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chambem19's review against another edition
3.0
I thought the main characters were drawn pretty well - Jasper, Wayne, Uncle Leo and Wendell. I also thought the interview questions at the top of the chapter breaks were clever. The overall story was fairly decent, though I think there was a lot of lead in with almost no subsequent time spent on the subsequent resolution. I also thought that some of the "bad stuff" was excessive and not important to the story line - it felt more like it was added because otherwise the story wouldn't seem dark enough. Overall, it was an enjoyable enough read but I wouldn't recommend it.
julieveg's review against another edition
Another book I didn’t finish because I didn’t care about any of the characters.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
D.M. Pulley returns following her award-winning debut, The Dead Key (2015-highly recommend), with an absorbing historical fiction, family saga: THE BURIED BOOK: beautiful, yet harrowing; mixed with mystery, suspense, and intrigue.
A determined nine-year-old boy’s desperate journey into the dark corners, in search for answers about his missing mother and unraveling of shocking family secrets.
Jasper was nine years old, it was 1952 and his mother, Althea Leary left him at his Uncle Leo’s farm. He begged his mom not to go. She said she was coming back. His mom wanted his uncle to keep him safe. No one would answer him or give him any explanations about his mother. He was told to keep his ears open and his mouth shut.
Desperate to find answers about this mom. What was she running from? What if she was dead or someone had killed her? Some people were looking for her. What happened to his mom? A house burning down, a grandfather dying, and his mom’s secrets . leaving him behind.
A coming-of-age domestic family suspense, a rural noir--a young boy slowly unravels the mystery of his misunderstood mother and the circumstances surrounding her leaving. He hears things about his mother. He is determined to discover the truth. Who took her away and why?
A book, a Bible with paper’s hidden. A book heavy with secrets. From 1928, Jasper reads his mother’s story. A mother tormented, desiring forgiveness, abuse, a bad man - and a boy who loves her deeply, and wants to understand.
What is the truth? Justice. A conflict of violence to loyalty. A strong bond between mother and son. A boy faced with the brutal evils and dangers of the world. From corruption, lies, scandal, and murder. An enthralling and gripping mystery, in a rural atmospheric setting, and a boy you will root for.
“There is a bond between you. You must look inside yourself, and you will find her.”
The Buried Book depicts life in rural Michigan in the early 1950s – a family saga, from Ojibwa tribes, to language, customs, and cultures. A mother’s worn leather diary. A son. A book which held the answers to everything about her. A tornado and ugliness, which tore apart the world. Your heart will break for Jasper.
I enjoyed the inspiration behind this well-researched historical tale and the note from the author: a stand-alone mystery inspired by the unexplained disappearance of one of the author’s family members, in 1950s Michigan.
From interesting pieces of her dad’s life on a dairy farm; a blending of factual true events as a backdrop for a fictional heartbreaking journey. Pulley includes an index of intriguing events and places, historical context and extensive research which adds to the engaging, THE BURIED BOOK.
In addition to the advanced reading copy, happened to be traveling and purchased the audiobook as well, narrated by Luke Daniels for an engaging performance.
Well-written, a powerful story, no one is safe from the scattered fragments of history- the author delivers depth, lushly described settings, and an inter-generational battle between good and evil, taking you through a tornado, from fear, danger, killers, thieves, gangsters, Major Crimes Act of 1885, Prohibition, Indian Reservations, as well as taverns and other small communities and landmarks.
Recommend to fans of historical country noirs, Gothic, compelling characters, and those who enjoy smartly constructed intriguing family stories, and heartfelt prose.
A special thank you to Lake Union and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
JDCMustReadBooks
A determined nine-year-old boy’s desperate journey into the dark corners, in search for answers about his missing mother and unraveling of shocking family secrets.
Jasper was nine years old, it was 1952 and his mother, Althea Leary left him at his Uncle Leo’s farm. He begged his mom not to go. She said she was coming back. His mom wanted his uncle to keep him safe. No one would answer him or give him any explanations about his mother. He was told to keep his ears open and his mouth shut.
Desperate to find answers about this mom. What was she running from? What if she was dead or someone had killed her? Some people were looking for her. What happened to his mom? A house burning down, a grandfather dying, and his mom’s secrets . leaving him behind.
A coming-of-age domestic family suspense, a rural noir--a young boy slowly unravels the mystery of his misunderstood mother and the circumstances surrounding her leaving. He hears things about his mother. He is determined to discover the truth. Who took her away and why?
A book, a Bible with paper’s hidden. A book heavy with secrets. From 1928, Jasper reads his mother’s story. A mother tormented, desiring forgiveness, abuse, a bad man - and a boy who loves her deeply, and wants to understand.
What is the truth? Justice. A conflict of violence to loyalty. A strong bond between mother and son. A boy faced with the brutal evils and dangers of the world. From corruption, lies, scandal, and murder. An enthralling and gripping mystery, in a rural atmospheric setting, and a boy you will root for.
“There is a bond between you. You must look inside yourself, and you will find her.”
The Buried Book depicts life in rural Michigan in the early 1950s – a family saga, from Ojibwa tribes, to language, customs, and cultures. A mother’s worn leather diary. A son. A book which held the answers to everything about her. A tornado and ugliness, which tore apart the world. Your heart will break for Jasper.
I enjoyed the inspiration behind this well-researched historical tale and the note from the author: a stand-alone mystery inspired by the unexplained disappearance of one of the author’s family members, in 1950s Michigan.
From interesting pieces of her dad’s life on a dairy farm; a blending of factual true events as a backdrop for a fictional heartbreaking journey. Pulley includes an index of intriguing events and places, historical context and extensive research which adds to the engaging, THE BURIED BOOK.
In addition to the advanced reading copy, happened to be traveling and purchased the audiobook as well, narrated by Luke Daniels for an engaging performance.
Well-written, a powerful story, no one is safe from the scattered fragments of history- the author delivers depth, lushly described settings, and an inter-generational battle between good and evil, taking you through a tornado, from fear, danger, killers, thieves, gangsters, Major Crimes Act of 1885, Prohibition, Indian Reservations, as well as taverns and other small communities and landmarks.
Recommend to fans of historical country noirs, Gothic, compelling characters, and those who enjoy smartly constructed intriguing family stories, and heartfelt prose.
A special thank you to Lake Union and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
JDCMustReadBooks
vorpalblad's review against another edition
4.0
Another Wonderful Read from Pulley
I'll be honest here. I picked this up after reading The Dead Key, which pulled me in from page one. When I started The Buried Book I had a terrible time getting into it, started another book, and it was relegated to the list of forgotten Kindle orders. I'm so glad I went back and started again. While a slower start, like The Dead Key, Pulley does a wonderful job of making the mystery intriguing while still being second to building the characters.
Once I was hooked I couldn't stop and cried through great chunks as Jasper, the nine-year-old protagonist, tried to figure out whom to trust while tragedy, both self-inflicted and external, rained down on him. While it was certainly one thing after another, none of it felt contrived. Pulley has a gift for writing from different points of view and eras and making it all seem natural.
Her stories are not easily pigeonholed. They don't have detectives, or even "wanna be" detectives, but there has been a mystery to be solved in both of her books so far. The protagonist doesn't necessarily "solve" a crime, but everyone does find out what was going on, and for the most part why.
I'll be honest here. I picked this up after reading The Dead Key, which pulled me in from page one. When I started The Buried Book I had a terrible time getting into it, started another book, and it was relegated to the list of forgotten Kindle orders. I'm so glad I went back and started again. While a slower start, like The Dead Key, Pulley does a wonderful job of making the mystery intriguing while still being second to building the characters.
Once I was hooked I couldn't stop and cried through great chunks as Jasper, the nine-year-old protagonist, tried to figure out whom to trust while tragedy, both self-inflicted and external, rained down on him. While it was certainly one thing after another, none of it felt contrived. Pulley has a gift for writing from different points of view and eras and making it all seem natural.
Her stories are not easily pigeonholed. They don't have detectives, or even "wanna be" detectives, but there has been a mystery to be solved in both of her books so far. The protagonist doesn't necessarily "solve" a crime, but everyone does find out what was going on, and for the most part why.
mrninjaviking's review against another edition
3.0
I'm going with three for the story. As far as audiobook performances go, I would score it higher. The narrator, Luke Daniels, did a great job breathing life and emotion into the characters, giving them their own voice. I don't think I'd have wasted my time reading this book the old fashioned way, but it probably wouldn't have felt as engaging.
ashleystraniero's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book, but hated the ending. After keeping the reader wondering what happened to the main character’s mother for the entire book, I was pretty let down with the reason behind it and how that reason was unfolded. I think that the author kind of rushed the ending and prolonged the middle “fluff” of the book. I still think that it was a decent book, but definitely not good enough to reread. Also, I found it really entertaining and funny at times to read the book from the perspective of a nine year old kid.
fireflyhollow's review against another edition
4.0
Overall a very enjoyable book that kept me wanting to read to find out more. I'm not sure I have ever read a book before highlighting violence against women in the 1930s through 1950s as seen through the eyes of a male child who is trying to piece together the mystery surrounding his mother's willing disappearance. It was interesting and sometimes perhaps a bit implausible. It's heartbreaking and sickening how often these atrocities are kept secret under the pretense of preserving the female's dignity. It's sickening how many women are not believed and even blamed for what has been done to them. Sometimes it seems like nothing much has changed...
spartanjess's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I finally managed to finish this book - I stuck with it only because I wanted to see what happened to Jasper. The author crammed way too much into one book and after a bit, I found Jasper’s adventures and antics to be a bit too much. It just didn’t work for me.
sprainedbrain's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0