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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Once this book got going, I couldn't put it down. I really liked the sort of dreamy quality of the narration.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Browsing my library's catalog last year, I saw this had been ordered in audio. I eagerly placed the first hold and waited for it to arrive. And waited. And kept waiting. During that time, two more readers put themselves on the hold list. I debated using an audible credit and abandoning my hold. Finally, finally, I got the email telling me i could pick it up! I was so excited. I'm happy it was worth the wait. If hate to think of imps and gnomes and fairies enjoying a laugh at my expense. ;)
I'm not sure if this is a four-star rating because it was really, really good, or if it's a four star that I'll remember with love and think I gave it five stars. Sometimes I think I'm too free with five-star ratings. Do I love story that much, or am I that good choosing titles? Yeah, your right. It's both.
I'm not sure if this is a four-star rating because it was really, really good, or if it's a four star that I'll remember with love and think I gave it five stars. Sometimes I think I'm too free with five-star ratings. Do I love story that much, or am I that good choosing titles? Yeah, your right. It's both.
I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. I like the premise, but I couldn't get into the story with all the different narratives, esp. with the kid, Jack, and his adventures with the neighbor's cat. Blah. So it was fine but I wanted so much more.
This is the first book I've read by Graham Joyce, but it won't be last. A classic tale of a child stolen by faerie and then returned, this novel will keep you reading and reading until the bitter end. All the elements are there - a mystery, a missing person returned, time and history elided and rediscovered. At times this book is so creepy it gets right underneath your skin and this is one of its strengths. I wasn't terribly fond of the descriptions of faerie and that's probably okay because whether or not that's the key to what happened remains unclear and this makes the entire experience mysterious and wonderful.
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2012/08/2012-book-209.html
The greatest part of this book is the way Graham Joyce balances the two sides of the story of Tara's disappearance. It's dealt with in a way where the reasonable, rational side (she's hiding some traumatic event, this is a psychological issue) is a valid one...as is the magical side (she's actually been where she says, with the fairies, in entirely different world.)
The two sides are beautifully balanced, and that's the best part of the book, that either option is feasible.
I found the book a little scattered, though. I would have liked a bit more depth to Tara's family, especially Peter and his crew, and Richie. The teenage cousin Jack's side-story with the elderly neighbour could have been more developed, and Tara's meetings with the psychiatrist weren't entirely satisfying.
Still, it's rare to find such a nuanced, subtle treatment of this kind of story (being "taken" by the fairies) and it was a good read. I'd definitely recommend it for fairy-land lovers.
The two sides are beautifully balanced, and that's the best part of the book, that either option is feasible.
I found the book a little scattered, though. I would have liked a bit more depth to Tara's family, especially Peter and his crew, and Richie. The teenage cousin Jack's side-story with the elderly neighbour could have been more developed, and Tara's meetings with the psychiatrist weren't entirely satisfying.
Still, it's rare to find such a nuanced, subtle treatment of this kind of story (being "taken" by the fairies) and it was a good read. I'd definitely recommend it for fairy-land lovers.
The 'fairy tale' aspect of this book just seemed to be lacking something for me. I didn't enjoy these parts and found them a bit slow. It's descried as a magical adventure and a fantasy book but I was a bit disappointed. I did like the quotes included and found them thought provoking at times. The way the story explored Tara's tale from the perspective of psychiatry and comparisons made was interesting. I did not find this book very engaging. It was just ok. It's the first time I have read Graham Joyce, maybe he's just not for me.
medium-paced