Who Would Like This Book:
If you're up for a literary adventure that flips the classic Western on its head, "In the Distance" delivers. Hernan Diaz crafts a hauntingly beautiful story with lush, evocative writing and a truly unique protagonist - a Swedish immigrant lost in America and pushed to the margins. The novel is rich with themes like loneliness, survival, and the myth-making of the American West, while immersing you in wild, rugged landscapes. Readers who enjoy introspective, character-driven tales, historical fiction, or stories about immigration and isolation will find much to love here. Fans of Cormac McCarthy, Patrick DeWitt, or literary fiction in general: this one is for you.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If detailed introspection, slow pacing, or a plot that meanders rather than races aren’t for you, you may find this a tough ride. Some readers were frustrated by the sparse dialogue, the episodic structure, and lack of a traditional story arc or resolution. The poetic yet sometimes repetitive descriptions, untranslated passages, or the surreal, mythic elements may not click for those who prefer straightforward, action-packed or conventional Westerns. If you need clear plot progression and lively conversation, you might struggle here.
About:
In the book 'In the Distance' by Hernan Diaz, the reader follows the journey of Håkan, a young Swedish immigrant who embarks on a quest to find his brother in New York but ends up in California during the Gold Rush era. As Håkan traverses the American West, encountering a wide array of characters and facing numerous challenges, he becomes a legendary figure known as The Hawk. The novel is a genre-breaking historical fiction piece that offers a unique perspective on courage, survival, and the human experience during a tumultuous period in American history. Diaz's writing style is praised for its masterful prose, vivid descriptions of the landscape, and the creation of a surreal yet plausible narrative that captivates readers.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of violence, murder, and brutality, reflective of the harsh realities of the time period addressed in the novel.
From The Publisher:
Finalist for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
A young Swedish immigrant finds himself penniless and alone in California. The boy travels East in search of his brother, moving on foot against the great current of emigrants pushing West. Driven back again and again, he meets naturalists, criminals, religious fanatics, swindlers, Indians, and lawmen, and his exploits turn him into a legend. Diaz defies the conventions of historical fiction and genre, offering a probing look at the stereotypes that populate our past and a portrait of radical foreignness.
Hernan Diaz is the author of Borges, Between History and Eternity (Bloomsbury 2012), managing editor of RHM, and associate director of the Hispanic Institute at Columbia University. He lives in New York.
Ratings (19)
Incredible (6) | |
Loved It (6) | |
Liked It (4) | |
It Was OK (2) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (57):
Read It (20) | |
Want To Read (26) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (9) |
What can you read after
In the Distance?
About the Author:
Hernan Diaz is the author of Borges, Between History and Eternity (Bloomsbury, 2012) and the associate director of the Hispanic Institute at Columbia University. He lives in New York.
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