brandiemetzger's review against another edition
4.0
I will admit that when I realized the author was a Pastor's wife, I was a little hesitant about reading this book. I'm not a big fan of books getting all 'preachy' on me, and was prepared to chuck it at the first sign of that. It turns out I was pleasantly surprised by the story and enjoyed the book very much. The main character was very likeable and I found myself cheering her on and anxious to get to the end of the book and see how things turned out for her. The book definitely wants you to consider your relationship with God - but the author presents it in a tasteful way that didn't turn me off. Very enjoyable read.
hikereadbeer's review against another edition
3.0
Didn't love it, didn't hate it. It was something different, easy to read, and not what you'd expect.
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
3.0
Before I get into the review of this book I should fess up to some discomfort. I downloaded this thinking it was Women's Fiction and it passes as it until about 90% into the book, when the main character had a clear Transcendental experience with the "One True God" and the rest of the book was heavily Christian. Looking at the rest of the book through that religious lens also changed my interpretation of a lot of the previous events.
I say all of this because I'm ok with Women's Fiction, not so much with Christian fiction. I literally stuck my finger in my throat and made gagging sounds at my Kindle. I would not have read the book if I'd known where it was going. This is not a condemnation of the book, just an informative statement of genre classification. So, the rest of what I have to say should probably be taken with the above in mind.
My primary response to this book was, "I'm apparently not a nice enough person to read this." Now, acknowledging the religious bent of the book, I can understand that forgiveness is obviously supposed to be important and the book focuses solely on Kate's experience. BUT, and this is a big BUT for me, none of the characters who do her seriously wrong ever get their comeuppance. Hell, Kate never even says a cutting word toward them let alone does anything that leaves the reader feeling satisfied that the bad guys got what was coming to them. NONE!
Yeah, yeah, 'all things before god. It's not her place to pass judgement. She's a better person for not.' Bla, bla, bla. They got off too easy and I wanted to at least see them being told what shits they were...preferably in public, with significant and measurable consequences. Didn't happen.
The book is well written and I didn't really see any serious editing issues. And I did really like Jack and Maggie reminded me of someone I know and love in real life. I appreciated the representation of how easy it is to get trapped in the mental health system. I'm not even blind to the small kindnesses of the people who did Kate so wrong, giving their characters a bit of grey. (Too bad all those kindnesses were in response to situations they created and threw her unsuspectingly into.) So there is something worth praising here.
I just get stuck because the very things that are supposed to provide emotional satisfaction and closure for the reader (they are there for the right reader), mean nothing to me. Therefore, I'm left in the cold still waiting for a happy ending I'll never get because what I want to happen wouldn't be 'Christian.'
So, if you're the type of reader who likes to see a woman totally and unfairly destroyed by her corporeal life in order to accept God into her life, this is a must read. I'm not that reader. In fact, I tend to actively avoid such books. It's a shame I got sideswiped by this one.
I say all of this because I'm ok with Women's Fiction, not so much with Christian fiction. I literally stuck my finger in my throat and made gagging sounds at my Kindle. I would not have read the book if I'd known where it was going. This is not a condemnation of the book, just an informative statement of genre classification. So, the rest of what I have to say should probably be taken with the above in mind.
My primary response to this book was, "I'm apparently not a nice enough person to read this." Now, acknowledging the religious bent of the book, I can understand that forgiveness is obviously supposed to be important and the book focuses solely on Kate's experience. BUT, and this is a big BUT for me, none of the characters who do her seriously wrong ever get their comeuppance. Hell, Kate never even says a cutting word toward them let alone does anything that leaves the reader feeling satisfied that the bad guys got what was coming to them. NONE!
Yeah, yeah, 'all things before god. It's not her place to pass judgement. She's a better person for not.' Bla, bla, bla. They got off too easy and I wanted to at least see them being told what shits they were...preferably in public, with significant and measurable consequences. Didn't happen.
The book is well written and I didn't really see any serious editing issues. And I did really like Jack and Maggie reminded me of someone I know and love in real life. I appreciated the representation of how easy it is to get trapped in the mental health system. I'm not even blind to the small kindnesses of the people who did Kate so wrong, giving their characters a bit of grey. (Too bad all those kindnesses were in response to situations they created and threw her unsuspectingly into.) So there is something worth praising here.
I just get stuck because the very things that are supposed to provide emotional satisfaction and closure for the reader (they are there for the right reader), mean nothing to me. Therefore, I'm left in the cold still waiting for a happy ending I'll never get because what I want to happen wouldn't be 'Christian.'
So, if you're the type of reader who likes to see a woman totally and unfairly destroyed by her corporeal life in order to accept God into her life, this is a must read. I'm not that reader. In fact, I tend to actively avoid such books. It's a shame I got sideswiped by this one.
catrev's review against another edition
5.0
Talking to the Dead by Bonnie Grove is full of surprises for its readers. Kate Davis' life has shattered in the unexpected death of her husband Kevin. She can't eat or sleep or even go up the stairs to their bedroom. Her friends and family are worried about her, but they'd worry even more if they knew that Kevin was talking to Kate. She finds great comfort in the words of the man she loved with her whole being, and it seems to be helping her ability to grieve, at least at first. When I first read the description of this book, I was hooked. It sounded like a light-hearted and fun look at dealing with devastating grief. I expected a quick, fun read. Then Kevin stopped talking and started shouting, and Kate started recovering lost memories, and the book took a completely unexpected turn. Kate's quest to discover the source of his voice and then the truth behind his death lead her and the reader into dark places. The novel's sudden U-turn brings a great deal of depth and emotion to Kate and the story. I was completely blown away by Kate's journey and shocked that Grove never took the easy way out. There are no easy answers here, the bad guys don't get their just desserts, and Kate suffers unimaginably. Through it all, Grove somehow manages to keep a touch of humor so the story never gets too heavy or depressing. This is a stunning and in the end, amazingly beautiful novel of redemption and forgiveness.
joyfilledwander's review against another edition
4.0
"Life is messy, God is love." If any fictional needs that truth, it's Kate in "Talking to the Dead". Fresh off the sudden death of her husband [of 5 years] and suddenly enveloped in mind-numbing grief, Kate struggles through life...normalcy...pain...friendships...and the past. And in a way that doesn't feel forced or trite, she discovers God. It's a powerful, moving psychological story of grief & loss. Great read, for sure.
jchristy's review
3.0
This was a book club read and I enjoyed the story more than I originally thought. Being a widow myself, I did not experience any of the main character's experiences, but it held my attention as I needed to know what was going on in this woman's life before and after her husband's death.
samarie04's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely amazing
This book made me laugh and cry. Kevin's transformation was surprising, but Kate's resilience is inspiring. This is one of the best books I have read recently.
This book made me laugh and cry. Kevin's transformation was surprising, but Kate's resilience is inspiring. This is one of the best books I have read recently.
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