Among the many things this book could be described as, flat would be the best word to sum it up. Weak allusions and metaphors aside, there just wasn't much to connect me to the characters or the plot. While Kohler has a way with words themselves, I can't quite bring myself to enjoy what she's done with them. So I have to give this book 2 stars, barely, and be thankful it only took a couple hours to read. ( )

Among the many things this book could be described as, flat would be the best word to sum it up. Weak allusions and metaphors aside, there just wasn't much to connect me to the characters or the plot. While Kohler has a way with words themselves, I can't quite bring myself to enjoy what she's done with them. So I have to give this book 2 stars, barely, and be thankful it only took a couple hours to read. ( )

Among the many things this book could be described as, flat would be the best word to sum it up. Weak allusions and metaphors aside, there just wasn't much to connect me to the characters or the plot. While Kohler has a way with words themselves, I can't quite bring myself to enjoy what she's done with them. So I have to give this book 2 stars, barely, and be thankful it only took a couple hours to read. ( )

Among the many things this book could be described as, flat would be the best word to sum it up. Weak allusions and metaphors aside, there just wasn't much to connect me to the characters or the plot. While Kohler has a way with words themselves, I can't quite bring myself to enjoy what she's done with them. So I have to give this book 2 stars, barely, and be thankful it only took a couple hours to read. ( )

Originally posted here.

Before I started, all I had to go on was this brief description above and a blurb, which describes the novel as 'erotic.' With that in mind, I was really expecting something very different than what I found. I was expecting melodrama, but what I found was a sort of calm, spare prose, lovely and bare. I had no idea what The Bay of Foxes would be like or that I would enjoy it so much.

Personally, I would not describe this novel as erotic. Certainly, sex is a main theme of the novel, but there are no graphic, lurid, romanticized descriptions. I don't think this book is about living vicariously through Dawit's sex life. It's more about the impact sex has upon his life.

However, I suspect that this label may have been used as a way to scare some readers away and perhaps entice others. While the book isn't erotica, I imagine that it would offend a number of readers. This novel touches on issues that are tender for a number of people: torture, prostitution, and gay sex, for example. If you are easily offended, this book probably isn't for you. It's unashamedly dark and creepy.

Part of what intrigued me about this book before I read it was the comparison to Patricia Highsmith, which is on my version of the cover, although not pictured above. I've read a couple of Highsmith's novels and, though she may be incredibly insane, I really think few people can do creepy like she can. Well, Kohler definitely deserves the comparison to Highsmith. If you enjoyed The Talented Mr. Ripley or Strangers on a Train or some other Highsmith novel, you definitely should not miss checking out The Bay of Foxes.

Another awesome thing about The Bay of Foxes is getting to learn a little bit about Ethiopia. My knowledge of African history is extremely limited, so I was able to learn a lot even from the relatively brief references herein. I love seeing this diversity in the characters, as well. Also, look at this beautiful and not whitewashed cover!

The only thing that I was meh about was the ending, which does the thing where this book has actually been written and published by one of the characters thing. I have always hated this trope, mostly because I don't feel like it really adds anything to the story. Every time I read one that does that, I make the DUN DUN sound from Law & Order.

The Bay of Foxes is wonderful literary fiction, especially for readers that love twists and psychological thrillers. ( )