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Showing posts with label Lakeside Settings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lakeside Settings. Show all posts
Monday, June 22, 2020
And ... That's a Big Ole Meh From Me
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Ever since her mother's marriage and the subsequent birth of her baby brothers, Hazel Box has been feeling like the odd woman out. With all of her emotions boiling inside her, she needs to do something before she erupts. When she gets a surprise message on social media from Eve Warrington, a sophisticated teen who claims to be Hazel's half-sister, it feels like perfect timing. Even better, Eve is planning to spend two weeks in Maine with their father and wants Hazel to come along. The getaway is just the something Hazel has been waiting for—not only will she get a break from her family, but she'll have the chance to get to know her father and her half-sister at the same time. What could possibly go wrong?
I'm a fan of novels about family members finding each other, so I jumped at the chance to read That Summer in Maine by Brianna Wolfson. It sounded like a cute, upbeat sister story that would be both entertaining and poignant. Turns out, less than half of the novel focuses on Hazel and Eve. The first part of the story concerns the girls' mothers and how they both fall in love with the same man, get pregnant, and learn how to live with the consequences. Since the women's stories are nothing unique or all that interesting, the focus on them makes the first part of the book drag on and on. The action picks up when the camera's eye turns back on the girls. Although their half of the novel is more engaging, it's still not super compelling. The plot flip-flops here, there, and everywhere without going much of anywhere. It doesn't help that the characters are irritating—the mothers are needy, the girls are brats, and the dad is pretty darn clueless—and many of their decisions make no sense at all. Wolfson's tell-not-show prose just makes everything worse. For all these reasons, I put That Summer in Maine down several times. In the end, though, I decided to stick it out. Why? I really don't know because this novel drove me crazy! I like its premise, its tranquil cover, and its out-of-the-way setting. Other than that? Meh.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of Far From the Tree by Robin Benway)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder invectives), depictions of underage drinking, and mild sexual content/innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of That Summer in Maine from the generous folks at Harlequin in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Monday, May 20, 2019
Warm, Engaging MG Novel Has Feel and Appeal of Timeless Classic
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Billie O'Brien has a busy summer ahead of her. Not only will the 12-year-old be harvesting her bees' honey to sell in town, but she's also got to check her fishing traps, help her friend scoop llama poop (lots of llama poop), assist her dad with cheese making, and—most importantly—grow the biggest, best pumpkin she can so she can beat the socks off her former BFF in the pumpkin race that happens every fall on Madeline Island. Sam Harrington cheated her out of her win last year and she can't forgive him for that. The only way to get her revenge is to skunk him fair and square this year.
Of course, things aren't going to go smoothly when you've got cucumber beetles gorging on your pumpkins, an ex-BFF sabotaging your growing efforts, storms churning up your favorite fishing spot, and a mysterious stranger whose sudden appearance throws your family into a confusing whirl. Can Billie survive a summer full of unpleasant surprises? Can she beat Sam in the race? As Billie stumbles through three months of hard work, stinging disappointment, trying challenges, and unexpected revelations, she will learn some valuable lessons about family, friendship, and, forgiveness.
The Pumpkin War by Cathleen Young is a warm, engaging novel that has the feel and appeal of a timeless classic. Its bucolic rural setting offers readers a unique, insider's view of farm life while emphasizing the value of kids helping out and working diligently to achieve their goals. While The Pumpkin War is a slim novel, it's got lots going on inside. It tells a fun, exciting story that's also touching and real. Readers of any age can pick this one up and enjoy. I certainly did.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of books by Cynthia Lord)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Pumpkin War from the generous folks at Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Monday, December 31, 2018
Intriguing Dark Park Mystery a Thrilling Page Turner
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
It's been nine months since Eden Wallace's husband died and yet, she can't move on. The 35-year-old widow has become so paralyzed with grief and anxiety that she barely leaves the house. She's given up on her photography, her job, and any kind of social life. Her fear of the dark has become debilitating. Even Eden has grown tired of her grief, so when she discovers that her husband pre-paid for a week-long couple's retreat at a dark sky park near Lake Michigan for their tenth wedding anniversary, she decides to go on her own. It's time to put her fears to rest so she can finally start living again.
When she arrives at the retreat, however, she's dismayed to discover that the cottage reserved by her husband is not a private suite. Six college friends have also booked the place for the week. Although reluctant to stay, Eden is reassured by the group's charismatic leader that they're happy to share their accommodations—at least for the night. Knowing she can't drive home in the rapidly-approaching darkness, she stays.
Hours later, one of the college friends is dead and everyone is a suspect, including Eden. Required by police not to leave town, Eden has little to do other than investigate her roommates. Each had motive and opportunity, but who harbored enough hate to kill? As suspicion falls more heavily on Eden, she has to ask herself a most disturbing question—could she, in her desperate, sleep-deprived state, have committed murder? If she can't even trust herself, who can she rely on? What really happened that fatal night? Who is the true murderer?
The premise of Under a Dark Sky by Lori Rader-Day intrigued me from the beginning. I'd never heard of a dark sky park, but it certainly makes for an irresistible murder mystery setting. The novel's characters are likewise intriguing, each a complex, flawed human capable of killing. With its twisty, engrossing plot, this book makes for a fast, furious read. I couldn't look away until I got to the ending, which wrapped everything up with a tight, satisfying bow. This is my first read by Lori Rader-Day, but it for sure won't be my last. I loved this thrilling page turner.
(Readalikes: In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a handful of F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, and blood/gore
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Sad, Depressing Family Secrets Novel Another Meh Read for Me
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Sixty years ago, during the summer of 1935, 6-year-old Emily Evans went missing from her family's vacation home on an isolated Minnesota lake. The disappearance of her "pet" broke Emily's mother, who kept vigil at the lake ever after. Emily's older sisters, Lilith and Lucy, remained in Minnesota as well. Now, six decades later, Lilith has died and Lucy is about to follow. Before her death, she writes down the real story of what happened to Emily in a notebook. She hides it for Justine Evans, her grand-niece, to find in the lake house which she is set to inherit.
To Justine, the dilapidated vacation home represents a new start for her and her girls. Fleeing an abusive boyfriend, she needs a place to hide and heal. A remote lakeside cottage should make an idyllic spot for doing just that, but Justine's facing a long, cold winter in a crumbling home with only a strange old man for a neighbor. Soon, her sullen 11-year-old daughter becomes obsessed with the story of Emily Evans. That's just what Justine needs, especially with her greedy mother swooping in to "help," her old boyfriend looking for her, and her just trying to keep her little family together.
The lake house has seen too much tragedy and sorrow. Can Justine break the chain? Can finding out the truth behind Emily's long-ago disappearance help the ghosts of the past move on so that Emily's descendants can look to the future with hope and joy?
The Lost Girls, a debut novel by Heather Young, tells an atmospheric, compelling story about a loss that shatters the lives of all involved. Its characters are complex and interesting, although few are truly likable. The plot rambles along a bit, making the tale feel a bit loosey-goosey. Overall, the novel is sad and depressing. The Lost Girls interested me enough to finish reading it, but in the end, I found it to be kind of a meh read for me. Bummer.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of The House on Primrose Pond by Yona Zeldis McDonough, although this novel is much darker)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a couple of F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Lost Girls from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Lakeside Healing Novel A Wordy, Just Okay Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
It's been a year since Susannah Gilmore's husband of 20 years died in a bicycle accident and she's still trying to pick up the pieces. In an effort to start over, the widow moves herself and her two teens from Brooklyn to her family's summer cottage in tiny Eastwood, New Hampshire. Sixteen-year-old Calista is already boiling over with grief and anger; relocation to the middle of nowhere only makes her more surly. Her younger brother tries to keep the peace, but the tension in the family never seems to cease, despite their tranquil new surroundings.
When Susannah discovers an intriguing item—a love note addressed to her mother, written in a script that is not her father's—in the house, she finds a needed distraction. That's not the only thing grabbing her attention, though. She's researching another puzzling mystery for a novel she's writing, spending more time than she should thinking about handsome Corbin Bailey, and desperately trying to ease her family's heartbreak so they can heal together. Can Susannah find the answers she's looking for, the peace she's seeking, and the second love she doesn't know she needs?
The wounded-woman-coming-home-to-heal trope is one I'm always up for, especially when it's done well. The House on Primrose Pond by Yona Zeldis McDonough fits the first bill, but not necessarily the second. While the novel has some compelling elements, it's way too long and wordy. Susannah is a sympathetic heroine, but she's also a selfish, annoying pushover who lets her bratty teenager call all the shots. I had a hard time respecting her or really caring all that much about her plight. In the end, then, I found The House on Primrose Pond to be an okay read, nothing more.
(Readalikes: A million titles should be coming to mind, but I'm drawing a blank. Help!)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), innuendo/sexual content, and references to illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Okay, Now I'm Invested ... (With a Giveaway!)
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: Although this review will not contain spoilers from The Clue in the Trees, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its predecessor, Enchantment Lake. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
After a harrowing summer at her aunts' lakeside cabin, 17-year-old Francie Frye has decided to stay in little Walpurgis. As far as excitement goes, Brooklyn has nothing on the Minnesota Northwoods. Not that Francie is looking for anything more thrilling than the normal, everyday life of an average, ordinary high school senior, mind you.
When a surly archaeologist is strangled to death while manning an important dig near the aunts' cabin, everyone expects their own northwoods Nancy Drew to take up the case. Francie couldn't be more disinterested. Been there, done that. Then her older brother shows up unexpectedly, trailing trouble in his wake. Francie hasn't seen Theo in three years. There's plenty she doesn't know about him and it's obvious he's hiding some big secrets. Could one of them be that he's a murderer? With Theo as the prime suspect in the murder of the archaeologist, Francie's got no choice but to launch her own investigation. She has to prove her brother innocent. With mounting evidence against him, though, she's forced to ask a chilling question: Is Theo guilty? In a situation where nothing is as it seems, Francie must solve a complex puzzle before time runs out for her brother and herself ...
You might remember that I wasn't overly enthusiastic about Enchantment Lake, the first book in the Northwoods Mystery series by Margi Preus. I'm happy to report that I'm much fonder of its second installment, The Clue in the Trees. While there are a few incongruencies in the tale that I'm still trying to figure out, overall, the book provides a fast, fun mystery that surprised me in the end. The vibrant lake setting remains the star of this particular show, but I did find Francie more likeable this time around. I'm also enjoying the continued mystery surrounding her parents' suspicious demises. After reading Enchantment Lake, I had little desire to continue with the series. Now, though, I'm invested and looking forward to Francie's next adventure.
(Readalikes: Enchantment Lake by Margi Preus; also reminds me a bit of the Jess Tennant series [How to Fall; Bet Your Life; Hide and Seek] by Jane Casey)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Clue in the Trees from the generous folks at University of Minnesota Press via those at Fantastic Flying Book Club. Thank you!
--
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About the Author:
Margi Preus is a New York Times bestselling author of several books for young readers, including the Newbery Honor book, Heart of a Samurai, the Minnesota Book Award winning West of the Moon, and Shadow on the Mountain, a Notable Book for a Global Society. New in 2015 is Enchantment Lake, a northwoods mystery, and The Bamboo Sword, which Bookpage says is “historical fiction at its best.”
“Margi Preus has a remarkable ability to create fascinating, page-turning stories that transport readers to faraway times and places. Whether she’s evoking Norway during World War II or 19th century Japan, Preus combines impeccable research with strong characterization and plot—the very elements that draw readers into history and spark the curiosity to learn more.” Bookpage, Sept. 2015
Links:
Website-http://www.margipreus.com
Twitter-https://twitter.com/MargiPreus
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Enchantment Lake a Fast, Fun (Though Frustrating) First Mystery
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Just because Francesca "Francie" Frye once played a detective on t.v. doesn't mean she knows anything about sleuthing. Still, when the 17-year-old actress receives a frantic call from her aunt—who insists someone is trying to kill her and her sister—Francie doesn't hesitate to hop on a plane bound for northern Minnesota. It's only en route that she starts to have some reservations about her hasty trip. After all, everyone knows Francie's spinster aunts are a little ... eccentric. As strange as they may be, the pair are old and living alone in an isolated cabin on an island that is accessible only by boat. Francie has little choice. She has to check on the elderly women.
Soon, Francie finds herself in Walpurgis, the tiny northwoods town where she spent many of her childhood summers. While her aunties seem safe enough, they—like many of the older lakeside residents—are in an uproar over proposed development of their island paradise. Land owners are being persuaded to sell heirloom cabins. Those who hesitate, well, they seem to up and die in mysterious "accidents." Francie's aunts are convinced something sinister is going on. Are the old ladies just being paranoid? Considering the creepy noises Francie hears in the woods at night, a weird confession from a could-be killer, and a poisoned hotdish that sends someone to their grave, Francie tends to agree with her aunts. Something weird is happening at Enchantment Lake. A certain northwoods Nancy Drew is determined to get to the bottom of it, which is, not incidentally, exactly where all the answers to the mystery may lie.
Enchantment Lake, the first book in Margi Preus' Northwoods Mystery series, offers a fast, fun read with a few twists to keep readers guessing. Although the story features some colorful characters, it's the setting that really steals the show in this book. Preus brings the lake and its surrounding community to life with vivid description and an obvious affection for the land. Francie is much less convincing. She doesn't talk or act like a teen. Adults treat her as an equal, somehow believing that she's an NYPD detective, despite the fact that she's only seventeen. Which begs the question, why would a teenager be playing a police officer on t.v. anyway? These leaps in logic made it difficult for me to really believe in this story. Overall, though, Enchantment Lake is not a bad read. It's atmospheric, exciting, and stocked with enough red herrings to keep the killer's identity pretty well under wrap. I didn't end up loving this book, but I didn't hate it either. So that's something.
(Readalikes: The Clue in the Trees by Margi Preus; also reminded me a little of the Jess Tennant series [How to Fall; Bet Your Life; Hide and Seek] by Jane Casey)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Enchantment Lake from the generous folks at University of Minnesota Press via those at Fantastic Flying Book Club. Thank you!
Monday, March 13, 2017
Gothic Mystery Eerie, Compelling
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Nestled in the Adirondacks, The Heart Lake School for Girls holds little but bad memories for Jane Hudson. Once a scholarship student at the boarding school, she fled the institution after a spate of suicides that resulted in the deaths of her three best friends. Two decades later, she's a single mother looking for a new start. As Heart Lake's new Latin instructor, she'll live on site while teaching. As apprehensive as she feels being back, she's hoping for the best.
It doesn't take long, though, for sinister reminders of Jane's tragic Heart Lake past to surface. Someone seems to know exactly what happened when she was a student. But who? Everyone concerned is dead. Has one of Jane's new students somehow gotten hold of the journal she kept back then? Are the girls playing a cruel trick on their new teacher? Or is something more ... otherworldly going on? When a new rash of suicides starts plaguing the school, Jane is terrified that the past is coming back in the most awful way possible. Can she figure out what's going on before more people die? Heart Lake has already taken so much from Jane. Will it finally strip her of everything that's important to her?
The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman is an atmospheric mystery with eerie Gothic undertones. Its premise intrigued me, as did its back-and-forth-in-time storytelling. Although the plot kept me engaged, I saw most of its twists and turns coming, which made Jane seem very slow on the uptake. Still, I raced through this dark, compelling novel, eager to see what was going to happen. In the end, I didn't love The Lake of Dead Languages, but I did enjoy it overall.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books by Carol Goodman, including River Road, Arcadia Falls, and The Ghost Orchid)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a half dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Morton's Newest Another Rich, Succulent Gem
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Midsummer's Eve, 1933—Loeanneth, the Edevane Family's summer home in Cornwall, is the sparkling center of a lavish party. Hundreds of revelers gather on its grounds, sipping champagne, watching a bonfire burn on the lake, and enjoying the perfect weather. It's a night of enchantment, anticipation, and excitement. A night that will turn tragic when the disappearance of 11-month-old Theo Edevane is discovered. With no body, no ransom note, no clue as to what has happened to the child, the case of the missing baby goes unsolved. Crushed by grief, the Edevanes close up the lake house, never to return.
Cornwall, 2003—After making a career-ending mistake, London detective Sadie Sparrow is forced to take a leave of absence. While cooling her heels at her grandfather's seaside cottage in Cornwall, she stumbles across a once grand, now decaying home. Intrigued by the ruin, Sadie starts asking questions. When she learns about Loeanneth's mysterious history, she becomes obsessed with the Edevanes. Determined to find out what happened to young Theo, she seeks out the boy's remaining family members as well as anyone with connections to Loeanneth.
Alice Edevane, now a well-known mystery writer in her late 80s, holds pieces to the puzzle of what really happened on that summer night back in 1933. But not all. Although she longs to piece it all together, she doesn't want the exposure. Can she trust Sadie Sparrow to find answers? Does Alice really want to know the truths her family has always gone to such pains to hide?
As Sadie comes closer to solving the very cold case, she will make some startling discoveries about the Edevanes, revelations that will lead her to illuminating epiphanies about herself and her own family. If her manic search for answers about Theo Edevane doesn't kill her first.
It's no secret that I'm a huge Kate Morton fan. I've read—and loved—all of her novels. Sure, they're all kind of the same, but I don't care. I adore them. The Lake House, Morton's newest, is no exception. With well-developed characters, intricate plotting, and a compelling mystery, it definitely held my interest. Some of the story's plot surprises did strike me as annoyingly convenient, but I still very much enjoyed this multi-layered family saga, which kept me guessing nonetheless. Morton's skillful storytelling never fails to captivate me, even when I see twists coming, which is why she's quickly become one of my favorite authors. For me, her books are must-read, auto-buy treasures. If you dig absorbing, suspenseful reads about old houses, family secrets, and past/present mysteries, don't miss The Lake House or anything else by the incomparable Kate Morton.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Kate Morton's other novels, including The Distant Hours; The Forgotten Garden; The House at Riverton; and The Secret Keeper)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Lake House from the generous folks at Atria Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Haven Lake Compelling, Though Not Completely Satisfying
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Haven Lake has always been a place of refuge for drifters, draft dodgers and down-on-their-luckers. In the '60s, its idyllic Berkshire setting provided the perfect backdrop for a peace-touting, free-lovin' hippie commune. Like all the children who lived there, Sydney Bishop pranced naked through its fields and forests, wild and free as a wood sprite. It was only as a teenager, after twin tragedies shattered not just her community, but also her family, that Sydney ran away from Haven Lake, vowing never to return. Desperate to leave her past, with all its dark memories, far behind her, Sydney's kept her promise for two decades.
Now 36, Sydney finds fulfillment in her job as an educational psychologist, her quaint cottage on the shore, and her upcoming marriage to Gary Katz, a handsome surgeon. Soon to be a stepmother, she's worked hard to get to know Dylan, her fiancé's 16-year-old son. When the troubled boy runs away from home, Sydney's sympathetic, but shocked when she learns he's holing up at Haven Lake with Sydney's mother, Hannah. Her astonishment turns to anger when Hannah offers to let Dylan stay and help her with the sheep farm.
Dylan's problems, mixed with Hannah's interference, and Gary's increasingly alarming mood swings, create a toxic cocktail that has Sydney questioning everything about her life. The raging turmoil inside her can't be assuaged, she realizes, until she finds out the truth about what happened on the night her childhood best friend drowned in Haven Lake. Facing the hurt that defines her past may be the only way for Sydney to find future happiness. But, what happens when everything you remember is wrong? And the future you've always dreamed of no longer feels right? As Sydney confronts her haunting past, she'll have to decide whom to believe, whom to trust, and ultimately, whom to blame for the terrible events that turned Haven Lake into a hell of sorrow, guilt, and pain.
It's no secret that I'm a complete sucker for a good damaged-woman-returns-to-her-hometown-to-confront-her-past novel. With a premise like the one I summarized above, it's no surprise that I wanted to read Haven Lake by Holly Robinson. The question is, did it deliver the kind of rich, redemptive story for which I generally go ga-ga? Answer: yes and no. Although the characters are a sad, depressing lot, Robinson takes time to build them into complex, knowable beings. Thus, I felt for them and cared about what happened to them. Plot-wise, the novel roams here and there, with plenty of superfluous subplots that distract from the mystery at the heart of the book. A tighter, more focused story would have made the novel feel more suspenseful and polished. Likewise, I could have done without the graphic language and sex scenes, which, for me, detracted from the overall appeal of the book. In the end, I found Haven Lake compelling, though not completely satisfying.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other novels with similar premises, although no specific title is coming to mind. Help?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, sexual content, violence, and depictions of illegal drug use
Saturday, March 23, 2013
It's As Fun and Refreshing As A Day at the Lake
(Images courtesy of Scarletta Press)
Although I read a lot of picture books (thanks to my 4-year-old story lover), I don't review many of them. So, when the good folks over at Scarletta Press contacted me about taking a look at the titles they've recently published with their Kids imprint, I hesitated. Then, A Day at the Lake by Stephanie Wallingford and Dawn Rynders (with illustrations by Erica Pelton Villnave) caught my eye. The cover looked so inviting that I just couldn't resist taking the plunge (pun very much intended).
A perfect read with which to welcome the warm, summer weather (which we're already experiencing here in the Phoenix area), A Day at the Lake will charm water lovers of all ages.
(Readalikes: Reminded me a little of In the Small, Small Pond and In the Tall, Tall Grass by Denise Fleming)
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated: G
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of A Day at the Lake from the generous folks at Scarletta Press. Thank you!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Bleak Crow Lake Comes to Disappointing End
(Image from Random House)
Tiny Crow Lake seems to be a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of place, but behind closed doors, anything can - and does - happen. The small farming community protects its own, but also keeps to its own. So, when trouble brews at the Pye Family's farm, nobody takes much notice. The Pyes have always had their problems. For 7-year-old Kate Morrison, the Pyes' troubles seem a million miles away (though, in truth, the Pyes are her nearest neighbors); her world consists of studying at the one-room schoolhouse, watching her little sister and exploring the ponds on her family's property with the older brother she idolizes. Although her parents are fairly austere (The Morrisons' 11th Commandment, according to Kate, is "Thou Shalt Not Emote"), her home life is stable and happy. When a freak car accident kills her parents, however, her safe little world shatters.
Although several relatives offer to take the younger children, 19-year-old Luke Morrison can't stand the thought of separating what remains of his family. Although he was poised to become the first in his family to go to college, his plans move to the back burner. Working at the Pye farm, he barely manages to scrape up enough money to keep the house running. Matt, Kate's brilliant 17-year-old brother, faces his own dilemma - stay at school or quit in order to work more hours? With money dwindling, tension between the brothers, and a grief-stricken toddler to deal with, things are unraveling at an alarming rate. When a crisis at the Pye farm engulfs The Morrisons as well, everything crumbles. How much tragedy can one family take before it breaks completely? Will any of them come through unscathed?
Crow Lake by Mary Lawson explores tragedy, hardship, and the myriad ways grief can split people apart or bind them together. The tone of the novel echoes the bleakness of its setting (Crow Lake is a fictional town situated in the midst of northern Ontario's untamed wilderness). The story is narrated by Kate, now a 27-year-old professor, whose memories are jarred by an invitation to attend a party in her hometown. She's turned into a cold, emotionless woman who is so scarred by her past she has trouble connecting with people - from her past or present. The trip home, accompanied by an inquisitive boyfriend, will make her face her traumatic childhood once and for all.
Although it seems depressing, this novel isn't quite as dark as it sounds. It's bleak, to be sure, but ultimately hopeful. The characters are strong, the plot moves right along, and the suspense builds nicely. After the build-up, however, The Big Reveal seems anticlimatic, even predictable. I wasn't thrilled with the ending either. By the conclusion, I had had about enough of Kate. I empathized with her to a point, but after awhile I just wanted to slap her out of her selfish, judgmental haze. I would have given the novel an A because of believable characters, a suspenseful plot and solid writing, if only it hadn't been for the crap ending. All in all, I liked Crow Lake, I just wanted a more satisfying conclusion.
Grade: B-
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