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ekp10's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
It's a refreshing read. Full of ups and downs. Buddy travel movies, but with walking.
It made me want to walk. The history unravels as the story keeps going.
There are so many elements in the book that I'm intrigued with, but the writer keeps it simple by providing enough attention and description to help the story move along. There are not that many overexplained. The way the chapters intercut between Ruth and Cora are really good to build the tension. Although, it's pretty obvious to me that Ruth is a ghost. I still like to reveal the end and understand the reason behind all of this. Although it seems like an intense story with foster care, con man, ghosts, and cult, the core of the story is love and obsession.
The journey begins because Ruth made a promise to Nat and this is how she provides love to Nat, to prove that the unseen exists and make you believe again.
Ruth and Mr. Bell fell in love and got their sweet tragic ending. As long they're together.
My favorite is probably the scene at the Motel with Sharese talking about art and ghost.
It's a refreshing read. Full of ups and downs. Buddy travel movies, but with walking.
It made me want to walk. The history unravels as the story keeps going.
There are so many elements in the book that I'm intrigued with, but the writer keeps it simple by providing enough attention and description to help the story move along. There are not that many overexplained. The way the chapters intercut between Ruth and Cora are really good to build the tension. Although, it's pretty obvious to me that Ruth is a ghost. I still like to reveal the end and understand the reason behind all of this. Although it seems like an intense story with foster care, con man, ghosts, and cult, the core of the story is love and obsession.
The journey begins because Ruth made a promise to Nat and this is how she provides love to Nat, to prove that the unseen exists and make you believe again.
Ruth and Mr. Bell fell in love and got their sweet tragic ending. As long they're together.
My favorite is probably the scene at the Motel with Sharese talking about art and ghost.
sarahpineislandme's review against another edition
Didn’t enjoy the prose or the characters.
yeehaw_agenda's review against another edition
3.0
I've been wondering a lot if there is a difference between ghost stories and love stories. And while I think this book didn't explore it's apparent ending love story deeply enough for me to be convinced by it, I enjoyed the book nonetheless! And the twist near the end was masterfully done!
pennym_'s review against another edition
i really tried with this one, but at the 2/3rds mark, it's still not doing anything for me. the covered topics (evangelicalism, cults, road trips, mother/daughter dynamics) usually don't hit for me, and although i usually enjoy hunt's work, this book is not the exception to the rule. i found the characters perplexing instead of intriguing, and the lack of concrete answers frustrating, especially at the point where i'm giving up. things should be coming together, or the pace should be picking up, something to have paid off the slow drag up to this point. but now i'm just bored, so i'm just gonna put the book down. it's not for me!
sylviatp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
4.25
_penceyprep_'s review against another edition
2.0
Enjoyed the first third, but then turned into a slog.
erincny_'s review against another edition
5.0
ok, masterpiece??? this probably isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but it is right up my alley. cosmos, cults, road trip, ghosts, life, death, alternating narratives, fate, birth, motherhood, trauma, love…wow. samantha hunt really said, i’m gonna write a book about everything! and damn did she.
carokfulf's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful and strange, a ghost story for people who know that all stories are ghost stories.
shybane's review against another edition
2.0
I’m really finding it difficult to write about this one. I have been chewing on this for quite a while. So much so, it has become overly masticated, flavorless pulp. It’s now one of those shit or get off the pot moments. So, here I am throwing a bunch of it against the wall determining what sticks.
This is two stories written in parallel. Each story focuses on one of the two leading characters. These separate stories muddled the prose and made it difficult to be fully engaged in either character. Perhaps this led to my general apathy toward them.
It wasn’t until the end that the stories built upon one another. But, it was too late for the characters; Ruth, a kid stuck in the foster system, and Cora, Ruth’s niece, were already dead to me.
Ruth’s story lays out a pretty dismal life. From her abusive mother scarring her to her super evangelical, foster father who’s only in it for the governmental checks. The foster father runs “Love of Christ!” Emphasis on the exclamation. I did find this amusing as this generally means you’re taking the Lord’s name in vain. His foster children appear to be his only parishioners.
Ruth’s only solace, after her real sister aged out of the foster home, is her “sister” Nat. Together, they call to “Mr. Splitfoot,” which allows them to speak to the dead. Soon the two use their talents as part of a con. And thus, their journey begins.
Cora, has so much more than her aunt, but as gleaned from her first-person narrative, she has nothing. We learn that she’s pregnant from an adulterous relationship with an older man. The guy calls himself “Lord.” Obviously, he’s a dick. After a spectacularly awful experience with Lord, Ruth appears. Mute, she beckons Cora to come with her. And thus, their journey begins.
The narrative, as mentioned, though disparate, slowly intertwines as we reach the books end. The reveal is ruined by the dust jacket’s synopsis, so it’s best to go in without reading it. It would certainly add to the enjoyment of the book.
There is genuine tension sprinkled throughout, as well as a great deal of revulsion. In the end, I was left underwhelmed and lacking.
This is two stories written in parallel. Each story focuses on one of the two leading characters. These separate stories muddled the prose and made it difficult to be fully engaged in either character. Perhaps this led to my general apathy toward them.
It wasn’t until the end that the stories built upon one another. But, it was too late for the characters; Ruth, a kid stuck in the foster system, and Cora, Ruth’s niece, were already dead to me.
Ruth’s story lays out a pretty dismal life. From her abusive mother scarring her to her super evangelical, foster father who’s only in it for the governmental checks. The foster father runs “Love of Christ!” Emphasis on the exclamation. I did find this amusing as this generally means you’re taking the Lord’s name in vain. His foster children appear to be his only parishioners.
Ruth’s only solace, after her real sister aged out of the foster home, is her “sister” Nat. Together, they call to “Mr. Splitfoot,” which allows them to speak to the dead. Soon the two use their talents as part of a con. And thus, their journey begins.
Cora, has so much more than her aunt, but as gleaned from her first-person narrative, she has nothing. We learn that she’s pregnant from an adulterous relationship with an older man. The guy calls himself “Lord.” Obviously, he’s a dick. After a spectacularly awful experience with Lord, Ruth appears. Mute, she beckons Cora to come with her. And thus, their journey begins.
The narrative, as mentioned, though disparate, slowly intertwines as we reach the books end. The reveal is ruined by the dust jacket’s synopsis, so it’s best to go in without reading it. It would certainly add to the enjoyment of the book.
There is genuine tension sprinkled throughout, as well as a great deal of revulsion. In the end, I was left underwhelmed and lacking.
alienclans's review against another edition
5.0
Well I think this is the last book I will ever read. It was the pinnacle of art. I no longer need other books. This felt like it was written from my own heart, exactly to all my tastes. No other books need to be written.
Seriously though, this was beautiful and I loved it. It’s easily a new all time favorite. I don’t want to talk about it further. My thoughts are mine and I’m keeping them.
Seriously though, this was beautiful and I loved it. It’s easily a new all time favorite. I don’t want to talk about it further. My thoughts are mine and I’m keeping them.