Books like The Skook

A friend of mine loaned me this book in high school and for some reason it really stuck with me all of these years. I couldn't remember why exactly, just had a vague impression that it was special. I finally picked up a used copy from Better World Books (no shipping, yay!) and revisited it. It wasn't exactly as I remembered it - it seemed a little deeper and more profound as a teenager, but, especially since it was a quick read, still well worth the effort. It was entertaining, interesting and still thought provoking. I would have always felt unsatisfied if I hadn't taken another crack at it. Interestingly, of the small handful of reviews across a few different sites, more than half of the reviewers mention having read it as young adults and feeling compelled to revisit it at a later date. It's so odd, considering it's not, nor was it advertised as, a young adult novel. It's complex and bizarre. It's a mix of drama, comedy, mystery, thriller and philosophic exploration. The characters are well drawn and fascinating, the story unique.