Author: Lauren Owen
Publication Information: Random House. 2014. 544 pages.
ISBN: 0812993276 / 978-0812993271
Book Source: I received this book through the GoodReads First Reads program free of cost in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite Quote: "And how odd, how interestingly perverse, to be frightened by happiness. It was the dread of getting things wrong, fear of losing this friend he had (by sheer luck) managed to find."
James and Charlotte are brother sister growing up in a remote home with no mother and a father who returns home only as he is dying. After their father's death, they are in the care of a relative. Essentially, each one are all the other has.
Charlotte remains in that environment, while James leaves to pursue studies at Oxford and then a literary life in London. Then, one day, James disappears. Charlotte leaves her sheltered home to try and discover what happened to her brother. Where that leads is a direction I completely did not expect.
The dilemma with this book is how to review it without revealing more the story. If you plan on reading this book, do not read any reviews that speak of the direction this story goes in. That will completely change the experience of the book.
Based on the back description of the book, it should be a historical mystery, somewhat Gothic in nature. That is all. This book is that somewhat, but then story line goes in a surprising direction, even more so for the 1800s London setting. It's not a story line I particularly enjoy. Had I known, I probably would not have read the book.
That being said, the book is Lauren Owen's debut novel. The book is well written, with a writing style that moves quickly and is easy to read. For its story line, the book would get a lower rating from me, but the writing helps improve it. The story line of the book was not for me, but I do look forward to seeing what Lauren Owen writes next.
James and Charlotte are brother sister growing up in a remote home with no mother and a father who returns home only as he is dying. After their father's death, they are in the care of a relative. Essentially, each one are all the other has.
Charlotte remains in that environment, while James leaves to pursue studies at Oxford and then a literary life in London. Then, one day, James disappears. Charlotte leaves her sheltered home to try and discover what happened to her brother. Where that leads is a direction I completely did not expect.
The dilemma with this book is how to review it without revealing more the story. If you plan on reading this book, do not read any reviews that speak of the direction this story goes in. That will completely change the experience of the book.
Based on the back description of the book, it should be a historical mystery, somewhat Gothic in nature. That is all. This book is that somewhat, but then story line goes in a surprising direction, even more so for the 1800s London setting. It's not a story line I particularly enjoy. Had I known, I probably would not have read the book.
That being said, the book is Lauren Owen's debut novel. The book is well written, with a writing style that moves quickly and is easy to read. For its story line, the book would get a lower rating from me, but the writing helps improve it. The story line of the book was not for me, but I do look forward to seeing what Lauren Owen writes next.
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