This is the first novel I’ve read since high-school. I’ve always been more into philosophy, history or scientific books. I just love to suck up information like a sponge, but I’ve been on information overload lately and decided to start reading novels, or at least give it a shot, expand my horizons. And when there’s bargain bin madness at Chapters where I can pick up left-overs for two or three dollars, it’s a good deal. I found The Center of Everything at the bottom of a bin; I grabbed it without even reading what the book was about. The title was sufficiently interesting for me. And I fear it may have ruined me for future novels.
The story is about Evelyn Bucknow, who at the beginning of the novel is but 10 years of age, born and raised on the wrong side of the tracks. Kerrville, Kansas is, according to our narrator, Evelyn, at the center of everything – because on American made maps the US is centered and Kansas is smack dab in the middle of it all. Evelyn is also one smart little girl, living with her single mother and not knowing who her father is, in some small complex with more people on the wrong side of the tracks. Her mother is irresponsible and unable to deal with her own family, a father who rejects her as a whore for getting pregnant at a young age, a very religious mother, always trying to get her daughter and grand-daughter to come to church.
Evelyn and her mother are so poor that any screw-up, like a car breaking down, can completely halt their lives. So when her mother loses her job because she was having an affair with her boss, all sorts of troubles pop up, not to mention that she gets pregnant once again by her boss, who promptly moves away with his wife. Evelyn goes to school where she’s constantly reminded of being poor by her peers, and the teachers always pushing her to do better, as she is a gifted student.
The story follows her life through the following 6 or 7 years. Through thick and thin she does the impossible to get into college and make her life better. All the time, she has to make the hard decisions so as to never lose sight of her goals.
The book is depressing, gut wrenching and tear jerking at times. The story is brilliantly crafted and you never lose the connection with Evelyn and her coming-of-age story. Moriarty seems to have effortlessly evolved the language of the book as the narrator matures and grows up as the story progresses; her expressions, her inner thoughts all concord with her current age as we accompany her along her struggles. It feels almost like you are reading her diary. You are made to feel as she feels and emotions run high in this story. You just want to pick her up and hug her. Everything is pitted against her and she keeps on moving, keeps going forward.
Article comments
1 - kristen
this was the best book i've ever read. period. kudos x