Book Review/Discussion: The Night Strangers

I love books that create a mood. I do NOT meant this in the typical literary sense. Mood is really just the feeling and atmosphere, and every good book has one. But when I mention mood (I always envision it in italics) in relation to novels I'm reading, I mean something very specific....

a dark, brooding setting......envision winter, in New England or maybe the Pacific Northwest....a plot where something is amiss, something not right, something a little grotesque...extraneous amounts of ellipses...

That is what I mean. And this book HAS IT. Not many do. It's a particular type of book. I can usually count on Chris Bohjalian to give me this mood, and boy did he! 

For those who have not yet read The Night Strangers 

Our protagonist, Chip Linton, is (was) a pilot. But he is no Sully Sullenberger. When he had to crash-land his plane in a body of water, it was not The Miracle on the Hudson 2.0. Through no fault of his own, it was a disaster, and 39 passengers died.

Fast forward several months, and Chip, his lawyer wife Emily, and his young twin daughters Garnet and Hallie have relocated to a secluded, small town in rural New Hampshire, into an old, sprawling Victorian that had sat vacant for years while on the market. While it at first seems like an idyllic place for Chip to convalesce after his severe psychological trauma, certain oddities among the town's inhabitants start to emerge. Why are so many women in the town named after flowers and herbs? Why are they so interested in Garnet and Hallie? And what is behind the strange, sealed door in the Linton's basement? As the reader, we soon catch on to the fact that there is danger lurking in every corner of this town and house. But will Chip and Emily realize it before it is too late?

This book is the kind that will draw you in and will not let you get out. I find this to be true with all of Bohjalian's book (this one and Before You Know Kindness are my favorites). Isn't that the kind of book we all want to read? I enjoy his use of third person omniscient. As we move from one character to another and back again, we get a sense of the real danger long before the Lintons do, and it builds incredible suspense.

Recommended

Yes! I am hesitant to give books 5 stars. To me, those are books that are sheer perfection, like Rushdie's Midnight's Children or Gregory Robert's Shantaram. So though I am tempted to say 5/5 stars, I'll give it a 4.5/5 stars and a ringing endorsement.

Tips

I got this at the library, so check your county's library system. Also, try to start this book when you're not too busy to read for hours at a stretch. Because trust me, you'll want to!

For those who have read The Night Strangers

The Docket

Hello all!

I've decided to start a new feature on my blog: I'm going to be listing my upcoming reads! So here they are, just in case you want to grab a copy for yourself and read along with me! 

So here is what is coming up in my reading (I won't be reading quite as quickly right now because I'm also reading some professional books that I won't be blogging about)

First up (I've already read a bit): 

 

Why I chose it: I've read four books by Bohjalian (Midwives, Before You Know Kindness, Trans-sister Radio, The Double Bind) and I know him to be an incredibly talented writer. 

Next:  

Why I chose it: This was a birthday present and I am SO lucky to have gotten it! I love all things Alice and can't wait to read it. 

And then: 

Why I chose it: I've been interested in this book but haven't been convinced I'd like it, so I was reluctant to spend money on it. Finding it at the library sealed the deal for me! I love the library :-)

HAPPY READING! 

Book Review/Discussion: The Painted Girls

When I saw this book by Cathy Marie Buchanan at the library it seemed quite natural to pick it up. I love ballet, I love Paris, I love Edgar Degas...and this book had all three! Now, I've already written about my feelings on historical fiction, but I didn't even think about my usual compunction when I picked out this book. I just wanted to read it. I didn't think about historical accuracy. I just got lost in the story. (Now, it helps that I didn't think these characters were actually real...but at the end an author's note informed me that they were, though the author says they are mostly fictionalized, which is fine with me). 

For those who have not yet read The Painted Girls 

This is the story of Marie and Antoinette Van Goethem, two teenage girls living a life of destitution in the slums of Paris. They live with their mother, a drunk widow, and their little sister, Charlotte, and everyone must pull their weight. After getting kicked out of her spot with the first quadrille at the Paris Opera, Antoinette helps Charlotte and Marie secure spots at "petite rats" (young dance students) at the Paris Opera's ballet school. While training, Marie catches the eye of famed painter Edgar Degas, and becomes a model for him. Antoinette, meanwhile, falls in love...and risks also falling from grace. 

Let it be said that this story is beautiful. It's compelling. You will fall in love with Marie and Antoinette, and genuinely care what happens for them. Buchanan is both a talented storyteller and a masterful crafter of words, and her talents shine through her depictions of Marie, Antoinette, and life in 19th century Paris. 

One thing I loved about this book was the emphasis on destiny...or rather, our fear of it. Do we have free will, or not? This is something I'm not going to discuss here beyond its implications in the books. Poor Marie, who was well-educated before her father died and an avid newspaper reader, comes across the theory that cranial features are indicators of a predilection for depravity, crime, and poor moral character. Unfortunately, Marie exhibits these facial features. She lives in fear that she will live up the expectations her face has written. She also attends a play that Antoinette is in as a walk-on, and is horrified to discover that the antagonist of the play, a poor washwoman who is working hard to pull herself out of poverty, is unable to do so. Marie lives in constant fear of dying in the gutter, the way she was born. It is heart-wrenching. 

There is a scene where Marie gets to see the public part of the Paris Opera house when her ballet madam takes her class to a dress rehearsal. I have been to the Paris Opera house and it is indeed one of the most grand, beautiful buildings I have ever seen. Imagine the awe Marie must have had. That is the awe I feel as I read this book. 

Recommended? 

Absolutely yes. 4.5/5 stars. 

Tips

If you are not familiar with the Paris Opera or the work of Edgar Degas, I would go ahead and familiarize yourself. It will make the reading more visceral and enjoyable. Here's a primer real quick to save you some time if you don't want to go look it up on your own :-) 

Edgar Degas: 

Paris Opera: 

For those of you who have read The Painted Girls