All Souls Chapter 1

I recently just got my book from Amazon so I am a little behind. So far, All souls is extremely depressing to me right now, but I am enjoying the book ..and contradicting myself! I’m usually more intrigued by something that is true rather than fiction, so although my second choice, I’m pleasantly surprised by this book. My only problem right now is being unable to decide whether or not I am enjoying MacDonald's style of writing. Macdonald’s writing reminds me of Frank McCourt’s in a way, the guy who wrote Angela’s Ashes. But I LOVE Frank McCourt, and I’m not so sure about MacDonald, I’m torn! I do enjoy how MacDonald writes in a matter of fact way, almost as if he’s talking to you and you already know the characters in the book. The first chapter was extremely easy to get through, and very emotional. I really like how he can reach the readers emotions because of how real and raw his writing is. The first chapter is called “All Souls Night” and it reflects on a night where everyone in the town comes around and lights a candle for someone they’ve lost, either by drugs, murder, overdose, etc. Needless to say some of the descriptions of what happened to some people are very violent and overwhelming.  It’s really hard for someone to believe is true, especially in a place that we live so close to, but the ugliness of this lifestyle that he had to suffer through is also what makes it all the more interesting. It is sad that we as a people are entertained by others tragedies, but they make for the best stories. Just like the old cliché saying “It’s like a car accident, you want to look away but you can’t.” – You don’t want to be entertained by someone else’s grief and the sorrow, but I suppose you can justify it by saying they wrote the book. So I like to think of it as a therapeutic thing for the author to have done. For Macdonald it seems as though writing is cathartic for him. It would be impossible and unhealthy to keep in everything he had to endure and I think one of the main things I will probably keep in mind while reading is how much stronger he will get as he continues on his journey. I am excited to read more.