Book 3 Finished!

The rate at which I read Carry Me Down, a novel by M.J. Hyland, should tell you a little bit about my opinion of it.  I finished this one in 2 days, even staying up past my bedtime to squeeze in a few more pages! This book is one odd duck, but I kind of loved it for all its oddity.  And why wouldn't it be odd?  It's a book about the Irish, after all!  The quirkiness and bluntness of Hyland's Irish characters make this book a standout.  The subject matter has a tendency to lean to the dark side, but there is a hint of levity and wit in the characters' manners that provides a nice balance to the general creepy weirdness of the story. :) 

I don't want to reveal too much in this review, but I will say that the main character, John, an Irish "tween" who believes he has a special gift, will have you smiling one minute, cringing the next, and scratching your head in disbelief.  You really do have to keep reading this one once you start, because there is just no telling where this kid's mind is going to go next.  He is weird, his mother is weird, the book is weird, heck, the author might even be weird, but this weirdness is what gives it a unique charm. 

To Sum Up: If you like things that are a little off-center, this book is for you.  It is moving, but not in a sappy way, and there is a HUGE plot twist that will make your jaw drop.  Except for the last two paragraphs (which I hated and think should have been left out), this is a well-written, imaginative book that will keep your wheels turning while you're turning the pages.  Enjoy!

Up Next: The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell.  By the way, this is a wee 983-page number, so I might do some updates along the way instead of waiting for the end to do one massive one.  Wish me luck!!

Happy Reading!
--Kate