Wild Houses by Colin Barrett

How hard is Wild Houses to read?

Wild Houses scores 63 out of 100 for difficulty on ReadingRate, making it quite demanding. The score is a weighted composite of nine measures: four of how hard the prose is to parse, five of how hard the meaning is to extract.

Vocabulary: 48 out of 100

The text employs a rich, contemporary Irish vernacular, featuring regionalisms like "gaff," "buck," "beoir," and "oul fella" that add flavor but are generally decipherable through context. While the prose includes vivid descriptive adjectives such as "wizened" and "candescence," it avoids archaic words, specialized jargon, or invented language, making it more accessible than highly experimental works like 'Ulysses'.

Sentence structure: 60 out of 100

The prose balances direct, conversational dialogue with extended narrative sentences that often incorporate multiple clauses and detailed observations. While avoiding the extreme hypotaxis of James or Faulkner, the author frequently constructs lengthy, descriptive paragraphs that demand sustained reader attention and careful parsing of embedded information.

Abstraction: 70 out of 100

While the narrative is grounded in a concrete, character-driven plot, it frequently elevates into significant philosophical and psychological abstraction through the characters' internal monologues. Dev, in particular, grapples with existential questions of death, eternity, and the nature of self.

Information density: 72 out of 100

The text exhibits high information density, weaving together intricate character backstories, complex family dynamics, and multiple perspectives within a relatively short span. Each chapter introduces new layers of context and motivation, demanding close attention.

Narrative indirection: 45 out of 100

The narrative largely presents events and character thoughts directly. However, readers must infer significant backstory and character motivations, which are pieced together through character dialogue and fragmented recollections.

Symbolic density: 60 out of 100

While primarily a realist narrative, the text employs several recurring motifs and objects that carry symbolic weight, such as Georgie the dog representing shifting loyalties and the 'wild house' symbolizing past chaos.

Ironic distance: 58 out of 100

The narrative maintains a largely direct and empathetic tone, but incorporates significant ironic distance through character dialogue and situational contrasts. Gabe's repeated emphasis on 'civility' while holding Doll captive creates a gap between words and grim reality.

Resolution withholding: 85 out of 100

The narrative leaves many character arcs and thematic questions open, including Dev's future, the long-term consequences of the kidnapping, and the stability of Nicky and Doll's relationship, creating strong resistance to closure.

Structural complexity: 68 out of 100

The narrative employs a dual point-of-view structure, alternating chapters between Dev and Nicky, with extensive flashbacks frequently interrupting the present timeline.

How Wild Houses is regarded

Wild Houses holds a literary regard score of 31 out of 100, weighing its place in the canon, its critical reception, its influence on other writers, and the standing of its author. Regard is measured separately from difficulty: a demanding book is not necessarily an admired one.

About the author

Colin Barrett