Did you find the beginning of the book particularly dark or difficult? How did your perspective on the tone change as the story continued?
I think I already answered this in another question. The first charter was hard. It very dark and difficult. I do not like that Ivan left Eddie alone at the hospital thinking he would be in trouble because of the drugs he supplied. Then it was hard to read about his drug use, including selling drugs. His entire lifestyle was hard to read. Shame on him for never reconnecting with Eddie, never knowing if he lived or died.
Yes, I found it very dark, but not difficult to read because I like dark stories. I did find the character of Ivan fascinating, particularly because he did something completely reprehensible but over the years felt terrible, nagging guilt about it. He had a moral compass ā he had full knowledge and awareness of how horrible his actions were ā and yet it never developed to the point where he stood any steps to determine what actually happened to Eddie, whether there were any steps he could take to alleviate the pain he caused, etc. It was years after the event and the statute of limitations on any criminal negligence had long since passed (he evidently never consulted an attorney about his criminal or civil culpability), so I found that aspect of his character really disappointing and heartbreaking.
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Yes, I did find the beginning of the book very dark. I almost decided not to read it. But as I read more, I felt that there was enough of a change of tone to keep me reading.
The beginning of the book was very dark. Overall, I found the whole book to be depressing and difficult.
Dark, maybe, but also very real. They were both having a big time. First in NYC, then London and Amsterdam, then back to NYC, where they continued down that slippery slope, ending with Ivan doing a runner from the ER and regretting it for the rest of his life. For me, not so much ādarkā as āsadā.
Rather than dark Iād say it was a realistic depiction of addiction. No one knows how they will react in a crisis until theyāre in one. Ivanās response was a combination of responsibility for supplying his friend with drugs and a fear of being arrested (people do get arrested for supplying drugs). His character had made comments prior that while Eddie would look out for him, he didnāt think heād do the same.
Yes, I found it dark, depressing and really just plain gloomy. I actually found most of the book to be that way.
Yup, me, too. Gloomy is a good description.
I didnāt find it dark, it was the times and that was what happening. I just struggled with how the other characters connected to what happened to Eddie and how it was going to connect.
I agree with you, @Diane_P. I didnāt find it dark, either. I think because it was narrated by someone you knew had survived I found it more contemplative than anything else. Also, the fact that Ivan didnāt necessarily regret his drug use - he felt guilty over leaving Eddie, but, in my opinion, not the drugs themselves - I think it created some distance.
I found the beginning very interesting and I felt it pulled me into the story immediately. I also felt it gave me a very good sense of the character whose story I was reading ( Ivan). The book changes tone with each character it introduces, as it should , since you are reading that personās story. The entire format worked well for me and I found it an easy and compelling read.
Again I have to state I did not like these characters. I do however wish the story had continued with the Ivan/Eddie vein, instead of branching off into other characters. It seems with each new character introduction I felt I lost a bit more of the Ivan/Eddie thread - which was what the synopsis was ALL about.
I would not say I found it dark or difficult but would say depressing. I did relate to the characters and did not enjoy the stories much.
I expected the book to be dark and difficultā¦.perhaps a few too many characters throughout the book, but true to the vibes for 70s NYC
I found the beginning of the book very sad. The whole drug culture aspect of the book was grim.
I believe the purpose of books is to take us to worlds we havenāt experienced, and many of them are, indeed, dark. Books, to my mind, should be judged by their ability to do take you out of your comfort zone and help you understand how others live. So to specifically answer your question: yes, the beginning was dark, as so many books are. But the title is āMercyā, and the book is about how acts of mercy are there if a character is ready to recognize and embrace them.
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The beginning was quite dark and we got to see just what questionable choices in our youth can do to entire lives. Ivan lived with the thought that he not only left his friend when he was dieing but also was the one that administered the drugs that he thought killed his best friend. His lack of mercy in leaving him at the hospital to die was shocking to me. When I turned to the last section and saw Eddieās name, it was a pleasant surprise and I was rooting for him!
I found the beginning of the book really drew me into the storyā¦I thought the characters lives were sort of bleak, but didnāt really think it was dark or difficult to read.
The darkness of the story did not affect me or seem too dark to handle, but I did wonder where the plot was leading. At times, that did not seem entirely clear. I think that any literature that deals honestly about drug addiction/abuse will be dark. I recently read Wally Lambās latest book, The River Is Waiting; it also deals with addiction and so is honestly dark and frustrating as it shows the devastating results on both the substance user and those whose lives are connected to that character.