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3.18 AVERAGE
3.18 AVERAGE
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the review copy.
This was the first book/story I have read from the author. She writes well with excellent character development, always important to me. The story of the abduction of Lisa- one of the "cool" girls and the effect on those left behind provided a window into the community- what makes it tick, the grief process, the effect on family, friends and community. Most of this, the author paints with a fine brush. I loved the male characters in the story- the dad, Mark and the son/brother- Evan. However every female character was flawed in some very elemental way. Yes, the optimistic men and boys could have been a bit over the top, but they were not portrayed as nasty people.
I did not really understand what Meredith was going through and the ending didn't really explain, but kind of left you hanging... life will go on as before? this was just a hiccup in the community? everyone is irrevocably scarred? what really happened to Lisa and why?
This was the first book/story I have read from the author. She writes well with excellent character development, always important to me. The story of the abduction of Lisa- one of the "cool" girls and the effect on those left behind provided a window into the community- what makes it tick, the grief process, the effect on family, friends and community. Most of this, the author paints with a fine brush. I loved the male characters in the story- the dad, Mark and the son/brother- Evan. However every female character was flawed in some very elemental way. Yes, the optimistic men and boys could have been a bit over the top, but they were not portrayed as nasty people.
I did not really understand what Meredith was going through and the ending didn't really explain, but kind of left you hanging... life will go on as before? this was just a hiccup in the community? everyone is irrevocably scarred? what really happened to Lisa and why?
This is not the story of girl who was kidnapped. This is the story of a dysfunctional family whose problems were compounded by a girl who was kidnapped.
This is not a thriller. You've been warned. But if you like a slow burn, you like a subtle story about a family tragedy and how each person in the family handles it, as well as spot-on descriptions of teenage girlhood, then I recommend this book. I liked the quietness of this book and the way the author put me inside the head of an eighth grade girl. Meredith, a regular girl who tries to stay out of the way of the mean girls, is standing in line at the neighborhood deli after school with the top mean girl, Lisa Bellow, ahead of her in line, when an armed robber comes in the store and forces the two girls to the ground. For some unknown reason that is never fully explained, when he leaves, he takes Lisa with him. This story is not about Lisa or the hunt for the kidnapper. It's about Meredith and how she and her older brother and parents cope with her not being abducted, about her being the "lucky one." It's slow and quiet and takes place a lot in Meredith's head. I was totally absorbed.
Thanks to Netgalley I was able to read an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes a book's marketing can do a disservice for readers and those who hear "thriller" and comparisons to Emma Donoghue's ROOM will ultimately be disappointed with Susan Perabo's forthcoming novel, THE FALL OF LISA BELLOW. Those who ignore such comparisons and pick up this book--which I'd describe as not a thriller, but a literary novel--will enjoy it as there is indeed much to love.
The story focuses on Meredith Oliver, the youngest child of two dentists, and her family dealing with the aftermath of trauma. Meredith goes into a sandwich shop after school one day and a masked man with a gun enters. The man ultimately chooses to take Lisa Bellow, a popular girl whom Meredith hates, and leaves Meredith behind. The trauma Meredith experiences unfolds in the days and weeks after the abduction and has ripple effects on her family. Meredith's older brother is suddenly determined to play baseball again after an accident on the field left him blind in one eye. Meanwhile her mother is conflicted with relief, guilt, and the helpless feeling of being unable to protect her children. This story isn't so much about a kidnapping as much as an intimate, moving portrait of a family in crisis, making the novel more akin to Celeste Ng's EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU than ROOM. But this novel will be best enjoyed by pushing book comparisons aside and reading it for the beautiful searing story it is.
Sometimes a book's marketing can do a disservice for readers and those who hear "thriller" and comparisons to Emma Donoghue's ROOM will ultimately be disappointed with Susan Perabo's forthcoming novel, THE FALL OF LISA BELLOW. Those who ignore such comparisons and pick up this book--which I'd describe as not a thriller, but a literary novel--will enjoy it as there is indeed much to love.
The story focuses on Meredith Oliver, the youngest child of two dentists, and her family dealing with the aftermath of trauma. Meredith goes into a sandwich shop after school one day and a masked man with a gun enters. The man ultimately chooses to take Lisa Bellow, a popular girl whom Meredith hates, and leaves Meredith behind. The trauma Meredith experiences unfolds in the days and weeks after the abduction and has ripple effects on her family. Meredith's older brother is suddenly determined to play baseball again after an accident on the field left him blind in one eye. Meanwhile her mother is conflicted with relief, guilt, and the helpless feeling of being unable to protect her children. This story isn't so much about a kidnapping as much as an intimate, moving portrait of a family in crisis, making the novel more akin to Celeste Ng's EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU than ROOM. But this novel will be best enjoyed by pushing book comparisons aside and reading it for the beautiful searing story it is.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
A fitting read-alike for "You Will Know Me".
Perabo's prose cuts like a knife; the story of watching a family slowly fall apart in the aftermath of a horrible crime is dark and totally engrossing.
Perabo's prose cuts like a knife; the story of watching a family slowly fall apart in the aftermath of a horrible crime is dark and totally engrossing.
I did not start this book amped up for a mystery, a thrill, a roller coaster. I did not know exactly what to expect, but the quality of the writing, characterizations, dialogue, and handling of the subject matter were all on-point and thoroughly engrossing. Even when I didn't like the characters, they felt real to me, and I was as committed to their journey as I would've been to any fast-paced thriller (though it is actually not a fast-paced book). Some narrative choices in the telling of Meredith's story were confusing at first, and though by the end I understood why the author chose to tell the story the way she did, I can see why some people might be frustrated. This book isn't for everyone, but it was for me, and I'm grateful to have found it.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Let's start with the fact that I really wanted to love this book. The synopsis got me really excited, and the story is one that is right in line with the type of books I normally love. However, I just could not connect with this one.
I almost DNF but there high reviews from other people so I kept going. Intentionally I will not go into details, because like I said MANY people seem to love this book and I do not want to turn anyone off from reading it. Might pick it up again in a few months and see if my feelings towards it change.
Let's start with the fact that I really wanted to love this book. The synopsis got me really excited, and the story is one that is right in line with the type of books I normally love. However, I just could not connect with this one.
I almost DNF but there high reviews from other people so I kept going. Intentionally I will not go into details, because like I said MANY people seem to love this book and I do not want to turn anyone off from reading it. Might pick it up again in a few months and see if my feelings towards it change.