Matt McAvoy Book Review

Hmm…  I was really enjoying this atmospheric and gripping short story, increasingly eager to discover its poor protagonist’s backstory and fate – perhaps this was the reason I was left feeling so short-changed at the end.  Whilst it may not be to everyone’s tastes, I have to say that I rather liked Rodin’s present tense, reciprocal internal dialogue-style; the melancholy and morose oppressiveness are chilling yet warming at the same time.  And, although the overall premise is no real surprise when it is revealed, the book is bleak, nonetheless.  In summary, I thought Woods was incredibly well written, and its mood objective was sharply and expertly achieved by its author.

However, I was really bothered by the direction it went in – specifically, the ending itself to this novella.  It may be contrary to my strict policy regarding the avoidance of spoilers in my reviews, but I have to say that in this case I am compelled to comment that I think Rodin’s decision to opt for abrupt and unresolved lack of expansion was a mistake, and furthermore I am in little doubt that this has ruffled enough feathers to contribute to some of its less-than-positive reviews.  I’m sure there is a metaphor in the ending to Woods, nor does it take too much intuition to understand the nature of the sole character’s internal interaction, but I did end up with an overall feeling that this book has not repaid its reader in more ways than one – a fact which has not gone unacknowledged, it seems.  The author assures me that this instalment was intended as a prologue of sorts, but this needs to be made clearer, and the reader given the opportunity to make up his or her own mind if it is something they wish to entertain – my advice, in fact, would be do so, because the series is a promising one; I myself look forward to following it up.  Some of the more scathing reviews might be avoided in this respect, because they are certainly not deserved – writing isn’t easy, and Rodin is a decent and intriguing author.  The forlorn, desolate mood this book successfully creates is more than enough to promise real quality to come from him, and I would be keen to read it; there are elements of superb quality, and a sophistication to his writing.  If you are happy to accept the metaphor in this tale, and go into it without expectation of resolution, I assure that you will be impressed with this commute or lunch-break time-filler.