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drusmilford's review against another edition
Read half. Kept wanting it to get better but then it did not.
catbrigand's review against another edition
4.0
I was provided a few copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, Netgalley!
I was pleasantly surprised at this book, which I quickly realized was not what I'd thought it would be. What starts as a story about loss becomes a story riddled with magical realism and one girl's efforts to reconcile that loss--seemingly the only person in her family to do so. I, a sucker for magical realism, thought it was well done, not too over the top, and I loved the ultimate explanation for the places that Eleanor goes. I was somewhat dissatisfied with the identity of Efah and the mystery surrounding Eleanor's namesake, but ultimately I really enjoyed the book.
I was pleasantly surprised at this book, which I quickly realized was not what I'd thought it would be. What starts as a story about loss becomes a story riddled with magical realism and one girl's efforts to reconcile that loss--seemingly the only person in her family to do so. I, a sucker for magical realism, thought it was well done, not too over the top, and I loved the ultimate explanation for the places that Eleanor goes. I was somewhat dissatisfied with the identity of Efah and the mystery surrounding Eleanor's namesake, but ultimately I really enjoyed the book.
boyfouronetwo's review against another edition
5.0
This was a wonderful read and it made everything else I was reading seem like crap by comparison. It started out a little rough (just made he sad) but it's really quite a lovely story! His word smithing is just SO good.
fluffyllama789's review against another edition
3.0
I was lucky enough to receive this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
This book had an interesting story but it was hard to connect to some of the characters and the swapping of characters and time made it a little confusing and disjointed. Also, some parts were a bit predictable and the book ended rather abruptly. However, I still enjoyed it, particularly the parts with Jack.
This book had an interesting story but it was hard to connect to some of the characters and the swapping of characters and time made it a little confusing and disjointed. Also, some parts were a bit predictable and the book ended rather abruptly. However, I still enjoyed it, particularly the parts with Jack.
tomstbr's review
4.0
Can't find the HarperCollins edition...?
Anyway, this is a really good book, a literary time travel novel about resetting our mistakes, and the pain and anguish of familial birth and death, of general having to live with or without family. Wonderfully written and full of wonder, it's quite a dark book, but one that hooks you and drags you along. I liked the multiple perspectives and the realisations that came along, though I guessed most of them correctly.
Anyway, this is a really good book, a literary time travel novel about resetting our mistakes, and the pain and anguish of familial birth and death, of general having to live with or without family. Wonderfully written and full of wonder, it's quite a dark book, but one that hooks you and drags you along. I liked the multiple perspectives and the realisations that came along, though I guessed most of them correctly.
alexandrabree's review against another edition
4.0
4.5, it was a slow start and it got confusing before it all started to fall into place, I really loved the characters and the tone was haunting and beautiful. Like a sad song that you live to listen to on a rainy day. The ending was flawless I defiantly recommend this to everyone even people who don't normally enjoy these kinds of reads
Reminded me of the Lovely Bones, and A summer to die
Reminded me of the Lovely Bones, and A summer to die
owlyreadsalot's review against another edition
5.0
Eleanor was a very heartbreaking read. It moved from one painful thing to another, but what made it more intense than all the lines in the book is the fact that much of it happens daily in real life. There are many who suffer from depression and battling with it every day, trying to surpass it and be loved by those around them, but never finding a footing in any of this world. Then the parent going through the motions and not realizing how beautiful things really are until it's too late.
"Shortness of breathe?' the doctor had asked her. 'Muscle tension? Mental distraction?' She looked down at her hands and nodded. Yes, to each of those things. Hearing them described so simply should have robbed them of their power, she thought; they were only words. But instead, she felt as if she should defend them. No, she should say. It's so much more. They're so much bigger than just those words."
I felt as though I couldn't possibly keep going after reading the tragedy that befell Agnes and her father, but it captured my attention and kept it even after all that. Maybe it was how much it hit close to home, with many of us having moments like those, or the feels of all of it even when there is much love all around us. Either way, I couldn't place this novel down and I couldn't help getting emotionally attached.
It moves down the line, years later, after Agnes has grown and has her own daughters. She has lost one in a tragic accident, destroying any signs of a loving mother towards her surviving daughter Eleanor (named after Agnes' mother). And that is where things go from tragedy to full blown supernatural existence, shifting Eleanor's life forever.
"Before she has a moment to truly consider any of this, she steps through the doorway--is, frankly, almost yanked through it--and then Eleanor is no longer in the cafeteria, no longer in her high school, no longer even in Oregon at all. Back in the world, Jack sees her disappear. He drops his carton of milk, bewildered; it pumps like a vein, then dribbles onto the table. She's just gone."
This is when the story really shines and moves forward into something more than just misfortune and hardships. It is the realism of it all that gives way to an open desire for an enchanting and fantasy driven storyline. It isn't always just about the faults of man, about all our pains and afflictions, but hope that there may be more when it feels like there isn't. Even so, there was still much anguish left in this read, but all of it incorporated together made this that much better of a novel.
***I received this copy from Crown/Penguin Random in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
"Shortness of breathe?' the doctor had asked her. 'Muscle tension? Mental distraction?' She looked down at her hands and nodded. Yes, to each of those things. Hearing them described so simply should have robbed them of their power, she thought; they were only words. But instead, she felt as if she should defend them. No, she should say. It's so much more. They're so much bigger than just those words."
I felt as though I couldn't possibly keep going after reading the tragedy that befell Agnes and her father, but it captured my attention and kept it even after all that. Maybe it was how much it hit close to home, with many of us having moments like those, or the feels of all of it even when there is much love all around us. Either way, I couldn't place this novel down and I couldn't help getting emotionally attached.
It moves down the line, years later, after Agnes has grown and has her own daughters. She has lost one in a tragic accident, destroying any signs of a loving mother towards her surviving daughter Eleanor (named after Agnes' mother). And that is where things go from tragedy to full blown supernatural existence, shifting Eleanor's life forever.
"Before she has a moment to truly consider any of this, she steps through the doorway--is, frankly, almost yanked through it--and then Eleanor is no longer in the cafeteria, no longer in her high school, no longer even in Oregon at all. Back in the world, Jack sees her disappear. He drops his carton of milk, bewildered; it pumps like a vein, then dribbles onto the table. She's just gone."
This is when the story really shines and moves forward into something more than just misfortune and hardships. It is the realism of it all that gives way to an open desire for an enchanting and fantasy driven storyline. It isn't always just about the faults of man, about all our pains and afflictions, but hope that there may be more when it feels like there isn't. Even so, there was still much anguish left in this read, but all of it incorporated together made this that much better of a novel.
***I received this copy from Crown/Penguin Random in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
twstdtink's review against another edition
3.0
This book was much darker than I anticipated. Aside from the tragic and gruesome death of Esmerelda, which gets rehashed over and over again, there were numerous instances of abusive or neglectful parenting. It was hard to feel anything positive for the majority of the characters. My other peeve was that Gurley's dreamworld felt like it was written by someone who has never remembered a dream in his life. No one has that much control of their dreams. In fact, dreams are often frustrating for their LACK of control.
What I liked was the originality of this story. It was clever and imaginative, and everything comes full circle, which is rewarding (if not a little sad). I cared greatly for the main character, Eleanor (the second). I would love to see what Gurley could do with a more uplifting subject.
What I liked was the originality of this story. It was clever and imaginative, and everything comes full circle, which is rewarding (if not a little sad). I cared greatly for the main character, Eleanor (the second). I would love to see what Gurley could do with a more uplifting subject.