Nathan Hill’s The Nix was the topic of discussion for our August meeting. Hill’s 625 page debut novel had two main characters - mother Faye and her son Samuel. There are multiple story lines involving a plethora of other characters, most of them unlikeable, but all adding to the plot, including a reactionary Wyoming governor running for president, a head bashing cop, an on-line game addict plus cameo appearances from Allan Ginsburg, Walter Cronkite and Hubert H. Humphrey. The majority of the thirteen attendees plus those voting in absentia found the book hugely entertaining and smart. For the first time in a long time we had a “like” but not quite “love fest” when discussing The Nix. Thanks to Nick for selecting The Nix and moderating the upbeat discussion. Nick compared Nathan Hill’s writing style to David Foster Wallace. He also compared the characters to those of John Irving, although Irving’s, on the whole, seem more likeable. Carole “loved” the book so much she read it twice. Carole pointed out that most books are either plot driven or character driven but Hill managed to do both. Carole particularly liked the author’s ability to blend the characters and plot arc together. First time attendee, Javier, loved the book and would recommend it to anyone. Sam would recommend The Nix. The great writing got him [Sam] through it. Tricia loved the book. She felt this is the way satire should be used in 21st century literature. Mary Lou and Mary did not finish the book. They both liked what they had read and plan to finish it. Mary Lou mentioned how the sometimes lengthy character dialogue wore you down but in a positive way. Tammy would not recommend the book; certain elements were not enjoyable; however she is leaning toward liking it. Ela wrote [she] “liked it but didn't love it”. She also wrote “great writing, great character development, even if there wasn't one character I actually liked. (I don't think his characters were necessarily meant to be likable.)” Dom would “highly recommend The Nix”. Dom believes Hill’s writing to be similar to Joshua Ferris’, Then We Came to the End”. Not everyone liked it. Craig had high hopes for the book but found it uneven. He believed the first half was better than the second; he “didn’t like the direction the second half was taking”. Megan wrote “big thumbs down, would not recommend unless you have any interest in the Chicago protest and a lot of time on your hands to waste.” Megan felt the quality of writing was good. Maryanne felt she was being beaten over the head by the author. “It was painful to read”. The discussion became almost exuberant when our attendees recalled a favorite passage from different characters. The most popular being Pwnage and Laura Potterdam. Pwnage’s trips to the health food store were hilarious. Probably speaking for most of the attendees, Ela felt the author's description and the scenes of the millennial student--oh my god, funny and right on. Great description of the stereotype. Although we scorned both their behaviors, Tricia reminded us those two are in all of us. Tricia also related she had students like Laura! Megan found them both extraordinarily annoying. Casey loved the book and the characters. His favorite character was Periwinkle, the stereotypical campaign consultant and/or book publisher. A line to remember from Periwinkle aka Sebastian, I think you’re confusing your role here with some kind of journalism. What you call conflict of interest, I call synergy. The sexual violence of Charles Brown was abhorred by Carole and other attendees. Craig pointed that whether it was real, imaged or simulated rape there were scenes involving Henry (and Faye); Alice (and Charlie Brown); Bishop (and Samuel) that reinforced the image of sexual violence. I admit my note taking lapsed as the discussion became more animated but I do not recall spending much time analyzing Faye. We did discuss her son but not in a positive way. We agreed Samuel was an indecisive and weak willed character. As a child [he] loved Choose your own Adventure books. Collectively we thought this might have been as close to as adventure he would come in his life. He really didn’t choose anything except a lifelong obsession with Bethany. Early in the book, at age 11 Samuel has a sexual encounter with Bishop, Bethany’s brother. This factored into the plot much later in the book. Just as Samuel is finally about to connect with Bethany she presents him with a letter written by Bishop to be delivered to Samuel after Bishop’s death in Iraq. The letter effectively ends his relationship with the sister for another 200 pages. Javier felt the letter to be powerful but did not fulfill the character of Samuel. The letter is powerful because it is reminder that everyone hates themselves for one reason or another. Plus this letter gave Samuel an excuse to leave Bethany. His relationship with her is still not resolved by the end of the book. The relationship between Faye and Samuel, the crux of the novel, does not seem to have the intended payoff. In fact, Nick felted cheated at the end. Javier did not like the ending either because he wanted more. Both Craig and Tricia believed the ending had a rom-com feel to it. Others believed the editors said “enough is enough”. Megan felt “It strung you along and was so anticlimactic when you did find out what happened after the "cliffhangers". We wrapped up the meeting and put away the chairs at 7:15.
Thanks to Nick for selecting The Nix and moderating the upbeat discussion. Nick compared Nathan Hill’s writing style to David Foster Wallace. He also compared the characters to those of John Irving, although Irving’s, on the whole, seem more likeable.
Carole “loved” the book so much she read it twice. Carole pointed out that most books are either plot driven or character driven but Hill managed to do both. Carole particularly liked the author’s ability to blend the characters and plot arc together.
First time attendee, Javier, loved the book and would recommend it to anyone. Sam would recommend The Nix. The great writing got him [Sam] through it.
Tricia loved the book. She felt this is the way satire should be used in 21st century literature.
Mary Lou and Mary did not finish the book. They both liked what they had read and plan to finish it. Mary Lou mentioned how the sometimes lengthy character dialogue wore you down but in a positive way.
Tammy would not recommend the book; certain elements were not enjoyable; however she is leaning toward liking it. Ela wrote [she] “liked it but didn't love it”. She also wrote “great writing, great character development, even if there wasn't one character I actually liked. (I don't think his characters were necessarily meant to be likable.)” Dom would “highly recommend The Nix”. Dom believes Hill’s writing to be similar to Joshua Ferris’, Then We Came to the End”.
Not everyone liked it. Craig had high hopes for the book but found it uneven. He believed the first half was better than the second; he “didn’t like the direction the second half was taking”. Megan wrote “big thumbs down, would not recommend unless you have any interest in the Chicago protest and a lot of time on your hands to waste.” Megan felt the quality of writing was good.
Maryanne felt she was being beaten over the head by the author. “It was painful to read”.
The discussion became almost exuberant when our attendees recalled a favorite passage from different characters. The most popular being Pwnage and Laura Potterdam. Pwnage’s trips to the health food store were hilarious. Probably speaking for most of the attendees, Ela felt the author's description and the scenes of the millennial student--oh my god, funny and right on. Great description of the stereotype.
Although we scorned both their behaviors, Tricia reminded us those two are in all of us. Tricia also related she had students like Laura! Megan found them both extraordinarily annoying.
Casey loved the book and the characters. His favorite character was Periwinkle, the stereotypical campaign consultant and/or book publisher. A line to remember from Periwinkle aka Sebastian, I think you’re confusing your role here with some kind of journalism. What you call conflict of interest, I call synergy.
The sexual violence of Charles Brown was abhorred by Carole and other attendees. Craig pointed that whether it was real, imaged or simulated rape there were scenes involving Henry (and Faye); Alice (and Charlie Brown); Bishop (and Samuel) that reinforced the image of sexual violence.
I admit my note taking lapsed as the discussion became more animated but I do not recall spending much time analyzing Faye. We did discuss her son but not in a positive way. We agreed Samuel was an indecisive and weak willed character. As a child [he] loved Choose your own Adventure books. Collectively we thought this might have been as close to as adventure he would come in his life. He really didn’t choose anything except a lifelong obsession with Bethany.
Early in the book, at age 11 Samuel has a sexual encounter with Bishop, Bethany’s brother. This factored into the plot much later in the book. Just as Samuel is finally about to connect with Bethany she presents him with a letter written by Bishop to be delivered to Samuel after Bishop’s death in Iraq. The letter effectively ends his relationship with the sister for another 200 pages. Javier felt the letter to be powerful but did not fulfill the character of Samuel. The letter is powerful because it is reminder that everyone hates themselves for one reason or another. Plus this letter gave Samuel an excuse to leave Bethany. His relationship with her is still not resolved by the end of the book.
The relationship between Faye and Samuel, the crux of the novel, does not seem to have the intended payoff. In fact, Nick felted cheated at the end. Javier did not like the ending either because he wanted more. Both Craig and Tricia believed the ending had a rom-com feel to it. Others believed the editors said “enough is enough”.
Megan felt “It strung you along and was so anticlimactic when you did find out what happened after the "cliffhangers".
We wrapped up the meeting and put away the chairs at 7:15.