Review: A ghost story that falls short
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 01 11, 2013
I wanted to love this book. I wanted to SO badly. It began SO brilliantly, and spoke to me of only beautiful, promising things..*sigh* and then left me high and dry in a hole filled with my own disappointment. That was a horrible analogy. I just wish I could be writing a 5 star review right now. Do you SEE that cover!? How could it be anything but amazing? (Yes, this is me 'judging a book by it's cover').It started off on a high, with beautifully decrepit scenery circa the 1800's Victorian era. I was placed in the most perfect mindset to read about a good haunting; a tale from beyond of a spirit or presence that just won't rest. I was ALMOST given that, and with a dose of romance thrown in for flavour-the connection between Henry and Clemency was sweet and completely uncontrived, considering the swiftness of their courting. I loved their characters. I actually enjoyed all of the characters in this book-especially the mysterious and introverted Uncle, owner of the Bittersweet Lodge.After the initial intriguing back story about the house and it's "former" occupants-this book took a nosedive into the realm of mediocre. I don't understand-I almost feel as though the author was being rushed near the end, like he was being told to "just write something, anything." I wish I could insert a visual journey of my emotions with this book. I went from a dream-state, to near ecstatic with anticipation, to slumping over in my chair with disappointment. I was waiting for a BANG! For the event that would satisfy the build-up-and then there was none.In defense of the book however, I was completely clueless to it being a novella until I was a good ways in. I looked down at the page numbers on my Kobo and saw 30 of 78, and went "ah..I see now." If I had been privy to this initially, I MAY have understood the author's subtly in the way he handled the conclusion. Though as it stands, I think this book could have been squeezed for some more juice-it came SO close.I recommend this book for readers with a respect for ambiguity in conclusions. Not that I am completely without it- I could understand what the author was striving to achieve here. I just prefer my books to have a more straight-forward ending.