Author: Garth Stein
Pages: 445
Published: Harper Collins March 9, 2010
Genre: Fiction
Source: Terra Communications
On impulse, Jenna Rosen leaves the party she and her real estate developer husband, Robert, are attending in Seattle, takes his BMW and drives north to Bellingham. Again on impulse, she hops on the ferry to the Alaskan town where her Tlingit Indian grandmother lived and died. But there's more than impulse at work here: Jenna and Robert's 5-year-old son, Bobby, drowned in Alaska just two years ago, and something is drawing Jenna back to the scene. On the ferry, she's given a carved silver charm of a Tlingit spirit called a kushtaka, a stealer of souls. "Tlingits don't have good and evil," a local shaman explains, telling the story of how the spirit known as Raven gave the world the sun, moon, and stars by stealing them from someone else. As Jenna learns more about the kushtakas, helped by this very sophisticated shaman and an understanding fisherman, she begins to believe that her son's soul is being held captive by these spirits, as revenge for her husband's greed. Garth Stein's persuasive prose draws us into a book that mixes fantasy with tragedy and the natural human desire for closure.
My Thoughts:Highly Recommended
I loved this book.....loved it. It's a story of a mother that is broken and damaged, who needs to find some closure in her life after the death of her young son. One night she walks away from her husband, and her life in Washington and heads back to Alaska looking for answers. The mystical elements of this book are extremely well written and I loved how Stein worked them into this story line, especially using his own Tlingit culture and sharing it with the reader. It made this book fresh and unique. At times, you wonder if Jenna is insane and you are not entirely sure if what she is experiencing and seeing is truly real. Then you sit back and ask yourself......do you believe in the spirit world? I'm a huge fan of The First North American series and this book shares some of the Indian folklore feel of that series. There is also a menacing tone that hums behind the story and you feel yourself becoming tense, anxious, and sometimes frightened as to what will happen next. I'm honestly very surprised that this book is out-of-print, but thanks to Garth's publisher they offered to reprint it. I'm so glad that they did because this truly is a book worth reading!!
4.5 stars out of 5
2 copies for giveaway!!!
Harper Collins is releasing this book on March 9th and to help kick it off they have offered me an additional copy to giveaway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, if you're interested in winning your own copy of this wonderful book please leave your email address in the comment section and on March 14th I will let the Fruit Machine pick a winner!!!
Wow, I've been on the fence about this book, but after your fantastic review, I want to read it. Please enter me. milou2ster(at)gmail.com
ReplyDeleteIf you liked it, it must be great! Spirits and Shamans always intrigue me, maybe because I am not a super monotheistic religious person. I am always looking out for something, even in fiction, that will make this crazy world make sense for me.
ReplyDeleteLove your review, Staci. You really make me want to read this book. Please throw my name into the hat for the giveaway : )
ReplyDeletemeah56 AT gmail DOT com
This sounds wonderful and I'd love to be entered in the giveaway.
ReplyDeletestacybooks at yahoo
The mystical parts intrigue me :)
Sounds quite interesting! Waving my hand for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleterlmccormack59(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks.
I'm seeing lots of notice about this book around the blogosphere. I sounds very interesting. You can enter me in the drawing please.
ReplyDeletejanezfan (at) yahoo (dot) com
I also enjoyed this book, although I didn't love it as you did...I can recommend it to other readers. I thought Stein wrote the "horror" sections really well (he scared me to death sometimes!). Thanks for such a great review, Staci :)
ReplyDeleteI have learned about many interesting native American folk tales here in Michigan. I think the mystical aspect of this book sounds fascinating.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful book!
ReplyDeleteOh please enter me, it sounds wonderful and interesting!
ReplyDeletemorefromscraps AT comcast DOT net
What a great review. I always look forward to finding new books to read by looking at your blog. Sounds like a good book!
ReplyDeletewowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! this sounds amazing!!! i would love to win it staci!!! bmwgirl@cox.net :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of this book before, but your review makes me want to read it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your great review, Staci! I am glad you enjoyed this one so much. The Native American aspects sound really intriguing.
ReplyDeleteNo need to enter me in the giveaway. I do wish those who enter good luck!
I just got my review posted and I must say I like yours better than mine. I really enjoyed this one even if the cover threw me for a bit. I'm looking forward to reading even more reviews of it.
ReplyDeleteOooh...the use of Native American folklore really appeals to me!
ReplyDeleteGreat review, it does sound like a cool Book :D
ReplyDeleteBtw open to all? If so then I am in too, if not then good luck all!
blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com
You made this novel sound wonderful!
ReplyDeletelaughingstars66@yahoo.com
Sounds like an awesome read.I'd love to enter!
ReplyDeletenataliew2(at)gmail(dot)com
Enter me, please! :)
ReplyDeletepretty.little.unicorns@gmail.com
Enter me, please! :)
ReplyDeletepretty.little.unicorns@gmail.com
Great review! I'd love to enter the contest!!
ReplyDeleteinthehammockblog (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks!!
Your review has me interested.
ReplyDeleteCount me in please.
dawnpnr(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks!