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mrsfligs's review against another edition
3.0
Story Overview
On the surface, Jenna Rosen has it all: a husband who loves her, a comfortable life in Seattle, and good looks. But Jenna is troubled; it shows in her excessive drinking, Valium addiction, depression and the increasing discord in her marriage. But her problems can all be traced back to the loss of her son Bobby, who drowned during a family vacation in Alaska two years ago. Jenna blames herself for Bobby's death and cannot get past it. Yet her husband Robert seems to have been able to put the past to rest. One night at a party, Jenna gets in Robert's car and keeps on driving. Her trip leads her to Bellingham, WA, where she impulsively boards the ferry that will take her to Wrangell, Alaska—a small town where her Native American grandmother lived and close to the Thunder Bay Resort where Bobby died.
Once in Wrangell, things happen that lead her to believe that something is calling her to discover the truth about Bobby's death. Her grandmother's Tlingit ancestry begins to manifest itself in strange and frightening ways. As Jenna begins to explore the Tlingit legends of the kushtaka, she begins to believe that Bobby's death was no accident. Determined to find the truth, Jenna embarks on a quest to discover what really happened at Thunder Bay. The result is a terrifying but liberating journey into the heart of the Alaska wilderness and the ancient legends of the Tlingits.
My Thoughts
Contrary to what you might think, this isn't a new book by Garth Stein, author of the best-selling Art of Racing in the Rain (which is on my TBR list for later this year). Rather, this is a rerelease of his first novel, which was published in 1998. (Note to authors: If your first book is not very successful, keep on trying. You may score later on and then get a rerelease for your earlier books!) Raven Stole the Moon has been out of print for several years, but is being rereleased on March 9. Remember how I told you I was reading a mystery book that I couldn't talk about? This was it!
Anyway, on to my thoughts about the book. I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I enjoy stories of ancient legends coming to life in our modern world, and I thought the sections dealing with the kushtaka were disturbing and frightening at times. (Let me tell you, after reading this book, I won't look at otters quite the same way again!) On the other hand, I had some issues with the tone and writing in the book. In many ways, the book is told in a very plain, straightforward way: She did this. Then she did that. He reacted this way. Then the author mixes in some stream-of-consciousness stuff that I found a bit jarring. Here is a small example:
She got off the freeway in Bellingham feeling tired and hungry. She pulled into a gas station to get some fuel for the Machine, and she picked up some Corn Nuts and a Coke—fuel for herself. The trip suddenly had the feeling of an all-night drive. Standing under a canopy of fluorescent bulbs. Artificial sunlight. Electrified reality. Everyone would be asleep if they weren't plugged in.
My other quibble was that I thought the emotional lives of characters could have been better developed. We know Jenna is devastated by the loss of her son because the author tells us, but I never really felt it from Jenna herself. For me, this kept the book from being more than a competently told story with some supernatural elements. I think with a little more work and polishing, this book could have been something special. However, in the end, I think it falls shy of the mark.
My Final Recommendation
If you enjoy books with supernatural elements related to Native American culture, this would be a good read for you. The Tlingit legends and story line were the most compelling part of the story for me, and the descriptions of the kushtaka were interesting and a bit frightening. Although the writing is competent and the story moves along quickly, I didn't think it was unforgettable or out of the ordinary. For this reason, I'm giving it 3 stars.
On the surface, Jenna Rosen has it all: a husband who loves her, a comfortable life in Seattle, and good looks. But Jenna is troubled; it shows in her excessive drinking, Valium addiction, depression and the increasing discord in her marriage. But her problems can all be traced back to the loss of her son Bobby, who drowned during a family vacation in Alaska two years ago. Jenna blames herself for Bobby's death and cannot get past it. Yet her husband Robert seems to have been able to put the past to rest. One night at a party, Jenna gets in Robert's car and keeps on driving. Her trip leads her to Bellingham, WA, where she impulsively boards the ferry that will take her to Wrangell, Alaska—a small town where her Native American grandmother lived and close to the Thunder Bay Resort where Bobby died.
Once in Wrangell, things happen that lead her to believe that something is calling her to discover the truth about Bobby's death. Her grandmother's Tlingit ancestry begins to manifest itself in strange and frightening ways. As Jenna begins to explore the Tlingit legends of the kushtaka, she begins to believe that Bobby's death was no accident. Determined to find the truth, Jenna embarks on a quest to discover what really happened at Thunder Bay. The result is a terrifying but liberating journey into the heart of the Alaska wilderness and the ancient legends of the Tlingits.
My Thoughts
Contrary to what you might think, this isn't a new book by Garth Stein, author of the best-selling Art of Racing in the Rain (which is on my TBR list for later this year). Rather, this is a rerelease of his first novel, which was published in 1998. (Note to authors: If your first book is not very successful, keep on trying. You may score later on and then get a rerelease for your earlier books!) Raven Stole the Moon has been out of print for several years, but is being rereleased on March 9. Remember how I told you I was reading a mystery book that I couldn't talk about? This was it!
Anyway, on to my thoughts about the book. I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I enjoy stories of ancient legends coming to life in our modern world, and I thought the sections dealing with the kushtaka were disturbing and frightening at times. (Let me tell you, after reading this book, I won't look at otters quite the same way again!) On the other hand, I had some issues with the tone and writing in the book. In many ways, the book is told in a very plain, straightforward way: She did this. Then she did that. He reacted this way. Then the author mixes in some stream-of-consciousness stuff that I found a bit jarring. Here is a small example:
She got off the freeway in Bellingham feeling tired and hungry. She pulled into a gas station to get some fuel for the Machine, and she picked up some Corn Nuts and a Coke—fuel for herself. The trip suddenly had the feeling of an all-night drive. Standing under a canopy of fluorescent bulbs. Artificial sunlight. Electrified reality. Everyone would be asleep if they weren't plugged in.
My other quibble was that I thought the emotional lives of characters could have been better developed. We know Jenna is devastated by the loss of her son because the author tells us, but I never really felt it from Jenna herself. For me, this kept the book from being more than a competently told story with some supernatural elements. I think with a little more work and polishing, this book could have been something special. However, in the end, I think it falls shy of the mark.
My Final Recommendation
If you enjoy books with supernatural elements related to Native American culture, this would be a good read for you. The Tlingit legends and story line were the most compelling part of the story for me, and the descriptions of the kushtaka were interesting and a bit frightening. Although the writing is competent and the story moves along quickly, I didn't think it was unforgettable or out of the ordinary. For this reason, I'm giving it 3 stars.
mirandareddekopp's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Disliked the immaturity of the characters and hated the ending. Liked the cultural story and mystery.
jlrasa23's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it. I thought it was very well written and hard to put down.
girrllie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
patambro's review
3.0
Al principio me gustó mucho. Sin embargo, tengo dos problemas importantes con el libro. Gran parte de la escritura era simple y Stein no parecía saber realmente qué estilo quería en todo el libro.
(Spoiler Alert)
El segundo problema que tengo es con los personajes: Jenna actúa como una loca la mayor parte del tiempo. Tal vez, y solo tal vez, no pude meterme en su piel. Quizás, si a mi se me hubiera ahogado un hijo, estaría así o peor de desquiciada. No lo se. El autor no logro, al menos no al principio y tampoco en el momento del hecho en si, llevarme hasta esa locura. No soporte a Robert. De hecho no entiendo el final (yo creí que la relacion estaba terminada).
Disfruté de la ambientación en Alaska. Me gustó que Jenna y Robert fueran impresionantemente humanos. Lo mejor creo yo, fue la parte en la que Jenna encuentra a Bobby y sus últimos momentos con él. Fue increíblemente desgarrador, incluso me dieron ganas de llorar. No se si pude ponerme en la piel de esa madre. Gracias al Universo, no he tenido que pasar por algo tan traumático como la muerte de un hijo. Si Stein hubiera mantenido el mismo ritmo y el mismo nivel de suspense a lo largo de toda la novela, ésta habría sido muy buena. Pero fallo.
At first, I liked it a lot. However, I have two major problems with the book. Much of the writing was plain and Stein didn't really seem to know what style she wanted throughout the book.
(Spoiler Alert)
The second problem I have is with the characters - Jenna acts crazy most of the time. Maybe, and just maybe, I just couldn't get under her skin. Perhaps, if I had a child drowned, I'd be that way or worse unhinged. I don't know. At least not at the beginning and not at the time of the event itself, the author failed, to bring me to that madness. I couldn't stand Robert. In fact, I don't understand the ending (I thought the relationship was over).
I enjoyed the setting in Alaska. I liked that Jenna and Robert were impressively human. I think the best moment, the part where Jenna finds Bobby and her last moments with him. It was incredibly heartbreaking, it even made me want to cry. I don't know if I could put myself in that mother's shoes. Thank the Universe, I haven't had to go through something as traumatic as the death of a child. If Stein had kept the same pace and level of suspense throughout the novel, this would have been a very good one. But it failed.
(Spoiler Alert)
El segundo problema que tengo es con los personajes: Jenna actúa como una loca la mayor parte del tiempo. Tal vez, y solo tal vez, no pude meterme en su piel. Quizás, si a mi se me hubiera ahogado un hijo, estaría así o peor de desquiciada. No lo se. El autor no logro, al menos no al principio y tampoco en el momento del hecho en si, llevarme hasta esa locura. No soporte a Robert. De hecho no entiendo el final (yo creí que la relacion estaba terminada).
Disfruté de la ambientación en Alaska. Me gustó que Jenna y Robert fueran impresionantemente humanos. Lo mejor creo yo, fue la parte en la que Jenna encuentra a Bobby y sus últimos momentos con él. Fue increíblemente desgarrador, incluso me dieron ganas de llorar. No se si pude ponerme en la piel de esa madre. Gracias al Universo, no he tenido que pasar por algo tan traumático como la muerte de un hijo. Si Stein hubiera mantenido el mismo ritmo y el mismo nivel de suspense a lo largo de toda la novela, ésta habría sido muy buena. Pero fallo.
At first, I liked it a lot. However, I have two major problems with the book. Much of the writing was plain and Stein didn't really seem to know what style she wanted throughout the book.
(Spoiler Alert)
The second problem I have is with the characters - Jenna acts crazy most of the time. Maybe, and just maybe, I just couldn't get under her skin. Perhaps, if I had a child drowned, I'd be that way or worse unhinged. I don't know. At least not at the beginning and not at the time of the event itself, the author failed, to bring me to that madness. I couldn't stand Robert. In fact, I don't understand the ending (I thought the relationship was over).
I enjoyed the setting in Alaska. I liked that Jenna and Robert were impressively human. I think the best moment, the part where Jenna finds Bobby and her last moments with him. It was incredibly heartbreaking, it even made me want to cry. I don't know if I could put myself in that mother's shoes. Thank the Universe, I haven't had to go through something as traumatic as the death of a child. If Stein had kept the same pace and level of suspense throughout the novel, this would have been a very good one. But it failed.
caitlinxmartin's review against another edition
4.0
When I was growing up my mother was a storyteller. She told Southern folk tales and some Celtic tales, but most of all she loved to tell trickster stories, so I grew up with Raven and Jack and Anansi, and I was definitely curious to read this book because of its title and loose association with the story of how Raven stole the moon. I spent summers in Seattle from the time I was in the third grade and lived there for ten years (before the rain forced me to flee), so I like to keep my eye on Seattle writers. I haven't read Garth Stein's other book (The Art of Racing in the Rain), which I think of as the dog book because of the amazingly cute cover, but now I will.
This book draws on the folklore of the Tlingit people to frame its utterly modern tale of Jenna and her search for her son who she can't quite believe is dead. Escaping her safe Seattle life for Wrangell, Alaska, Jenna is forced to face her fears, her beliefs, her history, her choice, and her life as she struggles to put together the pieces of the ancient puzzle that may bring her son back to her.
Stein tells a great story here - it's a real page-turner with plenty of creepy, scary moments that will make you wonder what else may be out there. In a way this is a story that has been told over and over again and yet Stein tells it through fresh eyes that are never sentimental, never cliched, never simple. The characters are utterly believable as are their choices. I loved that Stein never took the easy way out. He held my attention and made me want to keep reading long past my bedtime.
Thanks to the nice people at Terra Communications for giving me an advance copy of this book to review.
This book draws on the folklore of the Tlingit people to frame its utterly modern tale of Jenna and her search for her son who she can't quite believe is dead. Escaping her safe Seattle life for Wrangell, Alaska, Jenna is forced to face her fears, her beliefs, her history, her choice, and her life as she struggles to put together the pieces of the ancient puzzle that may bring her son back to her.
Stein tells a great story here - it's a real page-turner with plenty of creepy, scary moments that will make you wonder what else may be out there. In a way this is a story that has been told over and over again and yet Stein tells it through fresh eyes that are never sentimental, never cliched, never simple. The characters are utterly believable as are their choices. I loved that Stein never took the easy way out. He held my attention and made me want to keep reading long past my bedtime.
Thanks to the nice people at Terra Communications for giving me an advance copy of this book to review.
drwifeylepine's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of a woman who lost her son in a tragic accident and her journey through trying to cope with that loss. The story takes an interesting turn when Alaskan Indian legends are brought into the mix. I really enjoyed this book. I enjoy anything by Garth Stein!
bb_laurens's review against another edition
3.0
In case any of you bibliomaniacs like me were wondering, Raven totally stole the moon. This book had a slow start, but the ending was well worth sticking through it. It is a beautiful story of the lengths a mother will go to for her child.
I read this book for my book club on Facebook, Monthly Book Club :books:
I read this book for my book club on Facebook, Monthly Book Club :books:
punipoli's review against another edition
2.0
me gusto tanto "el arte de conducir bajo la lluvia" que me esperaba algo parecido, sin embargo este libro parece escrito por alguien totalmente diferente, no esta escrito poeticamente, asusta un poco, y la verdad aunque estuvo interesante toda la parte sobre los nativos americanos, el folklore, que era algo de lo que nunca habia leido, el libro no me engancho,para mi estuvo bien pero solo eso..
serenaac's review against another edition
5.0
Garth Stein’s Raven Stole the Moon was originally printed in 1998, but was recently republished by Harper following Stein’s success with The Art of Racing in the Rain. The Tlingit legend — including that of Raven — that becomes Jenna Rosen’s life is absorbing, blurring the lines of reality and folklore. Jenna’s life fell apart upon the death of her son in an accident, and she spirals out of control, seeing psychiatrists and taking addictive pharmacological substances. After emerging from a drug haze, she and her husband Robert go through the motions until Jenna makes a definitive move to change her life.
“The two options were mutually exclusive. There was no middle ground. Maybe I’m a little crazy and there are some spirits. No. It was either/or. And Jenna was determined to find out which.” (Page 199)
Set in the 1990s in Alaska and Washington State where its about “recapturing the glory of the eighties at a discount,” Stein crafts a surreal tale where reality blends with the past, the present, and folklore turning men into beasts and soul robbers and generating three dimensional characters ready to deal with the unknown and irreparable grief.
Read the rest of the review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2010/06/raven-stole-the-moon-by-garth-stein.html
“The two options were mutually exclusive. There was no middle ground. Maybe I’m a little crazy and there are some spirits. No. It was either/or. And Jenna was determined to find out which.” (Page 199)
Set in the 1990s in Alaska and Washington State where its about “recapturing the glory of the eighties at a discount,” Stein crafts a surreal tale where reality blends with the past, the present, and folklore turning men into beasts and soul robbers and generating three dimensional characters ready to deal with the unknown and irreparable grief.
Read the rest of the review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2010/06/raven-stole-the-moon-by-garth-stein.html