In the pitch we received from Harper Books, The Fates Will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard was described as “an eerily evocative and masterfully crafted literary debut.” I couldn’t agree more. 16-year-old Nora Lindell has gone missing and the neighborhood boys who are left behind are affected in ways that last for years. Told in the first person plural, the boys imagine all of the things that might have happened to her. The real story never surfaces and it’s up to the reader to decide what to believe.
Woven into the Nora’s possible fates are memories of youth gone by, along with the manner in which the lives of the boys as husbands and fathers are irrefutably defined by her disappearance. Their lives are far from perfect, but can’t that be said about most people, especially a group of boys who grow up to marry their neighbors and live on the same streets they grew up on? Pittard does a great job of getting into the minds of teenage boys and the use of the “we” narrative device gives the story a unique feel.
The prose is haunting and beautiful, and I loved this passage from the final chapter:
At the end of the day, we find ourselves somewhat unprepared, standing for a final moment at our bedroom windows, for the obvious realization that this -this, all around us-is our life.
I loved The Fates Will Find Their Way and will be surprised if it doesn’t show up on many “Best of 2011″ lists. For that reason I am bestowing upon it my first ever entry in the list of 5 Star Reads.
HarperCollins is providing 1 winner (US only) with a copy of The Fates Will Find Their Way. Leave a comment below, the winner will be selected on Feb. 2.
Nancy often has moments of realizing her life is pretty darn good. She writes about her 2 boys and life in Colorado at Life With My Boys.
Sounds like a good read!
This sounds very good. Please enter me.
Your review makes this sound very interesting…count me in. Thanks!
I’d love to read this
Would love to read this!
I love new books!
I would like to read this, it sounds really good.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
Sounds like a great read, thanks!
Sounds like it deals with issues of real life. Count me in.
I got a Kindle for Christmas and have read 6 books since then. I’d love to add this one to my list, even though it will be a ‘physical’ book instead of digital.
Sounds very interesting.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Consider thi my entry! This book sounds very intriguing.
This sounds like an excellent book. I would love to win a copy!
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for the chance to win and read this!
someluckydog at gmail dot com
I’d love to read this. Thanks!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Your first entry to the 5 star reads! I am devouring all the 5 star reads from everyone, I’d love to read this one! So far, I have not been disappointed!
I am utterly intrigued. Please throw my name in the hat!
Please enter me to win.
Thanks for the chance to win this book.
Your first five star ever, Nancy? Wow! I’m really looking forward to reading this one, and I’d love to win a copy!
sounds great!
Sounds good!
The cover alone intrigues me!
By your review, it sounds like a great read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
This sounds like a really interesting book! I would love to read it!
I’m very interested in reading this book! I’d love to win!
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
Sounds interesting!
I would like to win this book.
I just read a blurb about this very book the other day and I wrote it on the list of books that I want to read – so I was so surprised to actually see that you are giving one away. I would love to win!
Well it can now move to the top of your list, you won! Congratulations! Please reply to this email with your name and mailing address.
Yay, thank you!!
Posting this, then will post my address.
I emailed you my address. I can’t wait to read this book – thanks again!
This sounds really interesting!
Blizzard 2011 is going strong here…I’d like to curl up with a good book, thanks.
[...] reviewed The Fates Will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard (link to my review) over on 5M4B. Unfortunately the giveaway has ended but [...]