The Night Country by Stewart O'Nan, 229 pagesRIP III
What a great book to read for the RIP and just before Halloween. This was a spooky, melancholy book that takes place on Halloween night. It's the anniversary of a car accident that killed three teenagers from the small town of Avon in New England. The dead kids are narrating the story as they follow, when summoned, a survivor of the accident, Tim, Kyle's mom, whose son survived but is not the same at all, and finally, Brooks, the police officer first on the accident scene. These three are trying to deal with the aftermath of the accident.
I liked the way the 'ghosts' are portrayed, following the survivors around, not at all at rest, but watching out for their people. It was a very overall sad book. Not a crying sad, just a melancholy tone that builds and builds as some grief is dealt with and the anniversary looms. It became apparent that there was more to the accident than was originally believed, and that drives the story along, lurching and speeding like the car in the book. Tragic accidents change many lives for a long time.
Susan at Too many books wrote a wonderful review that made me run out and get this book. I've been wanting to read a book by O'Nan, and I'm looking forward to another by him. There was a Something Wicked This Way Comes vibe as I read this book, noticeable because I am reading it at the same time, and the book is dedicated to Ray Bradbury. A great book for Halloween.
reviewed by susan
Thanks for the review, this looks like a good one. I've been trying to decide what to read at the end of the week to get me in the proper creepy mood. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review, I really enjoyed this book. The author did a terrific job of expressing the sadness while still making it mysterious.
ReplyDeleteOh, that sounds good. The only O'Nan I've read is Last Night at the Lobster, which is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI just read another review of this book and after reading yours I think I'm going to request it from the library. It sounds so good! Great review :O)
ReplyDeleteThis was an excellent book wasn't it? I just read it this month too.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link to my review and wonderful comment about my post! I like your review too, Michelle, and I really am happy you enjoyed the book so much too. It is still haunting me all this time after I read it. I think about that awful secret revealed at the end, the tragic turn of the story, and it's so true and so mournful. Thank you! I'll go add a link to your post now too :-)
ReplyDelete