Purple Daze
By Sherry Shahan
And now for another alternative historical fiction!
This time, on Eddie’s Sofa, we’re in the sixties. Purple Daze tells the story of six teenagers during the time of the Vietnam War. It’s written in verse, with very short chapters alternating between the characters. None of the characters are perfect in any way and each one has their own character arc. It is very much the story of messed-up teenagers navigating messed up situations in an equally messed-up time, some coming out better than the others. The book and the characters explore the complexities of war, feminism, race and human interactions, set against the backdrop of a war-obsessed society.
Purple Daze is so different style-wise to any other book I’ve read. Not only is it written in verse, but there is no obligatory back-story in the beginning; the book dives right into the characters’ respective head spaces At first it’s a little difficult to figure out who is who, and who is with whom, but very quickly the characters unique personalities and voices emerge and it’s not difficult at all. Because the narrative doesn’t stop for the reader to catch up, or provide convenient back-story interludes, you have to wait for the whole story to unfold to fully understand what happened. Each chapter is almost-but not quite a journal entry and so as a product of this, you as a reader very much feel like a fly on the wall of these characters’ lives.
Sherry Shahan does an amazing job of creating such individual characters, something that makes them seem real even if you only get a glimpse of their lives. The narrative is so brutally honest and raw, so genuine and confronting, without being aggressive that it really left and impression on me. It wasn’t emotional like Wallflower, but it was so powerful and the stories really stuck with. The story is at some points, quite bleak, but is still vibrant throughout.
Purple Daze Is not for the faint of heart, but definitely worth the read.
Feisty Chick-O-Meter: 9/10
Age rating: 16+
Rating: 10/10
Book or audiobook: Book
Stand alone or series: Stand alone
Length: 210 pages
Obsession level: 10/10
