Big Machine

This is a bizarre, meandering, slow story. I totally understand why it has the rating it has. But I really enjoyed it overall - it was a unique and rewarding read.

It was so thematically satisfying. When I looked back at what I had highlighted throughout the book I realized he’s been taking about poverty and community the whole time. The weirdness is distracting, but this is ultimately a cohesive story.

I think had LaValle written this book in the current moment he’d have delved into the themes even more. His message can feel trite given the way structural issues around poverty are more emphasized today. But I think he’s trying to get to this space between two extremes: the idealism of “if you just work hard enough you can improve your situation” and the idealism of “we need to radically overhaul how the state operates to solve the structural issues that create poverty.” LaValle is asking, ok, but what do I do today to help the poor person in front me? Or, what do I do today as a poor person to not spiral in despair? And he doesn’t have a perfect answer, but it definitely has to do with community - inviting people in - so they do not get manipulated by others who take advantage of their despair.

There’s a lot of humor in the story that I enjoyed a lot. That’s an accomplishment for me. I also loved the story of the Washerwomen and the way cults and extremism are handled. LaValle brought the nuance that I need in a story.

I do wish the story had been even weirder, and there were times when I was so confused about where the story was going. But overall I was pleasantly surprised by this one and plan to get to the rest of LaValle’s work.

Favorite quote (of course):

Doubt is the big machine. It grinds up the delusions of women and men.