Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Eleanor (Jason Gurley)

Every so often a book comes along that gets wonderful reviews from others but that I just didn’t like that much.  Such is the case with Jason Gurley’s Eleanor.  This novel is so fantastical (and not in the effective Neil Gaiman way), that it was difficult to follow along with, and by ¾ of the way in, I wanted it to be done.

The beginning of Eleanor leaves no indication of where it’s eventually going.  Eleanor is mother to Agnes and wife to Hob, who one day swims into the water never to be seen again.  Fast forward decades later and Agnes is now mother to red-headed twins, Esmerelda and Eleanor, who is obviously named for her grandmother.  On the way to pick up their husband and father, Paul, from the airport, Esmerelda is tragically killed in a car accident.  Everyone is shattered, and a few years later, Eleanor enters another world —literally.  This is where the story takes a downturn, and while I admire Gurley’s ambition, I felt this just didn’t pair well with the beginning of the book.

If I’ve learned nothing else as an avid reader and reviewer, it’s that all books aren’t for everyone.  But don’t let my opinion stop you from picking up Eleanor — you might just love it.


MY RATING - 2