Foregone by Russell Banks - Book Review - This Chick Reads
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Foregone by Russell Banks – Book Review

I picked up Foregone after stumbling across an article about Russell Banks by Mary Morris on LitHub. It was this beautifully written piece about their long friendship, and it painted Banks as this fascinating, introspective guy who had a knack for diving into the uncomfortable truths of life. It stuck with me, and when I learned that Foregone was one of his final novels, it felt like the perfect entry point to his work. Plus, I’ve got a soft spot for stories that grapple with memory and legacy—there’s just something magnetic about peeling back those layers of a life, isn’t there?

I read this one over a few quiet evenings at home, curled up in my favorite chair with a bottomless cup of tea. I thought I was going to like it, especially since it promised all the drama and introspection I usually eat up. And I mean, Banks is a literary heavyweight. But I wasn’t entirely sure—it’s a big deal to tackle the swan song of someone as revered as Banks. Did it live up to the hype? Let’s talk.

What’s it about?

Foregone centers on Leonard Fife, a Canadian documentary filmmaker nearing the end of his life. Battling terminal cancer and knowing his days are numbered, he agrees to one last filmed interview with a former student. Sounds simple enough, right? Oh, but it’s not. Fife isn’t interested in a straightforward retelling of his life. Instead, he goes rogue, spilling long-buried secrets about his past—secrets that paint a far more complicated portrait of the man than the idealized version his friends and family know.

This is where it gets juicy. Fife fled the U.S. during the Vietnam War to avoid the draft, which seems heroic, until you realize it wasn’t all about politics—it was also deeply personal. The novel is all about the unraveling of his choices, the relationships he broke, and the truths he can no longer keep hidden. It’s messy, intense, and filled with a kind of raw humanity that’s as fascinating as it is uncomfortable. Banks gives you front-row seats to the chaos of a man reckoning with his life in real time.

What This Chick Thinks

So, here’s the thing: Foregone hit me in waves. Banks is undeniably brilliant at capturing the complexity of human emotions. Fife is a frustrating, fascinating character—both sympathetic and infuriating. The way Banks writes him feels so alive, it’s almost like you’re watching the documentary instead of reading about it. The prose is sharp and intricate, with a kind of lyricism that makes even the most mundane details feel weighty. But—and this is a big “but”—it’s also a tough book to love.

Let’s start with the pacing. Fife’s monologue-heavy narrative has all the makings of a slow burn, but sometimes it dragged. There were moments where I felt like I was slogging through the same existential territory over and over again. I found myself wishing for more scenes that grounded Fife’s revelations in action or gave me a breather from his relentless self-analysis. And while Banks’ language is stunning, it occasionally veers into territory that feels a little too dense for its own good. It’s the kind of book that demands patience—and let’s be real, not every reader will have the stamina for that.

That said, when it lands, it lands. The way Banks explores themes of identity, regret, and mortality is haunting. Fife’s refusal to sugarcoat his past feels raw and real, even when it makes him unlikable. I also couldn’t stop thinking about how the story doubles as a reflection of Banks himself, grappling with his own legacy as a writer. It’s deeply meta in the best way. It’s also recently been adapted into the film Oh Canada with Richard Gere as Fife—directed by Paul Schrader.

Final Thoughts

I’d give Foregone a solid 7.5 out of 10. It’s ambitious, introspective, and beautifully written, but it’s not for everyone. If you’re in the mood for a quiet, contemplative read that challenges you to sit with uncomfortable truths, this one’s worth your time. Just know going in: it’s more about peeling back the layers of a complicated life than delivering a neatly tied-up story.

Try it if you like:

  • A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles: For its introspective, character-driven narrative and focus on one man’s layered past.
  • The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes: Because it’s all about memory, regret, and how we reconcile our life stories.
  • Stoner by John Williams: If you like slow-burn character studies that dig deep into the human condition.

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