Everything Must Go

It's no fairy tale. Our character, Henry, seemingly has allowed life to give him a swift kick in the gut. Once upon a time, he was part of a 'normal' family. Something tragic occured to this family in Henry's childhood, and the train jumped the tracks. Living on afterwards affected all involved. In spite of this, Henry seemed destined for glory. A heroic athlete, he was off to full-ride scholarship doing something he was good at and something he loved. But life doesn't always work that way. The tragedy wouldn't go away, and Henry pulled himself from the path of greatness, blinded by a sense of duty. Once he yielded to this duty, he doomed himself to a banal existence. As time rolled by, he could do nothing to break from this other path which led to nothing but misery. He would make attempts, but would always be reminded how far he had fallen. As his source of income shuts their doors on him, we are left hoping that acts as a cold splash of water as indeed, everything must go. This is the first book written by Ms. Flock that I have read, and I will definitely read more. I read this book in two sittings. I found Henry's characterization to be fascinating. He felt he was doing the right thing, though it made him a loser. Surving a tragedy brings much baggage, and this kind of baggage just attracts more and more until the weight of burden can grind a human soul numb. So just say no to baggage and let it go.

I loved this book. One unintentional disaster lays the groundwork for a lifetime of guilt, longing and passivity. As the years go by, Henry's internal life becomes a greater and greater part of his world. You see himself mirrored in the reactions of others around him; uncomfortable with the fall of the golden football idol to fussy clothes-salesman grasping at the memories of his former potential. Beautiful character study.

Everything Must Go is a insightful book, but is not for everybody. The book feels very long and drawn out. There is no obvious conclusion and sometimes the storyline gets lost. The reader does not always know when they are reading about - just as the character loses his sense of time. This is an honest look at a not so pretty life. It is not always exciting and there is not necessarily a happy ending, or a bad ending ... life just goes on. Henry, the main character, is not a hero. He tries but does not do what may seem to be the right or obvious thing. Instead Elizabeth Flock writes a very real feeling book about a very real character. Life is not always exciting and clear, but it is worth the read.

I enjoyed this thoughtful book while I was reading it a great deal. The lead character Heny is a complex guy, who is trying to do the right thing in an almost impossible situation. The effort, however, is preventing him from having his own life. I have enjoyed it even more since finishing it; it is one of those books that you keep thinking about and better understanding weeks after finishing it. Great title, great ending, great cahracters.....a wonderfully written book.

In the late 1970s, Henry Powell's future looked bright. He had a great high school senior year playing football earning him a college scholarship that will enable him to leave the dying New England town Baxter. However, dreams die as Henry knows first hand. He went off to college only to have to come home due to a family emergency, while his older brother Brad skipped town without a look back. Fourteen years later, Henry works at the same men's clothing store he worked in when he was in high school. He has no future feeling humiliated whenever someone from his glory days enters the shop. His only escape from nothings is fantasy where he pretends he is a rock star or being interviewed by a renowned biographical author for a book starring him. Now Henry's only means of income the store will shut down on September 10, 2001. How will Henry react is anyone's guess as EVERYTHING MUST GO especially the employees. Elizabeth Flock is gaining a reputation for deep psychological character studies (see ME & EMMA) that shake up a reader's comfort zone. Her latest tale EVERYTHING MUST GO is not an easy read as the audience, through perhaps too many flashbacks, learns how much Henry has lost by being responsible towards his family. This book is not for everyone as this for the most part is a depressing yet realistic personal saga even with a future that looks brighter than the immediate past (at least since he dropped out of college); still readers who appreciate a deep dark look at a man just surviving not living will want to peruse Henry's disheartening bio. Harriet Klausner