Book Review: Where Things Come Back

I received this book as an advance copy through the Firstreads program.

Where Things Come Back is an interesting little book. On one hand, the writing style seems to own a sense of whimsy curiosity in the “what if,” but those what ifs
are subsequently shadowed, or altogether shot down by a sheet of pure cynicism. While this negative outlook lent itself to a sense of unique charm, others factor played a part in it being emotionally stifling.

This is not a book for young and impressionable readers. The hopelessness breaks the line of tragic and goes straight through to a consistent line of apathetic acceptance of the dismal and despair-ridden. The inhabitants of Lily, Arkansas have no reason to try to make anything of themselves because they will just end up back in the hopeless little town they strived to leave. This is shown by example time and time again. One character leaves Lily in an attempt to make something of herself, and results in having had a miscarriage, been married and striving for a divorce by the time she is nineteen before returning back home.

Content-wise, the themes are quite mature. The language scope is pushing a hard PG-13. There are no morals, and the only thing close to a role-model to be found is Cullen’s father in his patience for his wife during a difficult time. Otherwise, people (in the 17-19 years old range) are sleeping with each other as if it is no big deal, ignoring the emotional and mental consequences that come with such flings. Some parents seem to find this cheerful. One has no issue with there being a naked boy (who’s a minor) in her daughter (who’s legally an adult)’s bed as she comes in the vacuum.

None of the characters grow, but instead just continue down their “why bother with anything” lifestyles and mindsets. Some characters struggle to be constantly cheerful. At first they may appear to be good and role models, but it is said later on that even they don’t know what their meaning in life is. They have no reason to be acting cheerful, really.

Where Things Come Back seems to try and ask deep, important questions it has no answers for. Instead, it lands on using such things as existentialism to explain the meaning of life, an extremely poor answer that will only lead to a mindset of hating life.

Whaley has a wonderful style in how he wrote Cullen’s thoughts, how he worded things and how he told the story overall. There were many lines that made me grin just by the sheer brilliance how they were executed. It is a shame such creativity and ingenuity was used on something touching on a topic important to all only to end it on a note of hopeless existence.