LaValle is definitely becoming a favorite author. He’s got a distinctive narrative voice that appeals to me. He manages to use humor in ways that work for me. He writes weird stories that tackle big themes. I’m a fan!

I understand why his books are generally rated lower, though. They meander, and the horror/weirdness they promise is often secondary to personal stories. I think it must be hard to find the right audience for his books, but I’m it.

This one is more of a critique of psychiatric wards in the US than anything else. The treatment of patients, the financials, the abuse by police, etc. You follow a new patient, Pepper, as he gets acquainted with all these problems.

There’s a lot of compassion here for the patients, these forgotten people. They aren’t all lovely people, but they are people.

I liked the conclusion a lot and where things landed with the Devil. I think it’s kind of predictable, but it works, it feels sincere.

Favorite quotes:

It wasn’t about whether or not he took his pills, and it wasn’t about whether or not some kids had a little weed in their pockets. This wasn’t about an infraction, but dictating a philosophy of life: certain types of people must be overseen. Pepper hadn’t considered this a problem before, he realized, because he hadn’t been one of those types.

“Men always want to die for something. For someone. I can see the appeal. You do it once and it’s done. No more worrying, not knowing, about tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. I know you all think it sounds brave, but I’ll tell you something even braver. To struggle and fight for the ones you love today. And then do it all over again the next day. Every day. For your whole life. It’s not as romantic, I admit. But it takes a lot of courage to live for someone, too.”