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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Probably a 4.5 (oh how I wish goodreads had half stars). I listened to it on audible and really enjoyed it! Highly recommend
I was surprised to find that I really enjoyed this book. I tried to avoid getting my hopes up because it's been a long time since a book has met my expectations. The only downside I have that kept me from giving it five stars was the almost abrupt, anticlimactic ending to the mystery.
My reviews are first published on [a cup of tea and an armful of books].
The Disappearances is a magical-realism, historical novel rich in character and story. The novel primarily follows Aila, whose life has been uprooted following the death of her mother and the deployment of her father. At some point I had forgotten that this was also a historical novel, so that gave it a nice unexpected flavor when I first started reading it. The Disappearances is about a set of three towns that have been struck by strange Disappearances that no one can explain. With a focus on Sterling, the town that Aila’s mother grew up in, The Disappearances probes the events of the past: possible Catalysts, what has disappeared, and how they’ve unlocked some of the secrets of Sterling. When Aila and her brother arrive it’s like the past has come to Sterling; Aila’s remarkable likeness to her mother, Juliet, the only person who escaped Sterling, sets the townspeople on edge. With the next Disappearance coming up, Aila strives to clear her family’s name by discovering where the Disappearances came from. But there are those who may not want the Disappearances to stop.
Disappearances. Catalysts. A mystery that has affected Sterling since 1907, with something new disappearing every seven years. It’s something small, something mundane that you don’t think about until it’s gone: the smell of baking bread and flowers, your reflection in mirrors or lakes, the stars. It’s only when it’s gone that you realize what you’ve lost. With the Disappearances affecting everyone for most of their lives or since birth, living with them has become the norm. The townspeople have adopted rules regarding outsiders and the Disappearances, so when Aila and her brother come to live in Sterling with an old friend of their mother’s and her family, it causes problems within a community where tensions are already high. Their mother is called a Catalyst, a witch, and other things, and it falls to Aila and her brother to deal with the accusations of the townspeople. Aila knows that the only way to clear her mother’s name is to discover the truth about the Disappearances.
Although The Disappearances is a historical novel, World War II is mentioned only sporadically. It reminds me a lot of how parents in England sent their children to the country in order to protect them, the way that the Pevensie children are in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The only problem I had was that Aila and the rest of Sterling are kind of in a bubble. I wish that the world had been cemented a bit more in that time by having members of the community affected more by the war. Most of the story is focused on the Disappearances, but I would have liked to see more about the war. They didn’t seem to want for much, which was a little strange to me considering that there was rationing during the war. What I did appreciate, however, was that Murphy had her characters acting the way they should for the time. There weren’t any odd, modern phrases that didn’t fit. There were a variety of the “high school characters” included, but there were still lines that were not crossed in order to make it more accessible to modern readers. I liked that it remained quaint in a good way.
The characters were wonderful. Aila is our protagonist, but there’s also Will, the boy next door (although they’re sharing the same house); Eliza, the town darling; Beas, the talented musician; George, the budding scientist; and, of course, the rest of the Clifftons and townsfolk that round out Sterling. I found Aila to be inquisitive and an interesting character to follow around. I loved that she was spunky–she juggled a new town, school, and loyalties all while trying to solve the mystery of the Disappearances. Her friendship with Will, Beas, George–and even Eliza–was so well done. I really enjoyed reading about how she became stronger friends with them as they were following the clues about the Disappearances.
One of the things they worry about losing is the taste of food. With the next Disappearance coming up, people get a little tense as they wonder what they’ll lose this year.
The romance in The Disappearances was another subtle way that Murphy illustrated both characters and setting. I absolutely adored how the friendships and relationships grew in small ways throughout the novel. It never became the focus of the novel, nor did it overtake the plot. The romance was a lovely way to have one more thing in the novel that kept you reading in order to discover how things would turn out for the characters. I thought it was extremely well done.
The Disappearances also had a lovely little connection to Shakespeare. I loved the occasional quote thrown in when they were trying to figure out if the Disappearances had a literary connection. Shakespeare wasn’t the only author or poet mentioned–there was some Browning and Keats as well. I always love when books reference other authors and their work. It makes it more interesting for me as a reader. When Aila goes through the Cliffton’s library with her friends to try to discover clues that may be hidden there, it slowly unravels the mystery and reveals connections that initially seemed unconnected. The way that things are revealed allows the story and the characters to grow and learn. I loved it.
The Disappearances was an incredibly enjoyable novel. I loved the references to Shakespeare, the magical-realism, and ultimately the way that the story was put together. Although it had a slow start, I was disappointed when it ended. Highly recommend this for readers who like the magical-realism genre, or even if you don’t!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of The Disappearances from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
*Quotes are taken from an advance reading copy and may have had changes before publication.
The Disappearances is a magical-realism, historical novel rich in character and story. The novel primarily follows Aila, whose life has been uprooted following the death of her mother and the deployment of her father. At some point I had forgotten that this was also a historical novel, so that gave it a nice unexpected flavor when I first started reading it. The Disappearances is about a set of three towns that have been struck by strange Disappearances that no one can explain. With a focus on Sterling, the town that Aila’s mother grew up in, The Disappearances probes the events of the past: possible Catalysts, what has disappeared, and how they’ve unlocked some of the secrets of Sterling. When Aila and her brother arrive it’s like the past has come to Sterling; Aila’s remarkable likeness to her mother, Juliet, the only person who escaped Sterling, sets the townspeople on edge. With the next Disappearance coming up, Aila strives to clear her family’s name by discovering where the Disappearances came from. But there are those who may not want the Disappearances to stop.
'We call them the Disappearances.'*
‘The Disappearance affected everyone, young and old, and every thing: fruits and flowers, perfumes and shampoos–even those things that make people sentimental, like the smell of a child’s hair, or scents linked to important memories.’*
Disappearances. Catalysts. A mystery that has affected Sterling since 1907, with something new disappearing every seven years. It’s something small, something mundane that you don’t think about until it’s gone: the smell of baking bread and flowers, your reflection in mirrors or lakes, the stars. It’s only when it’s gone that you realize what you’ve lost. With the Disappearances affecting everyone for most of their lives or since birth, living with them has become the norm. The townspeople have adopted rules regarding outsiders and the Disappearances, so when Aila and her brother come to live in Sterling with an old friend of their mother’s and her family, it causes problems within a community where tensions are already high. Their mother is called a Catalyst, a witch, and other things, and it falls to Aila and her brother to deal with the accusations of the townspeople. Aila knows that the only way to clear her mother’s name is to discover the truth about the Disappearances.
Although The Disappearances is a historical novel, World War II is mentioned only sporadically. It reminds me a lot of how parents in England sent their children to the country in order to protect them, the way that the Pevensie children are in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The only problem I had was that Aila and the rest of Sterling are kind of in a bubble. I wish that the world had been cemented a bit more in that time by having members of the community affected more by the war. Most of the story is focused on the Disappearances, but I would have liked to see more about the war. They didn’t seem to want for much, which was a little strange to me considering that there was rationing during the war. What I did appreciate, however, was that Murphy had her characters acting the way they should for the time. There weren’t any odd, modern phrases that didn’t fit. There were a variety of the “high school characters” included, but there were still lines that were not crossed in order to make it more accessible to modern readers. I liked that it remained quaint in a good way.
‘But really, aren’t there bits of magic everywhere we look? We’ve just stopped seeing it that way.’*
The characters were wonderful. Aila is our protagonist, but there’s also Will, the boy next door (although they’re sharing the same house); Eliza, the town darling; Beas, the talented musician; George, the budding scientist; and, of course, the rest of the Clifftons and townsfolk that round out Sterling. I found Aila to be inquisitive and an interesting character to follow around. I loved that she was spunky–she juggled a new town, school, and loyalties all while trying to solve the mystery of the Disappearances. Her friendship with Will, Beas, George–and even Eliza–was so well done. I really enjoyed reading about how she became stronger friends with them as they were following the clues about the Disappearances.
One of the things they worry about losing is the taste of food. With the next Disappearance coming up, people get a little tense as they wonder what they’ll lose this year.
The romance in The Disappearances was another subtle way that Murphy illustrated both characters and setting. I absolutely adored how the friendships and relationships grew in small ways throughout the novel. It never became the focus of the novel, nor did it overtake the plot. The romance was a lovely way to have one more thing in the novel that kept you reading in order to discover how things would turn out for the characters. I thought it was extremely well done.
The Disappearances also had a lovely little connection to Shakespeare. I loved the occasional quote thrown in when they were trying to figure out if the Disappearances had a literary connection. Shakespeare wasn’t the only author or poet mentioned–there was some Browning and Keats as well. I always love when books reference other authors and their work. It makes it more interesting for me as a reader. When Aila goes through the Cliffton’s library with her friends to try to discover clues that may be hidden there, it slowly unravels the mystery and reveals connections that initially seemed unconnected. The way that things are revealed allows the story and the characters to grow and learn. I loved it.
‘We’ll never be able to set it right unless we know which Catalyst was the true one.’*
The Disappearances was an incredibly enjoyable novel. I loved the references to Shakespeare, the magical-realism, and ultimately the way that the story was put together. Although it had a slow start, I was disappointed when it ended. Highly recommend this for readers who like the magical-realism genre, or even if you don’t!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of The Disappearances from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
*Quotes are taken from an advance reading copy and may have had changes before publication.
A unique story but I struggled with the flow of action. I really wanted to like it but it was
boring at times. The ending earned the third star.
boring at times. The ending earned the third star.
***5 STARS***
*Thank you HMH Books for Young Readers, Edelweiss, and Emily Bain Murphy for the eGalley in exchange for an honest review
FULL REVIEW CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON MY BLOG LAIR OF BOOKS:
https://lairofbooksblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/04/review-the-disappearances-by-emily-bain-murphy/
PLOT
I've always loved books that take place in small towns where generations of families have lived weaving their own stories. A lot of the times it becomes a game of separating fact from fiction. In The Disappearances we get introduced to the town of Sterling, a place shrouded in mystery and most unwelcoming to any newcomers.
Unfortunately, our main protagonist Aila & her 8 year old brother Miles have just lost their mother after taking ill & their father has just been drafted. Set against the backdrop of the 1940's, World War II has just begun and we see a bit of the daily affects on American life. Since Miles is known to be a mischievous child, their dad ends up having to leave them in the care of Juliet's (Aila & Miles mother) childhood best friend in another town. Aila & Miles leave behind the only home they've ever known to stay with people they don't really know. The town of Sterling isn't too happy about their arrival either for reasons the siblings have yet to uncover. From the minute they step foot in the town, all manner of strange occurrences take place & observant Aila is taking notes. They are taken in by the Cliftons, a very important & well respected family in Sterling. It isn't long before The Cliftons explain to Aila that every 7 years, Sterlings residents (born & raised) lose something of value. At the time of their arrival, the towns people have already lost scent, reflections, and the night skies stars. The Disappearances is at its core a mystery as Aila sets out to find the answers that may or may not clear her mothers name from the list of possible Catalysts, after all...it all had to start somewhere...
CHARACTERS
Aila- is a bookworm who reads mostly classics and Poetry, she's what is considered a good kid. When her & Miles are uprooted and taken to live with The Cliftons, she becomes very protective of her little brother Miles. While reminiscing on things their mother used to do with them to mark special occasions, she looks for ways to keep them going for Miles. I loved seeing them bicker & have a normal sibling relationship. They had moments where they didn't speak over petty things but ultimately she made sure they made up fairly soon after.
Miles- 8 years old and missing his mother terribly is trying to hang on to her memory. He may have been known for mischief in his old town & still gets into trouble here & there but overall really wants to be happy with the Cliftons who have welcomed them with open arms.
Will, Beas, & George- 1 plays a love interest, 1 is a new friend for Aila, and the other is a friend who sort of has feelings for Aila but also has other passions renting space in his mind ;)
The Cliftons- knowing they would face much controversy for taking in Juliet's kids, the Cliftons opened their doors & their hearts to Aila & Miles. This family is actually really special for a very important reason but that would be spoilery, instead I'll just say that I loved this entire family. They put others needs before their own & overall just ROCK!
Towns People- I honestly came to understand these folk after spending so much time with them lol. Juliet wasn't the only person to be accused of starting "the curse" as some call The Disappearances. Many other theories evolved over time and many prominent families were added to the list of potential catalysts. Besides the typical small town gossip & drama, these people did really band together in time of need.
WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS
It seems 2017 is the year of discovering many new authors with amazing stories to tell! The Disappearances took me by surprise in that I wasn't expecting to be pulled into the mystery to the point I was at the edge of my seat in anticipation for the next Disappearance. This by no means is a fast paced book, rather it's slow winding while still holding you in its grasp. I really felt for these people who were losing some of the most basic under appreciated wonders of life. I found myself Imagining what it would be like to not be able to see my reflection or smell my food...they lose way more than this. Ultimately I found the way it wrapped up to be very unique, I can honestly say I've never read anything like this before. Lastly, as a bookworm I'll say that this will appeal to those who love solving a good mystery filled with literary references and a bit of magic ;)
*Thank you HMH Books for Young Readers, Edelweiss, and Emily Bain Murphy for the eGalley in exchange for an honest review
FULL REVIEW CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON MY BLOG LAIR OF BOOKS:
https://lairofbooksblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/04/review-the-disappearances-by-emily-bain-murphy/
PLOT
I've always loved books that take place in small towns where generations of families have lived weaving their own stories. A lot of the times it becomes a game of separating fact from fiction. In The Disappearances we get introduced to the town of Sterling, a place shrouded in mystery and most unwelcoming to any newcomers.
Unfortunately, our main protagonist Aila & her 8 year old brother Miles have just lost their mother after taking ill & their father has just been drafted. Set against the backdrop of the 1940's, World War II has just begun and we see a bit of the daily affects on American life. Since Miles is known to be a mischievous child, their dad ends up having to leave them in the care of Juliet's (Aila & Miles mother) childhood best friend in another town. Aila & Miles leave behind the only home they've ever known to stay with people they don't really know. The town of Sterling isn't too happy about their arrival either for reasons the siblings have yet to uncover. From the minute they step foot in the town, all manner of strange occurrences take place & observant Aila is taking notes. They are taken in by the Cliftons, a very important & well respected family in Sterling. It isn't long before The Cliftons explain to Aila that every 7 years, Sterlings residents (born & raised) lose something of value. At the time of their arrival, the towns people have already lost scent, reflections, and the night skies stars. The Disappearances is at its core a mystery as Aila sets out to find the answers that may or may not clear her mothers name from the list of possible Catalysts, after all...it all had to start somewhere...
CHARACTERS
Aila- is a bookworm who reads mostly classics and Poetry, she's what is considered a good kid. When her & Miles are uprooted and taken to live with The Cliftons, she becomes very protective of her little brother Miles. While reminiscing on things their mother used to do with them to mark special occasions, she looks for ways to keep them going for Miles. I loved seeing them bicker & have a normal sibling relationship. They had moments where they didn't speak over petty things but ultimately she made sure they made up fairly soon after.
Miles- 8 years old and missing his mother terribly is trying to hang on to her memory. He may have been known for mischief in his old town & still gets into trouble here & there but overall really wants to be happy with the Cliftons who have welcomed them with open arms.
Will, Beas, & George- 1 plays a love interest, 1 is a new friend for Aila, and the other is a friend who sort of has feelings for Aila but also has other passions renting space in his mind ;)
The Cliftons- knowing they would face much controversy for taking in Juliet's kids, the Cliftons opened their doors & their hearts to Aila & Miles. This family is actually really special for a very important reason but that would be spoilery, instead I'll just say that I loved this entire family. They put others needs before their own & overall just ROCK!
Towns People- I honestly came to understand these folk after spending so much time with them lol. Juliet wasn't the only person to be accused of starting "the curse" as some call The Disappearances. Many other theories evolved over time and many prominent families were added to the list of potential catalysts. Besides the typical small town gossip & drama, these people did really band together in time of need.
WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS
It seems 2017 is the year of discovering many new authors with amazing stories to tell! The Disappearances took me by surprise in that I wasn't expecting to be pulled into the mystery to the point I was at the edge of my seat in anticipation for the next Disappearance. This by no means is a fast paced book, rather it's slow winding while still holding you in its grasp. I really felt for these people who were losing some of the most basic under appreciated wonders of life. I found myself Imagining what it would be like to not be able to see my reflection or smell my food...they lose way more than this. Ultimately I found the way it wrapped up to be very unique, I can honestly say I've never read anything like this before. Lastly, as a bookworm I'll say that this will appeal to those who love solving a good mystery filled with literary references and a bit of magic ;)
This is a strong debut from this author and I’m very excited to see what she brings us next. I was decidedly NOT expecting much from this book. The premise intrigued me, but I didn’t really know what I was in for. As it turns out, I ended up LOVING this book. The writing was so beautiful and the entire atmosphere of the book was ethereal but grounded at the same time. This book seemed to have some magical realism elements woven throughout, but then there was also a sciencey aspect to it and I really enjoyed that contrast.
The main characters are all terrific. I love Aila. She’s fierce but kind at the same time. Her relationship with her brother Miles feels genuine and imperfect, but strong. My heart seriously broke for Miles so many times in this book. I thought that the relationships between Aila and Miles and the Cliftons felt realistic. It helps that every single character had depth–that makes their relationships feel like so much more. The only character I felt lacked a little bit was Will. His motivations could have been developed a little more, but at this point I’m just nitpicking. Even the mean kids at school had depth, which doesn’t usually happen.
I loved the time period. The book is set during World War II which is the perfect backdrop for the plot. The plot would not have worked in any other time period. We’re immersed into this town that has so much shared history. It’s really created this community that’s had to band together through these trials. Perfect setting.
The story itself is so interesting as well. As Aila starts to try to solve this mystery, the reader feels like they can follow along as well. I mean, Aila’s just reading Shakespeare–I can do that! This book made me want to read some Shakespeare to try to find clues as well. Ultimately, though, I wish that the Shakespeare clues played a bigger role in solving the mystery. It would have been really cool if the reader could solve the mystery by fitting those pieces together, but as the story is written, we can’t. I guess I wish there had been a little bit more of a treasure hunt-ish aspect, but I get why the book wasn’t more like that.
Overall, I thought this book was SO GOOD. Seriously, I think everyone should read it. At this point, it’s super underrated. I have literally heard nothing about this book. So when it comes out on July 4th, I expect everyone to go out and pick up a copy–I don’t think you’ll regret it.
Overall Rating: 5
Language: None
Violence: Moderate
Smoking/Drinking: Mild
Sexual Content: None
Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The main characters are all terrific. I love Aila. She’s fierce but kind at the same time. Her relationship with her brother Miles feels genuine and imperfect, but strong. My heart seriously broke for Miles so many times in this book. I thought that the relationships between Aila and Miles and the Cliftons felt realistic. It helps that every single character had depth–that makes their relationships feel like so much more. The only character I felt lacked a little bit was Will. His motivations could have been developed a little more, but at this point I’m just nitpicking. Even the mean kids at school had depth, which doesn’t usually happen.
I loved the time period. The book is set during World War II which is the perfect backdrop for the plot. The plot would not have worked in any other time period. We’re immersed into this town that has so much shared history. It’s really created this community that’s had to band together through these trials. Perfect setting.
The story itself is so interesting as well. As Aila starts to try to solve this mystery, the reader feels like they can follow along as well. I mean, Aila’s just reading Shakespeare–I can do that! This book made me want to read some Shakespeare to try to find clues as well. Ultimately, though, I wish that the Shakespeare clues played a bigger role in solving the mystery. It would have been really cool if the reader could solve the mystery by fitting those pieces together, but as the story is written, we can’t. I guess I wish there had been a little bit more of a treasure hunt-ish aspect, but I get why the book wasn’t more like that.
Overall, I thought this book was SO GOOD. Seriously, I think everyone should read it. At this point, it’s super underrated. I have literally heard nothing about this book. So when it comes out on July 4th, I expect everyone to go out and pick up a copy–I don’t think you’ll regret it.
Overall Rating: 5
Language: None
Violence: Moderate
Smoking/Drinking: Mild
Sexual Content: None
Note: I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a spur of the moment purchase. I saw it on the shelf of my local bookstore while looking for something totally different (segue - I did not find the book I wanted but I took home a few I hadn’t even heard of!) and was hooked by the description.
This could be considered a historical story, set in the 1940s North America, with links to the idea of witch hunts. The main characters are sent to the town where their mother grew up and soon find themselves embroiled in a mystery where things we take for granted every single day, such as dreams, smells and even the stars, disappear every seven years. No one knows why, no one knows how and no one knows what will disappear next.
This was a great YA book and I managed to overlook the historical aspect of it as really it could have been written about a slightly backwards American town nowadays.
A great book, a good read, well worth picking up!
This could be considered a historical story, set in the 1940s North America, with links to the idea of witch hunts. The main characters are sent to the town where their mother grew up and soon find themselves embroiled in a mystery where things we take for granted every single day, such as dreams, smells and even the stars, disappear every seven years. No one knows why, no one knows how and no one knows what will disappear next.
This was a great YA book and I managed to overlook the historical aspect of it as really it could have been written about a slightly backwards American town nowadays.
A great book, a good read, well worth picking up!
Mini review:
DNF
I received this E-ARC via the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I had been hearing a lot about this book through GR. It sounded interesting. Right up my alley. Unfortunately it wasn't for me.
I was so bored while reading this! Something about the writing style was boring me and honestly I probably could've slept.
This was a personal problem. Still recommend.
DNF
I received this E-ARC via the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I had been hearing a lot about this book through GR. It sounded interesting. Right up my alley. Unfortunately it wasn't for me.
I was so bored while reading this! Something about the writing style was boring me and honestly I probably could've slept.
This was a personal problem. Still recommend.
I picked this up as I liked my cover. The story is about a girl trying to find out about her mother's past which seems to be different to what she thought.
A curse is on the town, was her mother the catalyst?
I didn't know what to expect but really enjoyed the power plays, Shakespearian prose clues and scientific finds that only work where the curse has spread. I loved it, so unexpected and just from a pretty cover.
A curse is on the town, was her mother the catalyst?
I didn't know what to expect but really enjoyed the power plays, Shakespearian prose clues and scientific finds that only work where the curse has spread. I loved it, so unexpected and just from a pretty cover.
In her captivating debut, Emily Bain Murphy tells the story of Aila as she moves to a town called Sterling, where an important sense or ability disappears once every seven years (fo example, colouring in). I was enraptured by the world Bain Murphy builds, and I loved the prose, which is stunning but never crosses into being “purple”. I also found Aila to be a wonderful character: she was complex and relatable, but still likeable as our narrator. I loved the sibling relationship of Aila and her brother Miles as it was so sweet but felt realistic and I enjoyed Aila`s romance with Will too. I didn`t really understand the chapters in italics but I otherwise really enjoyed this simmering, slow-building magical realism mystery which felt nothing quite like anything I`ve ever read before. 4/5.