Fates and Furies

I found this novel a bit challenging to get into at first, but once I was in I was hooked. It's the story of the relationship between Lotto and Mathilde, from their love-at-first-sight meeting through the course of their marriage. What makes this an interesting and innovative novel is in the way it's written and the perspectives the author, Lauren Groff, gives the reader.

Groff will often tell of the same incident from Lotto's and Mathilde's perspective - or even from the perspective of one of their friends or family members. And she jumps around in time as well, telling of Lotto's childhood at one point, but waiting several chapters to clue the reader in about Mathilde's childhood. This style of writing sort of mimics what relationships really are - I mean, very few relationships follow linear paths, people get to know one another from various starting points and various perspectives.

One of the most interesting things about the book for me is that I really didn't find any of the characters to be thoroughly likable and sympathetic. Most novels have clear cut "good guys" and "bad guys," but Groff sort of makes it clear that everyone has good and bad parts, and everyone does good and bad things.

The book won or was nominated for all sorts of awards, and it's worth a read. I found it fascinating.

Fates and Furies