Occasionally, when the stars are aligned just right, I win a Goodreads giveaway. Strangely enough, I have one two this summer, which never happens. ThOccasionally, when the stars are aligned just right, I win a Goodreads giveaway. Strangely enough, I have one two this summer, which never happens. The second giveaway I won was for an ARC of A Room Away from the Wolves by Nova Ren Suma. I received my copy of the book last week, and the book was just released this past Tuesday (September 4). Here’s my quick summary:
When Bina runs away from home, trying to escape a cruel step-family and the sense that she’s been abandoned by her mother, she heads to New York City. Trying to find that lost connection with her mother, Bina heads to Catherine House, where her mother lived 18 years before. But when Bina arrives at the house, it’s clear that the house has a secret, one that Bina finds herself at the center of.
I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from A Room Away, especially because I’ve not read any of Nova Ren Suma’s other books. Still, despite the fact that I didn’t have any set expectations for this novel, I still found it to be--unexpected.
The writing in this novel can be a bit confusing at times, but I also think this is intentional. This sense of disorientation adds to the mystery of the novel because you’re never quite sure what’s going on. It also adds to the sense that Bina might not be the most reliable of narrators, an impression that I think grows as the novel continues.
I think the overall spooky mood of the book makes it a great read for autumn. Throughout the novel, there’s a sense that something’s not quite right at Catherine House. The fact that it’s seemingly removed from the rest of the city, and of course the mysterious moving portrait, work together to create an eerie setting for the story.
However, ultimately I don’t think this book was for me. I prefer my prose to be a bit more straightforward, and I wasn’t that surprised by the story’s “twist” ending. Still, I would recommend this for readers looking for an atmospheric fall read. ...more
A quick read, but very atmospheric. I’d say this would be great to read fall because of the mood the descriptions evoke (it made me think of sweater wA quick read, but very atmospheric. I’d say this would be great to read fall because of the mood the descriptions evoke (it made me think of sweater weather). I also liked that even though there’s are love interests, falling in love or being in love is not really the point of the narrative. The story is more about a young girl coming to terms with her abilities in the face of her family’s, specifically her mother’s, actions.
Please note, this novel does deal with issues of self harm (but not in a way that I think glorifies it). ...more
Lily accepts the challenge to find the Ivy Key in order to secure admission into her dream school, Princeton. Along the way she meets som*3 1/2 stars*
Lily accepts the challenge to find the Ivy Key in order to secure admission into her dream school, Princeton. Along the way she meets some interesting characters and uncovers some startling secrets.
I enjoyed this book, but there wasn't a lot revealed in the end that I hadn't already guessed early on. Still, it was fun to read and had and ending that satisfied my corny side. ...more
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