In The Distance by Hernan Diaz- Book Review Pt. 1

In the Distance by Hernan Diaz- Book Review Pt. 1

Title: In the Distance

Author: Hernan Diaz

Publisher: Coffee House Press

Publish Date: 2017

Rating: 5/5

Summary(blurb): A young Swedish boy finds himself penniless and alone in California. He travels east in search of his brother, moving on foot against the great push to the west. Driven back over and over again on his journey through vast expanses, Håkan meets naturalists, criminals, religious fanatics, Indians, and lawmen, and his exploits turn him into a legend. Díaz 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. 

**This book review may contain spoilers**

NOTE: I will be writing a part 2 review of this book, solely focused on the main character Håkan Söderström, because it would be too long to fit everything here. There will also be a plot summary & background for those who want to read the character analysis, but not the book itself.

In The Distance is a masterfully written work, and easily one of the most captivating books I’ve read. While the plot was simple, Håkan’s mental growth was explored in detail, and perhaps above all, Diaz has a beautifully descriptive writing style.

The plot is quite straightforward— Håkan attempts to cross the waist of America on foot, and his journey is split into distinct phases: he is initially at Clangston, then with Lorimer, then with Jarvis, then alone, then with the sheriff, then with Asa, then alone again. Through his voyage, I could follow each step of Håkan’s slow but sure growth, both physically and mentally.

Although Håkan’s physical growth is unprecedented and immense, it is Håkan’s psychological changes that are more important— each of the phases in Håkan’s journey leave him with valuable experiences, and Håkan continues to have revelations about himself via introspection throughout the novel. Håkan realizes that Linus was merely a child, that Asa changed him from “a creature into a man” (Diaz 204), that he fears death, that he continually lives in the present without thinking of the future, and much more.

These thoughts Håkan has are made clear to the readers through Diaz’s impeccable writing style. The narrative almost exactly mirrors Håkan’s thought processes, with the author ingeniously manipulating sentence length and employing repetition to really integrate Håkan’s mind into the book. The end result is a narrative that makes it feel as though the reader is Håkan, feeling his disorientedness, confusion, elation, hope, devastation, and all his emotions. Additionally, I personally felt that the writing was exquisite— the descriptions were highly detailed, and Håkan’s thought process is closely followed and elaborated upon. Håkan’s introspections were well crafted and elegant, and I fell in love with this writing style. Through research I found that Hernan Diaz has also authored a book titled Trust; I was so enthralled by Diaz’s writing in In the Distance that I will definitely be reading Trust if I get the chance.

Overall, I was captivated by this book— the simple plot was concealing a rich deposit of Håkan’s personal introspections and detailed thought processes, and the exquisite writing style awed me every few pages with many deep, perfectly worded sentences in the narrative. Personally, I would not change anything about the book, because although the plot progresses slowly at times, the slow speed is worth the detailed thought processes and revelations Håkan goes through with every new encounter.

To those who enjoy detailed descriptions, deep introspections, and beautiful writing, I would definitely recommend this book, as it abounds in those elements; however, those favoring a more exciting, fast-paced, and action-based plot may not find the book as attractive or appealing due to the slow plot progression.

Rating: I would give this a 5/5 - a great anti-western (?) and travel narrative for those who enjoy such things. Hernan Diaz has a stunningly eloquent writing style, and portrays Håkan's thoughts as it is through the narrative.

NOTE: I will be writing a part 2 review of this book, solely focused on the main character Håkan Söderström, because it would be too long to fit everything here. There will also be a plot summary & background for those who want to read the character analysis, but not the book itself.