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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Reservation Road- Bookish Thoughts #13



What Reservation Road is about:
At the close of a beautiful summer day near the quiet Connecticut town where they live, the Learner family--Ethan and Grace, their children, Josh and Emma--stop at a gas station on their way home from a concert. Josh Learner, lost in a ten-year-old's private world, is standing at the edge of the road when a car comes racing around the bend. He is hit and instantly killed. The car speeds away. 


Why I wanted to read this one: Last year I read Northwest Corner by Schwartz, which is the sequel to Reservation Road, for a TLC Book Tour. I fell in love with this author's writing and the story hit me hard on many levels. I knew that at some point I had to read about the devastating event that caused these two families lives to spin out-of-control.


Source: My public library

  • I can only speak of my experience and tell you that I absolutely love this author's voice. There's something so simple, yet strangely complex about his writing. I am at a loss for words to describe how his writing touched me. It just did.
  • My heart broke for every single person in this story. I couldn't begin to fathom the heartbreak and grief that Ethan and Grace dealt with after the loss of their son. His death haunted me and I had to keep telling myself...this is make-believe, Staci!!
  • Dwight, the hit and run driver, makes a decision that will change the lives of so many people. I still don't understand why he just didn't stop, but there are many people that have been in his same predicament and chose the same course-of-action. I don't want to condemn him, but his actions were unconscionable.
  • As a parent, on that  very deep, emotional level, I connected with Ethan. I understood what drove him to find his son's killer. At times he scared himself, but he never relented. I understood his need for solitude and his desire to distance himself from love. I got him and that knowledge shook me up. 
Schwartz crafted a novel that captures your attention and even though many of the characters are seriously flawed, I think that is what kept me glued to the pages. They were REAL. The story is gut-wrenching and the ending surprised the hell out of me....but I believed it. And that to me is masterful storytelling! 

Bookish Thoughts #13
© 2012, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission. 

32 comments:

  1. Loved the audio of this one as well Staci. I still have to read Northwest Corner -- why can't I quit my job and just read? is that too much to ask?? LOL

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  2. Wow!! This sounds powerful!! Adding to my list!

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  3. Great review, Staci. Adding this and the first book to my list.

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  4. Wow, this sounds fantastic! Heartbreaking, but fantastic.

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  5. I read this years ago and just couldn't put it down... should probably hunt down a copy of Northwest Corner!

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  6. We saw the movie - it was very intense!

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  7. This is a book that's been on my radar for some time, and yet I haven't read it yet. I may have to check it out of the library

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  8. This is a book that's been on my radar for some time, and yet I haven't read it yet. I may have to check it out of the library

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  9. Great review Staci. You make me want to read this one. I know it will be heartbreaking to read. I really don't want to spend days crying, but maybe the audio would give me a little distance from all that.

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  10. I would not have the courage to read this one...sounds way too heartbreaking!

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  11. Sounds so haunting and sad :/ Perhaps too much for me, even if it is only make-believe

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  12. Must. Have. I've really loved both of the books I've read by Schwartz. Time to get this one - maybe this weekend. Thanks for reminding me about it!

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  13. Isn't it wonderful when we fall in love with an author's voice? This one is going on my list immediately!

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  14. I still haven't read this one, Staci, although I saw the movie. I loved Northwest Corner, too, and now it's time to go back to where it all began....

    Thanks for sharing.

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  15. I just finished reading another book about a father looking for justice for his child, though I think that is where the similariites end. I'm still a bit in shell schock from that one, so I may have to remember this one for another time. Great review.

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  16. I've wanted to read both of these since I read your first review. I really need to make some time for them especially since you enjoyed both so much.

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  17. Wowzers! I must read both of these books just from reading your thoughts on this one!!

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  18. Staci, if Reservation Road is even half as touching as your review, I know I'll be emotionally invested in this one too!

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  19. There is just no way I could listen to this now. I'd be an emotional wreck!

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  20. There is no way I could read this now. I'd be an emotional mess!

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  21. Great review. However, not a story I could handle reading.

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  22. I read this one and have Northwest Corner on my TBR shelves, so when I'm ready -- it's waiting. :) I agree with the writing, but it was filled with too much morose for me. I still thought it was good, though.

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