kchowell's Full Review: Dan Chaon - You Remind Me Of Me
Dan Chaon’s first novel is haunting me. In a good way. It’s an infrequent occurrence for me to finish reading a book and find myself continuing to think about the characters afterward, but that is exactly what happened with You Remind Me of Me.
And so, after nearly two years of silence, I’ve been inspired to write a review, just so that others can learn about Chaon, purchase his novel, and perhaps add to his bank account so that he may have the means to continue writing. Though I doubt that my review will have much affect, it can’t hurt to try, can it?
The element of You Remind Me of Me that made the book a true page-turner for me were the characters, and the manner in which Chaon allows the reader to understand each of their quiet hopes and many disappointments. This novel is very much about the many ways in which one’s life can turn out to be less happy than one would have hoped, and how people frequently focus on particular events with the belief that if that moment had transpired differently, they might have led a very different life. One of the central characters is Jonah, who was attacked by a dog as a young boy and who, as an adult, seeks out extended family as part of his quest for happiness. Nora, Jonah’s mother, is haunted by the decisions of her youth as she struggles with mental illness. In another plot thread, a young man named Troy struggles to make ends meet, and regrets the decisions he’s made that have separated him from his son, Loomis. The reader also meets Judy, the grandmother who struggles with her own mortality and anger with Troy as she finds herself caring for Loomis as best she can.
Early in the novel, Judy considers her parenting of Carla, Loomis's mother, as she contemplates how to handle a disclipline issue:
That's the fear, she thinks, looking quickly to the right and left. That's the fear. He has been such a good boy, and the idea that this might change makes her heart sink. Loomis's mother, Carla, had been a good child, too, and look how she turned out.
The characters in this novel carry a lot of fear, and much of it is justified. How they react to and respond to their fears drives much of the narrative.
You Remind Me of Me is challenging to review, due to the fact that it is nearly impossible to relate much about these character’s struggles and their relationships to each other without revealing some major plot points that are best left unspoiled. However, as the narrative bobs in and out of lives, through points in time from the 60s to the 90s, Chaon draws us into the character’s emotions and perspectives with writing that is concise, eloquent, and completely captivating. All of these diverse characters come together in a plot with great momentum that leaves the reader turning pages in anticipation of what will come next.
One of the things that I found most impressive about You Remind Me of Me is that while so many events transpire in this novel that are scary, or depressing, or horrible, or tragic, I never once found myself depressed or overwhelmed with it all. Chaon gives every character, even the mostly unsympathetic ones, some dignity, and allows the reader sufficient perspective to comprehend how the character ended up in their current circumstances.
I suppose that I shouldn’t be surprised that I continue to think about You Remind Me of Me, as I picked up the book as a result of hearing an interview with Chaon after the publication of his short story collection Among the Missing. That interview was ages ago, perhaps in 2001, but it stuck with me to the point that I remembered the author’s name and kept an eye out for his work. My next step is to acquire Among the Missing, and find some quiet time to read it.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.