I absolutely loved Talty’s writing in Night of the Living Rez and I was thrilled to see he had written a novel. I went into this one pretty blind and I was so incredibly impressed with what I found. While Night of the Living Rez contained horror elements, Fire Exit is a lot different than that, leaning heavy on literary fiction. Talty’s protagonist in Fire Exit is also very different in terms of where he is in life. I can’t help but feel very impressed with the range Talty can write in.

The novel itself is a slow burn, taking the reader through mundane moments of everyday life combined with the sometimes repetitive and meandering thoughts and memories of Charles, sprinkling in bigger events that happen. The build up in this one made me grow attached to the characters and had me a sobbing mess at the end. Talty weaves his story around topics of family, mental illness, addiction, bloodlines, culture and inheritance and manages to say so much within the 250ish pages. Overall I really loved this one and can’t wait for whatever Talty has in store next.

Morgan Talty’s Fire Exit is a literary examination of identity, race, modern colonization, and parenthood. Though it started off slow, as the book picked up it became clearer that the future was uncertain for this main character. The ending left me breathless.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free a-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"It’s strange: all blood looks the same, yet it’s different, we’re told, in so many various ways and for so many various reasons. But one thing is for certain, I thought: you are who you are, even if you don’t know it."

Night of the Living Rez is one of my favorite story collections, and Morgan Talty has done it again with his debut novel. This author has an amazing ability to write human emotions. Charles was a great main character to follow; I really felt for him, and he felt like a real person with real, complex relationships and trauma. His relationship with his mother, his step-father's death in a hunting accident, his estranged relationship with the mother of daughter who doesn't know he is her father were all nuanced and handled extremely well. It feels like Talty writes just enough to make you feel things, but leaves enough unsaid to let the reader draw their own conclusions about things. Also had great conversations about identity and blood quantum requirements.

Charles Lamosway grew up on the Maine Penobscot Reservation with his stepfather and his biological mother. His mother has been suffering from depression for as long as he can remember. He has no recollections of his blood father and his stepfather Fredrick more than fills the void. However, Charles is not native as defined by the Quantum Blood Rules and he cannot inhabit the Reservation once he turns 18. This has far-reaching effects on all his relationships and his identity and sense of community. He is forced to give up the love of his life and his daughter so that they may continue to reside on the Reservation. The novel is a beautiful character study which explores the issue of what it means to belong and at the same time not belong. There are several sub-stories within the main story. I went in thinking this is a mystery but it turned out to be an evocative exploration of complex family relationships between parents and their offspring. And an important underlying message: no matter how we may run and hide, we cannot escape our genes and our family legacy.

Thank you NetGalley, Tin House Publishing and Morgan Talty for the ARC.

3.5

I received this eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

As he did with the stories in Night of the Living Rez, Talty writes with a quietness that brings a lot of dignity to his characters amidst hardship, loss, and failure. This novel feels more ambitious than the earlier short story collection: the main character’s, Charles, relationships–or lack of–with his daughter, his stepfather, and his ill mother who sometimes doesn’t remember who he is are used to begin an exploration of identity and who gets to have a say in that. The ending felt too easy and although satisfying in some ways, shortchanged a nuanced perspective on identity.

I will be looking for more of Morgan Talty’s writing. I like his writing style and how he quietly elucidates who people are by accompanying his characters in their routine interactions and shared histories with friends and family.

⭐️ 3.5

Morgan Talty's writing was heartbreakingly beautiful in Fire Exit. The last third or so of the book gripped me and I was so eager to find out what would happen next with each page turn.

However, it left me wanting for more. I liked that the ending wrapped up everything in a nice bow, but I wish we had gotten to see more of the relationship between Charles and Elizabeth. The book felt like it was mostly about the relationship between Charles and Bobby and Charles and his mother.

That being said, I enjoyed Fire Exit and am eager to read more of Talty's work in the future!

Although I think that Talty's somewhat dreamlike prose gives me some difficulty trying to keep the flow of the story, overall I found it quite the poignant read - touching upon a wide range of themes ranging from family, to mental health, to belonging, and so, so much more, leaving an immense amount of material to reflect upon.

Fire Exit was my entrance into the mind and writing of Morgan Talty though I'd heard (repeatedly!!) wonderful things about his award-winning short story collection - "Night of the Living Rez." That word of mouth is what prompted me to request this novel. So grateful to #netgalley and #TinHouseBooks for the arc. I have much more to learn about the author, biographically, but it was clear that the main character, Charles Lamosway, embodied more than a passing similarity to the author..

In the foreward to the book, Talty outlines crucial information that helps to inform the plot of this novel. This included information related to bloodline, legacy, and the historical origins of "laws" made by the US federal government which reduced and classified Indigenous people in unfathomable ways thereafter. A person's "real life" and status were determined by information recorded in "The Book" which denoted a family's/individual's percentage of, in this case, Penobscot blood. This is what allowed enrollment as a member of the tribe. a place on the reservation, the chance to belong and to have a home.

In this foreward, the author explains that an individual needs at least 25% "blood quantum" -- these laws created by the government to classify and legally define racial statuses. For years and years, Charles Lamosway had been an outside observer to what he believes is his true and meaningful life across the water from the daughter he "gave up" for the sake of allowing her inclusion to the reservation - to the benefits and sense of belonging. Apparently, admitting Charles was her paternal father would disqualify her from these things based upon blood quantum laws. But Charlies has grown increasingly conflicted and begins to feel it is his duty to let her know the truth.

The stakes are already very high and then a series of exacerbating circumstances occur in conjunction with this building tension.

This novel is about paternity, power, secrets, and what constitutes family. It's about genetic legacy -- body, mind, and spirit. It's a hero's journey filled with life-changing decisions -- decisions which greatly impact all of the characters in the novel.

No spoilers by saying that Louise, Charles's mother, was the single most enigmatic, touching, and multidimensional character for me. The daughter Elizabeth ("Ellie") and Louise carried this novel levels about the already strong plot outlined above and brought historical damage down to a deeply personal level. The characters were incredible - memorable (from Bobby to the "neighbor" to the stepfather to Ellie's mother, Mary).

Fire Exit is a compelling, multilayered story, about selfishness and selflessness. Legacies and loneliness. The story alternates between two timelines (moving back and forth to provide crucial backstories on different characters) and looks at the cultural, medical, psychological, and spiritual impact of bloodlines and discrimination. I loved this novel.

#FireExit is on shelves on Tuesday, June 4th

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

“Fire Exit,” Morgan Talty’s debut novel, is an exploration of identity, legacy, and the indelible marks of the past.

Set against the backdrop of Maine’s Penobscot Reservation, the story follows Charles Lamosway, a man grappling with the weight of his history and the secrets that have shaped his life.

Talty, a citizen of the Penobscot Nation, crafts a narrative that is both intimate and expansive, delving into the complexities of belonging and the pain of estrangement. Charles, raised by his white mother and Native American stepfather, is haunted by the choices he made and the relationships he abandoned. Now, as he watches his mother succumb to dementia and contemplates the daughter he never knew, Charles’s story unfolds as a meditation on the stories we tell ourselves and the truths we hide from.

The novel’s structure is a testament to Talty’s skillful storytelling, weaving together past and present in a tapestry of vivid character portraits and emotional landscapes. The prose is rich and evocative, capturing the stark beauty of the reservation and the turbulent waters of Charles’s inner life. The narrative is a quiet storm, building tension and emotion with each page, leading to a climax that is both inevitable and surprising.

“Fire Exit” is a novel that resonates with authenticity and heart, and earns 5 stars from this book reviewer.

Talty’s characters are rendered with depth and clarity, their struggles and desires palpable on the page. The themes of family, culture, and inheritance are explored with sensitivity and insight, making “Fire Exit” a deeply moving read.

🔥”Fire Exit”🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Heartbreaking. Untouchable. “Fire Exit” by Morgan Talty is a slow-moving intimate tale of Charles, an outsider who watches his little girl grow up across the river.

Growing up alongside the Penobscot community, Charles never fully belonged to the tribe since he had no blood relation. Integrated by the marriage of his mother to his stepfather, Charles struggles to find his place in “a pursuit of only remains” and is haunted by a hunting accident.

This lit fic is a powerful short read (235 pages) that brings you close to its protagonist through a fireside chat like narration. I loved the wise old soul like reflective narration the author chose to go with.

The book looks at how much of the truth we owe others and the importance of the history that makes us. Read if you like “Berry Pickers” or family drama novels.

Thanks to @tinhouse and @NetGalley for the #advancedreaderscopy.

I am very thankful the media group, the publisher, Netgalley, and Morgan Talty for granting me advanced digital and audio access to this book before it hits shelves on June 4, 2024, but it just wasn't for me.

I feel like this was falsely advertised, was more about a man caring for his aging mother and alcoholic friend rather than the mystery of his daughter. It kept me engaged but unsure how long it will stay with me.

I have been waiting on something new from him ever since I read Night of The Living Rez. This book did not disappoint! I loved this so much! I can't wait for his next book!

“We are made of stories, and if we don’t know them—the ones that make us—how can we ever be fully realized? How can we ever be who we really are?”

Thank you to NetGalley and Tin House Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second work I’ve read of Talty’s (first was from Never Whistle at Night), and it did not disappoint.

The ending was so heartbreaking yet so hopeful, and I think that encompasses the book in its entirety. Following Charles through his mother’s decline and depression and the desire to tell his daughter who he is felt raw. As someone who worked in the mental health field, it all just felt so realistic, raw, and vulnerable.

I’m looking forward to picking up a copy of Night of the Living Rez to read more of his work, and I can’t wait to see what he writes next.

This book comes out 6/4, don’t miss it!

CW: death of parent, alcoholism, injury/injury detail, homophobia, suicide attempt, terminal illness, medical treatments (medication and ECT), violence

This book had the unfortunate effect of being read in between some really great books and it unfortunately didn't measure up. The story is impactful, deeply insightful but the writing is very lackluster for me. While i would recommend it, it's not one I would revisit.

5 stars

Come for the understated and gripping style but stay for the family and personal drama. Readers will be immersed in all of this as they enjoy this short but powerful debut novel from Morgan Talty.

As an incoming fan of Talty's short stories, I couldn't wait to engage with this novel. I was - as expected - NOT disappointed.

Charles, the m.c., has a deep secret that he somewhat troublingly keeps an eye on constantly, and he has a number of other challenges, too. Most of his drama revolves around friends and family, and prospective readers who really enjoy introspective characters who dig into these issues will find a lot to chew on here. There are secrets, sacrifices, instances of longstanding guilt and uncertainty, and deep-seated questions about how we can best connect with each other while maintaining a healthy sense of self.

For such a powerful title and cover, this novel has a quiet quality that made me even more drawn to the way events unfold. Some of that slow burn heightens the intensity that is often punctuated by challenging characters and Charles's interactions with them. I was fortunate to access both the ebook and audio version, and the narration of the audiobook is also excellent. I'll be recommending this format, especially, when and where accessible.

I enjoyed this thoroughly, remain a solid fan of this author, and look forward to what Talty offers up next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tin House for the ARC!

Morgan Talty’s "Fire Exit" is a good story that doesn’t fit well in a novel.

Thematically, there are some interesting concepts about identity—particularly in the context of blood quantum—because the narrator is a white man who was raised on a reservation. This aspect of the book is largely held in the background, which keeps it subtle and lends complexity to the story without playing into tropes.

Unfortunately, "Fire Exit" seems like it just doesn’t belong in a book of this length. Everything about it would be more at home in a tightly crafted short story, whereas it feels slack and cumbersome in a full-length novel. It’s written such that readers gradually learn more about its characters’ past, which might feel satisfying if constrained to a few pages, but because the book is so contingent on a constant unfurling of “major revelations,” it begins to consume itself, with each revelation carrying less weight. Furthermore, the characters always feel a little impressionistic, so learning more about them doesn’t add much shade or dimension—the new information just feels needlessly deferred.

When the book finally picks up momentum near its cataclysmic end, it feels like too little, too late, and I wished I could have just read those 50 or so pages independently. To be clear, I don’t think novels are obligated to take any particular shape—it can be enjoyable to feel a writer’s self-conscious decisions about form through the text; in "Fire Exit," though, it feels less like intentionality and more like uncertainty.

All in all, I found "Fire Exit" to be deeply disappointing. It isn’t bad by any means—maybe I would have enjoyed it more if it were—but it feels strangely obligatory, like a book that was required to exist instead of a book that needed to.

"This was something I had no claim to talk about - as in I had no Native blood - yet I knew and still know what it was like to both not belong and belong, what it was like to feel invisible inside the great, great dream of being. We're all alike, even when we're not."

So muses Charles Lamosway, the main character of Morgan Talty's forthcoming book, Fire Exit (Tin House, June 2024). Charles is a white man who lives on the fringes of the Penobscot Nation in Maine, literally within eyeshot of the reservation across the Penobscot River. His mother, Louise, was married to Frederick, a tribal member, who raised Charles and loved him, taught him Penobscot ways, but could never give him Native blood. In adulthood, Charles has a daughter with a Penobscot woman, but because he is not a tribal member, claiming her means the child's blood quantum would fall below the required 25% for membership. Here lies the book's main point of tension: Who gets to belong? Who decides the rules of inclusion? And what happens when inclusion is based on a lie?

Throughout the book, Talty gives the reader several examples of found families that have nothing to do with blood relation: Charles and Frederick share a father and son bond as strong as any biological one; Louise treats Bobby, Charles’ friend from Alcoholics Anonymous, like a son despite the fact that they have known each other only a short time; Roger takes in Elizabeth as his daughter even though she is not his own; Gizos and Dave adopt a son; and so on. On the other hand, Talty also gives examples of families or groups that reject members despite having blood relation: Lenos rejects his son because he is gay; Mary rejects her child’s father because he is white; a drumming circle rejects Mary because she is female; Louise rejects her son as her mind deteriorates.

Through these examples of acceptance and rejection, Talty exposes the power of belonging and its impermanence. Talty never gives a definitive answer to the questions the book raises. Like every good writer, he’s more interested in raising questions rather than giving answers. However, there is a passage about a quarter of the way through the book where he comes close: “The three drum groups were set up, and when one played, the other two listened. It was during those times that others – always boys, of course – would go over to the drumming group and ask if they could be part of the next song, and always some older Native would hand them his drumstick and move for them.”

What if we listened more?

What if we all got up and made room?

I have to admit that it took me some time to get into Fire Exit. After reading his debut short stories, I expected to be transfixed from the start but Fire Exit is a slower story that trickles in and weaves together themes over time, but then you realize you’re 60% in and desperately need to know: does he ever speak to Elizabeth, what does his mother know, what happened to the house??

Talty is an expert at wounded characters who bring a humble, raw perspective to the world and life. The complexity of families, community, friendship, boundaries, and expectations all come together in this novel and make it impossible to not end up in your own quiet pondering. There is a heaviness to the writing but there is such humanity to the characters that you can help being drawn in and investing. The descriptions of nature, stillness, and being in one’s own body are so distinct.

I think Night of the Living Rez is still my favorite of the two for its sharpness and the way the stories developed a picture over the course of the book but it’s a bit unfair to compare formats and either way I’m excited to keep reading Talty’s writing. If you enjoy stories of family drama, beautiful descriptions of nature, and contemplative writing check out Morgan Talty’s books!

2.5. this book was a little too slow for my liking and I felt like it was going in circles. I enjoyed the end once the pace picked up but the pacing felt like it shifted from super slow to super fast with little flow.