The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff

 

I picked up The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff based on the fact that Stephen King recommended it.  The Memory of Running is one of my all time favorite books that Stephen King also raved about a few years ago, so anytime I see a recommendation of his, I run right out and buy the book.

 

Monsters is told from the point of view of multiple characters. The main character, Willie Upton, comes home to Templeton pregnant after having an affair with her graduate professor.  She feels like a failure having to rebound back home to live with her mom who raised her as a single young mother. Willie and her mom haven’t had the best relationship and to Willie’s dismay her mom has not only found religion but is dating the town pastor. Willie has never known who her father was growing up so her mom decides to tell her he is alive and well in Templeton and it is up to her to find out who he is. To top it all off Willie and her mom are the direct descendents of Templeton and there is a great mystery surrounding them.

 

The story revolves around Willie’s quest for her father. She digs back through her history of ancestors to try to figure out who he is. Along the way we meet a rich cast of characters from the past and present.  Each chapter is told by someone different until they all connect into a great mystery.  Oh yeah, and there actually was a big blubbery dead monster caught from the city lake called Glimmey. The title makes readers think the book is about him but the monsters just may be about the past.

 

I did like this book a lot.  I liked reading the chapters about the ancestors the best because I found them to be more interesting then Willie’s story. I did find it confusing at points trying to keep each of them straight.  There was also a group of runners called ‘the running buds” who showed up every so often for a chapter, that I found endearing.  I wasn’t sure where the author was going with the story for a while, but she made everyone come together in the end.   I also thought the author didn’t quite know what category to write the story in .She added a little sci fi here, a little historical fiction there.  Her writing is very beautiful and you can savor every description.  I would pick up any of her books. Make sure you put the Memory of Running on your book pile too!