Calvin Vs The Smell of Other People's Houses

I appreciated the simple, script formation of Calvin which made it an easy, fast read.  However, because of this loose structure, I found that I was not able to connect at all with both the characters nor the storyline.  The characters did not have much depth and came out pretty flat for me.  In addition, due to the scripted structure, I had a hard time understanding clearly what was real and what was being manifested inside Calvin's head. It all seemed far- fetched to me, which contributed to my inability to believe in the narrative arc. I was hoping to gain insight about Schizophrenia but I came away feeling confused and no more enlightened about this disease.  

I did enjoy the references to the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes.  The character of Hobbes in the book added humour and cynicism to the novel.  The highlight for me was Calvin's stint in the hospital after his Schizophrenic episode.  The discourse between Calvin, his parents and the Physician, while in the hospital, was the one point where the author successfully anchored the novel to reality.  All in all, I did enjoy the ease of reading this book; however, the premise revealed at the end caught me by surprise. 

I sincerely enjoyed The Smell of Other People's Houses.  The tight structure that was used in this novel allowed me to connect to not only the characters but to the setting (and smells!) of Alaska. I appreciated the interconnectedness of the characters which helped me to identify with the four cast members right away.  The dedication of one chapter to each of the four characters allowed the author to develop each character thoroughly while revealing that character's individual perspective. I felt that the author's use of sensory details helped to clearly depict the terrain of Alaska and the lifestyles of the four Alaskan teenagers. The author's personal connection to Alaska was evident in her illustrative descriptions and enhanced the believability and relevance of the novel. Alaska is a setting rarely used in prose for teens which makes The Smell of Other People's Houses even more appealing as a unique novel for young readers. 

Hitchcock threads the traditional Alaskan experience of the 1970s throughout the book, immersing the reader in the culture and lifestyle of the Alaskan people. What stood out for me in particular is the author's reference to distinct smells throughout the novel (deer blood, Thrift Shop, salmon innards, etc.) which connected me even more intensely with the Alaskan setting and the storyline happening in it. Along with transporting the reader into Alaskan culture, the author successfully explores more serious issues of the human condition (teen pregnancy, parental abandonment, racism, domestic violence, and emotional abuse), but does not delve too deeply into each issue which makes this novel suitable for younger readers.