Death Valley Book Review
Melissa Broder is an accomplished author known for her captivating writing style and exploration of love, desire, and mental health. Her profound ability to connect with readers is evident in her critically acclaimed works, including The Pisces, Milk Fed and So Sad Today. Broder’s unique perspective and vulnerability make her a truly remarkable and influential voice in contemporary literature–an influence carried over to her latest book, Death Valley.
Melissa Broder’s third novel, Death Valley, is a mesmerising journey into surrealism and emotional exploration. With a blend of realism and the fantastical, the book takes you on an introspective adventure as the protagonist seeks refuge in the desert, grappling with her father’s life-threatening car accident, her husband’s mysterious illness, and her crumbling marriage due to his illness. Dealing with all the stress, and addictions in her life, our protagonist embarks on a pilgrimage into the unforgiving vastness of the desert only armed with humour, wit, and memories of happier days.
The Best Western motel becomes a backdrop for both hilarity and attraction as our protagonist meets receptionist Jethra at the front desk, and Zip, the smug young clerk with a quirky expertise in cacti. These interactions not only add humour but also highlight the protagonist’s struggles with relationships and addiction.
Death Valley sets the stage for this modern fairytale, inviting you to witness a delicate psyche on the verge of collapse. Broder’s ability to track the emotional vulnerabilities and quirks of her heroine creates a sense of familiarity and anticipation for the revelations that lie ahead.
Death Valley presents you with three distinct landscapes: the desert itself, the realm of technology, and the human heart. Broder captures the sadness, sweetness, and at times, gut-wrenching humour that arises from the protagonist’s inability to communicate honestly and directly with the people close to her. The feelings that cannot find expression merge with the desert landscape, leading to mystical encounters and a merging of past and present.
Broder’s genius lies in her ability to make the desert a character of its own, a place where nature responds, offering solace and guidance. The hallucinatory survival tale takes you on a wild journey as the protagonist converses with the natural world, experiencing magical encounters with loved ones. These episodes are reminiscent of an acid trip, with a towering mystical cactus serving as a shaman’s sweat lodge, revealing visions of the past rather than the future.
Yet, there are moments when the novel strains under the weight of suspended disbelief. In these chapters, the insights and sharp humour lose some of their potency, blurring the line between reality and the fantastical. However, this blurred landscape may also serve as a deliberate reflection of the protagonist’s internal struggles and search for self-discovery.
Death Valley is a testament to Broder’s ability to craft a thought-provoking plot that transcends traditional boundaries. As you accompany the protagonist through her emotional journey, you will be reminded of the power of nature, the delicate threads that bind us to loved ones, and the resilience of the human spirit.
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Verdict - 8/10
8/10