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A review by cadmiumcamera
The Ecliptic by Benjamin Wood
4.0
I received a free review copy of this book through First To Read
I really loved this book. As an artist, and to be honest a "struggling to find inspiration" artist I found that many of the emotions in this book really hit home in the best way. The fears and thoughts that Ellie has are fears and thoughts that I myself have had. That is not to say that you have to be an artist to enjoy this novel, I think many of the things emotions on the pages of this book just about anyone can relate to: self-doubt, fear of failure, insecurity.
[SPOILERS]
The story is a very unique and interesting one. It tells of Elspeth Conroy a successful female painter who is suffering from artistic block and has been living in a retreat for "blocked" creative's for about 10 years. I will say unexpectedly this book turns into a sort of psychological thriller. As Elspeth's story unfolds and as you learn more about what has gotten her to point that she has had to completely retreat from society you find out that the retreat and the people that have been there with her are in fact not real but a figment of her imagination. Her depression, anxiety, medication, and very bad eating habits caused her to go into an almost schizophrenic episode and create a safe world around her while hiding away in a lonely cottage.
The only bad thing I would have to say about this book are that some of the cuts back and forth through her story are a bit rough, meaning it could use a bit more polishing. Also I felt like in the end the question of what happened to Jim Culvers, Elspeth's former boss/artistic teacher/possible is never answered. If the island never existed where was he the last few years? Did him and Elspeth finally unite and admit their love for one another or was that all part of her delusion, if not then what happened to him? I realize the story is about Elspeth not Jim, but Jim is a very important person in her life and it would probably have been better to clarify that point a little more. These problems however didn't bother be all that much. I would say that the only effect it has is that the book is just shy of perfection and COULD HAVE BEEN a 5/5 stars but I would rate it 4/5.
Overall though this book is probably one of my favorites, mostly because of the impact it had on me but I would highly recommend it to anyone, ESPECIALLY any artist.
I really loved this book. As an artist, and to be honest a "struggling to find inspiration" artist I found that many of the emotions in this book really hit home in the best way. The fears and thoughts that Ellie has are fears and thoughts that I myself have had. That is not to say that you have to be an artist to enjoy this novel, I think many of the things emotions on the pages of this book just about anyone can relate to: self-doubt, fear of failure, insecurity.
[SPOILERS]
The story is a very unique and interesting one. It tells of Elspeth Conroy a successful female painter who is suffering from artistic block and has been living in a retreat for "blocked" creative's for about 10 years. I will say unexpectedly this book turns into a sort of psychological thriller. As Elspeth's story unfolds and as you learn more about what has gotten her to point that she has had to completely retreat from society you find out that the retreat and the people that have been there with her are in fact not real but a figment of her imagination. Her depression, anxiety, medication, and very bad eating habits caused her to go into an almost schizophrenic episode and create a safe world around her while hiding away in a lonely cottage.
The only bad thing I would have to say about this book are that some of the cuts back and forth through her story are a bit rough, meaning it could use a bit more polishing. Also I felt like in the end the question of what happened to Jim Culvers, Elspeth's former boss/artistic teacher/possible is never answered. If the island never existed where was he the last few years? Did him and Elspeth finally unite and admit their love for one another or was that all part of her delusion, if not then what happened to him? I realize the story is about Elspeth not Jim, but Jim is a very important person in her life and it would probably have been better to clarify that point a little more. These problems however didn't bother be all that much. I would say that the only effect it has is that the book is just shy of perfection and COULD HAVE BEEN a 5/5 stars but I would rate it 4/5.
Overall though this book is probably one of my favorites, mostly because of the impact it had on me but I would highly recommend it to anyone, ESPECIALLY any artist.