Title: The Hottest State
Author: Ethan Hawke
First published January 1, 1996
208 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780316540834 (ISBN10: 0316540838)
Rating: 3.37
Overview
In Ethan Hawke’s debut novel, The Hottest State, readers are transported to a gritty New York City filled with aspiring artists and musicians. William Harding, a college dropout and budding actor, meets Sarah Wingfield, a preschool teacher and frontwoman of a band.
Despite their differences, William falls hard for Sarah, but their relationship is far from easy. As their romance unfolds, William is forced to confront his past and his own sexual desires.
Hawke’s honest and raw portrayal of young love and heartbreak is sure to resonate with readers and leave them feeling emotionally invested in William and Sarah’s story.
About the Author
Ethan Green Hawke is an accomplished American actor, writer, and film director who has been nominated for four Academy Awards. He gained recognition for his role in the 1988 film Dead Poets Society, directed by Peter Weir, which was considered a breakthrough for him.
This success led him to leave school and pursue his acting career, appearing in many other movies including A Midnight Clear, Alive, Reality Bites, Before Sunrise, Gattaca, The Newton Boys, and Great Expectations.
In 2001, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Training Day, directed by Antoine Fuqua. Hawke has also written two novels, The Hottest State in 1996 and Ash Wednesday in 2002.
He received his first screenwriting Oscar nomination in 2005 for co-writing the film Before Sunset, which is a sequel to Before Sunrise.
Hawke’s talent extends beyond acting and writing. He also directed the films Chelsea Walls in 2001 and The Hottest State in 2006.
In addition, he has appeared on stage, notably in the play The Coast of Utopia by Tom Stoppard at Lincoln Center in New York from October 2006 through May 2007. He portrayed the character Mikhail Bakunin and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance.
Editoral Review
The Hottest State by Ethan Hawke is a novel that centers around the life of a struggling actor struggling to navigate the complexities of love, family, and success. Hawke, who is best known for his work in film, delivers a heart-wrenching tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
The novel opens with the protagonist, William Harding, in the midst of a passionate love affair with a young, spirited woman named Sarah. However, as the novel progresses, their relationship becomes strained as William struggles to balance his personal aspirations and his desire for a real connection with Sarah.
The story is set in the mid-1990s in New York City, a time when grunge was at its peak and the city was alive with the energy of young, creative individuals. Hawke captures the essence of this era with vivid descriptions of the city’s landscape, creating a backdrop that complements the narrative and adds to the depth of the story.
One of the strengths of the novel is its convincing portrayal of the characters. Hawke takes great care to develop his characters, imbuing them with a sense of nuance and authenticity that makes them feel like real people.
The reader is sure to have moments where they empathize with William and Sarah’s struggles and relationships, and the various plot twists and turns that they encounter throughout the novel. Another strength of the novel is its evocative prose.
Hawke has a gift for language, and his storytelling is deeply affecting, often leaving readers with an emotional resonance that lingers well after they’ve put down the book. Each sentence is carefully crafted to convey meaning and feeling, and the overall result is a work of literature that feels both immersive and impactful.
However, the novel isn’t without its flaws. Some readers might find the plot to be slow-moving and meandering at times, and others might feel like the ending is too abrupt or unsatisfying.
Additionally, some readers might find the characters to be too self-indulgent and insular, making it difficult to relate to their struggles and journeys. Despite these limitations, The Hottest State is a testament to Hawke’s skill as a writer, and its themes of love, purpose, and self-discovery are sure to resonate with a wide range of readers.
Hawke’s work is a brave and beautiful exploration of the human condition, and it is a book that will stay with readers long after they’ve turned the final page. Therefore, Washington Post highly recommends The Hottest State to readers who are looking for a thought-provoking, beautiful work of literature that will challenge and inspire them.
This novel is a must-read for lovers of literary fiction, and it earns a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
