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Margins
Have you ever truly loved a book?
One day, while perusing the stacks of her favorite used bookstore, Jaime comes across a book by an author whom she’s never heard of. After an awkward encounter, she rushes home with A RENDEZVOUS WITH RICHARD in tow.
It’s in the margins that Jaime finds and falls for the mysterious Joe. Because A RENDEZVOUS WITH RICHARD isn’t a normal book. And MARGINS isn’t your average love story.
One day, while perusing the stacks of her favorite used bookstore, Jaime comes across a book by an author whom she’s never heard of. After an awkward encounter, she rushes home with A RENDEZVOUS WITH RICHARD in tow.
It’s in the margins that Jaime finds and falls for the mysterious Joe. Because A RENDEZVOUS WITH RICHARD isn’t a normal book. And MARGINS isn’t your average love story.
47 pages, ebook
Published February 14, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 7, 2016
Jamie met him in Secondhand Books, more or less. There is nothing like the love of a good book.
Edward Lorn writes horror right. This is not that, but we can consider ourselves on notice that he is more than able to branch out in other arenas and do just fine, thank you very much. Short story, marginally sweet, with lots of bookish references to savor.
Edward Lorn writes horror right. This is not that, but we can consider ourselves on notice that he is more than able to branch out in other arenas and do just fine, thank you very much. Short story, marginally sweet, with lots of bookish references to savor.
March 26, 2016
I figure by now most people who read my reviews know that Ed Lorn is my friend on Goodreads (consider this your disclosure notice if you care or need one), since I've read a few of his short stories and have said as much in each of my reviews of them.
The premise of this book is that a woman finds writing in the margin of a book she discovers in a used book store, and falls in love with the man who wrote the margin commentary.
There is a lot of booklove in this story, lots of author and title name-dropping, and a kind of LitCred that I only wish I had. *sigh* All of that is fine, and it is nice to read about people who love books as much as I do (but are smarter about it, I guess), but it didn't really have much to do with the STORY. Still, it's nice to read about book lovers.
If you look at the reviews of this story, most call it sweet, or romantic, or touching or fun, etc. I can't agree with them at all. If I was to judge this as a romance, it would be a 1 star story for me. (Sorry, Ed.) I think that the implication of the decision at the end is horrifying, and so for me, despite how seemingly light and "romancy" this is otherwise, I'm categorizing it as horror.
Let me tell you why... Be forewarned, I'm going to get spoilery here. Stop reading now if you don't want the story spoiled for you.
--------
OK, you've been warned. Moving on!
Jamie is a lonely spinsterish lady withfew one friend, but a great love of books. One day she finds an interesting looking book in a secondhand shop and takes it home with her. (Oddly, at the time she's scoping out the book, the store owner's aunts come in and creep our heroine out. They are described kind of the way that I would picture the twins from Kubrick's The Shining would be if they hadn't been murdered as children but instead live on to an age Bilbo Baggins would envy, yet still held onto their creepiness. I am not sure what purpose they had in the story either, honestly, other than weirdly asking Jamie about her relationship status. I'm assuming that they would have FB stalked her profile if they hadn't literally just met her 13 seconds before. They never reappear in the story again. Maybe they were there to reinforce the fact that this should be categorized as horror?)
So anyway, she takes the book, goes home, makes a frozen dinner, then takes a bath and reads. She gets to page 42 (Nice Hitchhiker's Guide reference) and she sees the word "Hello" written in the margin of the page. So she says hello back... and then another line appears in the margin answering her.
It turns out that the book is actually sentient. That it has become aware, and wants to communicate. Jamie finds herself talking to the book (after an initial freak out session, admittedly) and after a while finds herself falling in love with the... whatever it is. Mind? Awareness? Personality? He (for the book claims its name is "Joe") is a good listener, he's interested in her history, her interests, her life, and never seems to get tired of hearing her talk about herself. He has no history, no awareness other than the time they've spent together. He doesn't even know the story that he is made of (though, who among us really knows what makes us who and what we are either?). He claims to know "all the words" but I think that he didn't know what he didn't know - he probably thought all the words that made him up are all of the words that exist. We can never really know that, because we don't get to see the story he's made of, only the story ABOUT him.
Anyway... They form a connection, but things take a dark turn when Jamie discovers that for every word Joe writes in the margins, letters and words disappear from the narrative that makes up his brain/vocabulary/being.
He's cannibalizing himself to talk to her. And running out of margin space. (It's a short book.)
Jamie begs him to conserve his words (but not to use text speak, because she hates it) and eventually, she comes to believe that when he runs out of letters and words in his novel pool, he'll die. So she shuts the book on him in order to save his "life".
So why, you ask, did I say that this was horror? So far, you say, this sounds like a unique kind of romance (or at least intellectual soft porn for the ladies to swoon over - a book coming to life and containing a personality that wants nothing more than to listen to its lonely lady reader spill her deepest and darkest desires? Swoon.). It's sweet that she was willing to endure heartbreak and continued loneliness to save the life of the person/mind/whatever that she loves! Awwww!
Except that what she really did is trap a sentient awareness in torturous isolation indefinitely. And that makes this horror.
First, Jamie has no way of knowing what will happen should Joe run out of letters or words. Actually, I think the fact that he was running out of SPACE is the bigger, more pressing, concern. If he can use the letters from the novel he's made of, why can't he REUSE them from his margin writings? Is it a one time, permanent word or letter shift from the story to the margin, never to be in circulation again? What are the rules? We never find out. Because Jamie is a chickenshit coward who is afraid of commitment (her own admission) and thus backs out of her relationship with Joe and dooms him.
Even if he was to die when he runs out of words - who is she to stop him? What gives her the right to decide how he lives or dies? The fact that he's a book makes no difference to me. He is aware, and thus has a right to his own mind and existence.
She fell in love with a mind - for lack of a better term - whose only experience, only outlet, only interaction with anything at all was through her. And rather than letting that mind decide its own fate, she decided for him. She trapped him, imprisoned him, secluded and isolated him from all interaction when she decided to "save his life" and close the book on him.
What a horrible, shitty, cruel thing to do.
Imagine if he were a person with a disability that prevented him from being able to move (paralyzed?) and can only speak in a way that exhausts himself, and over time it will end up killing him, it would be considered inhumane to shut him away in isolation in order to preserve his life.
What life? How could anyone possibly think that an indefinitely extended existence in complete involuntary isolation would be preferable to a full but short life spent in the company of a loved one?
It's possible that he could still hear, because she spoke to him verbally and he understood. Can you imagine what that would be like? Having to spend your potentially infinite days being able to hear the woman you came to love, who you thought loved you in return, living her life, knowing you can hear and understand and knowing that you want to have that connection still... and never being able to communicate with her because she thinks that she has a right to decide how you spend the time you have?
I can't even imagine how horrible that would be to be shut out of the only life available to you, but being unable to die.
If this is the story that was intended, then kudos for writing a damn good short horror story that cuts deep to the heart of what it means to live, to be "alive", humanity, freedom, and what love truly is. I'm rating based on this interpretation.
If it was intended to be a light and sweet romance, then I don't get it at all.
The premise of this book is that a woman finds writing in the margin of a book she discovers in a used book store, and falls in love with the man who wrote the margin commentary.
There is a lot of booklove in this story, lots of author and title name-dropping, and a kind of LitCred that I only wish I had. *sigh* All of that is fine, and it is nice to read about people who love books as much as I do (but are smarter about it, I guess), but it didn't really have much to do with the STORY. Still, it's nice to read about book lovers.
If you look at the reviews of this story, most call it sweet, or romantic, or touching or fun, etc. I can't agree with them at all. If I was to judge this as a romance, it would be a 1 star story for me. (Sorry, Ed.) I think that the implication of the decision at the end is horrifying, and so for me, despite how seemingly light and "romancy" this is otherwise, I'm categorizing it as horror.
Let me tell you why... Be forewarned, I'm going to get spoilery here. Stop reading now if you don't want the story spoiled for you.
--------
OK, you've been warned. Moving on!
Jamie is a lonely spinsterish lady with
So anyway, she takes the book, goes home, makes a frozen dinner, then takes a bath and reads. She gets to page 42 (Nice Hitchhiker's Guide reference) and she sees the word "Hello" written in the margin of the page. So she says hello back... and then another line appears in the margin answering her.
It turns out that the book is actually sentient. That it has become aware, and wants to communicate. Jamie finds herself talking to the book (after an initial freak out session, admittedly) and after a while finds herself falling in love with the... whatever it is. Mind? Awareness? Personality? He (for the book claims its name is "Joe") is a good listener, he's interested in her history, her interests, her life, and never seems to get tired of hearing her talk about herself. He has no history, no awareness other than the time they've spent together. He doesn't even know the story that he is made of (though, who among us really knows what makes us who and what we are either?). He claims to know "all the words" but I think that he didn't know what he didn't know - he probably thought all the words that made him up are all of the words that exist. We can never really know that, because we don't get to see the story he's made of, only the story ABOUT him.
Anyway... They form a connection, but things take a dark turn when Jamie discovers that for every word Joe writes in the margins, letters and words disappear from the narrative that makes up his brain/vocabulary/being.
He's cannibalizing himself to talk to her. And running out of margin space. (It's a short book.)
Jamie begs him to conserve his words (but not to use text speak, because she hates it) and eventually, she comes to believe that when he runs out of letters and words in his novel pool, he'll die. So she shuts the book on him in order to save his "life".
So why, you ask, did I say that this was horror? So far, you say, this sounds like a unique kind of romance (or at least intellectual soft porn for the ladies to swoon over - a book coming to life and containing a personality that wants nothing more than to listen to its lonely lady reader spill her deepest and darkest desires? Swoon.). It's sweet that she was willing to endure heartbreak and continued loneliness to save the life of the person/mind/whatever that she loves! Awwww!
Except that what she really did is trap a sentient awareness in torturous isolation indefinitely. And that makes this horror.
First, Jamie has no way of knowing what will happen should Joe run out of letters or words. Actually, I think the fact that he was running out of SPACE is the bigger, more pressing, concern. If he can use the letters from the novel he's made of, why can't he REUSE them from his margin writings? Is it a one time, permanent word or letter shift from the story to the margin, never to be in circulation again? What are the rules? We never find out. Because Jamie is a chickenshit coward who is afraid of commitment (her own admission) and thus backs out of her relationship with Joe and dooms him.
Even if he was to die when he runs out of words - who is she to stop him? What gives her the right to decide how he lives or dies? The fact that he's a book makes no difference to me. He is aware, and thus has a right to his own mind and existence.
She fell in love with a mind - for lack of a better term - whose only experience, only outlet, only interaction with anything at all was through her. And rather than letting that mind decide its own fate, she decided for him. She trapped him, imprisoned him, secluded and isolated him from all interaction when she decided to "save his life" and close the book on him.
What a horrible, shitty, cruel thing to do.
Imagine if he were a person with a disability that prevented him from being able to move (paralyzed?) and can only speak in a way that exhausts himself, and over time it will end up killing him, it would be considered inhumane to shut him away in isolation in order to preserve his life.
What life? How could anyone possibly think that an indefinitely extended existence in complete involuntary isolation would be preferable to a full but short life spent in the company of a loved one?
It's possible that he could still hear, because she spoke to him verbally and he understood. Can you imagine what that would be like? Having to spend your potentially infinite days being able to hear the woman you came to love, who you thought loved you in return, living her life, knowing you can hear and understand and knowing that you want to have that connection still... and never being able to communicate with her because she thinks that she has a right to decide how you spend the time you have?
I can't even imagine how horrible that would be to be shut out of the only life available to you, but being unable to die.
If this is the story that was intended, then kudos for writing a damn good short horror story that cuts deep to the heart of what it means to live, to be "alive", humanity, freedom, and what love truly is. I'm rating based on this interpretation.
If it was intended to be a light and sweet romance, then I don't get it at all.
February 8, 2016
This is a very enjoyable story with lots of book references to make our little bibliophilic hearts beat faster. Jamie, the main character, definitely feels her heart beat faster at the sight of a book--a certain book, that is. Jamie is a lonely woman who helps out at times in a second-hand bookstore. A book-lover, she often leaves the shop with a few volumes that have caught her eye. One of these turns out to be--highly unusual.
This was a quick read, but the premise is unique and engaging. I did, however, think that .
I recommend for a light, fun read.
This was a quick read, but the premise is unique and engaging. I did, however, think that .
I recommend for a light, fun read.
February 8, 2016
A little sweet for booklovers.
Edward Lorn continues his journey out of the horror genre and to places I'm sure we'd never even ventured to guess. Margins is a love story and just like the last E. Lorn outing, Come, which was... a different story, this promises that his upcoming offerings will not be like everything else and surely be very much in his own style.
Margins really conveys a love for the medium and the craft, not only through the many nice references, but very much in the main character Jamie's love of a second hand bookstore and its treasures. It surprised me greatly, but the story made me think of Hanff's 84, Charing Cross Road. Jamie gets a more profound contact with A Rendezvous with Richard, a book that proves to be unique in more ways than one...
I'm going to long myself sick this year waiting for the first full-length E. Lorn, but i guess the short story output will have to make do for a while. No huge problem really, if he continues to write this good, I'll follow him anywhere.
Edward Lorn continues his journey out of the horror genre and to places I'm sure we'd never even ventured to guess. Margins is a love story and just like the last E. Lorn outing, Come, which was... a different story, this promises that his upcoming offerings will not be like everything else and surely be very much in his own style.
Margins really conveys a love for the medium and the craft, not only through the many nice references, but very much in the main character Jamie's love of a second hand bookstore and its treasures. It surprised me greatly, but the story made me think of Hanff's 84, Charing Cross Road. Jamie gets a more profound contact with A Rendezvous with Richard, a book that proves to be unique in more ways than one...
I'm going to long myself sick this year waiting for the first full-length E. Lorn, but i guess the short story output will have to make do for a while. No huge problem really, if he continues to write this good, I'll follow him anywhere.
August 25, 2016
Disclaimer: I am friends with this author on GR and BL, that hasn't effected my ability to rate and review this book honestly and critically.
23/3 - To start with I love that this is about books. I feel like I can hear Lorn speaking through Ms Marsh's voice, calling Joe Hill that furry bastard and saying that both he and King have the teeth of gorillas and the fur to match (LOL!). And Jamie's thoughts on Palahniuk seem to come straight from Lorn's mouth, it's like getting a look inside his brain (not that he's ever been shy about sharing his opinions). I like that he's included so much of himself in his characters.
Location 44
'...word whirlpool was an black eye.'
That should a black eye.
The scene where Jamie first encounters the 'ghost' in the book was absolutely hilarious. I was laughing so much I had to put my Kindle down lest I dropped it, I'm just glad I wasn't in the bath like Jamie was. And then grabbing a can of Raid to spray the evil book? Perfect!
Location 140
'...no ominous presence eminating from the binding...'
That should be emanating.
Location 157
'...armed with a broom and can of Raid...'
That should be 'and a can'.
Same location
'Sounds good to me, she though.'
That should be thought.
Location 355
'"...if there were anymore books like you."'
In this context that should be any more.
Location 582
'Jaime had called Ms. Marsh that morning...'
Wrong spelling of Jamie's name.
If Lorn could just get rid of the damn editing errors this would have been a 5+ star read, but with those errors I can't give it five stars honestly because every time I saw one I felt irritation that it hadn't been picked up.
23/3 - To start with I love that this is about books. I feel like I can hear Lorn speaking through Ms Marsh's voice, calling Joe Hill that furry bastard and saying that both he and King have the teeth of gorillas and the fur to match (LOL!). And Jamie's thoughts on Palahniuk seem to come straight from Lorn's mouth, it's like getting a look inside his brain (not that he's ever been shy about sharing his opinions). I like that he's included so much of himself in his characters.
Location 44
'...word whirlpool was an black eye.'
That should a black eye.
The scene where Jamie first encounters the 'ghost' in the book was absolutely hilarious. I was laughing so much I had to put my Kindle down lest I dropped it, I'm just glad I wasn't in the bath like Jamie was. And then grabbing a can of Raid to spray the evil book? Perfect!
Location 140
'...no ominous presence eminating from the binding...'
That should be emanating.
Location 157
'...armed with a broom and can of Raid...'
That should be 'and a can'.
Same location
'Sounds good to me, she though.'
That should be thought.
Location 355
'"...if there were anymore books like you."'
In this context that should be any more.
Location 582
'Jaime had called Ms. Marsh that morning...'
Wrong spelling of Jamie's name.
If Lorn could just get rid of the damn editing errors this would have been a 5+ star read, but with those errors I can't give it five stars honestly because every time I saw one I felt irritation that it hadn't been picked up.
February 8, 2016
I enjoyed this one, especially all of the book references and shout-outs. I also liked the back-and-forth banter about what categories/shelves books belong in. Who of us on Goodreads hasn't struggled with this?
Overall, a cute, romantic short story, with the expected Lorn twist. He shows his bookish knowledge and is stretching his writing skills. Good stuff!
Overall, a cute, romantic short story, with the expected Lorn twist. He shows his bookish knowledge and is stretching his writing skills. Good stuff!
October 28, 2016
Edward Lorn is my friend here on Goodreads, but this does not affect my opinion in any way... all my opinions are my own. Saw the summary for this and it sounded so good, pounced on it on Amazon :)*
4.5 stars... only because I wanted more, dangit! That ending *pouts*
Jamie had always loved the way Ms. Marsh spoke of books. Like they were loved ones. Family members. Not strangers in the night seeking shelter after abandonment.
The red book with the swirling yellow title and centered black eye seemed to watch Jamie as she watched it. She felt no ominous presence eminating from the binding, so she tentatively approached the impossible object.
This isn’t possible, Jamie though. But wasn’t that what every character in every novel about paranormal events always thought at the beginning? No one accepted the supernatural because the supernatural didn’t exist. You don’t see a ghost sitting in a chair in your living room and invite it into the kitchen for coffee. You don’t witness a dead person rising from a grave and ask it the quickest way to Devonshire. And you don’t watch words appear in a book and accept it as fact. You question. And that’s what Jamie did. She questioned.
----
This is my first of Edward Lorn, I'm not a fan of horror but when I saw Shelby's review for this it really intrigued me.
It is a beautiful story and a love letter of sorts to us bookworms :). A couple observations of the MC had me laughing, and I loved listening to her talking about books.
This was impossible to put down once I got started... I HAD to know what would happen!
I won't say anymore so I don't spoil youins but I highly recommend this... what are you waiting for? :)
*on phone, will update with quotes later*
4.5 stars... only because I wanted more, dangit! That ending *pouts*
Jamie had always loved the way Ms. Marsh spoke of books. Like they were loved ones. Family members. Not strangers in the night seeking shelter after abandonment.
The red book with the swirling yellow title and centered black eye seemed to watch Jamie as she watched it. She felt no ominous presence eminating from the binding, so she tentatively approached the impossible object.
This isn’t possible, Jamie though. But wasn’t that what every character in every novel about paranormal events always thought at the beginning? No one accepted the supernatural because the supernatural didn’t exist. You don’t see a ghost sitting in a chair in your living room and invite it into the kitchen for coffee. You don’t witness a dead person rising from a grave and ask it the quickest way to Devonshire. And you don’t watch words appear in a book and accept it as fact. You question. And that’s what Jamie did. She questioned.
----
This is my first of Edward Lorn, I'm not a fan of horror but when I saw Shelby's review for this it really intrigued me.
It is a beautiful story and a love letter of sorts to us bookworms :). A couple observations of the MC had me laughing, and I loved listening to her talking about books.
This was impossible to put down once I got started... I HAD to know what would happen!
I won't say anymore so I don't spoil youins but I highly recommend this... what are you waiting for? :)
*on phone, will update with quotes later*
February 26, 2016
Loved this short,sweet story. So well written and clever as hell. This author never disappoints.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
December 14, 2016
So I absolutely adored this book! I loved the entire premise behind Jamie (who is a huge booklover) coming to find what appears to be her dream man in the pages of a book. For a short book it did pack a punch.
Jamie I thought was developed well for such a short story. Usually you don't expect to see the details on a character in the book, the author often rushes to get the plot going. But we find out fairly quickly how she feels about King/Hill though I would say that her comments felt "male" to me. I know that sounds weird, but a few times when Jamie was speaking I would go, well a woman would not say it like that.
I think the only thing that needed to be worked on in my opinion was the ending. It was so abrupt and I did go forward (or tried to) to see if maybe I was missing a page.
Jamie I thought was developed well for such a short story. Usually you don't expect to see the details on a character in the book, the author often rushes to get the plot going. But we find out fairly quickly how she feels about King/Hill though I would say that her comments felt "male" to me. I know that sounds weird, but a few times when Jamie was speaking I would go, well a woman would not say it like that.
I think the only thing that needed to be worked on in my opinion was the ending. It was so abrupt and I did go forward (or tried to) to see if maybe I was missing a page.
February 12, 2016
Damn you E "End It Just As I'm Completely Sucked In" Lorn.
E. seems to be knocking out some really great shorts lately. An effective short story always leaves you wanting more and that exactly what this one does. Once again E. shows us what a great short is suppose to be. Well done, sir!
Now where's the rest of the damn story?? ;)
E. seems to be knocking out some really great shorts lately. An effective short story always leaves you wanting more and that exactly what this one does. Once again E. shows us what a great short is suppose to be. Well done, sir!
Now where's the rest of the damn story?? ;)
April 5, 2017
Ms March owned Second Hand Books, loved the books as if they were her own children, and if you want a fun, and kinda sad love story and believe books are magic too, you will want to meet Jamie and Joe, by reading the fantasy short story Edward Lorn has written, called Margins.
Stop by fundinmental to see more.
Stop by fundinmental to see more.
September 22, 2020
The author says in the intro that this is not a Horror story. I disagree. It's not a blood and gore Horror story, for which I'm grateful, but I would classify it under Supernatural Horror. And that's the kind of Horror I like!
A woman acquires an interesting book and the book engages her in conversation. Her first reaction is fear, but how she reacts is actually rather comical. I thought the naming of other recent books in the beginning was distracting and actually would have preferred imaginary titles, but never mind. I soon found myself drawn into the main plot of the story and might have read it all in one sitting if I hadn't been called away from my reading to make dinner.
I enjoyed the story, but felt that it could have been taken further. There was material there that actually could have made a good Romance story, albeit an unusual one. The ending came just a little too suddenly for me and left me with a feeling of wanting to know what would come next. Really hedging on the star rating, but let's call it 3.75.
A woman acquires an interesting book and the book engages her in conversation. Her first reaction is fear, but how she reacts is actually rather comical. I thought the naming of other recent books in the beginning was distracting and actually would have preferred imaginary titles, but never mind. I soon found myself drawn into the main plot of the story and might have read it all in one sitting if I hadn't been called away from my reading to make dinner.
I enjoyed the story, but felt that it could have been taken further. There was material there that actually could have made a good Romance story, albeit an unusual one. The ending came just a little too suddenly for me and left me with a feeling of wanting to know what would come next. Really hedging on the star rating, but let's call it 3.75.
February 11, 2016
This book will have me thinking about for some time to come. It ended in a way that leaves so many possibilities, but it didn't piss me off. I think it was perfect.
We have a girl, Jamie, who is a big time reader. She donates her time at a used bookstore to get discounts on books from the store. While helping the owner she finds a book by an author she had never heard of. After taking the book home she finds out it is very unusual. I have really loved books, but never as much as Jamie loves this one.
This is a short story, around 50 pages, but the price is good, $.99. I really like this author's writing, this is the second story I have read by him, and both were very good. I highly recommend his work.
We have a girl, Jamie, who is a big time reader. She donates her time at a used bookstore to get discounts on books from the store. While helping the owner she finds a book by an author she had never heard of. After taking the book home she finds out it is very unusual. I have really loved books, but never as much as Jamie loves this one.
This is a short story, around 50 pages, but the price is good, $.99. I really like this author's writing, this is the second story I have read by him, and both were very good. I highly recommend his work.
May 24, 2016
This short story had popped up several times on my feed within only a few weeks and after reading my friends' reviews, all three of them had completely different reactions. So I jumped online and got this little ditty to read one afternoon.
I really like the way Ed writes. He writes his characters as if they are real people from his life and allows his readers to enter his worlds freely. Even in just the little bit of space of this short story, his characters were truly dynamic, interesting, and realistic. I can also tell right off the bat that this is a love story of sorts that Ed has written for books in general. His love of the written word and the stories that have prevailed for generations is very evident in his writing, and I loved reading a story about books from an avant book lover.
With that all being said, I really think this story suffers very much from the "it's not you, its me" affliction.
To be honest, one of the things that sparked my interest in the first place was when I read reviews and the blurb, I was reminded of this fantastic piece of fiction as well as its equally fantastic sequel which I also know that this author loved, reviewed, and raved about. I know this because he played a large part in my reading, loving, reviewing, and raving about them too. And because this story was in part a love story to all the books Ed has loved in his life, I am sure those books played into it, but I think I was expecting more parallels, which include creepy atmospheric tone and darker currents. And this story really didn't deliver those things. Which isn't the story's fault. The fault is undeniably mine.
This story is a love story, and kinda sweet, and it's just not my cuppa. I added an extra star because I love Ed's writing. This is the fourth work of his I've read and the only one I didn't enjoy. But Shelby and Becky enjoyed it (and they are usually right about everything) so I know others will too. So go read this story which is really something different from an author who can thoroughly unnerve me with his darker stories. I will go sit in the corner with Kelly and Mitchell.
I really like the way Ed writes. He writes his characters as if they are real people from his life and allows his readers to enter his worlds freely. Even in just the little bit of space of this short story, his characters were truly dynamic, interesting, and realistic. I can also tell right off the bat that this is a love story of sorts that Ed has written for books in general. His love of the written word and the stories that have prevailed for generations is very evident in his writing, and I loved reading a story about books from an avant book lover.
With that all being said, I really think this story suffers very much from the "it's not you, its me" affliction.
To be honest, one of the things that sparked my interest in the first place was when I read reviews and the blurb, I was reminded of this fantastic piece of fiction as well as its equally fantastic sequel which I also know that this author loved, reviewed, and raved about. I know this because he played a large part in my reading, loving, reviewing, and raving about them too. And because this story was in part a love story to all the books Ed has loved in his life, I am sure those books played into it, but I think I was expecting more parallels, which include creepy atmospheric tone and darker currents. And this story really didn't deliver those things. Which isn't the story's fault. The fault is undeniably mine.
This story is a love story, and kinda sweet, and it's just not my cuppa. I added an extra star because I love Ed's writing. This is the fourth work of his I've read and the only one I didn't enjoy. But Shelby and Becky enjoyed it (and they are usually right about everything) so I know others will too. So go read this story which is really something different from an author who can thoroughly unnerve me with his darker stories. I will go sit in the corner with Kelly and Mitchell.
February 10, 2016
Booklovers, how awesome is this? A book about books where the authors gives his opinion about books and somehow doesn't come off as superior.
I like this book even if it's much too short. It's a short story in books clothing.
But it's a way fun read and I recommend that you give it a try.
I like this book even if it's much too short. It's a short story in books clothing.
But it's a way fun read and I recommend that you give it a try.
Shelved as 'to-read-own'
March 9, 20173/8/17 free for Kindle.
May 6, 2019
The author says in the intro that this is not a Horror story. I disagree. It's not a blood and gore Horror story, for which I'm grateful, but I would classify it under Supernatural Horror. And that's the kind of Horror I like!
A woman acquires an interesting book and the book engages her in conversation. Her first reaction is fear, but how she reacts is actually rather comical. I thought the naming of other recent books in the beginning was distracting and actually would have preferred imaginary titles, but never mind. I soon found myself drawn into the main plot of the story and might have read it all in one sitting if I hadn't been called away from my reading to make dinner.
I enjoyed the story, but felt that it could have been taken further. There was material there that actually could have made a good Romance story, albeit an unusual one. The ending came just a little too suddenly for me and left me with a feeling of wanting to know what would come next. Really hedging on the star rating, but let's call it 3.75.
A woman acquires an interesting book and the book engages her in conversation. Her first reaction is fear, but how she reacts is actually rather comical. I thought the naming of other recent books in the beginning was distracting and actually would have preferred imaginary titles, but never mind. I soon found myself drawn into the main plot of the story and might have read it all in one sitting if I hadn't been called away from my reading to make dinner.
I enjoyed the story, but felt that it could have been taken further. There was material there that actually could have made a good Romance story, albeit an unusual one. The ending came just a little too suddenly for me and left me with a feeling of wanting to know what would come next. Really hedging on the star rating, but let's call it 3.75.
October 1, 2017
Inner Dialogue Swallowed the Story
The part where Jaime tried to get away from the book made me laugh out loud, but other than that, I don't think I could say I found Jaime relatable at all. I didn't much like the author/book/personal information dumps taking precedence over plot development, either. Pretty good writing, overall, and some interesting dialogue and character choices.
The part where Jaime tried to get away from the book made me laugh out loud, but other than that, I don't think I could say I found Jaime relatable at all. I didn't much like the author/book/personal information dumps taking precedence over plot development, either. Pretty good writing, overall, and some interesting dialogue and character choices.
July 10, 2023
This was an different from the other Lorn books I've read, but it was pretty good. Loved it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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