Donovan Curtis

Donovan is the novel’s central character, its protagonist and one of its many narrators. He is in his mid-teens, comes from what might be described as a relatively average family and, as he himself understands, is driven by his impulses. Encouraged by his two best friends, Donovan says what he wants, does what he feels inclined to do in the moment he feels the inclination, and tends to do does both without a clear sense, or consideration, of potential consequences.

At first this aspect of Donovan seems to be primarily negative: the narrative is initiated, and almost entirely driven, by the results of Donovan’s ultimately destructive impulse to take a powerful swing (with a tree branch) at a statue outside his school. But while the narrative doesn’t necessarily, or directly, condone Donovan’s actions – or, for that matter, his tendency to act on impulse...