This is the kind of book you need to linger with for a while
926690
This book truly is one of the most amazing ones I've ever read. I am not going into detail here, as every word would reveal too much. But this book shocked me, surprised me and left me absolutely breathless. It is no love story at all, but it may become if you just give it a chance.
This is the kind of book you need to cope with for some time. I still cannot read a next book just yet, as this book is way too present. If you don''t mind some sort of sexual and emotional abuse, twists and turns and a beautiful story, read it. Really. Do it. Could probably stick with you for a long time.
1164939
This book wrecked me a bit. It hit me right on the nose with its nostalgia and sense of placeof how we hold on to our ghosts and haunted homes, mistaking memories for nourishment.
And perhaps I shouldnt have read it as I sort through boxes of my childhood, deciding what to keep and what to let go before a cross-country move. Away from home. Away from the walls that have recorded my best memories. If walls really do record memories. But of course I have to think so. I spent much of this book reading my own thoughts. I hold on to places the way Claire does. I dig my claws in and hold on with my back teeth.
I guess you could call it a coming-of-age story for those of us who still feel like were coming of age in our thirties. Thats all of us, right? Right?? Weve all got ghosts holding us back, keeping us young forever in a way that mimics stability but is really just stagnant.
Ive enjoyed everything Ive read by Letitia Trent, but this is by far my favorite. Until the next thing, maybe. She keeps getting better. But if you're looking for a ghost story that twists you with anxiety, warms your heart, and freezes your stomach with a glaze of fearthis is the perfect read.
3455821
This is the kind of book to keep in your library and reread from time to time.
1633538
It took me almost two months to read a 204-page book. I literally read three pages a day, and re-read my favorite passages over and over. I just didn't want to leave. I felt like Sean and I had some sort of understanding; so many of his thoughts and experiences in WIWV resonated with me (which, now that I think about it, should be worrisome).

I'm sure anyone who sees this cover in person has to admit that it's gorgeous (it definitely pulled me out of the Cloud and brought me back to physical books). But the content contained within may not be for everybody. How you feel about this novel will be largely dependent on what you expect to get from the experience of reading a book.

This book throws linearity out the f*cking window. The narrative jumps from past to present, from present to memories, from real to imagined, and it usually does all this seamlessly. If that's a problem, then this is not the book for you.

There is some structure--Darnielle seems to have taken great care with the way his story is mapped out because he knew it would be told in reverse-- but there isn't really a plot. I feel Darnielle's wordplay was enough to keep me interested, but if you need for there to be a clearly defined point/lesson to the 200+ pages you've read...this is not the book for you.

I thought about the fact that Imaginary Girls (by Nova Ren Suma) drove me nuts because there was no real plot; just a writer stringing words together nicely on the page. Yet, now faced with a similar issue, I didn't just look past it, I loved it. I can't explain why, but WIWV is just different, better, more filling.

The narrator, Sean, isn't telling you a story so much as he's letting you wander around his thoughts. He's an unreliable narrator, because he clearly suffers from some type of mental illness--perhaps schizophrenia or psychopathy or, at the very least, delusional thinking--but he still came across as open and trustworthy, and I liked him. And even though Sean's not trying to be misleading, his implied pathology leads you to believe that his view of things is probably skewed.

I would have loved for Sean to share everything--to confess once and for all why he did it--but I imagine that would have opened a door he couldn't close, and, well...I accept that.

And also: lots of colons.

Random Question: Does anyone understand why Sean talks about being filled with like indescribable joy in the beginning (which I guess is technically the end)?
2708246
The first book I read of Sarah Waters was Tipping the Velvet.  I was fascinated with her style and the rich and complex characters she created in its pages.  Its taken me a while to get around to another of her novels, but I have finally come back to her.

Little Stranger is a very different novel than Tipping The Velvet.  Its a haunted story about an old family living in a very old manor that is falling into disrepair.  Its enchanting in that it is told in the old gothic horror story that slowly draws you into the mystery of the tale and introducing each of the characters through the eyes of Doctor Faraday whose mother was a maid for the manor when he was a child and his earliest memories of it was taking a token from the plasterwork in one of the rooms.

Dr. Faraday begins to spend more and more time with the Ayres family after being called out to minister to their maid Molly.  He forms bonds with all the members of the family, particularly the daughter Catherine, a very plain spinster who is full of energy and has the strength and fearlessness of most men (and nearly the build).

The book is told in a style that is almost reminiscent of the true Victorian Gothic horror stories.  It rich in the detail of the surroundings and slow in building up the suspense.  For much of the book, you are unsure if its trying to be a love story, a drama, or a mystery with the slightest hint towards a ghost story.

I can understand why some people were not drawn to the story, as it is slow.  But, that was one of the magical things to me.  Its a nice change to get lost in the atmosphere of a well crafted tale that is as much about mood and details as it is about plot.  Having a fondness for the Gothic Horror, I was enchanted with the book and loved the curiosity of the slow pace in trying to figure out what the next unfolding would be.

I am thinking I need to read more of Sarah's works, for this shows the diversity she is capable of.  She loves the history of her novels and wraps you in the details so you can be right there to breath in the dank air of the old mansion, the dust flying through the air from a room years past use and a family where times seems to have stood still.

Its a book that you can get lost in and be transported to another time.  She weaves it beautifully and if you don't demand the every page must be action packed, but writing as it used to be, then grab it, find an overstuffed chair to curl up in and some soft music to play in the background while the rain taps the roof and you step through her time portal.

SephiPiderWitch
http://sephipiderwitch.com/the-little-stranger-by-sarah-waters/
April 2015
2105075
This is not a typical novel, so be prepared to experience this differently than other things you have read. It reads in the same way that life unfolds - at times confusing, then satisfying, sometimes delightful, then intriguing, other times nonsensical, but ultimately wonderful. Live and wait for the good parts, the parts that make sense. It will make sense to you, especially if you are familiar with love and loss.

I gave it five stars because the writing is very good. I tend to get bored, and even a little upset with writing conventions. This book is fresh and new, and I appreciated that. Not everyone will like it because it is artful and different - there are a lot of images and unorthodox configurations of type, but it all has a purpose and is designed to add something to the story. I thought it was very refreshing and interesting. I liked it even better on second read. I would imagine it would make a good book club book because there would be so much to discuss; everyone feeling and experiencing something different. Anyway, this probably all sounds very enigmatic, but thats just because there is a lot to it. Check it out.
3202508
I really did know what to expect from this book  the description made it seem like several different genres would be appropriate to group it with, but with a beautifully designed cover and an intriguing premise of the one left behind in a tragedy, I started reading. The chapters here alternate between fourteen-year-old Meredith and her mother, Claire. The titular moment of the book is the abduction of popular Lisa Bellow, with Meredith as the witness left behind. And though Lisa is, in many ways, central to the novel, this isn't a thrilling kidnapper novel, but more of a character study around this central event and the perspectives of mother and daughter.

The interior monologues are surprisingly easy to identify with, which makes this book quite engaging  from Merediths imagination and Claires practicality mixed with her own flights of fancy. Its a well-written novel, and I think ideal for discussion groups and book clubs. While I didn't exactly love this book, I can really see how it would lead to some lively debate. The characters here feel authentic, and anyone who loves a good character-driven story is sure to enjoy this one. For me, it goes a bit too far with Merediths imaginings for it to be truly stellar, but I would definitely check out more of the authors work in the future.
2085472
I love a book that will engage you and wrap you in, as oppose to feeling like someone is telling a story. One thing I know for sure, Ava Zavora knows how to write a story that will keep you captive until the very end.  She is also a master of writing stories of romance and love without graphic or over the top scenes.

Dear Adam makes you a fly on the (virtual) wall of a budding relationship that starts out on Twitter, and quickly moves through email, messenger, and even Skype.  You learn about Adam and Eden and their lives through these communications, both are very well rounded characters that easily become real people.  Even with Adam's private nature, you can relate to him and his emotions, as well as Eden's. There are a few short interludes where you might get Edens thoughts, or a little on the side dialogue with her friends or family, but Id say 90% of this book is cut down to the choppiness of an email or messenger conversation.  To me this would seem like a very difficult challenge to have taken on, because while interaction between characters is what makes or breaks a book in my opinion, emotions and reactions from the same characters are also quite important - and this could be a difficult undertaking with this scenario.  While the emotions are definitely present within Dear Adam, sometimes its more than a few words typed out to create a sentence, and sometimes the emotions are written between the lines of the messages that Adam and Eden are communicating with one another, so you have to look for it.  Establishing this online relationship and making it real was something Ava Zavora accomplished quite well.  I was hard pressed to put down the book once I started it, because finding out what witty remark Eden may come up with, or how bold and forward Adam might be in his next email was too intoxicating.  I could just imagine both characters sitting around the house just waiting on the bing of a new email or messenger, and the smiles on their faces as they read the others reaction or react themselves to the latest communication.

There were times when I felt a little left out of the other aspects of Edens (since this really is her story) life.  I wanted more information about how her son was reacting to her strange fascination to a man shed never actually met, and I wanted to know more about what was happening at work or with her friends.  Things like that.  I did kind of miss the filler that is present in normal books at times, however in the end you truly don't feel like much was missing from the book.
4362740
Treble Maker goes back and forth between Lucas and Cody many times with no indication or shift, it just happens and hinders reading. At times it feels forced while other times Annabeth Albert succeeds in capturing something so genuine its almost real. The musical descriptions were especially vivid definitely making them some of the highlights while reading. If you can handle reading a book where you never know when the point of view changes or when there's a scene shift, this is definitely a book to read. Whether you connect with one of the characters, are charmed by their kinks, or even if you just want to read something about two guys that fall in love there's something you might enjoy here.
2859707
This book taught be the value in hanging on to a book. Usually, if I'm not completely taken in by a book in the first chapter, I throw it aside and look for something better. The book starts off at a shamble, stumbling along with prolific info-dumps and expositions supplied by characters. Despite the travel characters take part in immediately, there is a lot of telling, when there are plenty opportunities for showing.

A big frustration for me in the beginning pages was that there were lots of moments where the tension is ratcheted up but the writing makes the emotion fall flat. There are situations that should set my heart racing and make me forget my bedtime, but instead they just... happen. The opportunity to make an emotional impact is over, to very little effect. It feels unsatisfying.

That said, after the first fourth of the book is over, the awkwardness wears off. The plot has managed to bring our characters together and they begin to turn into real people interacting in real ways. This is where Jasmine Giacomo begins to shine. These characters are interesting whether they're running naked on the beach or washing socks.

Then there's the interesting ideas the author brings up. The nature of immortality, the problems with isolationist states, the myriad of ways in which men and women interact in different cultures. This is the kind of stuff I love about fantasy and it's definitely what got the pages turning for me.

Also, this is one thing that makes me grin. The map is excellent. So many maps on Kindle come out so pixelated and  distorted that they're impossible to use. If they are usable, the the author often doesn't format it so that you can get to it through the table of contents quickly, so that you can actually use it while reading. Not this time! The map in this book is crisp, easy to read, and easy to check back to through the table of contents. Ah, it warms my heart.

While this isn't a great book, Jasmine Giacomo obviously has a ton of potential and I'm going to be picking up the next book in the sequel. Additionally, I may be gifting this book to my niece. It's interesting and culture-rich and definitely appropriate for teens, with pretty minimal violence and not much gore.
1822115
I would recommend reading this when you have a lot of time, because once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down! Saras perseverance is shown as she seeing ghosts, something that no one else can do. I like this book because you can relate to the characters, because it has short, but descriptive details, and because there are little cliff hangers throughout the book that make you want to keep reading.

In the book by Phoebe Rivers, titled Yesterday and Today the main character, Sara, wants to relate to her dead mother. Sara can see ghosts, but she has not seen her mothers ghost. Ghosts in Saras house help Sara find her moms old diary, and Sara starts too read. What Sara reads is not what she expects to read, and she is not too happy. Sara realizes that friends are important and learns lessons that she will need the rest of her life.

I liked this book because you can relate to the characters. In the book, Sara is about to read her moms diary. Her mom died giving birth to her and Sara never knew her. In the text it says, My hands shook a little as I stared down at the diary. My mothers diary. My mother, who I had never met because she died giving birth to me. Now I held in my hands the diary she kept when she was my age, (page 1). In this part, Sara is so excited about reading her moms diary, she is shaking. I am as anxious to open it as she is, and I am almost shaking like she is. At another part, she is disappointed in her mom and feels let down. In the text it says, I closed the diary and sighed heavily. I felt so let down by my mother, (page 81). In this point I am feeling Saras disappointment and I can relate to how she is feeling. This all proves that you can relate to the characters in this book.

I like this book because it has short, but descriptive details. In the book, it is describing Saras great-grandmother. In the text it says, Flowing silk skirt, a dark pink blouse, and a scarf tie around her head, covering her dyed mahogany-colored hair, (page 46). In this part, the descriptive details paint a picture in my mind, but it is not too long and does not describe the person forever. Also, in the book Sara is describing her friends dad. In the text it says, His new reading glasses, which Lily had told me hed finally decided  he needed, were perched on his nose somewhat awkwardly, (page 130). In this part, the dad is being described in one short sentence in the story that is very descriptive and paints a very clear picture in my head. Now you can see how this book has short, but descriptive details.

I like this book because there are little cliff hangers throughout the book that make you want to keep reading for example, in the text she is about to start reading her moms diary. In the text it says,  I read the first line [] Dear Diary, [..] and then everything got a little blurry and I was plunged into a vision, (page 8). In this part, I am at a cliff hanger wondering what will happen next and what her mom will write. I really want to keep reading. Also, in another part, Sara decides that she does not want to read the diary anymore. In the text it says, How if she could have one wish, just one, it would be more than anything that she could make these powers go away. I closed the book, (page 94). In this part I really want to keep reading and am at a cliffhanger. I do not know what will happen next or how she will deal with the diary, because I want her to keep reading the diary. All of this proves that there are little cliffhangers throughout the book that make me want to keep reading.

During all of Saras problems, she shows that she is forgiving and thoughtful by continuing to give her mom a second chance and reading her diary. In the end, we learn that you should always give people a second chance. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to everyone who loves to read; this book is a must read!
3303193
I try to be protective of my books but this one got knocked around a bit in the car, and then there were too many good phrases not to underline, and so now my copy of Rubble Fever is a little beat up but that's just what happens sometimes.  And it happens in this book, too, as a person battles through the loss of her family, and then her home and job due to Katrina.

But this is what she still has with her:  three dogs, a love of second lines, and friends from Baton Rouge to Florida.  Then there are the moments, so precisely watched, almost like photos, that fan out like Polaroids on a coffee table.  This book is all about how those little moments add up into something beautiful and special, even if the moments are sometimes bitterly harsh.

Like the author writes, "After all, even the lousiest picture is a moment of somebody's life . . . ." This is a real special book.
2222799
This is a book to be savored -  to be read with care over time. At 866 pages of detailed passages, it demands a commitment that many current, popular books do not require. At times the writing feels inordinately slow, but then the rich, evocative language would capture my imagination and interest to keep me engaged.

It all starts with an endearing story of Isaac Reznikoff, a Jewish immigrant from Minsk who is misunderstood when asked his name at Ellis Island and is assigned the improbable name of Ichabod Ferguson.  It is just such twists of circumstances and choices that leads the author to explore four parallel lives of the protagonist, Archibald Isaac Ferguson, the grandson of the above-mentioned immigrant.  These four storylines coupled with the author's creative vision offer a depth of character development rarely experienced.  The format is highly unusual and a bit confusing until you get into the rhythm of the narrative, which has very little accompanying dialogue.  The novel unfolds in sets of four distinct plotlines from Ferguson's birth on March 3,1947, through his childhood, adolescence and young adulthood up to 1971.

With this format we meet four unique, yet essentially the same, Fergusons.  Each one has his own path influenced by his relationships, life choices and relevant historical events.  While the book is organized by reading the same time period for each of the four lives (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4) I think it would be interesting to re-read the book focusing on each life as a whole (1.1, 2.1, 3.1 etc.).

I have not read any of the author's other works, so I did not know what to expect with his writing style.  I enjoyed the book, but be sure you have the time to devote to this intricate and lengthy novel.
1503997
Have you ever read a book that just sticks with you?  No matter how much you really try, it stays in your head.  You read other books, but they aren't enough to get this other book out of your mind.

This is what The Sea of Tranquility was like for me, even years after reading it for the first time.

Its my go-to book for when I am stuck in a book slump and I need something to remind me of why exactly I love reading so much.

It is because of books like this that I continue reading.

My prince amongst a pond full of toads.

Nastya Kashnikov has been through something traumatic.  Something that has done damage to not only her body, but her life.  A once gifted piano player, Nastya is forced to give up this part of herself because she can no longer use her left hand to play.  But more than her hand was damaged by this trauma; her once comfortable and predictable life is taken from her by an event that she can not seem to make peace with.  When she begins to remember, she makes a conscious decision to stop speaking.  When she moves away from her former life and her family, to live with her Aunt, she also changes her appearance, with the goal: to make her as unapproachable as possible.

Josh Bennett has also been through some tough events in his life, losing too many people in too short of a time.  He is a loner, who would rather spend time building furniture than building relationships.  He does this to protect himself, fearing another inevitable loss.

In Josh, Nastya finds a hesitant friend.

As the story continues, Josh and Nastya become closer and their relationship grows.

Why do I keep coming back for more?

  This story was so completely and utterly unique.
  The story-building wasn't rushed and things seemed to happen at a realistic pace.
  The characters were believable and different from one another in a way that helped me become more attached to their individual stories.
  The relationships that occurred between each character added depth/value to the story and did not seem fake.
  The individual struggles Nastya and Josh go through were realistic and heartbreaking, making me empathize with the pain they felt during their prospective problems.
  Its a beautiful story.

You need this book in your life!
2204393
I rarely have enough long spans of time to really get deep into a book, but this one sucked me in.  Every pop-culture reference, every geek culture reference, every video game I hadn't played in so long but remembered fondly made me keep reading.  And then, when there's the first major character conflict between two protagonists I thought to myself, "OK, now this is more than just a fanciful romp down Memory Lane.  Now it's a book!"  From that point on, I was hooked and simply stayed up as late as possible to keep reading.
4419413
This book had the typical plot line of a person that hasn't been to their hometown in awhile. They have to go back for a tragic reason, and they end up rediscovering themselves.
Now, just because this has been done quite a few times, it doesnt mean that the book was boring. Quite the opposite, really. It took me a few chapters to really get into the book, but once I hit that point, I didn't want to put it down.
It is hard to talk about the book without talking about everything that happened to Joe when he went back to his hometown.
Without revealing anything, I will say that the characters were all very interesting. They were all so DIFFERENT. Commonly, you will find some background characters blending in with each other. But each character in this one had their own personality, and it was a very character driven novel. As I said, the plot has been done many times before. The characters are what set this book apart from the others.
It also tackles many tough topics: homophobia, suicide, death, and many more.

4/5 Stars

Memorable Quotes: Everyone always wants to know how you can tell when its true love, and the answer is this: when the pain doesnt fade and the scars don't heal, and its too damned late.
When you're eighteen, time isn't nearly as crotchety and relentless as it becomes soon thereafter, and eight months is nothing less than a lifetime.
Its almost like they knew it would never get any better for them than it was right there. And for me, it was the time I spent with you. And for the last seventeen years, that time was the ball in my trophy case that I could look at every day and find some measure of comfort, of happiness remembered.
2922076
I'm going to start this off by saying that I had to sit on this book for a while and really think about it before I wrote the review and gave it a rating. Which honestly, I think that was for the best because once I finished Touched, I was a bit thrown off and didn't really know how I felt. If I didn't let it simmer, I might have missed out on really feeling some of the things that I needed to feel.

Let me explain. I think the first thing that held me back was the time jumping. While I felt it was necessary, there were points that I didn't understand why we were going there at that particular moment or why we didn't go to a different time when I felt that was what I needed. It really comes down to preference. Again, I think it was necessary but it held me back a little bit. But after sitting on it for a while, I was able to get past that and see the real beauty of what Touched actually is.

There's so many different subjects tackled and all wrapped into a raw and sad story that is beautifully poetic. You've got poverty, addiction, assault and possible mental stability (one the outside looking in). Yet you have one of the most eclectic and amazingly beautiful group of characters that could ever be imagined.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that every single person who reads this book will related to someone. Maybe it's June. She's unique and has some qualities about her that make some people question if there a deep rooted reason on why she has these particular qualities. I for one, absolutely love June. She's sucks you in with her personality. She wants to live life to the fullest and is always chasing after freedom. Plus, you gotta love her free spirited mouth. That girl had me laughing so many times.

Maybe people will relate to Gem, who was destined to be the mother of the group and to naturally take care of June due to their crappy upbringing. She has a hard exterior and is a naturally care giver but deep down, she's craving for someone to look after her. Her dedication to June is amazing and heartfelt.

And then there's Alaric. I'll leave him for you guys to discover completely all on your own. If there's one thing we know, it's that Alaric is the one person that could bring June and Gem even closer, if that's possible.

This book is emotional, raw and powerful. It isn't pretty for a lot of it but at the end of the day, the beauty outshines the darkness.