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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
I got this book as an ARC from LibraryThing, and didn't remember reading anything about a supernatural aspect to the book in the description - so for a lot of the book, I struggled to figure out whether or not there was something supernatural going on, or if the descriptions were just very mystical and spine-tingling. Once I realized there was something spooky going on, the book completely shifted focus - it was almost as if the author planned for the somewhat confusing & thoroughly creepy novel to suddenly become even MORE creepy as the reader realizes that wait, that nagging suspicion you had from the beginning but wrote off as crazy is actually what's going on. The book reminded me completely of the movie Silence Becomes You - it's absolutely beautiful, confusing yet easy to understand, and intensely creepy. I recommend this book highly.
Sadly, I didn't love this book as much as I wanted to. When I started reading, I didn't realize it was going to be magical realism, so that was a bit of a surprise to me. Just not really my type of book, but I could see why others love it. The descriptions were beautiful, though I thought it was a little too repetitive about how amazing, wonderful, and special Ruby is. Just didn't love the Ruby character.
I wanted to like this book more. The prose was beautiful (as was the cover; I'm a shallow person), the premise unsettling, the potential was there but... I don't know.
For all its psychological nuances, it just felt too obvious, and the quality of the writing only served to emphasise it; I don't know exactly how to put it but there was a discord between the subtlety of the prose and the predictability of the central conflict. What I did love (aside from the writing) was the dreamlike quality of it all - the way it balanced somewhere between the realistic and the paranormal.
So... better luck next time, I'll be keeping an eye out for it.
For all its psychological nuances, it just felt too obvious, and the quality of the writing only served to emphasise it; I don't know exactly how to put it but there was a discord between the subtlety of the prose and the predictability of the central conflict. What I did love (aside from the writing) was the dreamlike quality of it all - the way it balanced somewhere between the realistic and the paranormal.
So... better luck next time, I'll be keeping an eye out for it.
I wanted to read this book because it's about SISTERS! Ruby is 5 1/2 years older than Chloe; she's beautiful, popular, magnetic and everyone knows it. However after the discovery of Chloe's classmate, dead of an overdose, Chloe leaves to live with her father. Until two years later when Ruby travels to bring Chloe home and thereby fix everything.
This book is kind of creepy because while ostensibly a contemporary for much of the book, there always seems to be some magic lurking. Ruby is able to get pretty much anyone in their small town to do pretty much anything for her; they all adore her that much. And she feels no compunction about bending them to their will. In general, she's ruthless, selfish, and mean, except for in her relationship to Chloe. Sharing an alcoholic mother and being the older sister has given Ruby a great emotional stake in Chloe. They are sisters with their own special language and precious memories, with Ruby willing to do ANYTHING for her sister as can be seen in the ending. The desire of an older sister to protect her younger sister is very poignant to me as an older sister who would do a lot to protect her younger sister.
Meanwhile Chloe doesn't have much of a personality as she has spent years living in Ruby's shadow. She doesn't even think highly of herself because she knows she's not Ruby. And that is what is repeated ad nauseam; that Chloe isn't Ruby, that she doesn't have boys falling over backwards to do her bidding, that she doesn't seem to command the same amount of attention. This caused me to care less about Chloe even as she's the narrator. Like her, my attention was fixated on Ruby. The other characters weren't of much interest especially the loser boy who temporarily occupies some of Chloe's interest-he sounded disgusting with his infrequently dyed hair and reliance on pot.
The other big element to mention is the "magical realism" as I've seen used in other reviews; in some ways this book reminded me of Bleeding Violet for its inventive combination of a contemporary setting with fantastical elements. I can't speak to much about it because that would mean spoilers but the way the dread comes over you as you puzzle out what happened that dark night that led to one of Chloe's classmates dead and its aftermath was very well-done.
Overall: I enjoyed the sister-sister relationship but Chloe wasn't fleshed out enough for me to really love this book.
This book is kind of creepy because while ostensibly a contemporary for much of the book, there always seems to be some magic lurking. Ruby is able to get pretty much anyone in their small town to do pretty much anything for her; they all adore her that much. And she feels no compunction about bending them to their will. In general, she's ruthless, selfish, and mean, except for in her relationship to Chloe. Sharing an alcoholic mother and being the older sister has given Ruby a great emotional stake in Chloe. They are sisters with their own special language and precious memories, with Ruby willing to do ANYTHING for her sister as can be seen in the ending. The desire of an older sister to protect her younger sister is very poignant to me as an older sister who would do a lot to protect her younger sister.
Meanwhile Chloe doesn't have much of a personality as she has spent years living in Ruby's shadow. She doesn't even think highly of herself because she knows she's not Ruby. And that is what is repeated ad nauseam; that Chloe isn't Ruby, that she doesn't have boys falling over backwards to do her bidding, that she doesn't seem to command the same amount of attention. This caused me to care less about Chloe even as she's the narrator. Like her, my attention was fixated on Ruby. The other characters weren't of much interest especially the loser boy who temporarily occupies some of Chloe's interest-he sounded disgusting with his infrequently dyed hair and reliance on pot.
The other big element to mention is the "magical realism" as I've seen used in other reviews; in some ways this book reminded me of Bleeding Violet for its inventive combination of a contemporary setting with fantastical elements. I can't speak to much about it because that would mean spoilers but the way the dread comes over you as you puzzle out what happened that dark night that led to one of Chloe's classmates dead and its aftermath was very well-done.
Overall: I enjoyed the sister-sister relationship but Chloe wasn't fleshed out enough for me to really love this book.
Imaginary Girls had such an eerie atmosphere to it that at some points the hairs on my arms stood up and it unsettled me a little. The style of writing Nova Ren Suma has is beautiful and it got under my skin. This is her YA debut and her second novel and it’s as though she has been doing this for years.
The story centres on Chloe and her older sister, Ruby. Ruby has everyone who lives in their town wrapped around her little finger. The girls want to be just like her, the boys will do anything to gain her love and everything happens for Ruby in a way that makes you wonder about what’s really going on. She pays no attention to anyone in town and acts spontaneously but with Chloe she is grounded. She has reason and Ruby will do anything for her. Anything. Everything revolves around Ruby and no one else.
But after an unsettling disturbance of the towns peace, Chloe goes away and doesn’t go home for two years. But when Ruby shows up, she has no choice but to go back. And when she does, there is a surprise waiting like no other...
I loved this book so much. Even though it confused the hell out of me – and trust me, it did – it was still an amazing and compelling read. I’ve never really read a book quite like this. I’ve read books where the younger sister lives in the older sister’s shadow but it was nothing like this. Their bond was so strong and it was easy to see why Chloe looks up to her and treasures her. But I found myself feeling a little sad as the story progressed and Ruby loosened her hold on Chloe.
The plot wasn’t fast paced and that was the great thing about it. As the plot progressed the suspense built up until it was over flowing and so many times I had to stop myself from skipping ahead to try and release the tension and to see if everything was okay. The imagery of this book created a vivid mental picture in my mind and I could see everything as if it were a movie.
I like that we still don’t know what is happening at the end of the book and it’s almost as if Suma wants to leave the ending up to us and leave it to play on our minds which it has definitely done with me. The supernatural element to this novel was threaded into it so quietly and creepily that it isn’t obvious until a lot later in the novel and you will find yourself waiting for it to show through. Even after finishing this book you will be wondering what actually happened.
The ending to this book was perfect and made sure the eerie atmosphere stayed with us all the way, even when we closed the book. I won’t be forgetting this one anytime soon.
Imaginary Girls was an amazing, thrilling, haunting and creep story about sisterhood that has no boundaries, where they will do anything for each other, no matter the consequences.
The story centres on Chloe and her older sister, Ruby. Ruby has everyone who lives in their town wrapped around her little finger. The girls want to be just like her, the boys will do anything to gain her love and everything happens for Ruby in a way that makes you wonder about what’s really going on. She pays no attention to anyone in town and acts spontaneously but with Chloe she is grounded. She has reason and Ruby will do anything for her. Anything. Everything revolves around Ruby and no one else.
But after an unsettling disturbance of the towns peace, Chloe goes away and doesn’t go home for two years. But when Ruby shows up, she has no choice but to go back. And when she does, there is a surprise waiting like no other...
I loved this book so much. Even though it confused the hell out of me – and trust me, it did – it was still an amazing and compelling read. I’ve never really read a book quite like this. I’ve read books where the younger sister lives in the older sister’s shadow but it was nothing like this. Their bond was so strong and it was easy to see why Chloe looks up to her and treasures her. But I found myself feeling a little sad as the story progressed and Ruby loosened her hold on Chloe.
The plot wasn’t fast paced and that was the great thing about it. As the plot progressed the suspense built up until it was over flowing and so many times I had to stop myself from skipping ahead to try and release the tension and to see if everything was okay. The imagery of this book created a vivid mental picture in my mind and I could see everything as if it were a movie.
I like that we still don’t know what is happening at the end of the book and it’s almost as if Suma wants to leave the ending up to us and leave it to play on our minds which it has definitely done with me. The supernatural element to this novel was threaded into it so quietly and creepily that it isn’t obvious until a lot later in the novel and you will find yourself waiting for it to show through. Even after finishing this book you will be wondering what actually happened.
The ending to this book was perfect and made sure the eerie atmosphere stayed with us all the way, even when we closed the book. I won’t be forgetting this one anytime soon.
Imaginary Girls was an amazing, thrilling, haunting and creep story about sisterhood that has no boundaries, where they will do anything for each other, no matter the consequences.
I think my issue with this is I just kept expecting more. More of an explanation, more to the story, more to the characters... I don't know, I'm just kind of 'meh' on it.
2.5 stars
Maybe if I had understood what was going on I could rate it higher. Maybe if there was a character that I really was interested in I could rate it higher. Maybe if there had been more of a plot I could have rated it higher. Yes, the writing was lyrical and mysterious, but those things don't make a good read to me. This is just my opinion - there are plenty of people who loved this book so maybe I am just not sophisticated enough to enjoy it.
Maybe if I had understood what was going on I could rate it higher. Maybe if there was a character that I really was interested in I could rate it higher. Maybe if there had been more of a plot I could have rated it higher. Yes, the writing was lyrical and mysterious, but those things don't make a good read to me. This is just my opinion - there are plenty of people who loved this book so maybe I am just not sophisticated enough to enjoy it.
I think this is a love it or hate it kind of book and even harder to review.
The writing is fantastic, the metaphors and side stories captivating. I just never connected with the characters and that is probably a me thing and not due to the writing of the story. I was intrigued for much of the story trying to figure out what was going on with Ruby and why she had such a pull over the whole town and how the town of Olive at the bottom of the reservoir fit into the story. But I never liked Ruby or Chloe enough to be invested in them. I honestly wanted someone in the town to tell Ruby no and stand up to her.
I did like that this book was about sisters and the bonds that can be between them. As messed up as the bond between Ruby and Chloe were. This is definitely different than most other YA I've read. There is not love story and most of the boys in the story are just used and thrown away
If you like the Virgin Suicides or Donny Darko then this is probably right up your alley but I'm really not a huge fan of the genre so far.
The writing is fantastic, the metaphors and side stories captivating. I just never connected with the characters and that is probably a me thing and not due to the writing of the story. I was intrigued for much of the story trying to figure out what was going on with Ruby and why she had such a pull over the whole town and how the town of Olive at the bottom of the reservoir fit into the story. But I never liked Ruby or Chloe enough to be invested in them. I honestly wanted someone in the town to tell Ruby no and stand up to her.
I did like that this book was about sisters and the bonds that can be between them. As messed up as the bond between Ruby and Chloe were. This is definitely different than most other YA I've read. There is not love story and most of the boys in the story are just used and thrown away
If you like the Virgin Suicides or Donny Darko then this is probably right up your alley but I'm really not a huge fan of the genre so far.
This book turned out to be nothing like I expected it to be. I was intrigued, yes, but mostly I thought something like wth. It's very poetic and beautiful though. I can't say that I didn't like it but it was different from everything I've ever read. Yeah, I am not really sure what to make of it... ;)
Every so often, I'll so connect with a YA character that all I want to do is email the author and make sure she or he made it into their 20's intact and OK. And so:
Dear Ms. Suma,
I hope Chloe got through her senior year. I hope she got through college, or her day job at Cumby's, or some years backpacking through Europe. I hope she got to face-punch Owen. I hope she's OK now.
Sincerely,
Michelle
PS: Thank you.
Dear Ms. Suma,
I hope Chloe got through her senior year. I hope she got through college, or her day job at Cumby's, or some years backpacking through Europe. I hope she got to face-punch Owen. I hope she's OK now.
Sincerely,
Michelle
PS: Thank you.