See How Small: A Novel by Scott Blackwood

March 6th, 2015 Kimberly Review 26 Comments

6th Mar
See How Small: A Novel by Scott Blackwood
See How Small
by Scott Blackwood
Narrator: Rengin Altay
Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins
Genres: Crime Fiction, Paranormal
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Narration: 4

A riveting novel about the aftermath of a brutal murder of three teenage girls, written in incantatory prose "that's as fine as any being written by an American author today." (Ben Fountain)  One late autumn evening in a Texas town, two strangers walk into an ice cream shop shortly before closing time. They bind up the three teenage girls who are working the counter, set fire to the shop, and disappear. SEE HOW SMALL tells the stories of the survivors--family, witnesses, and suspects--who must endure in the wake of atrocity. Justice remains elusive in their world, human connection tenuous.  Hovering above the aftermath of their deaths are the three girls. They watch over the town and make occasional visitations, trying to connect with and prod to life those they left behind. "See how small a thing it is that keeps us apart," they say. A master of compression and lyrical precision, Scott Blackwood has surpassed himself with this haunting, beautiful, and enormously powerful new novel.

See How Small by Scott Blackwood is a literary fiction sharing the aftermath of the brutal murder of three teenage girls. It shares the story of the survivors, the suspects and weaves in a paranormal effect involving the three dead girls who hover over the town and make occasional visits. While this tale with its meandering, erratic timeline will not be for everyone, you cannot help but appreciate Blackwood’s beautiful prose, and haunting look into this small Texas town.

Five things to consider before curling up and listen to See How Small

  • Broken into small chapters, the author captures the grief of losing a child, the guilt, and the endless questions of what if. The timeline is erratic sharing with the reader the actual event, then giving us flashbacks as it shares the aftermath. It does not follow a specific timeline, and this may be off-putting for some readers. I felt it more closely resembled an investigation where suspects, victims’ families and such are interviewed. It takes place in a small-town with strong community ties. The way in which each perspective knows the other is interesting and resonates with small-town communities.
  • Delivered in various points of view the tale shared the perspectives of Kate Ulrich, mother of two of the murdered children, Elizabeth and Zadie. We also get those of reporter, Rose Heller and Jack Dewey, the firefighter who discovered the bodies. Blackwood also provides the voice of seventeen-year-old Michael Greer, who stood lookout the night of the fire. He beautiful fleshes them out sharing their actions and emotions.
  • A subtle paranormal element featuring the girls, who make an appearance was intriguing but did not overpower the novel. I would not classify this in the paranormal genre. Those who have read My Lovely Bones will draw a comparison to this element.
  • The journey for the reader is not fully fleshed out, leaving us to make assumptions, come to conclusions and question the characters. It is almost as if we are the detectives of the case and listening to pre-recorded interviews. At least this was the feeling I reached while listening to the audio. The audio is not quite five hours in length. However, it is not one you will listen to in a single sitting. In fact, it took me almost a week to listen.
  • See How Small is beautifully written, raises questions and is perfect for a reading club. For me, the strongest aspect was the beginning and I was completely captivated. As I continued listening, the multiple perspectives and jumping time-line with short chapters left me slightly detached even as I was in awe of Blackwood’s writing. Quotes abound within See How Small. Having said that, it was after I unplugged and reflected that I felt more enjoyment and appreciated what Blackwood was trying to accomplish here. It actually made me go back and change this from three cups of coffee to three and a half.

The narrator, Rengin Altay did a wonderful job reading See How Small, and her subtle tones only enhanced Blackwood’s prose.

 

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

26 Responses to “See How Small: A Novel by Scott Blackwood”

  1. Tyler H Jolley

    This is such an interesting concept and way to tell a story. I’m not sure that I’ve read anything like this. I can’t wait to give it a try!

  2. Stacy (StacyHgg)

    I see this one is getting mixed reviews on Amazon too. The premise sounds so good, but if you cannot follow the storyline easily, or have to stop and go– I can see how it would be a so-so read.

  3. Lorna

    I loved The Lovely Bones(but not the movie) so this does sound good to me. I am used to really dark reads, I may just have to go to Amazon and check it out. Maybe 🙂

  4. Red Iza

    I’m sure it’s a good book, but reading about 3 teenagers burned alive and the grief of their family would be too much for me, I’m afraid 🙂

  5. Benish

    I’m not sure what happened to my comment.. Anyway, the premise makes me so sad 🙁 This does sound like an intriguing crime novel, I love the sound of this thriller! Lovely review x

  6. Sarah

    I think I would get lost in this book, but I love that you enjoyed it. This definitely sounds like something would watch on the crime TV channel 🙂

  7. Angela Adams

    “See How Small is beautifully written, raises questions and is perfect for a reading club” — thank you for the suggestion. I’m about to email my book club to see if they want to add this to our list!!

  8. Christy

    Yeah, I was thinking this sounds like it has a Lovely Bones feel to it. Which I loved. I might have to try this one.

  9. Sophia Rose

    I haven’t tried this author yet and I’ve been dipping my toe into darker romantic suspenses and thrillers lately so I’ll have to keep this one in mind.

  10. Melissa (Books and Things)

    Oh this one sounds good. I don’t think the timeline would bother me. I also think it is hard for books to introduce a small paranormal element without it becoming paranormal. Sounds like this one really succeeds! This one sounds totally engaging.

  11. Bookworm Brandee

    I was wondering if it was like The Lovely Bones and then you made that comparison – at least with the appearance of the girls. It sounds beautiful if a difficult read. I’m glad you’re appreciation of it improved after reflecting on it.

  12. Ramona

    This one sounds truly special, Kimba. I love well done literary prose, especially one with a gripping plot, like this one seems to have. I hadn’t heard of it previously, so thanks for pointing me to it. A beautiful review.

  13. Candace

    I’m not sure if the style of this would work for me, but the mystery and story line sound interesting!

  14. RO

    The death of a child is very painful and sounds like the author has a good handle on conveying the aftermath. Thanks for posting. Hugs…

  15. Kay

    I am intrigued by this one. It sounds unique but it also sounds like it would be kind of hard to read emotionally sometimes. Great review!

  16. Jenny

    I’m not sure this is the book for me Kim, I tend to struggle with multiple POVs and timelines that are all over the place, but it definitely sounds like something my mother in law’s book club would be interested in, so I’m going to recommend it to them:) Love that cover – so simple and pretty!

  17. Nick

    Books about losing children are the absolute worst!! I need to be emotionally prepared. I don’t know how I feel about us having to discover a lot and all those assumptions. They would drive me crazy. I’m glad the writing was good though! 🙂
    Great review, Kim!

  18. kindlemom1

    I love that this is so unusual and that the writing was beautiful! Great review Kim! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and that it is warming up there!

  19. Aubrey Wynne

    I like the suggestion of using this for a reading club. The gals I work with have one and I’ll suggest this. Thanks and Happy Friday!