From critically acclaimed author David Joy comes a remarkable novel about the cover-up of an accidental death, and the dark consequences that reverberate through the lives of four people who will never be the same again.When Darl Moody went hunting after a monster buck he’s chased for years, he never expected he’d accidentally shoot a man digging ginseng. Worse yet, he’s killed a Brewer, a family … a Brewer, a family notorious for vengeance and violence. With nowhere to turn, Darl calls on the help of the only man he knows will answer, his best friend, Calvin Hooper. But when Dwayne Brewer comes looking for his missing brother and stumbles onto a blood trail leading straight back to Darl and Calvin, a nightmare of revenge rips apart their world. The Line That Held Us is a story of friendship and family, a tale balanced between destruction and redemption, where the only hope is to hold on tight, clenching to those you love. What will you do for the people who mean the most, and what will you grasp to when all that you have is gone? The only certainty in a place so shredded is that no one will get away unscathed.
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Poverty, class, violence, addiction, isolation: No one writes about the issues facing rural America as clearly, as fairly, or as well as David Joy. The Line That Held Us plumbs the depths of friendship and family, uncovering truths that are stamped on the page with blistering realism.
Alright folks, get ready for a dark tale that’ll drag you down into the land of human suffering. You won’t be alone. All of David Joy’s characters live there. Get ready to be conflicted beyond measure. Based on this story’s theme, there are no villains and there are no victims…there is simply fate and survival and sacrifice.
The Line That Held Us is sorrowful and full of rage and consequence, with ample threads of beauty that appear at the most unexpected times. Dark, raw, pure, and philosophically psychotic, this is a must read! David Joy knows what he’s doing.
My favorite quote:
To be announced upon publication if I can choose between my 71 kindle highlights…
Thank you to the following for permitting me access to an advance reader’s copy (ARC) of The Line That Held Us. This generosity did not impact my honesty when rating/reviewing.
Source: NetGalley
Author: David Joy
Publisher: Penguin Group Putnam – G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Genres: General Fiction (Adult)
Pub Date: August 14, 2018
Genuinely one of the best novels I’ve read in the last five or ten years. I’m jealous of how well-written and compelling ‘The Line That Held Us’ was. David Joy is a master.
Couldn’t get into this. Language was offensive
Weird
I read this book with my book club. It is very different than our normal fare – which is good. This is a story set in Appalachia following the main characters from an accident to a cover up to revenge and the aftermath. The author delves deep into the emotions and reasonings of a man who loses everything he loves and then wants to make sure those responsible pay. The characters make decisions that have drastic consequences for them and others.
The central questions in this story are what are you willing to do for someone you love and who are you willing to die for. The characters face dilemmas of what is right in impossible choices. It is a book that makes you think.
I felt the story was well written, but I would have liked an epilogue that followed the the other two main characters after the climax of the tale.
Hats off to David Joy. It takes serious talent to keep such a tight plot that is consistently laced with action and tension. Seriously. So. Well. Done. It felt like I was watching a movie rather than reading a book. So much so that I actually kept trying to place various actors in the character roles as I read.
I’m fighting an epic cold right now, so my brain isn’t properly working. I’ll update this review at a later date, but in the meantime…READ. THIS. BOOK.
This book is easily one of the best books that I have read this year. I finished reading this book a couple of days ago but I haven’t stopped thinking about it and I don’t think that I will anytime soon. This book popped on my radar when I read a couple of really good reviews around the time it was released last year. I knew that I wanted to read it but life got in the way as it often does. I am so glad that I took the time to read this book now because it was absolutely fantastic.
This is the story of a small group of people in a small town in the mountains. One decision will forever change their lives and there is no going back. Darl knows that it’s not hunting season but he decided to try to get a deer anyway. When he sees a hog in the woods, he takes the shot. Only it’s not a hog or a deer. It’s a man and everything is about to change. Instead of calling the authorities, Darl decides to cover up what happened and he asks his best friend, Calvin for help. Unfortunately, the dead man’s brother, Dwayne, is determined to make those who took so much from pay for their actions.
This story was rather brutal but I also found beauty in the way it brought what really matters to the forefront. This is a gritty and violent story filled with rich descriptions. There were more than a few surprises in the story and I had a hard time putting the book down because I had to know how things would work out. Even though the story was rather dark and grim, I found that this was still a story about hope, love, and the lengths a person will go to for those that they love.
“Fate’s a funny thing, he thought, the way things might seem meaningless at the time, but wind up being what brought down a man’s whole life.”
I thought that the writing was superb. I just felt like there was a certain beauty to the way the author put words together to tell this tale. I actually found myself re-reading certain passages because I was so taken with the prose. Not only was the writing beautiful, but the story was also nicely paced. I never felt like the story dragged with more active scenes being nicely balanced with other scenes that were more thoughtful. The story grabbed me from the very first page and never let up.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy dark, gritty stories that pack a big punch. I loved everything about this book and cannot wait to read more of this talented author’s work.
This seemed like something I would be into, but I just wasn’t a fan. The writing at times became tiresome. For example, at one point I had to get through nearly two pages of a guy passing the time, arbitrarily taking apart a gun and putting it back together a few times in a row, each time described in full detail. I ended up not being able to relate to or become attached to the characters all that much, and couldn’t really feel bad for them when misfortune struck because their development lacked. The only one that got decent development was Dwayne.
What I love about David Joy’s storytelling is that I can see, feel, smell, pretty much put myself in the narrative. This story is dark, yet I could not put it down. Really, when does “An eye for and eye” go too far? Does that ever end?? Check this one out, it’s the combination of brutal and beauty.
Vengeance. This book is about vengeance. I thought the story was well written for the most part but found the ending a bit vague. Certainly one of the most brutal stories I’ve ever read.
“The Line That Held Us” by: David Joy is a gritty, dark, atmosphereic read that is utterly unforgettable, remarkably beautiful, and sadly…human, yet completely disturbing. This title may not be for everyone, however, it definately & easily surpasses 5 stars and does not disappoint! No one in this finely crafted tale is left unscathed when an accident that causes a death leads us through what happens when the deep seed of revenge is planted amongst 2 families, and from it hatred blossoms, leaving everyone in its wake scarred and changed forever. One of these families is already known to search out vengeance and to be a living embodiment of violence. Make no mistake, this is a tragically human tale filled with brutality but, the beauty that lies within is also immensely portrayed; which is why grit-lit is such a relevant and perfect description of the genre & the lyrical writing within these pages.
My Review is my own, unbiased, personal opinion in exchange for an advanced galley of this title. Thank You Penguin First to Read!
Read all of David Joy’s books and enjoy superb writing. A great young talent.
This was an unusual read for me, with a psychologically scary, fast-moving and even somewhat predictable plot, but it kept me turning the pages well into the night. The characters are well drawn, in clear but succinct manner, in this tightly constructed story which I strongly recommend. It is deceptively simple but will remain with me for a long time.
A wonderful day read with well developed characters
David Joy was unknown to me prior to reading The Line That Held Us. What I found was a well written story detailing several characters living in Appalachia. The story was suspenseful and the characters believable and like all great writers David tells us about life and our humanity.