You know how people say you can’t understand a relationship you’re not a part of? I feel like RICHARD YATES by Tao Lin is all about that idea. It’s like Lin was like, well, here’s a relationship, here’s a fucked up relationship. And now he wants the readers to argue over who’s to blame for the callousness, the disfunction. The writing of RICHARD YATES seems to intrinsically ask for judgement, just as the characters are constantly judging others. The main character seems to not care about outcomes or sides or even opinions, but there was an underlying vein of an author offering up a story for us to judge and debate. The main character has preconceived notions that no one’s shaking.
I read this book quickly, and almost fluidly, like how I can imagine it was written. Tao Lin’s style leads us to think his books are written effortlessly, like literally he didn’t try, like when people see abstract art and think “I could do this.” But the reality is that Lin is imaginative in his dialogue, phrasing, and characterization in a way that few contemporary writers are. I feel like he’s unafraid, and I respect him for that and the creative license he takes with authenticity. I hesitate to liken him to writers like Camus, but the macho existentialism is certainly there, especially in the main character’s treatment of his girlfriend, steadfast attitude towards his work, and dismissiveness towards people who aren’t like him.
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