mommamel11's review against another edition
3.0
What is this book? The title indicates that is a ghost story or a mystery. There is a ghost narrator (who sets off the security alarm in the library). There is a mystery---the new husband in the house is searching for a missing child. There is also some reflection on marriage as the ghost narrator compares his marriage to the couple living in his Vermont farm house. Add in some erotic poetry translated from the Japanese by the detective's wife and you have I don't know what. The author tried to create a fairy tale; twee setting, perfectly imperfect characters. Despite the numerous elements I found irritating, overall I liked the book and I think others will find it somewhat entertaining.
Personally I found ALL the characters to be highly self-aware. Norman gives them little tics or habits
that I found precocious.
I appreciate NetGalley letting me read this book in exchange for a review.
Personally I found ALL the characters to be highly self-aware. Norman gives them little tics or habits
that I found precocious.
I appreciate NetGalley letting me read this book in exchange for a review.
bookwyrm_kate's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars. There were many elements that I really liked, including the ghostly narrator, the history of the house, Epilogue the cat, and the contrasting marriages. The use of nature and weather was beautiful. This book was hopeful but melancholy, sometimes funny and sometimes boring. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it. It was worth reading, and didn’t drag too much, being fairly short.
thelexingtonbookie's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
As The Ghost Clause is my first Edelweiss book request, I've decided to share my "Reason for Request", and then my review. I intend to do so with any future approved requests, as they may help other bloggers with their own requests, but also incase I need a little inspiration for future requests as well.
Reason for Request: I'm requesting this book for the purpose of reviewing and sharing on my blog, but also for personal reasons as a native Vermonter and fascination with the paranormal. I actually had heard of the ghost clause growing up, so I am most intrigued by where Howard Norman takes his readers with this goofy VT law.
After I got approved (and settled all my excitement), I dove into The Ghost Clause.
Zachary and Muriel live in an old farmhouse in Calais, Vermont. Muriel is a poetry professor at UNH, and Zachary works at Green Mountain Agency as a detective, with his first case being a missing child, ten year old Corrine Moore. The young couple are excited about their new residence and eager to become a part of the town, and Zach is determined to find Corrine Moore.
Alternatively, we hear about the life of Simon and Lorca, the previous owners of Zach and Muriel's home. This couple admired the history of the home and were eager to start their own family in it together. As the reader continues, we find out that Simon is haunting his old residence, after passing from a heart attack.
Zach and Muriel learned that the house has a "ghost clause", in which if they find their home to be haunted, the seller must buy back the property. It's a strange Vermont law, and though rare, it is not unheard of. When century old homes populate the rural properties of the state, there's bound to be a spirit or to hanging around. The interesting thing is, I'm pretty sure Lorca knew that Simon would come back to their house.
Simon spends much of his time observing Zach and Muriel, as well as reading in the library and reminiscing about his life with Lorca. He also contemplates where he is in his non-existence- what it means to be a spirit, or to have memories not tied to his physical brain. The reader is easily swept away into the haunting tale of these two loving couples.
Howard Norman is a wordsmith, who uses beautiful descriptive yet strategic language- I don't feel like I'm struggling to cypher his meaning, but he certainly added new words such as lepidopterist and elegiac to my vocabulary. Though the narrative tends to meander, I felt that it ties well with Simon's ghostly observational habits. Often, the story is about the small intimacies between the couples- the time they spend (or spent) together, their hopes and dreams, their daily life. It's not overly riveting or exciting, but the writing tends to pull you in anyway.
Overall, I would say I was expecting a ghost story and instead received two love stories that blended together. It's not a disappointment, but I did think I was a little mislead by the book title and description. Once I was into the novel, I was curious to learn more about the couples, but the meandering plot line definitely kept me from tearing through the novel. In the end, I think I would still recommend it, but only to certain readers looking for a specific type of read. I'd say that if you're looking for a non-typical love story, or a linguistic read, this would be a good option.
Expected Publication Date: July 2, 2019
As The Ghost Clause is my first Edelweiss book request, I've decided to share my "Reason for Request", and then my review. I intend to do so with any future approved requests, as they may help other bloggers with their own requests, but also incase I need a little inspiration for future requests as well.
Reason for Request: I'm requesting this book for the purpose of reviewing and sharing on my blog, but also for personal reasons as a native Vermonter and fascination with the paranormal. I actually had heard of the ghost clause growing up, so I am most intrigued by where Howard Norman takes his readers with this goofy VT law.
After I got approved (and settled all my excitement), I dove into The Ghost Clause.
Zachary and Muriel live in an old farmhouse in Calais, Vermont. Muriel is a poetry professor at UNH, and Zachary works at Green Mountain Agency as a detective, with his first case being a missing child, ten year old Corrine Moore. The young couple are excited about their new residence and eager to become a part of the town, and Zach is determined to find Corrine Moore.
Alternatively, we hear about the life of Simon and Lorca, the previous owners of Zach and Muriel's home. This couple admired the history of the home and were eager to start their own family in it together. As the reader continues, we find out that Simon is haunting his old residence, after passing from a heart attack.
Zach and Muriel learned that the house has a "ghost clause", in which if they find their home to be haunted, the seller must buy back the property. It's a strange Vermont law, and though rare, it is not unheard of. When century old homes populate the rural properties of the state, there's bound to be a spirit or to hanging around. The interesting thing is, I'm pretty sure Lorca knew that Simon would come back to their house.
Simon spends much of his time observing Zach and Muriel, as well as reading in the library and reminiscing about his life with Lorca. He also contemplates where he is in his non-existence- what it means to be a spirit, or to have memories not tied to his physical brain. The reader is easily swept away into the haunting tale of these two loving couples.
Howard Norman is a wordsmith, who uses beautiful descriptive yet strategic language- I don't feel like I'm struggling to cypher his meaning, but he certainly added new words such as lepidopterist and elegiac to my vocabulary. Though the narrative tends to meander, I felt that it ties well with Simon's ghostly observational habits. Often, the story is about the small intimacies between the couples- the time they spend (or spent) together, their hopes and dreams, their daily life. It's not overly riveting or exciting, but the writing tends to pull you in anyway.
Overall, I would say I was expecting a ghost story and instead received two love stories that blended together. It's not a disappointment, but I did think I was a little mislead by the book title and description. Once I was into the novel, I was curious to learn more about the couples, but the meandering plot line definitely kept me from tearing through the novel. In the end, I think I would still recommend it, but only to certain readers looking for a specific type of read. I'd say that if you're looking for a non-typical love story, or a linguistic read, this would be a good option.
Expected Publication Date: July 2, 2019
bfth23's review against another edition
2.0
Not as good as I hoped. Tried to heard to be "cerebral".
karireads's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
When novelist Simon Inescort dies unexpectedly at a relatively young age, he returns as a ghost and watches the young couple (Muriel and Zachary) who now live in the house that once belonged to him and his wife Lorca. He does not "haunt" them, rather he tries to avoid being noticed, content to simply observe their daily life, their struggles and successes.
A story of loss, connection, and how memories shape and color our worlds and identities.
A story of loss, connection, and how memories shape and color our worlds and identities.
sharonfalduto's review against another edition
3.0
The story of a young couple in an old farmhouse in Vermont, narrated by the ghost of the previous homeowner. There is a subplot is a missing child, and some reminiscing about the precious homeowner's marriage. The writing was little show offy.
fiona_gs's review against another edition
3.0
Book did grab you in with interest with it writing style. It wasn't really plot driven more windows into to couples lives through the understanding of a ghost that was also an author. The writing style as I have said is more snape shots than plot driven. The build up, suspense to certain events really got me want to find out and stop me putting the book down but due to the style I found the payoff not as satisfying. The great thing about this book was the character development, given that this type of book would lead more to cardboard characters, this time they were fleshed out nicely. Would have like to go in deeper but this maybe to do with narrator (the ghost) preface than anything else. If you love The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald then you would love this book. #Netgallery
regardsrachel814's review against another edition
3.0
The only way to explain this book is that's its a haunting but it's about more than that. It's about grief, it's about community and belonging in a community. It about the meaning of life and how the past affects the future. This is a pleasant book that I think is meant for readers to return to. Move past the east coast snark; there's more going on than just conversations of the highly educated.
mslaura's review against another edition
3.0
Ratings:
Writing 3
Story line 4
Characters 3
Emotional impact 4
Overall rating 3.5
Writing 3
Story line 4
Characters 3
Emotional impact 4
Overall rating 3.5