starness's review
3.0
I enjoyed the beginning of this book and thought it was well set up but then it sort of just fell flat. My main problem was some of the writing felt a little off for me, I can't even describe what it was but it didn't always click with me. The author does do an outstanding job at getting the voice of the teenager down pat with all their nuances with her words feeling authentic and real. I also did enjoy the mother's point of view and thought her turmoil was plausible and she was layered and not altogether nice which made her interesting but the daughter was very vague which I understand is part of the plot but it was her part of the story that felt unfinished and underdeveloped for me. I thought there was some promise but it didn't quite deliver as the story didn't go where I was expecting it to. I was expecting more of a mystery or maybe even a twist but it was more about the characters left behind after the robbery and abduction takes place. There is survival guilt and trauma, it shows the other side of the crime for those who are affected indirectly but also the what ifs. On the plus side the narrator was engaging and kept my interest throughout the book, it was easy to follow which I appreciate very much in an audiobook.
jadior's review
2.0
This is a story about a kidnapping of a young girl and what happens to the girl who was with her who was left behind. While it's listed as suspenseful and a thriller, I found myself waiting for something exciting to happen. I was disappointed because I felt the a lot of loose ends were not tied up. It just felt very flat with a boring ending.
themartinmama's review
4.0
Reminiscent of Everything I Never Told You but with a weaker ending. Really a vignette into the life of two families.
hilaryistired's review
4.0
I received a copy of this book from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.
Stories about missing children or missing people are fairly common these days. We’re all fairly familiar with them, and have experienced them in multiple formats, from television to books to films. But these films always focus on the child that’s missing, the immediate family of the missing person, and the investigation. But what happens to the other people who are present, but who were left behind?
I never really gave the bystanders in the abduction stories a second thought until I picked up Perabo’s novel. Lisa Bellow is the girl who was taken in this book, but the story is about Meredith instead – the girl who was there, but who was left behind. It’s a beautiful story of survivor’s guilt, and how a missing person’s case can affect more than just the immediate family and those who know them well. Meredith and Lisa hated each other, and yet, Lisa going missing has a huge effect on Meredith.
This book alternates between two perspectives, Meredith and her mother, Claire. It’s absolutely fascinating to read about how both of these people struggle with what has happened, and try to come to terms with the whole thing.
The Good Points of The Fall of Lisa Bellow:
All of the characters, no matter how major or minor they may be, are incredibly well developed. You could write a full character sketch on each one, and still have more that you could talk about. It makes them feel so real, and makes it so easy to connect with them, even if you’re not a parent or a teenager.
For such a heavy, serious topic, this book is incredibly easy to read. Perabo’s writing flows so well, and you’ll fly through dozens of pages before you even realize it. But it’s easy flow doesn’t take away from the heavy, serious topic either. It’s really the perfect balance of each.
I loved the way that Perabo portrayed her teenagers. So many authors like to make their teens older and more mature than they should be, but Perabo doesn’t do this. She creates real teens, who like to pretend they’re all grown up, but sometimes still pull out their old animal figurines, who can’t see things the way adults might, and who don’t have half a clue what’s going on most of the time without realizing it. It’s refreshing to get such an honest portrayal for a change.
The Downsides of The Fall of Lisa Bellow:
Maybe it’s because so many stories that are focused on the person gone missing, I wanted more information on Lisa and what happened to her. Even if it were something as simple as a news article about it here and there, maybe an epilogue saying what happened next. I know this book focused on Meredith, but I wanted a little more on the other side too.
There were a few run-on paragraphs throughout this novel, and quite a few times where Perabo seemed to get off topic. Some parts of the story, especially when we were getting lots of inner thoughts of one character or another, where it just went everywhere before getting to the point. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it didn’t add to the story either.
All in all, this book was great. It was something I had never even thought to look for, but now I’m fascinated by the people who were ‘left behind’ after a crime. It’s an easy read, but don’t think that you’re aren’t getting into heavy stuff. If you’re a fan of Jodi Picoult, crime and/or abduction stories, or reading about nightmare situations for teenagers, you should definitely give this book a go.
Stories about missing children or missing people are fairly common these days. We’re all fairly familiar with them, and have experienced them in multiple formats, from television to books to films. But these films always focus on the child that’s missing, the immediate family of the missing person, and the investigation. But what happens to the other people who are present, but who were left behind?
I never really gave the bystanders in the abduction stories a second thought until I picked up Perabo’s novel. Lisa Bellow is the girl who was taken in this book, but the story is about Meredith instead – the girl who was there, but who was left behind. It’s a beautiful story of survivor’s guilt, and how a missing person’s case can affect more than just the immediate family and those who know them well. Meredith and Lisa hated each other, and yet, Lisa going missing has a huge effect on Meredith.
This book alternates between two perspectives, Meredith and her mother, Claire. It’s absolutely fascinating to read about how both of these people struggle with what has happened, and try to come to terms with the whole thing.
The Good Points of The Fall of Lisa Bellow:
All of the characters, no matter how major or minor they may be, are incredibly well developed. You could write a full character sketch on each one, and still have more that you could talk about. It makes them feel so real, and makes it so easy to connect with them, even if you’re not a parent or a teenager.
For such a heavy, serious topic, this book is incredibly easy to read. Perabo’s writing flows so well, and you’ll fly through dozens of pages before you even realize it. But it’s easy flow doesn’t take away from the heavy, serious topic either. It’s really the perfect balance of each.
I loved the way that Perabo portrayed her teenagers. So many authors like to make their teens older and more mature than they should be, but Perabo doesn’t do this. She creates real teens, who like to pretend they’re all grown up, but sometimes still pull out their old animal figurines, who can’t see things the way adults might, and who don’t have half a clue what’s going on most of the time without realizing it. It’s refreshing to get such an honest portrayal for a change.
The Downsides of The Fall of Lisa Bellow:
Maybe it’s because so many stories that are focused on the person gone missing, I wanted more information on Lisa and what happened to her. Even if it were something as simple as a news article about it here and there, maybe an epilogue saying what happened next. I know this book focused on Meredith, but I wanted a little more on the other side too.
There were a few run-on paragraphs throughout this novel, and quite a few times where Perabo seemed to get off topic. Some parts of the story, especially when we were getting lots of inner thoughts of one character or another, where it just went everywhere before getting to the point. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it didn’t add to the story either.
All in all, this book was great. It was something I had never even thought to look for, but now I’m fascinated by the people who were ‘left behind’ after a crime. It’s an easy read, but don’t think that you’re aren’t getting into heavy stuff. If you’re a fan of Jodi Picoult, crime and/or abduction stories, or reading about nightmare situations for teenagers, you should definitely give this book a go.
sarahrita's review
5.0
I received a copy of this book free from the publisher via netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
Full reviews available at www.coffeeandtrainspotting.wordpress.com.
Full reviews available at www.coffeeandtrainspotting.wordpress.com.
teacher2library's review
3.0
Well. That was deep and depressing. Not just the kidnapping part and its aftermath, but the whole family dynamics. The entire book seemed to revolve around the many ways in which we fail to save each other and the guilt we carry on forever. I like my endings with a little more resolution and hope, please.
taralpittman's review
5.0
In recent years, many resources have been allocated to the research of the way in which individuals respond to traumatic events. Not only are traumatic events problematic for those who are directly involved, but they are also responsible for affecting those who experience them peripherally; the innocent bystanders, so to speak. While there is much work to be done, one thing is certain: each individual experiences and processes these events in a very unique way; uncovering the various coping mechanisms, symptoms, etc., may prove as difficult as solving a complex puzzle.
Meredith Oliver walks into a local restaurant, Deli Barn, to pick up a sandwich; she has inadvertently walked into a traumatic situation. Her middle school classmate, Lisa Bellow, will be kidnapped while she watches and she is paralyzed from doing anything to either prevent or gather any information about the incident.
While this might be enough material upon which to craft an intriguing story, for author Susan Perabo, and readers of this stunning novel, this is only a small portion of what develops into the deeply moving, funny, relatable journey of not only Meredith and Lisa, but also their families, fellow students and community. The novel includes significant themes such as the power of sibling relationships, mortality, the challenges of motherhood, coming-of-age, forgiveness and, obviously, coping with trauma.
Having thoroughly enjoyed Perabo’s work as an author of short stories (her collection Why They Run the Way They Do was one of my favorite reads in 2016), I felt a little anxious about this first published novel; my fears have been more than sufficiently assuaged. Her talent never ceases to amaze me and I will begin, again, to anxiously await the next work she shares.
With fascinating character development, enough wonder to keep the pages turning at a quick pace, and intelligent, carefully-crafted writing, The Fall of Lisa Bellow will surely land on my list of favorites this year and is already on my list of Best Books to Read on Spring Break 2017.
"There were winners and there were losers. There were people in big houses and people in small houses. There were people who drew X’s through entire sections of school forms and people who had a name for every box. There were people whom others spoke to with respect, and people who others looked past. There were people who had choices and people who did not. Why was this, again?"
Meredith Oliver walks into a local restaurant, Deli Barn, to pick up a sandwich; she has inadvertently walked into a traumatic situation. Her middle school classmate, Lisa Bellow, will be kidnapped while she watches and she is paralyzed from doing anything to either prevent or gather any information about the incident.
"The phone felt strange and bulky against her ear. Why did news so often come this way, plastic boxes pressed against our temples? Half the things that mattered in her life had come through this box. Why was she never where the thing was happening?"
While this might be enough material upon which to craft an intriguing story, for author Susan Perabo, and readers of this stunning novel, this is only a small portion of what develops into the deeply moving, funny, relatable journey of not only Meredith and Lisa, but also their families, fellow students and community. The novel includes significant themes such as the power of sibling relationships, mortality, the challenges of motherhood, coming-of-age, forgiveness and, obviously, coping with trauma.
"She took a deep breath. At the end of the breath she found something, something totally unexpected, something she hadn’t even been looking for, but there it was for the taking, like turning a blind corner and bumping smack into the one thing that could save you. Resolve."
Having thoroughly enjoyed Perabo’s work as an author of short stories (her collection Why They Run the Way They Do was one of my favorite reads in 2016), I felt a little anxious about this first published novel; my fears have been more than sufficiently assuaged. Her talent never ceases to amaze me and I will begin, again, to anxiously await the next work she shares.
With fascinating character development, enough wonder to keep the pages turning at a quick pace, and intelligent, carefully-crafted writing, The Fall of Lisa Bellow will surely land on my list of favorites this year and is already on my list of Best Books to Read on Spring Break 2017.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.0
‘Why? Why would a robber become a kidnapper?’
Two eighth-grade girls witness an armed robbery in a sandwich shop. One of the girls is kidnapped by the robber, the other girl is left behind. Why? Meredith Oliver is the girl left behind, and while she figures that Lisa Bellow was taken because she weighed less and was prettier and more popular, she really can’t move past Lisa’s abduction. What if they’d both been abducted? What if Lisa knew her abductor?
The Oliver family has had a traumatic year. Meredith’s older brother, Evan, a high school baseball star, had his left eye and eye socket crushed by a foul ball. He is still coming to terms with his injury, still trying to adjust. Meredith’s parents, Mark and Claire, are dentists who share a practice.
This novel is about how the Oliver family deal with these events, from the perspectives of Meredith and Claire.
‘Grief and hope were cruel bedfellows, incompatible.’
Claire wants to protect her children; Mark realises that they need space. Meredith becomes obsessed with Lisa’s disappearance; Evan works on his own dreams. And what about Lisa Bellow’s mother? Can the Oliver family survive? How?
Reading this novel was like being an observer, unable to intervene in any meaningful way, in another family’s crisis. I felt for Meredith, as she moves between relief at being left behind and guilt at surviving. I could understand her freezing as the impact of events hit her, and then rebelling. How do parents handle this effectively, without adding to the trauma already experienced or alienating the child? But what about Lisa? I wanted answers which Ms Perabo has chosen not to give.
Did I enjoy this novel? No. Would I read more novels by this author? Absolutely. In this novel, Ms Perabo raises a number of uncomfortable issues, creates less than perfect (and completely human) characters. By focussing this novel on Meredith and her experiences, Ms Perabo reminds us that trauma is varied and complex and that sometimes, even in fiction, there are no satisfactory answers.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Two eighth-grade girls witness an armed robbery in a sandwich shop. One of the girls is kidnapped by the robber, the other girl is left behind. Why? Meredith Oliver is the girl left behind, and while she figures that Lisa Bellow was taken because she weighed less and was prettier and more popular, she really can’t move past Lisa’s abduction. What if they’d both been abducted? What if Lisa knew her abductor?
The Oliver family has had a traumatic year. Meredith’s older brother, Evan, a high school baseball star, had his left eye and eye socket crushed by a foul ball. He is still coming to terms with his injury, still trying to adjust. Meredith’s parents, Mark and Claire, are dentists who share a practice.
This novel is about how the Oliver family deal with these events, from the perspectives of Meredith and Claire.
‘Grief and hope were cruel bedfellows, incompatible.’
Claire wants to protect her children; Mark realises that they need space. Meredith becomes obsessed with Lisa’s disappearance; Evan works on his own dreams. And what about Lisa Bellow’s mother? Can the Oliver family survive? How?
Reading this novel was like being an observer, unable to intervene in any meaningful way, in another family’s crisis. I felt for Meredith, as she moves between relief at being left behind and guilt at surviving. I could understand her freezing as the impact of events hit her, and then rebelling. How do parents handle this effectively, without adding to the trauma already experienced or alienating the child? But what about Lisa? I wanted answers which Ms Perabo has chosen not to give.
Did I enjoy this novel? No. Would I read more novels by this author? Absolutely. In this novel, Ms Perabo raises a number of uncomfortable issues, creates less than perfect (and completely human) characters. By focussing this novel on Meredith and her experiences, Ms Perabo reminds us that trauma is varied and complex and that sometimes, even in fiction, there are no satisfactory answers.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
plumeriade's review against another edition
3.0
plot-wise, this was just ok (there was basically no resolution). but i enjoyed the concept and writing style, though at times it dragged and i had to skim (like really do i need paragraphs on how her parents met or whatever).