Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
It was so heartbreaking. Made me disgusted what some men are capable of. Very well written
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol
A few months back I read the summary for this book, and even though it sounded interesting, I decided that a plot involving an 11 year-old held prisoner by a paedophile for two years just wasn’t for me. Added to that was the fact that even though this book was billed as fiction, it was closely based on the real crime story of the kidnapping of Sally Horner in 1948, and I tend to avoid true crime as it upsets me too much. But then the 5 star reviews started pouring in, and they made it sound so good that I changed my mind, adding it to my tbr shelf.
Upon starting I was still a little reluctant but from page one I became so engrossed in the story that I couldn’t have put it down if I tried. Not only that I felt compelled to keep reading, had to know every detail of what Sally went through, and especially how things ended for her, and felt the harrowing, awful experience she went through deserved my full attention.
The characters were incredible, and their dialogue and behaviour felt spot on for the time period. I couldn’t help falling in love with Sally, and her family. Al, Sally’s brother-in-law, was so lovely, and he worked tirelessly to bring Sally home to her mother, and never gave up on her, even when things seemed hopeless. The friends Sally made while she was held captive, who were kind to, and tried to help her, were a wonderful, realistic addition, and elevated the story to a whole new level. The amount of research, accuracy, and detail the author injected into the novel, definitely gave it an authentic 1940’s feel, and I loved it.
There were dark, awful parts, that were disturbing to read, and stomach, I’m not going to lie. But, and this is going to sound crazy, T. Greenwood’s writing was so beautifully descriptive and poetic, that it softened the blow somewhat. Hope that makes sense?
Frank La Salle (Sally’s kidnapper) was the worst kind of child sexual predator there is, because he was intelligent, acted normal for the most part, was an expert at keeping up appearances, and extremely convincing, always managing to stay one step ahead of everyone. Every time Sally started to figure out his lies, he had even bigger lies lined up to tell her, as well as threatening her family, and friends.
This book won’t be for everything, it almost wasn’t for me, but I’m so grateful I gave it a try, as it turned out to be one of the best novels I’ve read this year, and is presently my top read for the month of September. I highly recommend.
Upon starting I was still a little reluctant but from page one I became so engrossed in the story that I couldn’t have put it down if I tried. Not only that I felt compelled to keep reading, had to know every detail of what Sally went through, and especially how things ended for her, and felt the harrowing, awful experience she went through deserved my full attention.
The characters were incredible, and their dialogue and behaviour felt spot on for the time period. I couldn’t help falling in love with Sally, and her family. Al, Sally’s brother-in-law, was so lovely, and he worked tirelessly to bring Sally home to her mother, and never gave up on her, even when things seemed hopeless. The friends Sally made while she was held captive, who were kind to, and tried to help her, were a wonderful, realistic addition, and elevated the story to a whole new level. The amount of research, accuracy, and detail the author injected into the novel, definitely gave it an authentic 1940’s feel, and I loved it.
There were dark, awful parts, that were disturbing to read, and stomach, I’m not going to lie. But, and this is going to sound crazy, T. Greenwood’s writing was so beautifully descriptive and poetic, that it softened the blow somewhat. Hope that makes sense?
Frank La Salle (Sally’s kidnapper) was the worst kind of child sexual predator there is, because he was intelligent, acted normal for the most part, was an expert at keeping up appearances, and extremely convincing, always managing to stay one step ahead of everyone. Every time Sally started to figure out his lies, he had even bigger lies lined up to tell her, as well as threatening her family, and friends.
This book won’t be for everything, it almost wasn’t for me, but I’m so grateful I gave it a try, as it turned out to be one of the best novels I’ve read this year, and is presently my top read for the month of September. I highly recommend.
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a powerful book. This is historical fiction about a young girl kidnapped by a pedophile, based on a true story. Just want you to know, this one isn't child's play. But I have to say, the author does an incredible job of expressing the horrors of what the terrible man does to Sally without being explicit. And I suppose that is because we get that part of the story from an innocent child's perspective. She wouldn't have the words to be explicit. But you still feel the hurt and the pain. And it is real.
I enjoyed experiencing how not Sally's experience affected those around her. That their lives kept going, only with this tragedy always lingering. And people seeing her hurt, but not knowing what we know now, so not helping.
This is not for the faint of heart. But it is a powerful story. A heart-breaking story. Just...this little girl was obviously a light in this world. What a tragedy.
I enjoyed experiencing how not Sally's experience affected those around her. That their lives kept going, only with this tragedy always lingering. And people seeing her hurt, but not knowing what we know now, so not helping.
This is not for the faint of heart. But it is a powerful story. A heart-breaking story. Just...this little girl was obviously a light in this world. What a tragedy.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
A truly heartbreaking and tragic story, Rust & Stardust follows the true story of Sally Horner and her kidnapping in 1948 which inspired the classic novel Lolita, and tells a fictional story of her time with her kidnapper.
This book is so beautifully written and so sad, I'm just in a state of shock right now. I read a little bit up on Sally before reading this book so I knew But that doesn't mean I was ready for the heartache!
Really enjoyed this book (which is a weird thing to say about something so horrific and heartwrenching) but I look forward to reading more from this author. Highly recommend if you love true crime and/or torturing yourself!
This book is so beautifully written and so sad, I'm just in a state of shock right now. I read a little bit up on Sally before reading this book so I knew
Spoiler
there wouldn't be a happy ending. Fair enough, she was saved from her despicable kidnapper/rapist, but then I knew that she didn't live long after her rescue.Really enjoyed this book (which is a weird thing to say about something so horrific and heartwrenching) but I look forward to reading more from this author. Highly recommend if you love true crime and/or torturing yourself!
I finished this book weeks ago, and honestly, I was ready to write my review then, but my heart needed to get away from it. I appreciate Greenwood's transparency in this historical fiction book, and after reading up on the original case of Sally Horner, I think this book was written with care. I don't generally enjoy historical fiction, but the solid writing allowed me to suspend my beliefs about the genre. I read Lolita years ago, and yes it was difficult in content, but this was worse -- despite never writing about sexual abuse as something to sell this book, or to exploit, or written about in a pornographic manner. Tastefully done, for volitile content. Let me be clear, there is a time and place for explicit writing, and I am the first to read it, but for a book written in the perspective of real people who lived in a very different time and place, it's more than appropriate. This book isn't graphic, but it still managed to rattle me, and that folks is great writing. It's been a while since a book caught me so off guard that I just sobbed through the final chapters and well after. I stayed up late finishing it, because I had to know whatever became of Sally. This book will give you perspective, it will break your heart, but maybe you, too can take some lessons away.