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librarydosebykristy's review against another edition
5.0
There were so many things I loved about this book. It's not that it was without flaws, because it wasn't. It's just my ideal novel: gritty, lyrical, interesting, a little but supernatural, character driven. It reminded me A LOT of James Baldwin's work, particularly his stunning, although slightly overwrought novel, Another Country. Like that book, Visitation Street kind of knocked my socks off with its beautiful characterization and immense compassion for flawed characters.
The novel also reminded me of everything I loved about The Wire: original, honest portrayals of life in the projects and the tension between race and class and gentrification in the city. Oh! I loved this book.
I'm very excited to see what else Ivy Pochoda can do!
Read it!
The novel also reminded me of everything I loved about The Wire: original, honest portrayals of life in the projects and the tension between race and class and gentrification in the city. Oh! I loved this book.
I'm very excited to see what else Ivy Pochoda can do!
Read it!
carolrinke's review against another edition
5.0
One summer night in Red Hook, 15-year-old June goes missing and her friend Val washes up on shore, barely alive. What happened to June, people ask?
The following words are from Swapna Krishna (who put it so well, and will help me remember my own feelings for this book when I look back): "Visitation Street, which was handpicked to be the first book from Dennis Lehane’s imprint at Ecco, is so much more than a crime fiction novel. Yes, on the surface it’s about June’s disappearance and the investigation into what might have happened to her. But that is just a foil to tell a larger story: that of a neighborhood that is slowly dying, but is also being reborn into something entirely new and different. Red Hook is a place in transition, and that shows on every page of this intriguing novel.
At the heart of Visitation Street are its characters. Pochoda develops them so incredibly well; it’s hard to believe they exist only within pages of a book. Indeed, each of these characters could have entire novels written about them; that’s how well, and how intricately, Pochoda writes each of these people. They each have their own hopes, dreams, and fears, and the reader comes to know each of them intimately, hoping they will find some way out of their stagnant lives.
Pochoda’s settings are just as vivid as her characters in Visitation Street. Readers will be able to smell the air of Red Hook, to see the crumbling buildings. She even manages to make a seemingly ordinary bodega into an intriguing setting. Indeed, in many ways, Fadi, the Lebanese bodega owner, steals the show in this novel. Though he seems like such a minor character at the beginning, his hopeful voice and generosity of spirit will move and inspire readers, even as he faces one disappointment after another.
Rather than being a novel about the grandest and most exciting of events, Visitation Street is a small story about a small community. Yes, the frame of the novel is a mystery, and a potential tragedy at that, but it’s about the characters left behind, who are affected by what happened in various ways, rather than the mystery itself that fuel the novel. This book is, quite simply, a stellar piece of writing, and it shows great promise for what might come next from this talented author."
The following words are from Swapna Krishna (who put it so well, and will help me remember my own feelings for this book when I look back): "Visitation Street, which was handpicked to be the first book from Dennis Lehane’s imprint at Ecco, is so much more than a crime fiction novel. Yes, on the surface it’s about June’s disappearance and the investigation into what might have happened to her. But that is just a foil to tell a larger story: that of a neighborhood that is slowly dying, but is also being reborn into something entirely new and different. Red Hook is a place in transition, and that shows on every page of this intriguing novel.
At the heart of Visitation Street are its characters. Pochoda develops them so incredibly well; it’s hard to believe they exist only within pages of a book. Indeed, each of these characters could have entire novels written about them; that’s how well, and how intricately, Pochoda writes each of these people. They each have their own hopes, dreams, and fears, and the reader comes to know each of them intimately, hoping they will find some way out of their stagnant lives.
Pochoda’s settings are just as vivid as her characters in Visitation Street. Readers will be able to smell the air of Red Hook, to see the crumbling buildings. She even manages to make a seemingly ordinary bodega into an intriguing setting. Indeed, in many ways, Fadi, the Lebanese bodega owner, steals the show in this novel. Though he seems like such a minor character at the beginning, his hopeful voice and generosity of spirit will move and inspire readers, even as he faces one disappointment after another.
Rather than being a novel about the grandest and most exciting of events, Visitation Street is a small story about a small community. Yes, the frame of the novel is a mystery, and a potential tragedy at that, but it’s about the characters left behind, who are affected by what happened in various ways, rather than the mystery itself that fuel the novel. This book is, quite simply, a stellar piece of writing, and it shows great promise for what might come next from this talented author."
tintinintibet's review against another edition
4.0
Strangely self-conscious as we meet separate strands of characters, but enjoyed watching them weave together.
ginny17's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. Not really a whodunnit like it is marketed but still good. Great imagery of urban life.
rpych2's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I’m always drawn to books that take place in New York City because I’ve lived just outside of it my whole life, and I’m lucky enough to work there now. This one takes place in Brooklyn, specifically Red Hook, which is way different than what most people think of that don’t live near the city. But it’s still an enticing setting to me, and it made a good backdrop for a somewhat interesting story.
I liked this book, but didn’t love it to be honest. There were just some parts in the middle that were so slow that it was slog to get through. But the beginning drew me in very quickly, and the end had me flipping pages as fast as I could because I needed to know what happened. This story seems like it should be a mystery, but the mystery is secondary to the plight of the characters caused by the event that kicks off the story, the mysterious disappearance of June after a night on the East River with her best friend Val. It’s about Val having to survive in a world where her best friend is gone and she isn’t. It also focuses on Jonathan, the teacher who found Val close to death in the water, and Cree, the boy who last saw the two of them that night. Their stories, and how they intertwine, are the real plot of this book, which isn’t a bad thing. I loved the mystery, but the book was way more character driven than plot driven. It was a pretty good book, one that I’m happy I read.
I’m always drawn to books that take place in New York City because I’ve lived just outside of it my whole life, and I’m lucky enough to work there now. This one takes place in Brooklyn, specifically Red Hook, which is way different than what most people think of that don’t live near the city. But it’s still an enticing setting to me, and it made a good backdrop for a somewhat interesting story.
I liked this book, but didn’t love it to be honest. There were just some parts in the middle that were so slow that it was slog to get through. But the beginning drew me in very quickly, and the end had me flipping pages as fast as I could because I needed to know what happened. This story seems like it should be a mystery, but the mystery is secondary to the plight of the characters caused by the event that kicks off the story, the mysterious disappearance of June after a night on the East River with her best friend Val. It’s about Val having to survive in a world where her best friend is gone and she isn’t. It also focuses on Jonathan, the teacher who found Val close to death in the water, and Cree, the boy who last saw the two of them that night. Their stories, and how they intertwine, are the real plot of this book, which isn’t a bad thing. I loved the mystery, but the book was way more character driven than plot driven. It was a pretty good book, one that I’m happy I read.
panthergirl's review against another edition
4.0
Not quite 5 star worthy, but beautifully written. If I have one beef with the book, it's the treatment of the teacher/student flirtation. There's a mention of him possibly losing his job and getting beaten up by her father, but no suggestion that he would be GOING TO JAIL if they had sex. I thought that was kind of odd. Overall a good read and kept me turning the pages.
beastreader's review against another edition
5.0
June and Val are best friends. They are practically inseparable. June however is boy crazy. June wants to do something fun and Val suggests they take her raft and float in the river. June and Val go rafting but something happens and Val is washed ashore. One of Val’s teacher’s Jonathan finds Val and takes her to Fabi’s store. The police are called. They go searching for June but neither she nor the raft are located.
Jonathan starts a friendship with Val. Fabi seizes the moment to make his store popular with June’s disappearance. Lastly there is a boy named Cree who is trying to get out of town and make a better life for himself and his mother but with the disappearance of June, he finds himself a suspect.
Wow, this book is a must, must read. It is not to be missed. If you do not read Visitation Street than you will be one of the uncool people. Mrs. Pochoda’s Visitation Street is an instant classic that will have you devouring this book in a matter of a few hours! From the very beginning I was hooked but I did not know just how much until the story really started after Val was found washed up on shore and June is considered missing. From this point on it was all about the characters, the environment and the story. Without the great diverse characters than the story would not have been half as good.
The reason I mention the environment or location is because it also played an important part in this book. It was like I could see everything from Fadi’s store to the bar that Jonathan hung out at to the river where June and Val floated on with the raft. The multiple voices from the characters and their points of view allowed me to step into that person’s shoes. I can not wait to read the next book from this author.
Jonathan starts a friendship with Val. Fabi seizes the moment to make his store popular with June’s disappearance. Lastly there is a boy named Cree who is trying to get out of town and make a better life for himself and his mother but with the disappearance of June, he finds himself a suspect.
Wow, this book is a must, must read. It is not to be missed. If you do not read Visitation Street than you will be one of the uncool people. Mrs. Pochoda’s Visitation Street is an instant classic that will have you devouring this book in a matter of a few hours! From the very beginning I was hooked but I did not know just how much until the story really started after Val was found washed up on shore and June is considered missing. From this point on it was all about the characters, the environment and the story. Without the great diverse characters than the story would not have been half as good.
The reason I mention the environment or location is because it also played an important part in this book. It was like I could see everything from Fadi’s store to the bar that Jonathan hung out at to the river where June and Val floated on with the raft. The multiple voices from the characters and their points of view allowed me to step into that person’s shoes. I can not wait to read the next book from this author.
mishalehoover's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
4.0
June and Val are bored fifteen-year-old girls on that summer night they decide to take a rubber raft down to the water and float around a bit. They only looking for a bit of adventure, something to occupy their time during that summer that they're too young to join the older teenagers partying and too young to be content with a backyard sleepover, but only one girl will survive their excursion.
This is packaged as a crime novel, but its far more ambitious than that. Set in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook, the novel follows several characters who were altered by the night's events, from the girl left alone to be an object of curiosity and gossip, to the man who rescued her, to the owner of a local convenience store hoping to create a sense of community out of the very different groups living in the area. Visitation Street examines what makes a neighborhood into a community, and how hard it can be to move forward while living half in the past.
There are too many point-of-view characters for this novel to hold together, but Pochoda has a talent for creating complex, nuanced characters from a variety of backgrounds. I look forward to reading her novels as she progresses as an author.
This is packaged as a crime novel, but its far more ambitious than that. Set in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook, the novel follows several characters who were altered by the night's events, from the girl left alone to be an object of curiosity and gossip, to the man who rescued her, to the owner of a local convenience store hoping to create a sense of community out of the very different groups living in the area. Visitation Street examines what makes a neighborhood into a community, and how hard it can be to move forward while living half in the past.
There are too many point-of-view characters for this novel to hold together, but Pochoda has a talent for creating complex, nuanced characters from a variety of backgrounds. I look forward to reading her novels as she progresses as an author.
mellabella's review against another edition
5.0
I just finished Visitation Street. I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know what happened to the characters after everything was said and done. Val and her best friend June set off on a raft one evening. Only Val comes back. Washed ashore and hurt. We get to know some of the interconnecting characters in the gentrified (or becoming gentrified) Red Hook, Brooklyn neighborhood. Fadi the Lebanese store owner, Cree (who used to be friends with Val's older sister. Until her father decided they shouldn't be anymore), Jonathan who teaches music at Val and June's high school. He is the one to find Val that morning. Mysterious Ren... Always popping up when he should, then disappearing. I think Ren was my favorite character. Even after we learn why he is trying to redeem himself. The ending wasn't a surprise. But, you didn't really know what happened to June. At least you were hoping it wasn't the obvious.