A Boy at the Edge of the World
David Kingston Yeh
Book Review | 📚📚📚📚 4/5

A fun and fast-paced read about one guy’s life through most of his 20s. Oh, and he happens to be gay and he happens to live in Canada.

Why I was interested in reading this book:
I don’t read a lot of fiction that follows the coming of age of someone. But there was something in the blurb that sounded sincere and honest that compelled me to check it out.

My assessment:
At first, I thought, “Oh, no. A fluffy story about another Millennial guy trying to find a boyfriend.” But, I really liked the main character. Perhaps because he seemed to be honest and truly trying to discover life, I liked him and empathized with his journey. There were two other things that I really liked about this book:

1) The book is filled with Canada-centric references. Living in the USA, I take for granted that everyone knows the cultural and geographic references of most books I read. With this book, I learned a lot about Canadian pop culture: food, music, sports, geography. I actually found the author’s Facebook page and he has been posting actual photos of places described in the book along with referenced quotes. That was pretty cool.

2) What I also very much enjoyed was that the book was non-stop filled with diverse characters. However, Yeh wrote about them matter of factly – very few labels. He never came out and said, “the lesbian” or “the F2M” or “the Jew”. Instead, he simply he would include a reference point or action that might suggest how each character might be different – but not really using it as a descriptor. That was very well done and I thought it was a good model for other authors to take note. It really promoted inclusion in comparison to diversity.

There were several parts of the book where I believe the author created unintentional red herrings. He would be deliberate about some repeated details that it seemed like they were foreshadowing an issue to arise. Unfortunately, those were missed opportunities. There were a few moments that Yeh could have come back and made some of those prophecies or wishes be fulfilled to add more tension tension in the story that was lacking throughout.

Overall, it was well written and, again, a story in which the reader can empathize with many of the characters – primary and secondary.

Story of the human condition:
Each of Yeh’s characters had a strong personality that was well-flushed out. They were real people. Even if a personality seemed far fetched or extreme, it was relatable or identifiable. There was so much focus on the sweet or positive, I do think that the tensions would have developed the story into one that was more compelling and filled with tension than that of “a day in the life”.

TAGS:
#David Kingston Yeh #review-book #bookreview #TuggleGrassBlues #TuggleGrassReviews

DISCLAIMER: I received this book via Netgalley for the purposes of a review. I requested this book because it seemed to fall into my wheelhouse of what I am most interested in to read. This review can also be read on my GoodReads page.

ARC REVIEW FOR NETGALLEY This was a slice of life story about a young man, his ups and downs with relationships, dating and family. It was enjoyable-ish, but I felt like I was waiting for the story to go somewhere - more, if I am clarifying myself. Although I do think that was the point of this book and it just may not be my thing. It was interesting and engaging at times but I had a feeling of wandering, the ending also left room for a follow-up or open ending.

Nope i did not like this at all. after reading the blurb i got so excited but it just did not do it for me i found the characters a little bit boring and it jumped around a little but to much for me. maybe it was just how it was narrated?

The Boy a the Edge of the World is one of those books that, if it were a movie, it would be one of those indie films that a lot of people praise for it's originality and storytelling and everyone loves. But when you actually watch the thing it's a lot of experimental filmaking and acting choice that don't really amount to anything. That's this book. A lot of really interesting characters and choices that just don't go anywhere or hold my attention. The plot is flimsy at best because it felt like the author was just trying to write as many issues and scenes as possible with no thought on how they all connected to a larger story arc. There's sexuality disputes, male rape and older/younger man relationship that is remembered as saintly, and a lot of drug use. But those don't paint a picture for Daniel's character, just what happens to and around him. And that's all this book is, things happening to Daniel

I have to say that I really did enjoy reading this book. It was fun, not too hard to read, and now I also know more Canadian slangs. Daniel is living his life full of surprises and he never lacks of things to get done. I didn’t quite expect him to end up with the boyfriend he currently has, which I will not get into more because I don’t want this to be a review that contains spoilers.
I can say, I am waiting for a sequel because I need to find out what happens with these lovely characters next!