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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
So I've been in a reading slump, the type that isn't really remedied by anything other than a break from some reading. Bone Gap, as a result, was somewhat difficult to get into. It's beautifully written, but the first 1/3 or so was obtuse. It was resisting me, I was bouncing off. I put it down for a few days, came back to it, and then gulped down the last 2/3s.
Laura Ruby can write, because this is gorgeously written. There's layers of metaphors here (Greek myths, bees, seeing vs. actually seeing), tons of interesting concepts, and pretty little turns of phrase. The characters are engaging and broken in different ways, as is Bone Gap itself.
It can get a bit abstract sometimes, and lost in its own surreal vision, but it's really enjoyable, once you dig past the slightly slower-than-usual opening.
Laura Ruby can write, because this is gorgeously written. There's layers of metaphors here (Greek myths, bees, seeing vs. actually seeing), tons of interesting concepts, and pretty little turns of phrase. The characters are engaging and broken in different ways, as is Bone Gap itself.
It can get a bit abstract sometimes, and lost in its own surreal vision, but it's really enjoyable, once you dig past the slightly slower-than-usual opening.
Ok YES I loved this book. It is a skillful, heartfelt blend of rural gothic, heartbroken families, half-remembered myth and European fairy tale, and I love those things. It has kittens and a big beautiful horse and shirtless boys and cunnilingus, and I love those things too. It even has bees, and I am ever a champion of invertebrates.
My ONE quibble - is that I feel like it is maybe an adult book with teen main characters. At the very least, it occupies that squishy middle ground between adult and teen. And believe me, those are some of my favorite books, I think it takes a lot of skill to write there - but I'm 50 years old. When parts of a story recede into the mist from whence they came, I can bid a fond farewell, rather than demanding, "WHY THE HORSE? HOW the horse? Is there a cornfield in Poland?" Heh heh.
It wouldn't matter, except that some very marvelous friends of mine picked this book as the best of the year written for the teen audience, and in the end, I wonder if it is not, instead, more for us, the adult readers of teen books.
My ONE quibble - is that I feel like it is maybe an adult book with teen main characters. At the very least, it occupies that squishy middle ground between adult and teen. And believe me, those are some of my favorite books, I think it takes a lot of skill to write there - but I'm 50 years old. When parts of a story recede into the mist from whence they came, I can bid a fond farewell, rather than demanding, "WHY THE HORSE? HOW the horse? Is there a cornfield in Poland?" Heh heh.
It wouldn't matter, except that some very marvelous friends of mine picked this book as the best of the year written for the teen audience, and in the end, I wonder if it is not, instead, more for us, the adult readers of teen books.
The first 100 pages were slightly boring, but I mean it was mostly exposition after all. However, once it picked up the pace it was a really fun read! I loved the magic, adventure, and teen-coming-of-age stuff in this book. “Magic realism” that felt true to its definition. All the characters felt unique and interesting. Super wholesome ending too. :)
Just lovely and excellent on audio as well. Recommend to fans of The Raven Boys, natch. Not recommended for a family car listen, though, due to sexytiems.
Reread 2022. I have not enjoyed how much I've been sick this fall/winter, but I have enjoyed rereading some of my favorites for comfort when my mind can't latch onto a new story.
(When you realize you've been reading too much Harry Potter aloud to your child and using too many adverbs in your writing as a result, it is good to read a book that is written in the style you aspire to)
Reread 2022. I have not enjoyed how much I've been sick this fall/winter, but I have enjoyed rereading some of my favorites for comfort when my mind can't latch onto a new story.
(When you realize you've been reading too much Harry Potter aloud to your child and using too many adverbs in your writing as a result, it is good to read a book that is written in the style you aspire to)
Loose, characters not fabulous. I liked the last 20%
4.5/5 stars really. This book is beautifully written; the descriptions are incredible and the flow of the story is really well done. I went into it expecting something completely different than what it turned out to be, but I'm honestly glad about that. The actual story was a lot more interesting than what I assumed.
Highly recommend this book, especially for fans of magical realism. I would love to dive deeper into this 'verse, though I also acknowledge that this story stands up proud all on its own.
Highly recommend this book, especially for fans of magical realism. I would love to dive deeper into this 'verse, though I also acknowledge that this story stands up proud all on its own.
Incredibly compelling and feminist and angry and good, but I don't know if I wholeheartedly loved it. (Still trying to figure out why.)
First, this book gets bonus points for referencing Blankets, which is a beautiful graphic novel that everyone needs to read. Seriously, I love that book.
Okay, in this book, Finn lives with his older brother, Sean, and Sean’s girlfriend, Roza in a rural town called Bone Gap. When Roza goes missing, everyone assumes that she left town just as mysteriously as she arrived. Only Finn knows that Roza didn’t leave willingly. He saw a strange man force her into a car, but Finn is unable to give a good description of the man. Finn has always been a little strange, so the townspeople think he is lying about the kidnapping.
I love the main characters. This book doesn’t have an action-packed plot, but I never got bored because I was so invested in the characters. Finn is a sweet boy who doesn’t quite fit in. He has a hard time relating to people. He rarely makes eye contact with anyone, and he always seems a little “spacy.” This book has multiple perspectives, and Finn’s is my favorite. I like the unusual way he looks at the world.
Roza is another wonderful character. She’s a Polish immigrant who’s on the run from a mysterious stranger. The reader gets to see parts of her life in Poland and parts of her life after she’s kidnapped. Her chapters are slightly confusing, but they’re confusing in an intriguing way.
Sean is my second-favorite character (after Finn). I feel bad for him. He had to give up his dream of becoming a doctor after his mother left him to take care of his younger brother. He’s bitter about the things that have happened to him in his life.
Even though the characters are brilliant, I have issues with the rest of the book. I wish the magical realism elements had been more developed and more integrated into the story. This book doesn’t really feel like magical realism to me. It feels more like a contemporary book where some conveniently weird stuff happens. I like most of the book, but I’m not a huge fan of the fantasy-ish ending. It just got too weird too fast.
I also wish I knew more about the villain. I’m not entirely sure who—or what—he is, but I wanted to know. I wanted to know more about pretty much everything in this novel.
I have some problems with this book, but I’m still glad I read it. It’s a well-written story about small-town gossip, beauty, and bravery. It’s worth reading for the great characters.
Okay, in this book, Finn lives with his older brother, Sean, and Sean’s girlfriend, Roza in a rural town called Bone Gap. When Roza goes missing, everyone assumes that she left town just as mysteriously as she arrived. Only Finn knows that Roza didn’t leave willingly. He saw a strange man force her into a car, but Finn is unable to give a good description of the man. Finn has always been a little strange, so the townspeople think he is lying about the kidnapping.
I love the main characters. This book doesn’t have an action-packed plot, but I never got bored because I was so invested in the characters. Finn is a sweet boy who doesn’t quite fit in. He has a hard time relating to people. He rarely makes eye contact with anyone, and he always seems a little “spacy.” This book has multiple perspectives, and Finn’s is my favorite. I like the unusual way he looks at the world.
Roza is another wonderful character. She’s a Polish immigrant who’s on the run from a mysterious stranger. The reader gets to see parts of her life in Poland and parts of her life after she’s kidnapped. Her chapters are slightly confusing, but they’re confusing in an intriguing way.
Sean is my second-favorite character (after Finn). I feel bad for him. He had to give up his dream of becoming a doctor after his mother left him to take care of his younger brother. He’s bitter about the things that have happened to him in his life.
Even though the characters are brilliant, I have issues with the rest of the book. I wish the magical realism elements had been more developed and more integrated into the story. This book doesn’t really feel like magical realism to me. It feels more like a contemporary book where some conveniently weird stuff happens. I like most of the book, but I’m not a huge fan of the fantasy-ish ending. It just got too weird too fast.
I also wish I knew more about the villain. I’m not entirely sure who—or what—he is, but I wanted to know. I wanted to know more about pretty much everything in this novel.
I have some problems with this book, but I’m still glad I read it. It’s a well-written story about small-town gossip, beauty, and bravery. It’s worth reading for the great characters.
So weird yet oddly compelling. A strange examination of humanity set within a land that seemed a cross between magical realism and a twisted fairytale unlike any other. The language is lovely and the setting is just this side of natural with its quirky, yet authentic characters and almost real landscape.