The After Party, Anton DiSclafani, Riverhead Books, 2016, 369 pp
This was my final selection for my self-created 2018 challenge to read a book a month from the last 12 years of my TBR lists. I have mixed feelings about it. I absolutely loved this author's debut novel, The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls. This second novel, though it mines similar themes, did not quite measure up to the wonder of the first one.
Set in the 1950s uber-rich Houston, TX, neighborhood of River Oaks, it is almost a psychological thriller. Joan Fortier and Cece Buchanan have been best friends practically since birth. When Cece's mother dies, she is taken in by the Fortier family at 14 years of age, since her father had abandoned his wife and daughter and remarried.
As they move through high school, Joan becomes stranger and wilder every year while Cece becomes obsessed with their almost sister-like relationship. Thus the plot revolves around why these two act the way they do and whether or not Cece will follow her friend into self-destruction or take advantage of her good fortune to create the life she wants.
It is also a story about the truly horrible things mothers do in trying to keep daughters "pure" and "acceptable" and, truth be told, safe. An age old problem that is always made more tricky when the daughter is into sex and rebellion and not at all interested in being pure or acceptable. The Yonahlossee Riding Camp For Girls was another version of that story.
I can't quite put my finger on why I liked The After Party less. The plotting was tight and good, though the characters were less well drawn. The atmosphere of oil wealth and privilege was clearly well researched but this time the author seemed more removed from the scene and her research overwhelmed the emotion. I found the ending weak and not completely believable.
Still, I do admire the author's unflinching ability to take on the disastrous results when mothers fail to help their children navigate puberty. That is how we end up with the whole ridiculous scene we still have when it comes to sex. Patriarchy is the more guilty party but Matriarchy follows close behind. OK, I said that, though I also think an enlightened matriarchy could solve the whole thing in a few generations.
(The After Party is available in paperback by order from Once Upon A Time Bookstore.)
Matriarchy can be as toxic as its counterpart if not handled properly. Males individuals within the matriarchy may not develop the tools they need to successfully navigate the wider world. They might become "needy", but I guess the same it's true about females. Anyways, enough with my babbling. I think that your 5th paragraph actually cites several reasons why you didn't find this novel as strong as its predecessor. Too bad. I like it when authors are consistently good throughout their body of work. Sometimes researching a topic too much gives the story a kind of distance and the characters don't sound so genuine.
ReplyDeleteI do hope she writes more books. Both have given me much to ponder. When a debut novel delights me so much, I find it harder to accept anything less.
DeleteI think I really need to make this writer's acquaintance. Sounds like there's some good stuff there.
ReplyDeleteTruly there is. Due to your location, I wonder what you would think about this one, though I know you did not grow up there.
DeleteToo bad that the book fell a little short, the characters and situations sound so interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think that parents may always make some mistakes when raising kids, though I do agree that it may improve. I think that the keys to improvement will be driven by a combination of more compassion and more rationality.
I agree with you on the keys to improvement, Brian.
DeleteI have encountered a few debut novels that were wonderful and then been disappointed by follow up novels. It's definitely a let down when this happens.
ReplyDeleteAt least this novel's plotting was tight, even if the characters weren't as well done.
Yes, I guess it was a case of sophomore novel syndrome. I expect she has more good novels to come.
DeleteI guess I'll try for the Riding Camp for Girls since you liked that one better. She seems an interesting author!
ReplyDeleteThat first novel was a stunner for me. I wonder what she will do next.
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