Into the Forest: The Familiar, Volume 2
With cautious optimism I bought 'Into the Forest'. A lot of pins had been set up in the previous volume with nine view point narratives, hints dropped, and literary mechanics, the narcons, literally introduced to readers. I couldn't be sure what was going on on every page, but it was compelling reading.
I felt like I had to give the story more room before I could begin to assess it, and now we're 800+ more pages into the story. I still have to reserve most judgement deeper than a star-rating and that 'The Familiar' got better. Xanther's beginning to become aware of something changing her little friend, the kitten, he's hungry for something, but she doesn't want to accept know what it desires. The other characters begin to be aware of each other in unexpected ways, sounds or images they can't place. I don't love most of Danielewski's font or formatting choices (Ozgur's everything right on top of that list), but the story keeps coming out ahead of its concept, proving there's more to it than a gimmick. The characters are rounding out and the language of the different viewpoints is easier to fall into rather than keeping the reader out. The best set-piece comes right at the end, so I won't spoil it, but it was impressive.
Don't ask me what this is all about, but consider me hooked.
The Familiar
'The Familiar, Volume 1: One Rainy Day in May'
'The Familiar, Volume 3: Honeysuckle & Pain'
