(Description from Amazon.com)
Sixteen-year-old Will spends most of his days the same way: Working at the Dollar Only store, trying to replicate his late father’s famous cornbread recipe, and walking the streets of Los Angeles. Will started walking after his father committed suicide, and three years later he hasn’t stopped. But there are some places Will can’t walk by: The blessings store with the chest of 100 Chinese blessings in the back, the bridge on Fourth Street where his father died, and his childhood friend Playa’s house.
When Will learns Playa was raped at a party—a party he was at, where he saw Playa, and where he believes he could have stopped the worst from happening if he hadn’t left early—it spurs Will to stop being complacent in his own sadness and do some good in the world. He begins to leave small gifts for everyone in his life, from Superman the homeless guy he passes on his way to work, to the Little Butterfly Dude he walks by on the way home, to Playa herself. And it is through those acts of kindness that Will is finally able to push past his own trauma and truly begin to live his life again. Oh, and discover the truth about that cornbread.
3.5/5 Stars
What initially drew me to this story was the fact that it is told in a series of one hundred chapters comprised of one hundred words each. I always love finding books that have unique ways to tell stories, so I was really excited to read this novel. But, with only a hundred words in each chapter, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to get a good sense of the story, but McGhee was able to paint a vivid picture of Will’s life and his struggles. Much like poetry, every word in McGhee’s novel is meaningful and meant to evoke a distinct feeling. Her writing style felt deeply symbolic and and gives great insight into her character’s life and the internal and external conflicts he faces.
Clocking in at 10,000 words, What I Leave Behind is a quick and moving read. It’s a contemporary with a lot of heart and meaning. However, if you are someone who needs a fast paced plot with lots of twists and turns, this novel might not be for you. The concept for this novel was unique, and I had an enjoyable time reading it. There were many fantastic lines and Will was a very interesting character to read about. Overall, I’d say What I Left Behind was a good read, it didn’t knock it out of the park for me but I don’t regret reading it at all and would encourage those interested in the novel to give it a try.
For more about Alison McGhee's work visit her site