Book Review: I’m the Same
I’m the Same
by James Ungurait
Genre: Literary Fiction / LGBTQ
ISBN: 9798218312503
Print Length: 308 pages
Reviewed by Elena Bellaart
An emotionally rich exploration of identity and place
Kodak, a recent college graduate and writer from small-town Mississippi, has brought plenty of baggage with him to the coastal town of Alnwick, Oregon, where he has just begun a yearlong writing fellowship. Haunted by a terrible event in his past—one that still gives him nightmares—Kodak is slow to open up, skeptical of the intentions of seemingly-friendly townspeople.
But the persistent kindness of local bookshop owner Olivia and a magnetic connection with Olivia’s best friend Quinn eventually prompt Kodak to reveal the tragic car accident that killed his dearest friends in high school. And this isn’t Kodak’s only burden; his mixed-race identity has caused many neighbors in Mississippi to shun him, leading him to expect similar treatment from others. Watching Kodak learn to trust in the love and acceptance shown him by new friends makes for a moving story rife with feeling.
The novel’s depiction of the contrasting landscapes and climates of Oregon and Mississippi is particularly enjoyable. The Oregon vistas of oceans, mountains, and waterfalls are captured beautifully. And though Kodak expresses ambivalence toward the landscapes of his home, depictions of the quieter beauties of the South are particularly stirring: “the rolling hills and soft sunsets, the endless songs sung by the bugs on summer evenings, the humid air that holds you together.”
Sometimes I did long for a bit more nuance in depicting the differences between the almost constant discrimination in the South and the almost total acceptance in Oregon. I recognize every singular experience as true, but with two sides of the extreme and less gray area in between, it feels a bit like untapped potential of a more nuanced discussion. And in contrast to the virulent racism Kodak experiences in the South, it is both refreshing and a bit surprising that he and Quinn never experience a hint of homophobia as they travel through Mississippi in the early stages of their budding romance.
The plot takes a dramatic turn in the novel’s final third, as the Oregon coast reveals itself to be both lovely and hazardous in equal measure. The sudden shift in genre from romance to survival story escalates the stakes and makes for a page-turning and exciting close to Kodak’s story. The choice not to idealize Oregon’s beauty but to explore its darker side adds welcome nuance and complication to the novel’s exploration of place and the risks we take on when we allow ourselves to make a home somewhere new.
Thank you for reading Elena Bellaart’s book review of I’m the Same by James Ungurait! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.
The post Book Review: I’m the Same appeared first on Independent Book Review.