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mbenzz's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really interesting and enchanting novel. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but the further I read, the more I was drawn in. The author has an amazing talent with words, and her characters stay with you long after you've put the book down.
Raziela Nolan is a ghost. She died in a freak swimming accident in 1929 in New Orleans and has been 'between worlds' for the past 70-some-odd years. She left behind a caring family and a man who loved her with every fiber of his being. Andrew and Razi shared a love that most people only dream about...and when she died, it shattered his entire world. He was never the same, but one of the rules of being 'between' is that you cannot visit loved ones, it's just too painful for them. So Razi never knew what happened to her beloved as he continued on in the breathing world.
In present-day she latches on to a young married couple, Scott and Amy. When she joins them they're happy, but a tragic event in Amy's past resurfaces and threatens to tear the couple apart. Razi knows she shouldn't interfere, but she can't bear to watch this couple throw away what they have over things that cannot be changed. All the while her need to know what happened to Andrew grows more and more powerful.
While I really enjoyed this book and kept in mind that it was fiction, I had a hard time believing that Razi, a ghost, was able to write letters to people inquiring about Andrews past, and what became of him. About her ability to interfere with Amy and Scott's day-to-day life. But looking beyond the few things I had trouble believing, this is a beautiful story about love, loss, and overcoming heartbreak. I absolutely recommend this book, and definitely look forward to Ms. Domingue's future books. She's an amazing storyteller.
Raziela Nolan is a ghost. She died in a freak swimming accident in 1929 in New Orleans and has been 'between worlds' for the past 70-some-odd years. She left behind a caring family and a man who loved her with every fiber of his being. Andrew and Razi shared a love that most people only dream about...and when she died, it shattered his entire world. He was never the same, but one of the rules of being 'between' is that you cannot visit loved ones, it's just too painful for them. So Razi never knew what happened to her beloved as he continued on in the breathing world.
In present-day she latches on to a young married couple, Scott and Amy. When she joins them they're happy, but a tragic event in Amy's past resurfaces and threatens to tear the couple apart. Razi knows she shouldn't interfere, but she can't bear to watch this couple throw away what they have over things that cannot be changed. All the while her need to know what happened to Andrew grows more and more powerful.
While I really enjoyed this book and kept in mind that it was fiction, I had a hard time believing that Razi, a ghost, was able to write letters to people inquiring about Andrews past, and what became of him. About her ability to interfere with Amy and Scott's day-to-day life. But looking beyond the few things I had trouble believing, this is a beautiful story about love, loss, and overcoming heartbreak. I absolutely recommend this book, and definitely look forward to Ms. Domingue's future books. She's an amazing storyteller.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
From the book jacket New Orleans, 1920s. Raziela Nolan is in the throes of a magnificent love affair when she dies in a tragic accident. In an instant, she leaves behind her one true love and her dream of becoming a doctor – but somehow, she still remains. Immediately after her death, Razi chooses to stay between - a realm that exists after life and before what lies beyond it. From this remarkable vantage point, Razi narrates the stories of her lost love, Andrew, and the relationship of Amy and Scott, a couple whose house she haunts almost seventy-five years later.
My Reactions
This is an ethereal novel that moves back and forth in time as Razi’s spirit watches over Amy and Scott, but then takes time to recall her youth in 1920’s New Orleans. Through the flashbacks we learn that she was a well-loved and nurtured child, with parents who applauded her successes and encouraged her dreams. She was a free spirit and liked being a little naughty as well (sometimes going about “without any dainties” under her clothing. Her awakening feminism fueled her desire to be a doctor, and also resulted in conflict between her and her beau, Andrew. But their love was stronger than the expectations of society and they were looking forward to a long and loving relationship when she died.
Amy and Scott happen on an estate sale and buy an old bookcase for their home, and that is how Razi comes to haunt them. For the bookcase was Andrew’s and still carries his scent. Razi has always wondered what happened to Andrew and now she cannot let that puzzle go. As she watches them, Razi realizes something is wrong in their marriage and she begins to play pranks (moving things about, pulling photos out of albums, dropping marbles) to bring them closer together. It’s not working, though. Amy has own tragic past she is struggling to overcome. And then Amy goes to visit her great aunt Twolly, and Razi begins to finally put together the puzzle of what happened to Andrew.
I liked Razi as a young feminist struggling to find her place in a world that had very clearly defined, and somewhat narrow, expectations for a young woman of her social class. I enjoyed her spirit, tenacity, intelligence, and courage. I thought her behavior as a ghost was somewhat out of keeping with the vibrant young woman she had been in life. Amy was a complete puzzle to me. I didn’t understand her long-standing grief or why she completely shut her husband (and anyone else) out of her turmoil. I felt the way in which her story line was concluded was abrupt. I think the dual plot lines got away from Domingue. Still, this is her debut novel and she shows promise.
I started out listening to the audio version, capably performed by Rebecca Gayheart. Her voices for Razi, Twolly, Andrew, Amy and Scott were believable and easy to differentiate. However, somewhere in the middle of disc two I was feeling lost in the plot and somewhat disconnected from the characters. Going to the text version to look up a certain passage I realized that the audio was abridged! Something that is not announced on the jacket, nor in the introduction to the novel. I hate when that happens! I finished the book reading the trade paperback.
My Reactions
This is an ethereal novel that moves back and forth in time as Razi’s spirit watches over Amy and Scott, but then takes time to recall her youth in 1920’s New Orleans. Through the flashbacks we learn that she was a well-loved and nurtured child, with parents who applauded her successes and encouraged her dreams. She was a free spirit and liked being a little naughty as well (sometimes going about “without any dainties” under her clothing. Her awakening feminism fueled her desire to be a doctor, and also resulted in conflict between her and her beau, Andrew. But their love was stronger than the expectations of society and they were looking forward to a long and loving relationship when she died.
Amy and Scott happen on an estate sale and buy an old bookcase for their home, and that is how Razi comes to haunt them. For the bookcase was Andrew’s and still carries his scent. Razi has always wondered what happened to Andrew and now she cannot let that puzzle go. As she watches them, Razi realizes something is wrong in their marriage and she begins to play pranks (moving things about, pulling photos out of albums, dropping marbles) to bring them closer together. It’s not working, though. Amy has own tragic past she is struggling to overcome. And then Amy goes to visit her great aunt Twolly, and Razi begins to finally put together the puzzle of what happened to Andrew.
I liked Razi as a young feminist struggling to find her place in a world that had very clearly defined, and somewhat narrow, expectations for a young woman of her social class. I enjoyed her spirit, tenacity, intelligence, and courage. I thought her behavior as a ghost was somewhat out of keeping with the vibrant young woman she had been in life. Amy was a complete puzzle to me. I didn’t understand her long-standing grief or why she completely shut her husband (and anyone else) out of her turmoil. I felt the way in which her story line was concluded was abrupt. I think the dual plot lines got away from Domingue. Still, this is her debut novel and she shows promise.
I started out listening to the audio version, capably performed by Rebecca Gayheart. Her voices for Razi, Twolly, Andrew, Amy and Scott were believable and easy to differentiate. However, somewhere in the middle of disc two I was feeling lost in the plot and somewhat disconnected from the characters. Going to the text version to look up a certain passage I realized that the audio was abridged! Something that is not announced on the jacket, nor in the introduction to the novel. I hate when that happens! I finished the book reading the trade paperback.
ophelia98's review against another edition
4.0
A story of eternal love that spans even death..the only part that I couldn't quite accept was the description of the afterlife and what they were able to do in interacting with "the living." Otherwise, the story could really pull at your heart.
katzreads's review against another edition
4.0
Diane gave this to me for Christmas while I was helping her pack to move. It is her favorite book. Very engaging.
biopsychosocial's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic look at love, sex, and the feminist movement in 1920's New Orleans. Awesome read with settings in both Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
duczii's review
5.0
Just finished.... I am crying... It was so beautiful... So heartbreaking .... So deep....
It has been a while I have liked a book as much as I have liked this one... While trying to decide if I want to read Fifty Shades Of Gray (I will most likely not) and trying to make up my mind if I even like love stories at all after reading this book I have realized my problems are not with love stories, but with cheap and trashy love stories. There are so many of them that sometimes I feel like they even want to trick the readers and appear to have some literary value while they do not. Constantly researching good books to read I almost feel like I have to watch out not to be sucked in Twilights and Fifty Shades.
I was reading the review of another book, which I don't even remember what it was, but I know that book was also written from the point of view of a character who is dead, the reviewer compared the two and was talking in superlatives about The Mercy Of Thin Air.... how correct he was!
I don't mind any topics really, though I don't rush to the bookstore to buy the latest vampire story or time travel story, but I will read them if I think they will be worth it other than the subject matter. So I was with reading a book from the point of view of a dead girl. It was poetic, it was sexy (yes, there were some sex scenes, not many, very tasteful), and it was smart. It was about women, especially women's movement in the 20's, but it was also about men, men with souls and real feelings. And yes there was even a twist in it a little mystery. I was impressed how it was all pulled together with thoughts and ideas that I didn't think earlier in the book to be important nicely linked back to the end or the beginning... All through the book I was thinking, beautiful, I can't have enough, but she is going to screw it up at the end...or soon... definitely at the end.... and she didn't...
It also helped that I loved the characters... I would love to be like Razi, maybe I am a little bit and oh yes I would like to find a guy like Andrew even though I am a happy single girl... I loved their strength, the way they communicated.... original, funny, smart, tolerant and radical at the same time. and the rest of the characters are the same way.
It was an added plus that I live in the area where the story takes place... it is not important, it just made it more interesting to me.
But what I loved the most was the language... the dreamlike beautifully weaved sentences... in a way it was like a painting with lots of colors and details... a time travel ..... a melody that will definitely stay in my ears for a long long time.
It has been a while I have liked a book as much as I have liked this one... While trying to decide if I want to read Fifty Shades Of Gray (I will most likely not) and trying to make up my mind if I even like love stories at all after reading this book I have realized my problems are not with love stories, but with cheap and trashy love stories. There are so many of them that sometimes I feel like they even want to trick the readers and appear to have some literary value while they do not. Constantly researching good books to read I almost feel like I have to watch out not to be sucked in Twilights and Fifty Shades.
I was reading the review of another book, which I don't even remember what it was, but I know that book was also written from the point of view of a character who is dead, the reviewer compared the two and was talking in superlatives about The Mercy Of Thin Air.... how correct he was!
I don't mind any topics really, though I don't rush to the bookstore to buy the latest vampire story or time travel story, but I will read them if I think they will be worth it other than the subject matter. So I was with reading a book from the point of view of a dead girl. It was poetic, it was sexy (yes, there were some sex scenes, not many, very tasteful), and it was smart. It was about women, especially women's movement in the 20's, but it was also about men, men with souls and real feelings. And yes there was even a twist in it a little mystery. I was impressed how it was all pulled together with thoughts and ideas that I didn't think earlier in the book to be important nicely linked back to the end or the beginning... All through the book I was thinking, beautiful, I can't have enough, but she is going to screw it up at the end...or soon... definitely at the end.... and she didn't...
It also helped that I loved the characters... I would love to be like Razi, maybe I am a little bit and oh yes I would like to find a guy like Andrew even though I am a happy single girl... I loved their strength, the way they communicated.... original, funny, smart, tolerant and radical at the same time. and the rest of the characters are the same way.
It was an added plus that I live in the area where the story takes place... it is not important, it just made it more interesting to me.
But what I loved the most was the language... the dreamlike beautifully weaved sentences... in a way it was like a painting with lots of colors and details... a time travel ..... a melody that will definitely stay in my ears for a long long time.
jenhfultz's review against another edition
5.0
I.love.this.book. It jumped off the shelf at me in the library and I caught it. As a New Orleans local, I devoured the retro focus of the setting, and totally fell in love with Razi's story. I still smile when I pass down St. Charles Ave and see the mansion near Audubon that I imagine as Phin's. Do yourself a favor and read this treasure.
jendula's review against another edition
3.0
It was a bit difficult to figure out the time swapping in this one, but overall it was an interesting storyline.
katekrzyz's review against another edition
2.0
I admit,. I didn't finish this one. I just could not get into the storyline or the characters. Since I couldn't get into it, I would put the book down and not read it for a while. When I picked the book back up, I completely forgot who was who.
ckausch's review against another edition
3.0
The characters are great, and the way things tie together might be seen before it's actually revealed, but it's still a moving story. I love the way it binds together love and memories, no matter how much time goes by.