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yuuto's review against another edition
1.0
I picked this book up at a used bookstore, thinking the summary sounded interested, and thinking that it would be more of a mystery than it was. Instead, it was an excessively dull book that was all over the place. The mystery went unsolved, various female characters had the existence of their boobs mentioned an excessive amount of times, and it was honestly a chore to finish.
wombat_88's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
neevabeeva510's review against another edition
1.0
So I picked this book up thinking it’d be more like a mystery book. I was mistaken.
The concept was there, but the execution was just... bad. I at least have this an extra star just for the thought. But I docked it the other 3 stars for the actual story itself.
I hated pretty much everyone. They all had such complex personality’s and as much as I love a complex character, this is just not it.
Ok and I also thought that the relationship between Ethan and Victoria was weird. I thought that she was only like 7 years older than him, and it turned out to be like 15. When she said something about her being 41 a couple of years ago, my jaw fell to the ground.
So, as I said, the story could have been so much better than it was.
Much love and have fun reading :)
The concept was there, but the execution was just... bad. I at least have this an extra star just for the thought. But I docked it the other 3 stars for the actual story itself.
I hated pretty much everyone. They all had such complex personality’s and as much as I love a complex character, this is just not it.
Ok and I also thought that the relationship between Ethan and Victoria was weird. I thought that she was only like 7 years older than him, and it turned out to be like 15. When she said something about her being 41 a couple of years ago, my jaw fell to the ground.
So, as I said, the story could have been so much better than it was.
Much love and have fun reading :)
shirisandler's review against another edition
4.0
I haven't read this book in years. I remember being so taken by it and overwhelmed by the way he describes life. Yes, the book is about loss, but there is also so much beauty in the way he describes and understands emotions.
cortniegotbooked's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I'm. I'm so confused? And also dissatisfied? The book was good but at the same time the ending left me with countless, niggling questions. It drives me INSANE, that there's no proper explanation. This book made me feel so many things. The only reason my rating isn't any higher is because I'm honestly left so speechless that it's frustrating, but in a good way.
If you're in for a mystery that never actually gets properly solved, this is definitely the kind of book for you.
I'm. I'm so confused? And also dissatisfied? The book was good but at the same time the ending left me with countless, niggling questions. It drives me INSANE, that there's no proper explanation. This book made me feel so many things. The only reason my rating isn't any higher is because I'm honestly left so speechless that it's frustrating, but in a good way.
If you're in for a mystery that never actually gets properly solved, this is definitely the kind of book for you.
jeanetterenee's review against another edition
4.0
This is a short but powerful story that won the Hackney Literary Award for a first novel. There's a quiet earnestness in Frederick Reiken's writing that I find very appealing. I see some similarity with Brad Kessler's work in the way Reiken's characters use art, music, literature, and love of nature to soothe their grieving hearts.
Two things about this book stay with me. First is the way the Shumway family members support and encourage each other throughout the ordeal rather than having it destroy the family. When Dad takes up timber framing (and chisel collecting...go figure) to fill his empty spaces, Halley and Philip secretly make fun of him. But they love him, so they feign interest in his work and then discover a genuine interest in the craft, and treasure the time it gives them with their dad.
The second thing that stays with me is the huge difference between losing a person to death and losing a person to disappearance. When someone dies, you know they're never coming back. You grieve and move on. When someone just vanishes, it's hard to extinguish that flame of hope, however tiny, that they're still alive. Philip, the young narrator, imagines elaborate scenarios that feature Ethan waltzing back into their lives someday. Without a body to grieve over, he can't quite let go of his big brother. As the years go by, he has to learn to live with the mysteries and honor the memories. (4.5 stars)
Two things about this book stay with me. First is the way the Shumway family members support and encourage each other throughout the ordeal rather than having it destroy the family. When Dad takes up timber framing (and chisel collecting...go figure) to fill his empty spaces, Halley and Philip secretly make fun of him. But they love him, so they feign interest in his work and then discover a genuine interest in the craft, and treasure the time it gives them with their dad.
The second thing that stays with me is the huge difference between losing a person to death and losing a person to disappearance. When someone dies, you know they're never coming back. You grieve and move on. When someone just vanishes, it's hard to extinguish that flame of hope, however tiny, that they're still alive. Philip, the young narrator, imagines elaborate scenarios that feature Ethan waltzing back into their lives someday. Without a body to grieve over, he can't quite let go of his big brother. As the years go by, he has to learn to live with the mysteries and honor the memories. (4.5 stars)
edalferro's review against another edition
4.0
This novel about a family struggling to come to terms with the disappearance of their teenage son is a quiet but haunting book. The author shows the reader enough to come to their own conclusions about what happened but is able to retain enough ambiguity so that the reader is left slightly uncertain.
howifeelaboutbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I've read this book countless times since high school; it's one of my top three favorite books. Ethan Shumway is sixteen when he disappears - literally disappears: his younger brother, Philip, sees Ethan at the end of the driveway one minute, then he's gone. The book is Philip's searching for (or "not-finding", as he calls it) Ethan. There is something about Reiken's writing that makes the whole story vague and mysterious, yet complete enough to be satisfying, regardless of what the resolution may be.
megbomb's review against another edition
5.0
The Odd Sea is a book that I never would have heard of, let alone read, if it wasn't for the fact that I got it for free from a local college professor that was unloading hundreds of books in order to move across the country.
Written by a local author, The Odd Sea takes place in rural Western Massachusetts. It follows Philip, whose older brother Ethan disappears one summer morning. In a span of right around 200 pages, several years are covered, but this is not a fast paced story. It wanders and meanders down the country lanes of "Hilltowns". If you're looking for a thriller and shocking twist ending, this isn't the book for you. However, if you fancy beautifully written sentences, character development, and wonder- check this one out.
Written by a local author, The Odd Sea takes place in rural Western Massachusetts. It follows Philip, whose older brother Ethan disappears one summer morning. In a span of right around 200 pages, several years are covered, but this is not a fast paced story. It wanders and meanders down the country lanes of "Hilltowns". If you're looking for a thriller and shocking twist ending, this isn't the book for you. However, if you fancy beautifully written sentences, character development, and wonder- check this one out.