**spoiler alert** I was, overall, surprised at my enjoyment of this read. I’ve since aged out of the target audience & pursued reading this story pure**spoiler alert** I was, overall, surprised at my enjoyment of this read. I’ve since aged out of the target audience & pursued reading this story purely for the subject matter. Though some of the dialogue & decision-making by the 17-year-old main character, Chloe, made me cringe, I couldn’t help but feel that her actions were mostly authentic.
Chloe has just undergone major heart surgery & has to learn to navigate her new limitations on life while still being in a place where she’s trying to figure out herself & that life after high school is drastically different than the one she was previously leading.
Chloe is not someone with whom I could relate. At her age I wasn’t pursuing obtaining the highest GPA, filling my schedule with extracurricular activities or worrying about how my portfolio would appear to post-secondary schools. For the most part, her concerns throughout the story didn’t really call to my sympathies. However, I could understand how she must have felt. Her whole life revolved around pursuing a set path & being in control.
Having a heart attack at the age of 17 isn’t something the majority of us think could happen. When she begins to plummet after her organ transplant, it all reads like a normal reaction to her circumstances. The way Chloe approaches interacting with her long-time friends, her lack of social ability, & her general unease in normal situations calls to the better nature of the reader & truly unless the reader themselves has experienced this situation it’s hard to state what a person might or might not do and/or feel in Chloe’s shoes.
However, Takaoka lost me in some of Chloe’s decision-making. For a character who claims to be numerically gifted & very devoted to the scientific method, Chloe seems to fail to understand (or maybe care) about the severity of her situation. Taking medication is not a joke. I understand that it’s frustrating but it’s either you take them & keep living or you stop & so does your heart. As well, when she experiences a very clear head injury she just brushes it off as though she’s never been made aware of what a concussion is. Her desire to keep everything a secret really made my blood boil. She was toying with her literal livelihood because she was frustrated with a change in pace. Again, maybe it’s because we are two different people & I wouldn’t have been so utterly careless if I had just had an organ transplant but, Chloe decided to do drugs, drink in excess & then drive around on a motorcycle (because she felt like she might know how to drive it) was all very bizarre.
I appreciated the twist ending. Though it wasn’t a surprise, it was still a decent way to wrap up the story. However, I was left with a couple of different questions regarding secondary character experiences.
How was the man swimming in the ocean always able to see Chloe & Kai? Were Chloe & Kai spiritually/physically linked & if so, wouldn’t that have made their make-out session really bizarre? How was Kai present & making effectual influences in Chloe’s current timeline if he wasn’t alive in that timeline? How would he have been able to text her if t her in a timeline in which he was alive?
Wouldn’t he have been experiencing the weird moments she would have (ex. asking everyone to identify a girl who was never seen by others alive in that timeline)? As well, being as he was a ghost-like apparition in Chloe’s timeline, how would he have been able to have tangible experiences with her, when in his timeline, she wouldn’t have ever met him or possibly even been alive?
Maybe I’m reading too much into this.
Though you might find yourself reading with a parental lens when Chloe makes certain decisions; the story is overall enjoyable. It’s easy to read, easy to follow & easy to appreciate.
Thank you to NetGalley, Candlewick Press, & Shannon Takaoka for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!...more
I remain in limbo waiting for a legitimate story to scare the bejesus out of me.
Unfortunately, this was not a greatly written story. We follow Merry I remain in limbo waiting for a legitimate story to scare the bejesus out of me.
Unfortunately, this was not a greatly written story. We follow Merry who is 8 years old for a greater portion of the story & her narration is trite & irritating. Perhaps I was an immensely mature 8-year-old but she appears to me to be incredibly immature for her age & I was often confused by her perception of life. Again, this is based on my personal experiences & so someone else might feel Merry was well represented as a young child.
There was not an instance in this story where I felt that what was happening was scary; even the wall-climbing, vomit-leaking scenes were bland & I felt like I was struggling to make my way through the story to a point in which I wouldn't feel as though a teenager was struggling with severe mental health issues while her parents argued about the value of religion in healing....more
Though this isn't a book for which I would allot a high rating, I did enjoy reading it. I found the story flowed quite well. There were characters thaThough this isn't a book for which I would allot a high rating, I did enjoy reading it. I found the story flowed quite well. There were characters that annoyed me due to the time period: overly confident men who assume they have every right in the world over women, women with dull personalities who only spend their days gossiping & being brainless, etc. Even with the typical typecast of the members of this story, I somehow found the tale to be of interest.
The idea of a wife of a deceased anatomist being held accountable for his professional decisions was a storyline I haven't encountered before. Though Lady Darby seems to have personality traits that we are freer to uphold in modern times, I enjoyed her participation in the story.
She helped lead the reader through a series of events that lead her to aid in the investigation of a murder at a family party. I do rather enjoy these settings; a large gathering of people & a murder for which everyone is the suspect. Unfortunately, I found the crime easy to solve.
I spent over half of the book waiting for the murder to be resolved. That didn't necessarily take away from my experience with this book but, I did feel that the red herring dragged the book a bit. I also found the ending to be very long but, that could also be due to my having guessed the conclusion & then having to read through it all.
Regardless, I will continue to read this series. It's not overly complicated & was an easy book to work through in a day or two....more
**spoiler alert** When I first started reading this book I was surprised by the tone employed to drive the plot forward. To delve into historical fict**spoiler alert** When I first started reading this book I was surprised by the tone employed to drive the plot forward. To delve into historical fiction that doubles as a mystery enticed me. When the premise was revealed to be the dealing of antiquities I was doubly excited. However, so much of my disappointment is attributed to poor characters.
Emily, the main character, who has lost her husband of only a couple of months, & is now very wealthy, stumbles upon her husband's possessions & become aware of the fact that he wasn't the single-minded hunter of wildlife that she knew him to be.
As the book progressed I became more & more irritated with her character. She's not very bright which one might discern from the opening chapters as she makes wild assumptions & has no ability to actually read people (which is highlighted throughout the story). Her single-mindedness toward "The Iliad" by Homer, is mind-numbing to read about.
I've personally read both "The Iliad" & "The Odyssey", having to read about a group of people who seemingly had nothing better to discuss than a work which was translated, misunderstood & over-hyped, gave me the impression that they didn't have much going for them. These wealthy people of English society had ample pieces of literature at their disposal but instead decided to focus on a piece that might grant them the appearance of one who is enlightened & culturally intellectual. I understand that "The Iliad" is referenced in terms of its symbolism but, it was overdone & lead to my feelings listed above.
I grew so incredibly tired of hearing Emily try to be witty & snarky all the while totally ignoring the red flags which were posted everywhere around her. Though there's always a part of me that's secretly happy when I can guess the plot of a story, there was nothing to feel proud about with regard to guessing this one; it was profoundly obvious from the start.
One didn't need to understand the concept of a red herring to know where this book was going. The fact that Emily had to constantly reassure herself of the validity of her assumptions, based solely on her own vapid motives, was dull.
The actual concept of this book was great but the way that it was written, the characters & the layout made the read feel very long & drawn out....more
**spoiler alert** The concept of this book is fascinating, though I do admit that I sometimes struggle with reading historical fiction due to the dial**spoiler alert** The concept of this book is fascinating, though I do admit that I sometimes struggle with reading historical fiction due to the dialogue, I thought that this story would explore a concept that I was unfamiliar with before hearing about the book. To quickly summarize; a sin-eater is a person who, as the name suggests, eats the food placed on deathbeds to consume the sins of the dying/dead.
The sin-eater literally consumes another person's sins, therefore those sins become her own. Obviously, that isn't how 'sins' work. I'm not sure if the fact that Campisi is a playwright affected the way that the dialogues flowed but, I found it excruciating to try & get through this book. There was a lot of repetition & we were constantly going over how sins were the focal point of this society but never delving into how the practice came to be or why certain foods were chosen, etc. I felt as though we were given little information or substance with which to build this scenario in which the main character, May, finds herself.
That being said I don't wish the book to be any longer than it is. This story dragged on. I spent some time wishing we had further details regarding the position of the sin-eater, I also just wanted to get to a point in the story where something (anything) happened.
Yes, May does randomly become a sin eater but the minimal amount of information we are given as to her transition & her learning about the actual practice (i.e. daily tasks vs. her simply following the elder sin eater), rendered me frustrated with the flow of the story. I quickly became annoyed at the silly nicknames that May gave the secondary characters. This is a point in the story where we could have been given some form of detail regarding the characters & their positions in the Queen's court. Instead, we have the babbling of a young girl who is clearly going through it, to lead the reader through these experiences. I understand that May is a young person who lives in the slums of England during a period when there was a lot of insecurity within the social structure. However, as the reader, I wanted to understand more about the environment & the scenery.
One final point I would like to highlight is May's tendency to speak to inanimate objects. This aspect of her character would have been great had we had an exterior perspective of her character in the story. Had the reader been able to understand the struggles of May's life in poverty, of her social standing, her parent's death, her devastating solitude; her conversing with objects would have given the story a unique perspective. However, given the fact that May seems to kind of float through life (i.e when she discovers a giant murder plot without really doing anything to untangle the web), her conversing with inanimate objects felt ridiculous.
The plot of this story had a lot of potential & had it been written differently it might have been an exceptional story. However, with little detail given to build the surroundings of the characters, little information is provided regarding the 'profession' of sin-eating, with the only real interesting point in the plot being the probable murder….which we don't ever read about except when May isn't talking to gravel…this story was a dud....more
**spoiler alert** I don't even know what to say about this book or where to begin. The first 100 pages were not horrible, though the writing was juven**spoiler alert** I don't even know what to say about this book or where to begin. The first 100 pages were not horrible, though the writing was juvenile & corny, the main character unreliable & the surrounding circumstances somewhat unbelievable; I was still interested to see where the story would go. However, after reaching the halfway point, the story was not interesting & no longer held any intrigue.
The main character was so overly focused on his dead wife that he didn't have anything of value to bring to the story. The fact that he was constantly distracted by women (thinking about them physically & becoming aroused) rendered him an unreliable narrator & I was annoyed with him throughout the entirety of the book. We could have actually gotten somewhere 100 pages prior, had he not constantly felt the need to talk & talk & talk about his dead wife's apparitions & then about how turned on he was by the woman in front of him & the imaginary woman he pictured Ada to be. Waldherr had the chance to make the main character truly fascinating; the death of his wife was crazy (to say the least) yet all we see from him is his desire to have sex, kiss his dead wife's apparition, take pictures of dead people & then be horny the rest of the time.
Isabelle was another character (out of the two in which the novel follows) that I hated. It felt as though there was no room for actual dialogue or any dialogue which would advance the plot because she kept reiterating snarky comments & jumping to assumptions about everything. Then, we would have our vapid main character not contest anything that she said & we would have to read about the misconceptions & miscommunications for another chunk of pages.
When the reveal at the end was announced I could not have cared less. I skimmed the last 20 or so pages because the writing of the conversations was so basic & uninteresting that I couldn't stomach it any longer. It would have made more of an impact if Isabelle were revealed as being the daughter earlier on. Instead, we hear about her telling a story, in which she wasn't physically present for half of the time & then acting as though her revealing these intimate details about an ailing woman were somehow a giant power move. She was a nuisance & I didn't care for her at all.
There was real potential for this story to be interesting, disturbing, scary & distinct. Instead, we end up with a storyline that kept taking wild left turns & never went anywhere. There was too much going on with what appears to be little thought for how the story would read when all the ideas, concepts & twists were put together....more
If you're looking for a book to read on a gloomy afternoon, this would do the trick.
The Seer of Shadows is not a complicated story to follow. I would If you're looking for a book to read on a gloomy afternoon, this would do the trick.
The Seer of Shadows is not a complicated story to follow. I would say it's a great starter for those who are looking to begin exploring the world of literary paranormal. The characters do not hold a great deal of depth but, for the purpose of the plot, it worked well.
This was a story that leaned on the shorter side & quickly followed the progression of a scheme that originated from a photographer who is followed by his young apprentice. Though I cannot say that the story had no plot holes or finished on a believable note, I think I was in an appropriate mood to endeavour into a simple story. For that reason, I didn't judge it too harshly.
If you choose to read this book I advise not going into it thinking that you'll be reading the most extraordinary ghost story of all time. If you begin your read with the thought in mind that this story is short, sweet & attempts to be a little scary; you might enjoy it more than not.
A seasoned reader of crime, mystery & the paranormal might not find this story riveting but, I think that every once in a while it's nice to read something that's not too complicated & ends on a high note, however unrealistic that note might be....more
**spoiler alert** I appreciate that this book was written in a time period of human history that might not see it be riddled with horror beyond my kno**spoiler alert** I appreciate that this book was written in a time period of human history that might not see it be riddled with horror beyond my knowledge. However, it greatly missed the mark of fulfilling its true potential.
James spends far too much time on the governess & her perception of the children. As the reader, we had to go over how lovely & essentially angelic the children appeared to be. A lot of the focus was put on their physical appearances as being indicators that no evil could be found in their person. I understand that for the time in which James wrote this story this approach probably seemed valid & not vapid but, seeing as we spent so much time reading over this fact it made me feel as though James hadn't anything further to add to the development of the characters. There was really nothing to indicate that the children were anything but normal kids. The fact that the older child was dismissed from school really wasn't any indication of anything given the strict social rules that people were meant to follow at that time.
The amount of dialogue we had to read through in which the governess was losing her marbles because she felt as though the children were perfect little beings & that she was sure they were manipulating her really made me lose interest in her as a character. She was simple-minded but I don't feel like that excuses the fact that we had to constantly read over her suspicions. Having had to do that made me feel as though I were reading about a paranoid woman who fed into the lore of the environment rather than anything in the story leading me to believe that this was a ghost story.
The fact that she was retelling this story to her former charge in his adulthood somewhat confirmed to me that she never took the time to analyze the situation. She spends her whole time with these children dotting on them & then all of a sudden accuses them of paranormal involvement. As a child, that would scare me.
Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the concept of this story. I think James truly set up the book in a way that was unique & enticing. However, it seems to me that he got lost in the method of his writing versus actually transcribing a horror story. Instead of having the governess ramble for pages at a time about the physicality of the children, which made her think of them as children of good nature; it would have been beneficial to provide further details about the ghost citings or the reasons why the governess thought the children were delving into paranormal activities.
By not expanding the dialogue past moments of panic between the house staff, James made the story appear to be the baseless paranoia of a governess in the countryside versus an actual ghost story. If he had taken more care to explore the themes he was presenting & not focused so much on how women were perceived at the time or how the avoidance of details lead to fear, I might have enjoyed this more....more
**spoiler alert** I appreciated how little background information we were required to have to be able to enjoy this story. Jackson does an incredible **spoiler alert** I appreciated how little background information we were required to have to be able to enjoy this story. Jackson does an incredible job at keeping all the valuable pieces of the plot low-key until the last minute when we, as the reader, are meant to piece everything together ourselves.
I cannot say that this book is very complicated or poses great difficulty to understand. What makes the reality that this family lives so tragic is the fact that there's really no worthwhile reason why all their family members should be dead. But, they are & so we see the members of the family who remain piece together a life which is void of all that they knew, while they still hold the truth of what transpired. The horror which was intentionally caused to such a large group of people due to a single character's inability to function in society is abstract & overwhelming.
I applaud their ability to at once seek shelter in the far corners of their mind but also to approach their days in the hopes that normalcy might stay with them. By encouraging themselves to keep a steady routine they both seek to contain the malice but also comfort themselves.
Jackson is a wonderful author in her own right; she mingles reality & all the terrors which hide in our everyday lives with the fantastical & unbelievable. I could read this story a thousand times over & continue to find aspects that I adored....more
The majority of this story flew over my head & I think I spent too much time being annoyed with the dialogue exchanged between Ethan & Mary.
I found itThe majority of this story flew over my head & I think I spent too much time being annoyed with the dialogue exchanged between Ethan & Mary.
I found it hard to read through Ethan's constant jokes & the way in which he seemingly disconnects from his life through his sarcastic comments. However, at a certain point, I realized that I might probably be feeling what Mary felt but didn't show. When Ethan says that he doesn't really know all that Mary thinks or feels, I think he was accurate in stating so. I think this is where Steinbeck's true talent is shown.
This book introduces the reader to a family whose ancestors had ample in terms of wealth. The in which society they now live is post-war & changing to reflect the developing world of the West. However, everyone still shows up to their mundane tasks & puts their best foot forward. I enjoyed the way that Steinbeck introduced the characters because it was easy to get a feel for them right off the bat. I didn't spend too much of the story trying to understand why Ethan worked as a Clerk when he knew he was worth so much more. I understood why he went to work, I understood his frustrations & his mindset. There was never any doubt as to the depth of the characters, both primary & secondary.
Sometimes I felt that the dialogue dragged on. By the time I got to the second part of the story, I found myself feeling as though a lot of the first part could have been cut. Steinbeck spends time describing the intricacies of the lives of the Hawley's so that we are able to grasp a full picture of them as a family.
I did appreciate this in some ways, in others, I felt that I took frequently longer breaks between reading because I knew we were embarking on a longer descriptive section & I wasn't always enthused to read through it.
Regardless of this, I still think this is a great story. The punch truly hits you after you've finished the book & you take a moment to reflect on all the planning & subtleties....more
**spoiler alert** The real-life story of Eliza is both fascinating & incredible. To grasp the full extent of everything that was left to her; the gran**spoiler alert** The real-life story of Eliza is both fascinating & incredible. To grasp the full extent of everything that was left to her; the grandeur of all her responsibilities, especially in a period of time in which women did not have the freedom to explore options for approaching any responsibilities which might have been given to them. Eliza did accomplish fantastic things for her family & the South, given the circumstances.
However, I did not feel that this book truly exposed me to the rawness of the situation Eliza was presented with. It took me a long time to become invested in the book and until I realized this was actually about a real-life person, I had a hard time actually believing anything that I read. I will credit this to specific freedoms that the author seemed to have taken (based on multiple other reviews).
The back/forth dialogue that dealt with Eliza & her thoughts/feelings towards Ben was so out of this world & unbelievable to me that it disconnected me from the story & in consequence led me to feel that I was reading a pure work of fiction. When I got to the end of the book & was able to read some concrete facts about Eliza, I felt that the relationship with Ben truly took away from Eliza’s lived experiences.
I don’t have to write a thousand words about the strangeness of this liberty. Eliza grew up the daughter of a slave-owner so one might conclude that she wasn’t totally oblivious to the way that Black people were treated or their social standing. Therefore, the fact that she constantly put Ben in peril & in dangerous situations by continuously trying to force a friendship (if not more) with him, in public places, was truly frustrating. Eliza went from a girl who seemed to want to break down the social norms imposed upon women; a person who works hard to save their family’s plantation, to a girl who really had no clue about anything that was happening in her society.
Had this part not been included, I would have felt more positive toward the story in general. The writing wasn’t hugely captivating but I will credit that to the fact that Eliza’s real life was probably not a giant adventure & was most likely filled with dread & hard times....more
Walden Pond finds itself described, studied & appreciated in Thoreau’s book of journal compilations from his time secluded from society. This book reqWalden Pond finds itself described, studied & appreciated in Thoreau’s book of journal compilations from his time secluded from society. This book requires the reader to be in a very specific mindset & a very particular mood. Regardless of the fact that it is considered one of the most influential pieces of literature; nothing much happens. We see many descriptions of what Thoreau finds around himself & he will often venture into social criticism within the dreamlike state in which he describes nature.
This is a short read but one which requires mental stamina to complete. I admit that I found my eyes often glazing over the abundance of flowery detail but, being as I wasn’t in a rush to read the book it wasn’t much trouble to make my way to the start of a page once again. That being said, the reader is privy to an understanding of the author as is possible without being near. The writing style & the entries in themselves are highly reflective. One will finish reading this book with a sentiment of familiarity toward Thoreau.
I cannot say that you would be missing out if you chose not to read this book. The descriptions of nature are beautiful; criticisms & trains of thought are intriguing. However, these sometimes felt tedious. One might, unfortunately, finish reading by asking oneself: what was the point....more
In his chronicling of the “Great Pleasure Excursion”, Twain shares the emotions, adventures & lessons he experienced during the voyage which saw him tIn his chronicling of the “Great Pleasure Excursion”, Twain shares the emotions, adventures & lessons he experienced during the voyage which saw him travel across Europe & The Holy Land in 1867. Though what the reader might find within the pages of this book might often come as a cultural shock linguistically, nothing is more humbling than recognizing familiar locations we see presented to us through screens & those become available to us through the quick jaunt in an aeroplane.
This book was one that deserves all the praise which has been bestowed upon it. I found every chapter & page to be filled with interesting information, opinions & reflections. Twain is renowned for being a fantastic writer & his entries on personal experiences are no exception. Every instance in which I had to pause in my reading saw myself actively longing to return to the journey across time & through spaces coexistent between our two worlds.
The aspect of this book that I found to be the most interesting was Twain’s descriptions of landscapes; cities & towns. It’s incredible to note that, though so much time has elapsed since the writing & publication of this book took place, the people & places esteemed throughout have remained much as they were. Of course, humanity has experienced many a great change in our societies & lives but, the way that Twain describes his first jaunts in unknown places; seeing the pyramids, & walking around water that runs smoothly to this day; all made me feel as though his earnest experiences could have been my own.
I don’t know that this needs to be said but, I shall say it nonetheless; some of Twain’s points of view—his opinions on citizens of specific nations—are harsh, often bordering on uncouth. This voyage did, after all, take place in 1867. It is not unfounded for people of such a time to view anyone unlike themselves through a less-than-rose-coloured lens. That being said, the terminology did not take away from the overall experience which can be deduced from reading this book, nor did it take away from the quality of what was being written.
If you find yourself seeking a journey as an innocent abroad; or if you have the time to dedicate to a boat ride across the ocean; I would suggest you read this book. I appreciate & recognize the weight of its importance as a classic piece of literature....more
**spoiler alert** I enjoyed reading this story. Though the book itself was long at around 500 pages, the way that the chapters were broken up helped e**spoiler alert** I enjoyed reading this story. Though the book itself was long at around 500 pages, the way that the chapters were broken up helped ease the progression of the story so that it didn't feel treacherously long. In this same breath, I appreciated that the chapters were short. Though, there is something to be said for longer chapters & the way they allow for the inclusion of further thought & dialogue; these shorter chapters worked well with the story & the amount the reader was able to experience at any given time.
This is a strange aspect to try & explain but, I didn't feel as though the characters were very complex. The focus of this story was the events that transpired due to human decisions & explorations in science rather than the detailed experience of each character which meant that none of them were very complicated to understand or imagine.
For example, Gabriel is filled with guilt after having taken part in the scientific research & execution of a product that lead to the destruction of an entire community of people & wildlife. His desire to go to the land which he participated in destroying with the intention of burying himself along with his family, is not complicated to understand.
Though the characters might slightly appear to be acting in a random fashion, once you understand the basic gist of the storyline, none of their actions or reactions are very overwhelming or shocking. This is a factor that I did appreciate because it does ring true to so many aspects of our own lives & communities.
Overall, this book was well-written. It's not a complex story nor is it necessarily shocking. However, I do think the intention is partly for the reader to finish the book & reflect on all the ways that the destruction of nature in this story has also been present in our realities.
Life/nature does find a way to heal itself though it is constantly being stunted by the inabilities of the general populace. Perhaps someone might read this story & decide to be better; to pay closer attention to the earth that houses us & to the animals with whom we share this home & this life....more
I want to preface this review by stating that this book is riddled with spoilers of other stories. If you have not gotten the chance to read some of wI want to preface this review by stating that this book is riddled with spoilers of other stories. If you have not gotten the chance to read some of what might be considered classic thrillers or the more reputable murder mysteries of the past century & beyond, you will certainly find yourself frustrated. The crux of this book rides on the plots of other such books as the characters piece together the reveals & crimes which transpired in literature & which the criminal now employs in hopes of succeeding to perform the perfect murders.
For this reason, I was exceedingly irritated. I read this book before dipping my toes into the virtual world of book communities & therefore had not thought to search for any disclaimers that this plot would possibly ruin books I had not gotten the chance to read.
If you have read some of the more acclaimed pieces found in the thriller & murder mystery genres you will have no trouble appreciating this book for what it was; an ode to the greats with a thin string tying its own plot together. That is not to say that I do not enjoy when present-day stories include tales of old but, truly the entirety of this book resided on the efforts done by other authors.
I enjoyed that Malcolm spent a great deal of time in his book shop & the atmosphere that this created in the novel. His involvement in the story, though not shocking, made sense and I felt he fit in well with who he was as a character. Though he frequently came across as highly gullible I did enjoy him as the main character.
I wouldn’t say that your time would be wasted reading this book. It’s a decent story and the writing style fits well with the voice of the main character. However, if you are looking for a deeply shocking plotline, filled with twists and turns, this will not fit the bill....more
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, theref**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on mental illness, Postpartum Depression, domestic violence, ideations of violence against children, & others.
Before moving forward with this review, I would like to highlight that I am not someone who is personally or professionally in a position to make remarks on the authentic representation of the mental illnesses & disorders that are presented throughout the story. Therefore, my comments should be recognized as coming from someone who read through this book without personal or educational weight to back my impressions & opinions.
I found this book to be a great series of disappointments. Should you decide to read this book under the guise of it being a Thriller, allow me to reveal to you that it is very much not.
Let me start by saying that I felt no sympathy, empathy or any level of connectedness with any of the characters. Miranda was such a mean person that when her mental illness started to (for lack of better words & with all intended gentleness) become more prominent (i.e. after the birth of her son), I still didn’t care. She had admitted to having jumped in front of a moving vehicle to force her parents to ground her brother so that he would spend more time with her. That’s a wild thing to have done.
During her earlier correspondence with Lynn, it was obvious to me that she wasn’t a great friend. Her letters were so heavily focused on herself that I thought it was incredible that the exchange & friendship lasted as long as it did. I understand that some people are crude in their ways & that perhaps Miranda was written as being such for the adversity she might have encountered in her field or her personal life but, her character garnered no sympathy from me because she always came across as narcissistic, mean & lacking foresight.
Her Postpartum Psychosis was sad. It is always sad. However, the way that she wrote about the development of her mental illness felt romanticized. Like we were supposed to think that her having thoughts of stabbing her child was a flowery experience when really it was traumatic & horrific to experience.
I’m not sure at what point Jake became an abuser. The way that his abuse was written about in Miranda’s journal felt superficial & inappropriate. I understand that Miranda was written as being a character who was immersed in her ‘art’ & therefore was her own ‘art’ however, abuse is not well-planned out words & delicious adjectives; it’s scary. I very quickly lost interest in what she was saying, however terrible the things that she was experiencing were. The writing style in the journal left me with a strong distaste for Miranda & she was never able to regain any warm feelings from me.
Kate’s storyline was overdramatized. What she experienced with Leonard was shit, yes, but the way that Sligar divulges this topic to the reader was so boring I really couldn’t have cared any less when we finally got to the ‘real’ story. I’m sure that having been undiagnosed with Bipolar Disorder was terrible; the mania she must have been living through without being able to understand why must have caused her a great deal of hardship. However, yet again, the way that the reader is brought to an awareness of this felt wrong.
Kate kept hinting at some big secret that she didn’t want anyone in this new town to know about & continuously repeated how annoyed she was that her family was trying to ensure she was okay. Pardon me for being so blunt but, what the fuck. Her family was obviously concerned because she was living undiagnosed for years & had just experienced a massive episode for which (collectively) she & her family struggled to get her through; maybe show a bit of understanding as to why your family is keeping (minimal) tags on you.
Kate’s bizarre obsession with ‘solving’ the death of Miranda was so weird I can’t even begin to explain. If you’re trying to keep a low profile why have you convinced yourself that you, out of everyone, can come into this town, this house, this family & snoop around to try & ‘solve’ a decade-old death?
She has no prior experience in homicide. She doesn’t know the full story & her decision to visit people who knew Miranda was strange. If I had been one of those people I would have straight-out refused to talk with her no matter what & might have even put in a word of warning to local officials because this stranger is now at the original house, with the child of the victim, & is snooping around without permission, which would cause distress to anyone who knew the victim. This is another instance of lacking foresight.
As well, Kate, the oh-so-smart city girl, has her phone alarm go off while reading the journal so she doesn’t get caught but never once takes any pictures of the journal….right.
I’m not a parent, nor am I someone who is around children that are Jemima & Oscars’ ages, even I knew that keeping that journal in the side drawer was a dumb idea. Of course, Jemima was going to take it. She had been stealing at the beginning of the story, then she sets up her own little library…come on.
I could go on, but, I will leave things here. I would not recommend this book, though I did enjoy the beginning. The back & forth about Miranda’s death ‘possibly’ being a murder was boring & didn’t go anywhere. We were just following the activity of someone who might have been in a manic episode & who was possibly (probably) causing distress to the victim’s family & friends....more
**spoiler alert** This is the type of book you read on vacation. By that I mean that it holds the type of story that requires little of the reader; it**spoiler alert** This is the type of book you read on vacation. By that I mean that it holds the type of story that requires little of the reader; it’s easy to engage with, easy to follow, nothing otherworldly transpires & it’s short.
I appreciated how this was written. Everyone in this story kept a secret from someone else. I think it was appropriate that the man who claimed that they were living the dream was the antagonist all along. It seemed fitting to me that someone so normal, so casually involved in regular everyday activities would have had the gall to murder because they felt they were being put behind the 8 ball.
I did feel sadness for Adam Price. As the main character, he perfectly incorporates the normalcy of the general populace. When we are first introduced to Adam I imagined him being one of many people I have known, I think that’s what made this story so sad.
Coben did a great job at allowing the reader to follow Adam as he attempts to find his wife, Corinne. The twists found throughout the novel supported the narrative of Adam being an educated man who was seeking to maintain the normalcy of his family life but, he made less than wise decisions while under pressure. Though I admit to a growing frustration for Adam as the number of times he was offered support grew & we saw him instead ignore fallacies in logic.
I found it curious that Adam didn’t question Corinne’s silence. His wife who doted on her two sons has had absolutely zero contact with them since she left. Perhaps it’s my own ignorance but, wouldn’t that have been the giant red flag needed to encourage him to go to the police? The fact that her car was found so near & her phone signal so far away — why didn’t he put up more resistance? There were so many times when things obviously didn’t sit right with him but instead of seeking outside help, he chose to pursue his own investigation which quite honestly might have led him to never find his wife.
Overall, I enjoyed this read. I found it very easy to get through and enticing to follow. I did originally choose to read this because everyone had spoken so highly of the show and in true form to my habits, I read the book instead....more
To state that this book was phenomenal would be an understatement.
Betz-Hamilton leads the reader through the gripping retelling of her troubled childhTo state that this book was phenomenal would be an understatement.
Betz-Hamilton leads the reader through the gripping retelling of her troubled childhood in a home that saw her encouraged to hide behind closed curtains, mail pilled high from the purchases racked up by an unknown assailant — the identity thief.
I will not hide from you the weight that this story carries; it is incredibly sad. As one works their way through the history of the ruin which was the family home, it does not escape one how utterly trapped young Betz-Hamilton must have felt, knowing that the two people who were set to protect her from the world, never found the words to explain that danger that lurks in the mind; ambitions of perverse inclinations are just as malevolent as the ones that circle communities, from which she was kept at bay.
My great thanks go to the author for having the courage & wit to piece together a tragic story. I cannot begin to fathom how one is expected to rebuild a life that one was never given the chance to enjoy, to begin with. The writing style employed in this book was beautiful. I read through this book in record time; every chapter left me desirous to solve the mystery.
I would encourage this book to be read. It’s a breathtakingly sad story but one which requests the reader to pause in their attempt to comprehend actions, neglect & relationships.
True stories can be tragic. Life can be mysterious & overwhelmingly difficult to understand....more
**spoiler alert** In what was to be the first book which exposed me to the highly utilized plot device of ‘strangers next door’; this book follows Ann**spoiler alert** In what was to be the first book which exposed me to the highly utilized plot device of ‘strangers next door’; this book follows Anna Fox as she manoeuvres her way through life, unruly substance abuse & agoraphobia. If you are in the industry for a decent approach to this style see “Rear Window” (1954) which broaches the binocular-wielding, curiously hopeful, vigilante characters in an overall better way.
I read this book in a single sitting. My friend & I—separated by an ocean between our continents — decided to work our way through this at relatively, the same time. Though she found some enjoyment in the read, I was unfortunately left wishing that I shared in her joy. Had I not read this book in one shot I cannot say that I would have been motivated to finish.
My primary reason for not enjoying this book was that I did not like Anna Fox. I could not find it within myself to care, to be empathetic or to garner any appreciation for her as a whole. Her constant drinking annoyed me to no end. I understand that substance abuse is an illness but the way in which it was written drew nothing from me but revulsion. I must ask, how many times is the reader make their way through passages in which Anna is chugging alcoholic beverages while mixing her medication & in which the approach by the author is always the same—stagnation was indeed an issue in itself.
The themes presented in this book were dreary & dark, we did not need to dwell on the drinking habits of a character who we knew was down on her luck. A seasoned reader would be able to tell you that her husband & child had in fact passed on & she was not having phone conversations with them. Therefore rendering another aspect of the story dull, in anticipation of the reveal. Anna was an unreliable narrator, that much was sufficiently clear.
I suppose my lack of overall enjoyment of this book comes down to the way the author presented the conclusion. I have an innately difficult time believing that an antagonist, one whom we are to believe is psychopathic, would take the time to detail their reasonings; let alone to someone of Anna’s calibre.
Suffice it to say that I doubt that Anna claiming that the antagonist’s mother had told her about his father having love for him, would have mattered in the least. That entire conversation withdrew me from the heat of the moment because I couldn’t imagine someone with such a developed personality disorder being swayed by anything Anna was saying.
If you’re looking for a book that’s an easy read and is, overall, a decent story I would say that your time would not be entirely lost on this book....more
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, theref**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on abuse, parental neglect, poverty, financial insecurity, violence, & others.
There were many aspects of this book that left much to be desired. Something was lacking in the overall presentation of the story, which is unfortunate because the plot held much intrigue. If I had to state what essence this story lacked I would say that it was authenticity.
The plot is simple & subsequently very easy to follow. However, reading 364 pages in which no obstacle is presented to me & the conclusion I had drawn in the beginning, I felt I had wasted my time.
The isolation that Kya experiences during her formative years would leave a mark on her psychological state, this much is easy to conclude with certainty. However, there is never any instance in the book wherein this is clearly demonstrated. Instead, we read about Kya vocalizing having been abandoned. Neither her behaviour nor her perception of the world appears altered in the least by any of the events which transpired in her life.
Save for the instance in which the author describes Kya as hiding behind her boat or in the wilderness, she acts like any other well-adjusted person. One would never guess that Kya had watched every member of her family walk out the physical door to their home, never to return again. I am not indicating that one cannot overcome adversity or work past horrific events. What I mean to say is that Kya vocalizes things as if to say them for the sake of them being said & yet none of the weight which is carried by said events is ever presented in actuality; we read about the main character who could have been living any other life, nothing impacted her in the least to form a well-rounded fictional person.
I would have loved for Kya to have been genuine during the trials. I felt disappointed to have spent so many pages reading about a bogus theory only to get to the end of the story & have everything I knew to be true, re-affirmed. Kya was meant to be a strong character who overcame adversity. I feel as though it would have done her justice for her to have been honest with the reader regarding the murder. Was she sincerely shocked to be informed that the prosecutor would be going for the death penalty? Or was that simply meant to distract the reader?
I have to say that the main aspect of the murder trials that I didn’t understand was Tate — seemingly oblivious to his own red hat being shown as evidence. Had he completely forgotten that he had given it to Kya right before her trip? Why did he never suspect her after having seen the one piece of evidence he could place as having been directly in her possession before Chase was murdered? Why did it take until after her death for him to be surprised at that?
If you’re looking for an easy novel to get through, with delightful descriptions of nature, this would be a good book to select. However, if you are looking to read a compelling story about murder; this is not it....more
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