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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
I'm still not sure I fully understood this book, but I think that's how you're supposed to feel...
This was another great book. I love magical realism. Its handled so well in this book, and the writing style is just so pretty. It feels like the author is painting with such a vivid brush, and I could just sense the bright colors bleeding through the page. There is something really special about it. Its hard to describe.
The writer makes the reader fall in love with Ruby, even while she shows (and doesn't tell) how she is so manipulative. I really liked that about this book. I liked that she didn't go, "Ruby is manipulative and controls her younger sister and everyone around her". Instead, she clearly paints this picture, and she shows how all these people fall under her spell. I also like that she didn't make Ruby a really terrible person. Even though was manipulative and she could do horrible things, you sensed that she really loved Chloe, and she would do anything for her. You sensed that she needed her, and that she had a good side to her. I liked that ambiguity and the shades of grey here.
I also loved the eerie feeling of the book. There was something ghost-like about it, but very tangible, and I think the author handled that balance so well. I would recommend this for people who are fans of magical realism, or realistic portrayals of sibling relationships. If you were a fan of this book, I would check out Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
The writer makes the reader fall in love with Ruby, even while she shows (and doesn't tell) how she is so manipulative. I really liked that about this book. I liked that she didn't go, "Ruby is manipulative and controls her younger sister and everyone around her". Instead, she clearly paints this picture, and she shows how all these people fall under her spell. I also like that she didn't make Ruby a really terrible person. Even though was manipulative and she could do horrible things, you sensed that she really loved Chloe, and she would do anything for her. You sensed that she needed her, and that she had a good side to her. I liked that ambiguity and the shades of grey here.
I also loved the eerie feeling of the book. There was something ghost-like about it, but very tangible, and I think the author handled that balance so well. I would recommend this for people who are fans of magical realism, or realistic portrayals of sibling relationships. If you were a fan of this book, I would check out Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
I was intrigued on reading this after a friends review, and I'm glad I did. I was frustrated with the lack of communication but honestly, that's a component of stories. The girls relationship was off the realm of normal, and I still want more answers, like the cell phone service. Logically there wasn't explanations, and Chloe didn't seem to care one bit. Overall I flew through this book, and enjoyed it, even if the relationships were not what most would consider healthy.
I finished this book at the end of last week and I have been slow to write about it because it was just weird. Don't get me wrong the book hooked me and I wanted to know the solution to the mystery and what was going to happen next- it was just weird in the process.
The book revolves around a girl, Chloe, who finds a classmate's (London's) dead body floating in a boat on a lake. This discovery disturbs her enough that she moves away from her hometown where she lives with her barely adult and somewhat irresponsible sister, Ruby, and go live with her father. Ruby then invites her back to their hometown a few summers later so that everything can be "just like it was before".
I am fine with fantasy or magic coming into play in a book as long as it is used consistently, but usually it is nice to somehow be told early on that this is the norm for the world the book is set in- although that was part of the mystery I suppose.
One last part I feel obligated to comment upon. My wife, an English teacher, believes a book should have a moral or some deeper meaning beyond just entertainment and that good morality should be a part of the book. Mostly this revolves around the notion of evil being punished in the end or there at least being consequences to bad action. That is only ind of here. I don't know whether the author intended a deeper meaning or for the main character to have a naïve view of her sister and their relationship, but otherwise the consequences for Ruby's actions are minimal.
I'm reminded of when I read A Wrinkle in Time last school year and was thoroughly unimpressed and my wife pointed out to me that there are some books that are so well geared towards youth that adults truly cannot enjoy them. I say that because I can imagine if I had given myself the chance I would have enjoyed that book and this one if only I was younger. The idea of these kinds of travels [Wrinkle] or fantasies [Imaginary Girls] would have hooked me when I was younger, but now I just have a hard time believing in them. And not it the "it must be real sense" or I can't enjoy fantasy either, because I enjoyed Harry Potter, I loved the start, but hated the end of the Inheritance Cycle, and my favorite series (right now, although I long to read the series A Song of Fire and Ice) is the fantasy series Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. The book was enjoyable and engaging, just weird.
The book revolves around a girl, Chloe, who finds a classmate's (London's) dead body floating in a boat on a lake. This discovery disturbs her enough that she moves away from her hometown where she lives with her barely adult and somewhat irresponsible sister, Ruby, and go live with her father. Ruby then invites her back to their hometown a few summers later so that everything can be "just like it was before".
I am fine with fantasy or magic coming into play in a book as long as it is used consistently, but usually it is nice to somehow be told early on that this is the norm for the world the book is set in- although that was part of the mystery I suppose.
One last part I feel obligated to comment upon. My wife, an English teacher, believes a book should have a moral or some deeper meaning beyond just entertainment and that good morality should be a part of the book. Mostly this revolves around the notion of evil being punished in the end or there at least being consequences to bad action. That is only ind of here. I don't know whether the author intended a deeper meaning or for the main character to have a naïve view of her sister and their relationship, but otherwise the consequences for Ruby's actions are minimal.
I'm reminded of when I read A Wrinkle in Time last school year and was thoroughly unimpressed and my wife pointed out to me that there are some books that are so well geared towards youth that adults truly cannot enjoy them. I say that because I can imagine if I had given myself the chance I would have enjoyed that book and this one if only I was younger. The idea of these kinds of travels [Wrinkle] or fantasies [Imaginary Girls] would have hooked me when I was younger, but now I just have a hard time believing in them. And not it the "it must be real sense" or I can't enjoy fantasy either, because I enjoyed Harry Potter, I loved the start, but hated the end of the Inheritance Cycle, and my favorite series (right now, although I long to read the series A Song of Fire and Ice) is the fantasy series Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. The book was enjoyable and engaging, just weird.
It was a good story and it held my interest...but in the end, I just didn't get it.
I will need to think about this one before I rate it... It was definitely a page-turner and I found myself completely sucked into the story and needing to know what was going to happen next. (Uhm.. Or what the heck was going on..??).
It was a beautifully written book but.. What did I just read??
It was a beautifully written book but.. What did I just read??
2.5 stars, because it's really hovering between "it was ok" and "I liked it" for me. I am definitely not the target audience, so that could have something to do with my lack of enthusiasm, but I think it's more than that (after all, there are some YA-books out there that I think are truly phenomenal).
What I liked about this story is the premise. I won't repeat it here because we all know what this book is about, but it was just so original. Very mysterious, very surreal, very intriguing. From the very beginning, I wanted to know more about this little town, this charismatic sister (more about that in a second), and the whole crazily impossible event at the heart of the book. The whole time I was reading this, I thought to myself: "What on EARTH is going on?" and I like that. I like to be puzzled. So...five stars for an original story.
But then...the characters were rather flimsy. To anyone who claims this book has well-developed characters: I disagree. We know nothing about Ruby other than that she's supposedly super attractive and super charismatic (which, by the way, I don't understand: she frankly sounded like a self-centered, controlling, manipulative bitch). We know even less about Chloe: yes, she's Ruby's sister, and she looks like her, and she looks up to her. But who IS Chloe? What does Chloe care about, other than Ruby? Her one-dimensionality was disappointing, and unbelievable. No one can be so much of a pushover that
I never say this, but someone should make it into a movie. This is one of those narratives that would probably work very well (if not better) on screen than in a book.
What I liked about this story is the premise. I won't repeat it here because we all know what this book is about, but it was just so original. Very mysterious, very surreal, very intriguing. From the very beginning, I wanted to know more about this little town, this charismatic sister (more about that in a second), and the whole crazily impossible event at the heart of the book. The whole time I was reading this, I thought to myself: "What on EARTH is going on?" and I like that. I like to be puzzled. So...five stars for an original story.
But then...the characters were rather flimsy. To anyone who claims this book has well-developed characters: I disagree. We know nothing about Ruby other than that she's supposedly super attractive and super charismatic (which, by the way, I don't understand: she frankly sounded like a self-centered, controlling, manipulative bitch). We know even less about Chloe: yes, she's Ruby's sister, and she looks like her, and she looks up to her. But who IS Chloe? What does Chloe care about, other than Ruby? Her one-dimensionality was disappointing, and unbelievable. No one can be so much of a pushover that
Spoiler
you just accept the fact that a girl who was proclaimed dead has now come back alive, and ask no questions simply because your sister insinuates you shouldn't.I never say this, but someone should make it into a movie. This is one of those narratives that would probably work very well (if not better) on screen than in a book.
I really liked this book. The way Nova Ren Suma describes the reservoir creeps me out. But I enjoy creepy books. (If you don't like creepy don't read this.You will not be very happy with yourself if you read this)The way she described her sister gave me the creeps, but I was also in awe. I was amazed at how a whole town could fall under control of this twenty-one year old girl. It was crazy. Then as she starts to edge you into the people of Olive. I loved all the stories Ruby told.
I hope many more read this book. I will be looking forward to more from Nova Ren Suma.
I hope many more read this book. I will be looking forward to more from Nova Ren Suma.
A beautiful and chilling story of two sisters, one with an uncanny ability to inspire devotion and obedience, even from the universe, and one who chooses to look the other way.
Ruby is the cherished older sister of Chloe, our narrator, who has spent her life (happily) in the shadow of her gorgeous older sister in a small town in New York. Chloe refers to herself as a watered-down version of her older sister, but rather than the typical sibling rivalry, Ruby adores Chloe, and they have an incredibly tight bond that no outsider -- parent, girlfriend, or boy -- will ever come between.
Suma's writing is poetic, without being overdone. I kept doing status updates with phrases that struck me with their beauty. I wanted to linger over this book and not rush it. Here are some particularly nice examples:
"We were talking like I was already coming back, like my dad hadn't said no. Like I had no dad, and there was no such thing as no. "
"she dropped the receipt in the general direction of the trash can, but it missed, fluttering to the floor, the flower print of her lips captured for always. "
"There she was... And then there she wasn't, sundress swallowed by the night."
This is a book I'll definitely need to read twice to tease out meaning. There is a strong undercurrent of mystery that swirls through the book, and gets particularly heavy around 3/4 of the way through. The timing is sublime... the ending, though neatly wrapped up, never feels rushed, and although many things remain a mystery (you can never really know what Ruby was up to), it's part of her character, and you don't expect an answer to all your questions.... not really.
Chloe as a narrator is so pitch perfect... her love for her sister, even when she knows something is amiss, is so believable. Her confused stumblings with boys ring very true, and she's not your typical self-depricating teen. Chloe is, like her sister, an old soul... very thoughtful and deliberate, even when she's unsure of herself and others around her.
I'd recommend this to thoughtful teen girls, especially those with tight sister bonds, and who enjoy a delicious little paranormal chill with their stories. There are enough dark elements that it will appeal to teen guys as well, who will enjoy finding out what's really going on inside a mysterious 16 year old girl's head.
Ruby is the cherished older sister of Chloe, our narrator, who has spent her life (happily) in the shadow of her gorgeous older sister in a small town in New York. Chloe refers to herself as a watered-down version of her older sister, but rather than the typical sibling rivalry, Ruby adores Chloe, and they have an incredibly tight bond that no outsider -- parent, girlfriend, or boy -- will ever come between.
Suma's writing is poetic, without being overdone. I kept doing status updates with phrases that struck me with their beauty. I wanted to linger over this book and not rush it. Here are some particularly nice examples:
"We were talking like I was already coming back, like my dad hadn't said no. Like I had no dad, and there was no such thing as no. "
"she dropped the receipt in the general direction of the trash can, but it missed, fluttering to the floor, the flower print of her lips captured for always. "
"There she was... And then there she wasn't, sundress swallowed by the night."
This is a book I'll definitely need to read twice to tease out meaning. There is a strong undercurrent of mystery that swirls through the book, and gets particularly heavy around 3/4 of the way through. The timing is sublime... the ending, though neatly wrapped up, never feels rushed, and although many things remain a mystery (you can never really know what Ruby was up to), it's part of her character, and you don't expect an answer to all your questions.... not really.
Chloe as a narrator is so pitch perfect... her love for her sister, even when she knows something is amiss, is so believable. Her confused stumblings with boys ring very true, and she's not your typical self-depricating teen. Chloe is, like her sister, an old soul... very thoughtful and deliberate, even when she's unsure of herself and others around her.
I'd recommend this to thoughtful teen girls, especially those with tight sister bonds, and who enjoy a delicious little paranormal chill with their stories. There are enough dark elements that it will appeal to teen guys as well, who will enjoy finding out what's really going on inside a mysterious 16 year old girl's head.