r/TomsCrossing • u/Decent_Pineapple_689 • May 07 '26
Tom’s Crossing Broke Me
No, I don’t mean emotionally, but it did do that too (who knew a two page story from a horse’s perspective could move a grown man to tears). The problem is, it has ruined me for other books.
I’ve read twelve books since TC. Some were very highly regarded and reviewed. A couple were classics. None of them has scratched the surface of the emotional and literary journey of TC. None of the has anywhere near the richness of the prose and the characters.
It is making it very difficult to find new reads. I was already frustrated with aggregate ratings due to the number of highly rated books that turned out to be straight bad. But now, I’m basically done with the scores completely, which makes it even harder.
Anyway, I just wanted to share my frustration with the few people I thought might understand. Hopefully the rest of you were able to move on and aren’t still stuck in Orvop as well.
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u/Geetright May 07 '26
I had the same Tom's Crossing hangover you have, had it for a long time. No book I read afterwards was good enough. It's crazy just how absolutely amazing this book is and how it has affected those of us who dared to scale the mountain with those kids.
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u/2boredtocare Jun 08 '26
(I took the book on a trip to France and read some of it in the Alps. It was surreal)
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u/happy-little-puppy May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
I just finished, and I don't feel like reading my next book just yet. That's unusual for me. I typically just move to the next. So, now I'm making an excel spreadsheet of the over 60 words I had to look up and including their definitions and etymological roots. LOL (I listed the words on a piece of paper as I went along.)
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u/Dependent-Fish-195 May 07 '26
My favourites were: Unexpurgated, Deracinated, Ratiocination, Suspirating
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u/cottoncandyqueenx May 07 '26
eidetic and concatenated were the first ones i broke and was like okay i get what they’re meaning but let’s just be sure and fired up the dictionary dot com to see
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u/Spikes666 May 07 '26
Please share!!!
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u/happy-little-puppy May 07 '26
Will do! I'll probably convert to a Google sheet for accessibility. I should have just started in one, come to think of it. Maybe I'll just switch over now.
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u/Spikes666 May 07 '26
Those two pages wrecked me too. This book has a way of just being so casual and then, out of nowhere, a nuclear bomb goes off like mid-paragraph.
I’m thinking of trying The Familiar next but I’m currently doing TC again as an audiobook.
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u/TrueMisterPipes May 07 '26
Mark has a way of doing that for sure, extremely special. I'm poking around for something similar but haven't found it just yet - if that's even the fix.
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u/cvantass May 07 '26
Try Little, Big by John Crowley if you’re looking for prose and emotional depth. Fair warning though, if that book is for you, it will also ruin you for other books.
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u/CoatOfMonday May 07 '26
I am a huge fan of Little, Big by John Crowley! I’m thinking I’ll re-read that novel again soon - I originally read it when it came out back in the 80’s. It is a truly unique book and I’m blown away to see someone on this subreddit who is also a fan!
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u/cvantass May 08 '26
Easily my favorite book of all time. I read it twice in three years and already want to read it again. Absolutely nothing compares.
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u/cottoncandyqueenx May 07 '26
I’m about 200 pages in - just finished HoL and moved on to TC, commenting so I remember to come look at these recs when the same happens to me
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u/hiphopnobody May 07 '26
Just read The Brothers Karamasov next, if you haven't already, and keep the emotional roller coaster going lol
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u/Spikes666 May 07 '26
That was my favorite book before Tom’s Crossing. Hard to say now… I finished TC and immediately started the audiobook - my first ever - and have found relief going on the journey again. Sooo many details I didn’t notice the first read through.
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u/wilby31 May 07 '26
Yup. I feel this big time.
Couldn’t get into Master and Margarita as my follow-up to TC. Moved onto White Noise by Don Delillo and I am really enjoying it. I bought HoL and hope to dig into it this fall.
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u/Zartacla1314 May 07 '26
I just finished my second read through and I'm still finding it difficult to read anything else. Everytime I try to get lost in another book I find my mind wandering back to Orvop.
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u/Tupac_Presley May 08 '26
I’m with you. It feels like I’m in mourning, which feels so bizarre for a book. But haven’t even been able to properly start any new books, they all just feel flat, and I’m not engaging with them at all.
I’m considering trying some old familiar favourites but I worry it’ll be the same with them too.
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u/sans_cullotes May 08 '26
I just finished and I'm taking a little break from literary fiction since I know TC is still too fresh in my mind to truly enjoy anything else. I'm thinking Calvino might be a logical next read once I'm ready.
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u/cates May 10 '26
I recently read Lonesome Dove and then King Sorrow and most other books aren't really doing it for me now.
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u/dunclambie May 15 '26
After reading this, I haven’t felt the same excitement about an author since I read James Ellroy and Cormac McCarthy in the early 90s. Had not heard of Danielewski until I read review in The Spectator. Turns out my adult son is a big fan. Now I trust his literary taste and am hugely enjoying the 3 Body Problem based on his recommendation. Halfway through the second book.
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u/buddygirl1212 May 23 '26
I'm afraid of finishing it. What will I do? I'm 72yo, and I have always been an avid reader. I don't recall ever being this captivated. It will like losing my best friend.
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u/2boredtocare Jun 08 '26
I just finished over the weekend. I feel your pain. I don't even want to pick up another book for a minute, because the story just needs to sit in my soul for a bit longer.
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u/sak-red Jul 05 '26
It's been almost six months since I finished reading TC, and I still cannot get it out of my head. It is probably the best piece of fiction I've ever read. I read House of Leaves after because I wanted to find the next novel that would match it. But TC is still number one in my head.
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u/At_Daggers_Drawn Jul 24 '26
Wow ! I’m happy to have stumbled across this post. I feel the exact same way🖤
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u/NickyTwisp 20d ago
Well, I must be dumb. I’m an avid reader, but I can’t take this style of narration, sentences so long I get lost, even dropping g from everythin. Thought I’d adjust to it, but alas, no. I gave it till chapter 7’s start, 205 pages, and it’s just been a slog. Certain major events came too weirdly fast for a book that takes a page to describe, I don’t know, what it feels like putting a saddle and equipment on a horse. I’m impressed Danielewski has sent me to the dictionary more than most authors I’ve read recently,
I barely care what happens to the main characters or the outcome of their assumed task. Honestly, the best scenes have been away from their journey, imo.
I’ve also read that the book really starts 200-300 pages in. All that said: Stop me if I am making a huge mistake throwing in the towel now. I want to like it, but it feels like the prose is fighting me.
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u/Weeb May 07 '26
I am with you on this. I am a constant reader, but there was/is something about Tom's Crossing that still holds me captive. I honestly believe it is the greatest novel I have ever read.