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dem's review against another edition
2.0
I understand the positive reviews of this book. It really is a dark, haunting story and the language is almost beautiful to read in places. However, this book taught me, more than any other, that I read for my own pleasure, not for the pleasure of others. I struggled mightily to get through this, every turn of the page feeling like a small victory, but I continued on, after reading so many positive reviews prior to picking it up. For me, this was painfully slow moving and I didn't care at all about anyone or anything that was happening by the end. I'm sorry to say this just wasn't for me.
jlrmac's review against another edition
1.0
Hated this. I forced myself to listen through to the end. I kept thinking it would redeem itself (pun intended). Dreary, weary. It was only for a brief time near the end that the plot and the characters made me care enough to want to know what happens next. I was sorry I wasted my time on this book.
moreadsbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Elspeth Howell returns to her secluded country home after months away to find her husband & children murdered. The only surviving child, Caleb, accidentally shoots his mother and then burns the house down attempting to cremate his deceased family. As soon as Elspeth feels well enough to travel, they set off on a surreal, feverish journey to try & avenge their family. They meet a few odd characters & at first things seem promising in an epic trek sort of way, but they get mired in the first town they visit. “Leaving had only occurred to Caleb in rare stretches of quiet . . . but he had always thought of Watersbridge as a transitional point: Either the murderers were there and they would kill them, or they weren’t and Caleb and Elspeth would try another town and another until they ran out of worlds.” This is what I had been expecting too, but instead, once in town, Elspeth disguises herself as a man & gets a job with a guy she met in a bar (and when Charles showed up, exactly how many pages were necessary before one could guess his role as tragic homosexual ? Less than one for this reader) and Caleb finds work of his own, sweeping floors at the whorehouse owned by charismatic bad guy London White. If there is one thing that I learned from Al Swearengen, it’s that a boy can always find work sweeping floors in a whorehouse.
It may not be this book’s fault that I didn’t much care for it, since I’ve started & then discarded no less than six books in the past two weeks (better luck next time, Book of the Crowman, and you too, Dreams of Gods & Monsters), so I may well be going through a phase. Actually, I think my real problem is that I just started working full-time again for the first time in four years & that’s broken my brain. So it could be that under different circumstances this book would not have left me as cold as it did. I can at least say (barely) that it has the dubious honor of being the only thing I’ve finished since my last Scudder book (which I read over a week ago, to my shame). I just wanted a lot more meat to the story of Elspeth’s family, especially in light of some big spoiler-y plot developments. The details that Scott gives were tantalizing enough at first, but in the end they proved too scant to keep me invested in the Howells & their woes. The big reveal of what was really going on with Elspeth and her kids was so grim & shocking, it deserved a lot more play than it got. I would’ve preferred to read two separate books here, one all about Elspeth & the terrible crimes she committed in order to have a family, and then another all about London White & the characters of the Elm Inn & the Brick & Feather and all the other denizens of the town of Watersbridge - but only if the second book had nothing at all to do with the Howells, since they were honestly the townsfolk I found the least interesting.
It may not be this book’s fault that I didn’t much care for it, since I’ve started & then discarded no less than six books in the past two weeks (better luck next time, Book of the Crowman, and you too, Dreams of Gods & Monsters), so I may well be going through a phase. Actually, I think my real problem is that I just started working full-time again for the first time in four years & that’s broken my brain. So it could be that under different circumstances this book would not have left me as cold as it did. I can at least say (barely) that it has the dubious honor of being the only thing I’ve finished since my last Scudder book (which I read over a week ago, to my shame). I just wanted a lot more meat to the story of Elspeth’s family, especially in light of some big spoiler-y plot developments. The details that Scott gives were tantalizing enough at first, but in the end they proved too scant to keep me invested in the Howells & their woes. The big reveal of what was really going on with Elspeth and her kids was so grim & shocking, it deserved a lot more play than it got. I would’ve preferred to read two separate books here, one all about Elspeth & the terrible crimes she committed in order to have a family, and then another all about London White & the characters of the Elm Inn & the Brick & Feather and all the other denizens of the town of Watersbridge - but only if the second book had nothing at all to do with the Howells, since they were honestly the townsfolk I found the least interesting.
whatsheread's review against another edition
Upon the book’s opening sentences, readers know that The Kept is not going to be a cheery novel with its talk of mysterious sin flooding into the horrific scene Elspeth finds upon her return home. The guilt both Elspeth and Caleb carry with them as they hunt down the perpetrators is a physical presence within the book, manifesting itself in the dread and foreboding a reader feels about the likelihood of their success.
An emotionally heavy and intense book, there is little in the way to lighten its tone. The story’s serious tones complement the serious subject matter and uncomfortable scenes that occur specifically because of their searches. To add levity to the story would be to undo the solemnity that is vital to understanding Elspeth’s mindset and Caleb’s willingness to go against every lesson of forgiveness he learned.
Unfortunately, the stark, gorgeous narrative cannot overcome certain negatives within the story proper. For one, Elspeth’s baby obsession remains odd in that Scott does not explain her desires as thoroughly as he does other elements of the story. Similarly, her thoughts of her husband raise more questions than answers. It makes for a rather frustrating read at times as one feels that the answers to Elspeth’s unusual marriage arrangements are key to understanding her motivation and determination.
Extremely dark, The Kept is a story of innocence lost. Caleb’s ruthless entry into the adult world is shocking not only for the acts themselves but because of the complete lack of emotion in which they occur. Even more dreadful is the truth revealed about his birthright and the lasting consequences of Elspeth’s actions. The gut-wrenching final scenes sum up this grim novel about revenge, sacrifice, greed, and resilience and leave readers with a resounding sense of loss at what was as well as what could have been for all involved parties.
An emotionally heavy and intense book, there is little in the way to lighten its tone. The story’s serious tones complement the serious subject matter and uncomfortable scenes that occur specifically because of their searches. To add levity to the story would be to undo the solemnity that is vital to understanding Elspeth’s mindset and Caleb’s willingness to go against every lesson of forgiveness he learned.
Unfortunately, the stark, gorgeous narrative cannot overcome certain negatives within the story proper. For one, Elspeth’s baby obsession remains odd in that Scott does not explain her desires as thoroughly as he does other elements of the story. Similarly, her thoughts of her husband raise more questions than answers. It makes for a rather frustrating read at times as one feels that the answers to Elspeth’s unusual marriage arrangements are key to understanding her motivation and determination.
Extremely dark, The Kept is a story of innocence lost. Caleb’s ruthless entry into the adult world is shocking not only for the acts themselves but because of the complete lack of emotion in which they occur. Even more dreadful is the truth revealed about his birthright and the lasting consequences of Elspeth’s actions. The gut-wrenching final scenes sum up this grim novel about revenge, sacrifice, greed, and resilience and leave readers with a resounding sense of loss at what was as well as what could have been for all involved parties.
carolmariee's review
3.0
This book was .. okay. It had its ups and downs for sure. I was not pleased with the ending but there were times throughout the book that were very good and very well written and I could not put it down.
jes77librarian's review
5.0
Incredibly well written book. Couldn't put it down. The setting compliments the darkness of the story and the characters are rich. Although I hoped the story would end differently, I suppose it ended the only way it could. Read this book!!
charliemudd's review
3.0
A bit like Cormac McCarthy's "The Road", this book wasn't quite as minimalistic or bleak, but still tried to have just as many symbolic gestures and meaningful looks. I say "tried" because I got put of by them about 3/4 of the way into the book, and really stopped caring how it would turn out. (BTW, I liked "The Road" but didn't love it.) Scott wasn't afraid to mix it up and kill people here and there, but you could still tell it was going to end somewhere within the obvious parameters. I felt like he was mimicking a dark and brooding story rather than creating a new one.
lizhop's review
3.0
So well written, and ultimately so frustrating.
The ending felt like a cop-out. While I read the author interview and understand that the author is presenting this non-ending as a choice, there is just too much specificity and detail throughout the book to have this ambiguity feel like anything other than the author's inability to flesh out the finale.
kellyhager's review
4.0
It's best to go into this book knowing as little as possible. The summary listed is probably the absolute most you should be aware of. And, of course, that means that this will be an incredibly vague review because I don't want to spoil anything.
Here's what I can say: this book is GOOD. It's incredibly fun to read, but there's also a lot going on in this book (only 354 pages in my copy but a lot is packed into those pages). And the characters are very realistic. Nobody is 100% good or 100% bad, which I find incredibly refreshing. Some are obviously better than others (and some, then, are worse than others) but it's like real life---some people do horrible things and yet somehow I found myself liking them anyway.
I especially loved Elspeth. She's a unique and complicated character, someone completely unlike anyone I've ever read before. And I loved Caleb, who's been forced to become much older than his 12 years.
This is James Scott's first novel and I was incredibly impressed by it. I can't wait to see what he does next. Recommended.
Here's what I can say: this book is GOOD. It's incredibly fun to read, but there's also a lot going on in this book (only 354 pages in my copy but a lot is packed into those pages). And the characters are very realistic. Nobody is 100% good or 100% bad, which I find incredibly refreshing. Some are obviously better than others (and some, then, are worse than others) but it's like real life---some people do horrible things and yet somehow I found myself liking them anyway.
I especially loved Elspeth. She's a unique and complicated character, someone completely unlike anyone I've ever read before. And I loved Caleb, who's been forced to become much older than his 12 years.
This is James Scott's first novel and I was incredibly impressed by it. I can't wait to see what he does next. Recommended.
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