The Blog Of The South | Defector

"Giri, one of the first things you note in your lovely introductory essay yesterday about this book is Portis's absolute control and precision. This was my third time reading it and I am always struck by how this book can be so full of little details, so bursting with asides and minor characters and theories and surprising phrases, but still feel restrained."

"This was my first time reading this book, and I looked at how thick it is and thought I would read it really quickly. But I found myself reading a little bit of it every day instead of gulping it down. I think that's because of the precision. Even the tiniest details (the orange pills, the professor's lecture on tape, the silver, etc.) come back at some point, and that is so satisfying as a reader."

Absolute control and precision make a dense field of asides, minor characters, and surprising phrases feel restrained rather than chaotic. Tiny details (orange pills, a professor's lecture on tape, silver objects) recur and return, creating satisfying structural payoffs. Pacing varies: careful, daily reading allows detailed elements to resonate, while brisk reading can still succeed because momentum carries the narrative. The voice captures social interactions quickly, rarely dwelling on bizarre assertions, and mirrors the experience of tolerating a weirdo by pressing onward. Close rereading reveals coherent patterns and echoes that reward patience and attention.

Read at Defector