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April 28, 2008

Northline by Willy Vlautin

Northline is the second novel by Willy Vlautin, author of The Motel Life. Vlautin is one of the most interesting authors that I've read in a very long time. He has the ability to write about the underlife of society in a way that allows the reader to empathize with less than perfect characters.

Northline is the story of Allison Johnson. As the book begins, Allison is a 22-year-old high school dropout who lives with her mother in Las Vegas and who dates an abusive man who hangs around with skinheads. The story follows Allison and all of her less than ideal life choices as she moves to Reno and starts a new life.
Vlautin has the ability to make you empathize with characters whom you'd never hang out with for five minutes in real life. Even when they are making poor and irresponsible decisions, you get a glimpse into what leads them down the wrong paths and you feel their pain.

As a side note, the multi-talented Vlautin has composed a CD with music inspired by his new novel.

Posted by In Repair at April 28, 2008 05:14 PM

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