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deanna_rigney's review against another edition
4.0
Unusual book with three seperate stories...will the stories eventually converge? Mayhaps, but not in an obvious way. This was full of mystery and psychological happenings having to do with the common thread of identity. It was interesting how many of the settings were wide open spaces yet everything seemed claustrophobic and ominous.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
I am confused … in a good way.
Lucy has left her small Ohio town in the dead of night, along with her lover and former history teacher, on her way to adventure and riches; but can she really trust him? Miles has been searching for his missing, apparently schizophrenic, twin brother for years; a recent letter has given him a clue that dates back to their childhood and the fantasy games they played, and at last he is certain where to find him. Ryan has his own identity crisis when he learns that he was adopted; his biological father, Jay, is a ne’er-do-well who has never taken responsibility for anything, until he suddenly contacts Ryan, convinces him to come live with him, and learn his trade.
At its core this is a novel about identity, and it is mesmerizing and intentionally confusing. You have three separate story lines, told in alternating chapters, and without any apparent connection between them, unless you think about identity and reinventing oneself as a connecting theme. I know that Ryan Schuyler is a real person. Lucy Lattimore is definitely a real person. Miles Cheshire and Lydia Barrie are real people. But what about Jay Kozelek, Hayden Cheshire, George Orson?
The novel jumps around in time, making it even more difficult to keep track of all these characters. It starts about two-thirds of the way through the story line; or at least I think that’s where the opening falls in chronology. But don’t let that dissuade you; enjoy the roller coaster ride.
Lucy has left her small Ohio town in the dead of night, along with her lover and former history teacher, on her way to adventure and riches; but can she really trust him? Miles has been searching for his missing, apparently schizophrenic, twin brother for years; a recent letter has given him a clue that dates back to their childhood and the fantasy games they played, and at last he is certain where to find him. Ryan has his own identity crisis when he learns that he was adopted; his biological father, Jay, is a ne’er-do-well who has never taken responsibility for anything, until he suddenly contacts Ryan, convinces him to come live with him, and learn his trade.
At its core this is a novel about identity, and it is mesmerizing and intentionally confusing. You have three separate story lines, told in alternating chapters, and without any apparent connection between them, unless you think about identity and reinventing oneself as a connecting theme. I know that Ryan Schuyler is a real person. Lucy Lattimore is definitely a real person. Miles Cheshire and Lydia Barrie are real people. But what about Jay Kozelek, Hayden Cheshire, George Orson?
The novel jumps around in time, making it even more difficult to keep track of all these characters. It starts about two-thirds of the way through the story line; or at least I think that’s where the opening falls in chronology. But don’t let that dissuade you; enjoy the roller coaster ride.
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
5.0
keeps showing up on lists of books I like :)
Wow - this was really great! Can't really say much without giving stuff away.
Wow - this was really great! Can't really say much without giving stuff away.
janchamp's review against another edition
3.0
I kept waiting for the storylines to begin to overlap and intersect. By the time they did and my suspicions were confirmed, there wasn't much book left to give anyone the ending they had earned.
More than 2 stars because this is a really well written book with some characters you will want to swoop in and rescue and some you hope get hit by a bus.
Less than 4 stars because the story spends a whole lot of time alluding to things that would have been incredibly interesting details if they'd had as much attention paid to them as lines from an obscure Scottish essay about ghosts that was interesting but added nothing.
More than 2 stars because this is a really well written book with some characters you will want to swoop in and rescue and some you hope get hit by a bus.
Less than 4 stars because the story spends a whole lot of time alluding to things that would have been incredibly interesting details if they'd had as much attention paid to them as lines from an obscure Scottish essay about ghosts that was interesting but added nothing.
jjb_1013's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
okokfinewhatever's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Gore
jacksontibet's review against another edition
4.0
Really good, with the kind of "twist" that works. So impressed that this guy teaches up the road at Oberlin. It's the kind of book that I feel like is advertised wrong on the jacket, but maybe that's on purpose because it's hard to give out what the book is really about without ruining part of what makes the book so good. I feel like I'm making it sound gimmicky or something, which it really isn't. One of the best books I've read this year
escartwright's review against another edition
3.0
It's dark. It's unconventional in its format. I can't say that I like it because it kind of creeps me out. It's not my usual genre, but I am glad I stepped out of my comfort-zone to read it.