The Fates Will Find Their Way
Published by: Ecco
Published on: January 2011
Page Count: 243
Genre: Literary Fiction
My Reading Format: ARC sent to me by the publisher
Available Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Take Note: This will be among my favorite reads of 2011.
My Review
Nora Lindell, a teenager girl, goes missing from a small East Coast town. The mystery of her disappearance isn’t solved. This premise, while interesting, is by no means new or unusual, unless written by Hannah Pittard. Pittard takes this concept and spins it on its ear in The Fates Will Find Their Way by choosing a group of boys to narrate the story. A story about the power of common myth while growing up and growing older.
It has been a long time since I’ve been possessed to stop reading, scour the house for a writing utensil and start underlying and marking up the book. The Fates Will Find Their Way made me do just that. I couldn’t not mark it up. Pittard’s writing is gorgeous and consuming. Here are a couple of examples from my favorite passages:
The Mexican loved them all. It was from him that the girls would learn about love. Not that there wasn’t a tenderness to Nora. There was. A great deal of tenderness, but it was the tenderness of a hospice nurse-of one committed to caring but too familiar with pain and parting to ever truly or fully invest.
_______
If only we’d known. But we didn’t know. We never know. No matter how many times we revisit that party or any other. The fact is, until it happened, until Trey changed how we viewed him, how we viewed and view ourselves-as men, as fathers, as friends and husbands-we could never know enough to change the outcome. Not his. Not ours. Certain outcomes are unavoidable, invariable, absolutely unaffectable, and yet completely unpredictable. Certain outcomes are that way.
There is so much I’d love to say about this book. I would love the opportunity to discuss it with other people. However, for the sake if those who’ve not read it, I can’t. Any detail, no matter how small, feels like a spoiler. Something known about the novel ahead of time would spoil the joy of discovering it on one’s own.
By the time I finished The Fates Will Find Their Way, I was in love with Hannah Pittard’s writing and storytelling. I don’t know how else to describe the experience than to say that I set the book down in the end with complete satisfaction. I thanked my lucky stars for requesting it. It was a pure delight.
So glad that you found a book you love, that you love so much you couldn’t mark up. The lines you showcased are wonderful, so I can see why it appealed to you so much.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Literate Housewife, Susan W. Helfgot. Susan W. Helfgot said: #313 ~ The Fates Will Find Their Way: The Fates Will Find Their Way by Hannah Pittard Published by: Ecco Publish… http://bit.ly/el2faU [...]
I’m not quite sure WHO to place the blame on, but somebody convinced me that my life would not be complete unless I read this book, so I bought it on my Kindle and there it will sit until April 1st, when my TBR Dare is over. Then I will be able to gush along with the rest of you. I can’t wait!
I’ve added it to my look for list. Sounds like a lovely book. Thanks!
Wow, your review has made me very excited about this book! I can’t wait to get it.
[...] #313 ~ The Fates Will Find Their Way (literatehousewife.com) [...]
Lot of great buzz about this book – looking forward to reading it. From your excerpts, it sounds like the language is very beautiful.
Adding this to the TBR now.
Ladies, I really hope you all pick up a copy and read it. So incredible. Couldn’t love it more.
This book really sounds wonderful. I just love the premise. So glad you enjoyed it. I will definitely add it to the list.
I have this one here…. I’m looking forward to the adventure of reading it.
Of course you would like marking your books.. i love doing that too… It means they are kindreds
A great friend indeed 
Loved the review <3