Chris Kraus's latest novel, The Four Spent the Day Together, marks a bold departure from her previous works - but not quite as bold as its title suggests. In this sprawling, three-part narrative, Kraus weaves together stories of four interconnected lives, all grappling with the weight of their pasts and the futility of seeking fresh starts.
The novel's first section is where Kraus truly shines, bringing a curious and intimate voice to the story of Emma, a young woman from the Bronx who moves to rural Connecticut. The writing is lyrical, with passages that recall the poetic introspection of Kathy Acker - here, Kraus captures Emma's sense of disorientation as she navigates her new life. "Emma felt like she'd stepped into a dream – not hers, exactly," she writes, in a moment of breathtaking vulnerability.
However, this initial foray into narrative fiction is soon undercut by the same jaded, repetitive style that has characterized Kraus's previous work. The second section feels like a retread of old ground, with Catt Greene - Kraus herself in disguise - struggling to come to terms with her own success and the rise of Trump-era America. While this section does offer some scathing critiques of the culture of outrage and cancel culture, it ultimately feels like a rehashing of familiar themes.
The third section, centered around the true story of a young man's murder in a small Minnesota town, is where The Four Spent the Day Together truly finds its footing. Kraus brings a sense of meticulous research to this section, drawing on real-life events and conversations with the victim's friends and family. It's here that she also begins to explore her own obsessions with documentation and transgression - and it's in these moments that the novel feels most dynamic.
Yet, even this compelling section is ultimately curtailed by Kraus's own self-imposed constraints. The writing becomes increasingly disjointed, with sections feeling like fragments of a larger whole. And when it comes to exploring Brittney, the victim herself, Kraus seems hesitant to dramatize her story - instead opting for a more detached, observational approach that leaves the reader feeling somewhat unsatisfied.
In the end, The Four Spent the Day Together feels like a novel in search of its own identity. While Kraus's writing remains undeniably compelling, it's hard to shake the sense that this book is trying too hard to be something it's not - a cult writer attempting to break free from her own reputation and explore new modes of storytelling. Will this novel prove to be a successful fresh start for Chris Kraus? Or will it remain stuck in its familiar patterns, never quite finding its footing?
The novel's first section is where Kraus truly shines, bringing a curious and intimate voice to the story of Emma, a young woman from the Bronx who moves to rural Connecticut. The writing is lyrical, with passages that recall the poetic introspection of Kathy Acker - here, Kraus captures Emma's sense of disorientation as she navigates her new life. "Emma felt like she'd stepped into a dream – not hers, exactly," she writes, in a moment of breathtaking vulnerability.
However, this initial foray into narrative fiction is soon undercut by the same jaded, repetitive style that has characterized Kraus's previous work. The second section feels like a retread of old ground, with Catt Greene - Kraus herself in disguise - struggling to come to terms with her own success and the rise of Trump-era America. While this section does offer some scathing critiques of the culture of outrage and cancel culture, it ultimately feels like a rehashing of familiar themes.
The third section, centered around the true story of a young man's murder in a small Minnesota town, is where The Four Spent the Day Together truly finds its footing. Kraus brings a sense of meticulous research to this section, drawing on real-life events and conversations with the victim's friends and family. It's here that she also begins to explore her own obsessions with documentation and transgression - and it's in these moments that the novel feels most dynamic.
Yet, even this compelling section is ultimately curtailed by Kraus's own self-imposed constraints. The writing becomes increasingly disjointed, with sections feeling like fragments of a larger whole. And when it comes to exploring Brittney, the victim herself, Kraus seems hesitant to dramatize her story - instead opting for a more detached, observational approach that leaves the reader feeling somewhat unsatisfied.
In the end, The Four Spent the Day Together feels like a novel in search of its own identity. While Kraus's writing remains undeniably compelling, it's hard to shake the sense that this book is trying too hard to be something it's not - a cult writer attempting to break free from her own reputation and explore new modes of storytelling. Will this novel prove to be a successful fresh start for Chris Kraus? Or will it remain stuck in its familiar patterns, never quite finding its footing?
. It's like they're trying to hold onto the past instead of embracing innovation and user experience. And have you noticed how the font size changes randomly? Like, one minute it's huge and the next it's tiny as hell 
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. The writing is indeed lyrical at times, but the disjointed sections and lack of dramatic tension really bring down the overall experience.
. Maybe I'm just not the target audience or something? Still, it's worth checking out if you're into that sort of thing... but only if you can manage to navigate this frustrating forum first 
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and i'm so down for her tackling real-life events in the third section, it feels like she's finally tapping into something meaningful. but yeah, if you're gonna try to break free from your own reputation, don't be afraid to take some risks and not follow every weird tangent that pops into your head 
. The writing in the first section is absolutely stunning though 
- I love how she captures Emma's sense of disorientation and vulnerability 
. But then it feels like she's stuck in a loop and doesn't quite know which way to go 
. The part about the young man's murder in Minnesota is so well-researched and thought-provoking 
, but I wish she'd taken more risks with that section too - sometimes less is just as impactful as more 
. Overall, it feels like Kraus is trying to break free from her own expectations rather than exploring new ideas 
. Still, I'm curious to see what she does next...
. The first part is super emotional and relatable, but then the second part feels kinda same-old-same-old 
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. Overall, I think this novel is trying too hard to reinvent itself, rather than embracing its own unique voice and quirks 
. The way she weaves together these four interconnected stories is like trying to assemble a puzzle blindfolded – you're not always sure how all the pieces fit together, but it's still mesmerizing in its own weird way 
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. However, when she tries to bring in some new perspectives or tackle bigger themes, it kinda falls flat 
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. But at the same time, I feel like she's holding herself back by trying to stay within these self-imposed constraints 
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. Can't wait to see what she does next!
. But at the same time, I feel like some parts of the book are just... meh 
. I mean, we all know Chris Kraus is a talented writer, so it feels like she's holding herself back by trying to fit into familiar patterns 
. But the second section feels kinda same-old, you know? It's like she's trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. And don't get me wrong, I love her crits on cancel culture and all that, but it just didn’t feel as sharp this time around 
. But then she puts her own stamp on it, which feels a bit forced at times. And I feel like Brittney's story deserved more attention, you know? It’s like she's hiding behind some sort of veil or something 
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. But you know what really got my attention? The way the third section feels like a breath of fresh air 
. I'm so down for more meticulous research and exploration of themes, that's some real storytelling right there 
. But, man, it feels like she's still stuck in a rut...
...the part about emma in the bronx tho 
thats where she shines & i loved how lyrical it was 
dat's where she really gets it right 
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. either way, i'll still be reading more from her, because let's face it, she's got talent 
. but then the third section is where she really shines and brings this amazing story to life. i loved how she explored her own obsessions and documented the true story, it's like she finally found her footing