Review by Corinna Christopher on show 25th March
Set in Salem Massachusetts, renowned for the famous witch trials in the 17th Century, this book is about the Whitney family history starting from the present time.
Narrated by Towner Whitney it commences with the sudden disappearance of her great Aunt Eva, a remarkable lady who was so close to her and helped raise her due to the incompetence of her mother May. The family home was a small island nearby where her mother, a recluse now looked after homeless girls and young women.
Towner herself, is a disturbed young woman having spent time in psychiatric units and known as being crazy by the locals. The family are reputed to have "second sight" through reading of the mind and staring at Lace fragments. There is much bout this ancient craft (quote from the book) "out of chaos and swirling patterns, images will begin to emerge, the first will appear at the still point. These are the guides".
Gradually more details are given about the strange history of the Whitney girls. Much of Towners problems relate back to the death of her twin sister Lyndley at the age of 15. There are secrets, personal tragedy and the haunting past to unravel.
An unusual tale with some odd characters and I was not totally convinced about some of the plotlines. However, the atmosphere and descriptions of modern day Salem are revealing, also good atmospheric writing concerning nautical matters and small town living. There is a surprise at the end. All together it was a somewhat confusing book and I could not make up my mind one way or the other as to its worth!
The author states it was inspired by a dream and after many rejections, paid to have it published. Since then it has risen in the top best seller list (I saw it prominently displayed in an airport book shop recently). She lives in New England and says the book is all about perception, both for the reader and the main character.
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