Having read “Open Links” and “Eclipsed” I was quite surprised when I entered the world of “I, Gabriel.” Surprise quickly gave way to curiosity as I explored the brazen and complex world of Gabriel Webber’s brain. The book’s introduction pulled me in right away and I wondered how Mr. Holland was going to develop this character, a character which honestly, I would have not enjoyed conversing with if I had met him in person. Unsure how this character could experience any drastic change, I continued with the story. After finishing the book, I am pleased to report that I felt Gabriel’s character matured in a dramatic yet realistic way. Mr. Holland brilliantly highlighted how one moment can really change your life, and I loved how he did not scratch the surface of this idea but created a situation when the reader had to truly consider which moment this was for Gabriel. It made me as a reader feel as if I was part of the mystery of Gabriel’s journey and made the conclusion of the book all the more satisfying.
I also enjoyed how Gabriel’s development included questioning what was really important in the world and most importantly, his world. Gabriel’s observation of his world happens in conjunction with other characters making their own observations on how their own worlds operated. Seeing these observations play out, affect one another, and enact change in the character’s life was another way that I felt entwined in Gabriel’s story. Gabriel’s evolution was influenced by these other character’s worlds and priorities, and as these characters slowly reveal their full worlds and their true colors, the projection of Gabriel’s character made more and more sense. With these outside influences affecting Gabriel and at times encouraging or forcing him to change, Mr. Holland cleverly brings in the notion that community is an immensely powerful thing. Furthermore, that a person’s role or perception within this community can be an equally powerful thing. In a society filled with social media, online newspapers, tabloids, and more, the perception or image of a person can at times be overdramatized. I think this story is an excellent example of purposeful manipulation of an image and how quickly these manipulations can spin out of control. It is however, also a strong example of one event can lead to one action that catalyzes a series of changes that really change a person and their life. And once again, Mr. Holland brings his readers into the mystery by making this event hard to decipher and one of the prominent kernels of this story.
I congratulate Mr. Holland on once again delivering a story that fully delves into its characters, its plot, and its message. And as someone who has OCD which a focus on “hygiene neurosis” as Gabriel Webber experiences, I highly appreciated the glimpses of hardships that Gabriel can experience with this condition and part of his evolution included some healing in this area. It gave me hope that one day, I too, might start to get better. In conclusion, thank you Mr. Holland for another wonderful read and please do a podcast or live interview on your influences for this book! It is so different from your other works that I have seen so far, I, along with other readers I am sure, would be fascinated to learn what led you down the road to this specific work. Looking forward to my next read and thank you!
