We Are Called to Rise: A Novel

We Are Called To Rise is a book that I wanted to like. Based on its synopsis, I thought I would. Unfortunately, my feelings about the book were already mostly formed about halfway through the story. I had hopes that the latter half would somehow prove to change my opinion a bit, but, in fact, the way the story ended just helped cement what I was already feeling.While the concept and main storyline was an intriguing one (the story was inspired by real life events), the execution of said concept and storyline was its own worst enemy. Speaking for myself, there were a number of issues I had with how the story was written and laid out. First, while the first person narrative isn’t my favorite choice of narrative tool (in fact it seems like almost every book I read is in this format and it can get repetitive and cliched), I can appreciate it when it’s done well. It can be a valuable avenue into a character’s perspective and thought processes which can build a connection between the character and the reader. However, in this book’s case, I thought it worked to the book’s disadvantage. Oftentimes, I found myself “zoning out” due to the long inner dialogues the characters would have. I understand wanting to show what the characters are thinking, feeling and observing but you can’t lump it all together into these monotonous blocks of speeches (which they eventually end up sounding like) and expect the reader to keep their focus. It invariably causes the reader to lose sight of not only the character’s motivations/feeling, but also their own thoughts on the character and the action. Breaks, along with a rhythm to the narrative, is what’s needed to keep the interest going. A lot of the times, I was looking for that break during those long monologues. It just took me out of the story and made me read through without really feeling anything.I knew this was story was going to be told in 4 different perspectives (Avis, Bashkim, Luis and Roberta). I got about halfway through the book before remembering this fact. The majority of the first half of the book was mostly centered around Avis, Bashkim and Luis with perhaps two appearances by Roberta. While Roberta’s perspective is more pronounced in the latter half, she was essentially missing during that first half of the book. It was like she was a specter that showed up then disappeared only to show up later on. It didn’t feel like she was a main character the way Avis, Bashkim and Luis were (although looking back on it now, I would only consider Bashkim as the “main” character while the others can be considered supportive). I never got enough information about her and therefore, I never really knew her. Either way, it felt off balance and I questioned the necessity of giving Roberta her own narrative. I think the book could’ve been the same without her own narrative.I have read books in which I felt it was longer than it needed it to be. With this book, however, I found it the opposite. I felt ending was rushed and abrupt. From Avis’s decision regarding Nate, to Bashkim’s acceptance of the judge’s ruling involving Luis, it all happened so fast that I didn’t realize it was the end. (I was literally surprised when I got to the next page and it turned out to be the author’s notes). I wanted to know more. I wanted to see a more thorough resolution to the decision that were made, as opposed to the neat wrap up that was given. As it is, I still have questions regarding the characters’ well fare which leaves me with an incomplete feeling towards the book.With all this said, the book had pockets of moments where I can see what the author, Laura McBride, was trying to convey. I saw how Las Vegas was a world onto itself, not through a tourist’s eyes but those who grew up and are living in this unique city. I saw the different roads a veteran can take as you read about Luis and Avis’s son, Nate. I enjoyed the interaction between Bashkim and Luis and how it played a part in Luis’s recovery (this and Luis’s time in the hospital were actually the most interesting parts of the book and wanted McBride to delve more deeply into it). There were pockets of intrigue that were present and there were enough in the story to make me want to continue to the book’s end.At the end of the day, I wanted to like this book. But the way the book was executed just disconnected me from the story itself. Being indifferent to the story and its characters is something that I hate feeling and it bothers me that this book made me feel this way, especially considering what was being told. I just couldn’t overcome monotony of the first person narrative and the way the story was structured and written. Which is a shame because there were bright moments but they weren’t enough to light this book up for me.

I am amazed that this is a debut novel . The writing drew me in from the first page and then the descriptions , especially of Las Vegas life just blew me away . The story and characters are so skillfully drawn you would have thought that Laura McBride had been doing this for years . I was hesitant at first to write this because I'm not sure I can accurately express what an emotional read this was for me . It was just so damned sad ! Call me milk toast or whatever you want. I was so taken by this story and these characters that I cried through the last 100 pages. And then to make it even sadder , the author in her notes at the end of the book, tells us that her inspiration was an actual tragic event .McBride says in her notes, “The one thing that almost kept me from writing the story was that it was so unbearably sad. …. So the challenge I set myself was this: could I write a story that accepted the full unbearableness, and still left one wanting to wake up in the morning ? “ I’m telling you it was unbearably sad and if McBride is referring to the reader still wanting to wake up, I did, but I don’t feel the same as I did yesterday.It is narrated by four different people who are worlds apart but yet all in Las Vegas . Avis , the middle aged woman facing marital problems after 29 years of marriage has more to confront with her son's problems than with her failing marriage. Luis , the physically and emotionally injured soldier returns from Iraq and he’s a mess. Bashkim , the 4 th grade Albanian immigrant tries desperately not to be different or makes waves , but his family is very different . I loved Bashkim the most. Roberta is the child advocate who feels she can make a difference in the lives if the children she advocates for. You get to know her the least until the tragedy takes place. I love a book which allows me to care about the characters and this one did right from the start. But I didn't realize how much I would until the story unfoldsSo much is covered here - the toll that the Iraq war took on two vets with their physical and emotional scars; the difficulty of the immigrant experience for some; how an unstable childhood life shapes a middle aged woman and how in spite of her grief, she digs deep to find her strength. I knew at some point that the lives of these people would connect but I was not expecting the tragic event that brought these people together.If I have a criticism , it's that in all the narratives , except Bashkim's the author spent more time than necessary telling us what she wanted to convey - what matters , making a difference , accepting the adversity . The characters and their strength to get through the hard, very hard things that life dealt them could have spoken for themselves. Yet I can't give this book anything less than five stars.I have already read some criticisms of the neatly wrapped up ending and I could not disagree more. Nothing was neat about the ending . There's the feeling that life goes on , but no not a neat ending.Just a note:I requested this book from NetGalley because the description made me want to read this book . I was thrilled when I finally received an approval and totally disappointed when I found that the approval for some reason came after the book was archived and I was not able to download the galley. I kept thinking about this book and every time I read about it somewhere,I became more convinced that I had to read this book . So I bought it and it was worth every penny.

We Are Called to Rise tells the stories of four people – a woman in a crumbling marriage, a soldier waking up knowing he’s done something dreadful, a kindly social worker and a boy from an immigrant family. These lives collide in one miserable incident, and it is ultimately a story about the boy’s fate.This is an outstanding novel – a debut novel. McBride gives an emotional tour de force, with tension on every page. She gives us characters we care about, and captures their individual voices and actions to great skill. It is the character of the boy, Bashkim, that moved me the most. The simplicity and innocence of his view on life and his world is incredible writing.We Are Called to Rise is loosely based on a real incident that took place in Las Vegas, where the book is set, and where Mc Bride is proud to call home. The book is written in the first person, with multiple narratives as each of the characters takes a scene (it is very much imaginable as a film script). These people are isolated from each other, and you wonder how their lives are going to be connected – and then you wish they weren’t. The central point focuses on Las Vegas, as one by one the layers emerge as a spider’s web of threads form around the boy, Bashkim.It is a book of many themes – loss, marriage, immigration, war, PTSD (with two veterans featured), families (the ones we have and the ones we make), domestic abuse, violence and sacrifice – in doing the right thing. Despite this list of rather gritty themes, there are some joyous comic moments, like Avis’ (the woman who’s marriage is hitting the rocks) attempts to spice up her sex life.I almost read the book in one sitting, one Saturday evening, but did not want to rush the end in the small hours. That night I dreamt of Bashkim, and how I might rescue him and of Luis, the soldier, and how he might turn out. The ending of We Are Called To Rise was powerful. It made me cry – and very few books do this to me.

Downloaded after hearing the author discussing the characters and the book on Radio 2. Set in Las Vegas, but not on the strip, but the regular residential parts. We read about 4 protagonists, as written in the first person, and we learn about their daily lives. I really do not want to give anything away because I felt I knew more than I wanted to from listening to the interview, but needless to say their lives do interconnect in a moving and unsettling way. I read this book in a matter of days as I was completely gripped by the personalities of the characters. It is very difficult to believe that this is the author's first novel as the character are so well rounded and developed. I highly recommend this book.

Essentially a collection of four very different narratives which at some point converge - overall a cleverly sculpted book which is full of detail, nostalgia and description. On the downside there were two things I didn't like. Firstly, reading the paperback literally gave me a headache due to the tiny font size, I would've much preferred to read more pages with average sized type. Secondly the ultimate denouement felt rushed and highly improbable, it sort of ruined the authenticity of the rest of the book for me. But still a very good read.

A powerful book that shows the underbelly of American society in Vegas. This us t the glitzy casinos, it’s the lives of the poor people who keep them going. The focus is how the war in Iraq has caused 2 veterans to do extreme things after the horrors they have seen. It’s also about ho2 tough the immigrant experience can be, after a very depressing story the happy ending seems too good to be true. I’d like to believe it, but I’m not sure that I do,

I cant recommend this book more. From the moment you open this book, the characters suck you into their lives that are set in the desolate, arid landscape of suburban Las Vagas. As their stories unfold the book leads to an inevitable, but skilfully contrived , crash of experiences. Some of these are deeply sad, others more positive.Written in an easy, but by no means simple, style, Laura McBrides style is fluid and unpretentious.The atmosphere of this book stayed with me for several weeks and writing this now i still fell deeply moved by the complexities of the stories Laura McBride has created.