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mad_about_books's review against another edition
5.0
HANNAHWHERE is a mystery, and it is a love story, and it is a complex horror story. There are some supernatural elements interwoven with very real physical and psychological terror that, in the hands of a less capable writer, could have become so entangled as to never reach a suitable conclusion. John McIlveen did not resort to any convenience of plot to overcome the entanglements but rather followed the convoluted path wherever it might lead while giving his reader a truly gut-wrenching ride. At times it was hard to turn the pages fast enough.
The way we look at the issue of child abuse, or for that matter any abuse, has changed, in my lifetime, from something never to be mentioned to being emblazoned on the front page of the newspaper, or blog, or TV news. I don't believe that this is due to an increase in this horrendous behavior, but rather due to an increase in the willingness to talk about it. Abuse is a fact of life with which we should all be uncomfortable, and, at the same time, something that must never be ignored.
Key to the telling of the tale is the sympathetic language used to describe horrors we would like to think are unimaginable. By sometimes talking around the barbaric acts, a clearer picture emerges, images we would rather never see. I never felt that this language was meant to diminish the savagery. In some ways, the careful choice of words made the violence that much more real.
For the most part, the presentation here is highly polished and readable. However, there are several streaks that mar the finish. Overall, they are mere blips that ultimately do nothing to diminish the story.
HANNAHWHERE is one of those books that it is difficult to say you enjoyed reading, yet it is not unique in this characteristic. There have been any number of books that I am glad that I read but feel that to say I enjoyed them would reflect badly on me. Sometimes it is enough to read and understand what the author is saying to make a novel a worthwhile read. HANNAHWHERE is a worthwhile read.
The way we look at the issue of child abuse, or for that matter any abuse, has changed, in my lifetime, from something never to be mentioned to being emblazoned on the front page of the newspaper, or blog, or TV news. I don't believe that this is due to an increase in this horrendous behavior, but rather due to an increase in the willingness to talk about it. Abuse is a fact of life with which we should all be uncomfortable, and, at the same time, something that must never be ignored.
Key to the telling of the tale is the sympathetic language used to describe horrors we would like to think are unimaginable. By sometimes talking around the barbaric acts, a clearer picture emerges, images we would rather never see. I never felt that this language was meant to diminish the savagery. In some ways, the careful choice of words made the violence that much more real.
For the most part, the presentation here is highly polished and readable. However, there are several streaks that mar the finish. Overall, they are mere blips that ultimately do nothing to diminish the story.
HANNAHWHERE is one of those books that it is difficult to say you enjoyed reading, yet it is not unique in this characteristic. There have been any number of books that I am glad that I read but feel that to say I enjoyed them would reflect badly on me. Sometimes it is enough to read and understand what the author is saying to make a novel a worthwhile read. HANNAHWHERE is a worthwhile read.
bookwyrm55's review against another edition
5.0
Just to be fully honest and fair, I published this book. As a publisher, though, with over 2300 titles out currently, there is no way to have personally read all of the books we've published. When i can, I catch up with our books in audio. I just finished listening to the audio edition of this book, and I am very, very happy that I did.
There are no punches pulled, and there are some dark things that happen... very dark... but the author clearly knows the subject matter, and handled the darkness in ways that, while not diminishing the darkness, also stop short of anything gratuitous. There are several story lines running at once, intertwining lives and traumas and loves...
This is the story of several young girls, several abusive men, caring women and art, secret places, and forgotten faces. It reminds me in spirit of Imajica by Clive Barker, or Weaveworld, but on a smaller scale - a more personal scale. This is a wonderful book, and I could not recommend it more highly.
There are no punches pulled, and there are some dark things that happen... very dark... but the author clearly knows the subject matter, and handled the darkness in ways that, while not diminishing the darkness, also stop short of anything gratuitous. There are several story lines running at once, intertwining lives and traumas and loves...
This is the story of several young girls, several abusive men, caring women and art, secret places, and forgotten faces. It reminds me in spirit of Imajica by Clive Barker, or Weaveworld, but on a smaller scale - a more personal scale. This is a wonderful book, and I could not recommend it more highly.
finnsnowbevi's review against another edition
5.0
Hannahwhere was an outstanding, emotionally charged, fast paced book. I probably wouldn't have ever heard of this book if I hadn't met Mr. McIlveen in person at a New England horror book convention of sorts, but I'm very lucky that I did. This book was outstanding, and I'm from the city where the part of the book with Debbie takes place (Haverhill/Riverside). I can't recommend this book enough to people who like horror/suspense novels. Can't wait to see more from Mr. McIlveen!
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