way of thinking, which was annoying for me to read. I did enjoy Wes and Kelsey's relationship even though it was Paige half the time, I still thought it was enjoyable to read about them.

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I really liked the twist and the truth about what Brooke had done, it was suprising and I liked how it all came together towards the end of the book. Overall I did enjoy this book and I would recommend it. Feb 05, jasmine rated it liked it Shelves: Apr 27, Amy rated it liked it.

An interesting and unique young adult novel focusing on teenagers untimely deaths. Only pages and a perfect pace. Not slow but not too fast where I missed important details. Worth the read but not completely mind blowing.

Jun 16, Mandy rated it it was amazing. I loved this book!

The Strange Truth About Us, by M.A.C. Farrant

It was a unique story that perfectly portrayed grief, loss, and friendship, it was a short read, but the story was told so well and so beautifully. It was nice seeing all the different points of view on the unfolding events! Jun 11, Linda rated it liked it. What would happen if you were to die tragically, but could never cross over to the other side? Having to "live" - the term used loosely of course - the rest of your strange existence out in the high school where you lost your life sounds like a horror movie in and of itself. You have to watch everyone else go on about their lives, when you can't go on with yours.

By the time the story begins, our main girl Paige is already dead, wandering the halls of her high school listening t What would happen if you were to die tragically, but could never cross over to the other side? By the time the story begins, our main girl Paige is already dead, wandering the halls of her high school listening to what people have to say about her death. Anytime she tries to go past the parking lot, she is whisked away to the spot on the roof where she died.