Reviews

The Kept by James Scott

mcearl12's review against another edition

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3.0

A good listen, but I can't say I recommend it. Too dark and depressing for my tastes, I think.

createabeast's review against another edition

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1.0

An attempt a grim reality, which doesn't hold up.

The essential setting and characters were interesting and far and away the best part of The Kept, but they are misused. I checked this book out based on a partial interview I heard on NPR. I don't regret reading it, but I also wouldn't call it a good book, and am really glad I didn't buy it or gift it to others.The premise is what hooked me, and it didn't deliver.

There is a problem when pampered, professionally over-educated writers think they have something to say about grimness and redemption, when nothing in their lives has ever approached the grimness of their subject matter, and no sin they've ever committed would allow them the glimpse at what real redemption would feel like. They are forced to over-think it, and pretend, and rely on a whole community of pampered, similarly-cloistered peers to encourage them.

I found the end was weak and unsatisfying. I think the intent was to convey a sense of anticlimax, in an effort to be more like "grim reality". But it comes off as an amateurish misunderstanding of what "grim reality" looks like. It actually ended pretty much how I feared it would. Sadly, not empathetic concern for the characters, but fear for the quality of the story. I was with the book for most of the way, hoping that the author would find a way out of this without being cliche or (just as bad, perhaps worse) trying so hard to avoid cliche that he just writes himself into a blank page and calls that an ending.

mam22nov's review against another edition

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3.0

This is a good book if you're reading for atmosphere, not so hot if you're looking for character development. The descriptions of places and what the characters were seeing or experiencing were quite good, but I don't feel that I ever got a handle on what the characters were all about. I don't want to include any spoilers, so I'm not going to say what the main characters did, but some of their actions and/or character flaws were serious enough that I really needed a little more explanation as to how they got to be the people they were. So I didn't find this book to be too satisfying. The only thing I could say is that maybe you understood the characters as well as they understood themselves.

anitaw16's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5 stars

I'm amazed that this is the author's first novel. The writing was so atmospheric and vivid that I felt like I was watching a film the entire time that I was reading. I can't wait to see what this writer does in the future.

krobart's review against another edition

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4.0

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2015/05/27/day-710-the-kept/

judithdcollins's review against another edition

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4.0

James Scott delivers a dark, haunting, yet compelling debut, THE KEPT as chilling as the snow outdoors; Written with vivid details, an intriguing story set in the late 19th century; a 12-year-old Caleb and an unhinged woman with a past, set out for revenge--a family’s murder. 3.5 stars

Elspeth Howell, a midwife, returns to her home in upstate New York in the middle of a snow storm to discover a nightmare; four of her five children and her Native American husband, Jonah has been shot to death. The fifth child, Caleb, hiding out since the shooting, thinking the bad men have returned for him, and inadvertently, shoots his mother.

Readers slowly learn her children were abducted as infants since she was unable to conceive children on her own. As they both seek revenge, under new identities; Caleb is obsessed with learning his biological background. From sins of the mother to an innocent child forced into a cruel adult world, these two may discover something from the pain.

Not for the faint of heart, from disturbing to lyrical prose, this gripping coming of age novel takes readers on a journey, while mother and son set out to find the killers there is much more to uncover, from terror to tenderness, mystery to clarity, guilt to innocence, violence to calm, destruction to rebuilding, Scott delivers a complex and thought-provoking account of family, loss, love, and despair.

A riveting novel, a literary author to watch-- reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road,” and “Blood Meridian”, American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter; author of ten novels, spanning the southern gothic, western, and post-apocalyptic genres. (this year marks the 50th anniversary of his first novel, The Orchard Keeper).

Readers will learn to care about Caleb and try to understand Elspeth, but things do not look positive. as there is tragedy around every corner. While the narrator, Kate Udall was very depressing, long and drawn out, making it difficult to listen —matching the setting, emotion, and mood of this Gothic style book. There is no humor here, and yes it is dark; however, look beneath this and you will see where the books shines – in the brilliant writing.

On a personal note: While updating my Library Thing account, I discovered a number (many) of audible books which I read while traveling, and failed to go back and review; playing catching up!

mellabella's review against another edition

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3.0

This book isn't a page turner in the traditional sense. It's not fast paced.
Even in the beginning, a woman finds her family slaughtered. You learn a few surprises... It's slow moving.
I became engrossed because I kept wondering how it would all turn out.
The characters (even if they are in it briefly) are interesting.
Caleb and Elspeth are nuanced characters.
The ending probably cost it a half star or a full one.
But it's still good solid historical fiction.

beth_morton's review against another edition

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2.0

I guess I'm in the minority, but I really didn't like this book. The writing was lovely, but the story unbearable and I never felt invested in what happened to Elspeth and Caleb. I finish books no matter what. This is one I wish I hadn't bothered, especially after the final page. Some reviewer compared it to the Snow Child. I loved that book... this is not comparable IMO.

margotreadsbooks's review against another edition

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2.0

By the time I got halfway through, I was convinced that the feeling I had every 10 pages that the story was about to get really good would go away. And it only got worse.
The style of writing is beautiful, the story has potential but consistently falls flat. Meh.

emmamgregory's review against another edition

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5.0

Every word was worthy of being read, a truly haunting and thoroughly mesmerizing novel.