The Stormchasers

Jul 04, 2010

Valerie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: realistic-fiction

First off I really like the cover. Usually I don't think too much about them unless they are terrible, but I really liked that the sister is on the front and then if you turn it around the brother is on the back (and no faces). I appreciated that the book was set in the mid-west (tornado alley to be specific); an often neglected part of the US.

The moment you start reading the book you know this woman has problems. Though she is successful in her job and money, her personal life is a...moreFirst off I really like the cover. Usually I don't think too much about them unless they are terrible, but I really liked that the sister is on the front and then if you turn it around the brother is on the back (and no faces). I appreciated that the book was set in the mid-west (tornado alley to be specific); an often neglected part of the US.

The moment you start reading the book you know this woman has problems. Though she is successful in her job and money, her personal life is another story. Karena has been looking for her twin brother for twenty years. After a call from a from a Wichita Kansas hospital, on her/their birthday of all days, she is determined to find him. How? By chasing the storms -tornados that is- because of course her bipolar twin chases storms.

Despite what that may sound like the book doesn't have as much tornado scenes as you'd expect and they weren't as exciting as I had hoped. It is mostly focused on the Karena’s relationship with her brother, Charles, which is of course messed up. There is this huge secret that they both keep and something that Karena did to Charles that she has regretted for 20 years.

The book is set up in 3 sections: 1st- looking for Charles; 2nd- Karena's and Charles's past; 3rd- the aftermath of finding Charles. The first part wasn’t very entertaining though you’d think it would be with storm chasing and a romance going on. The romance was pretty fast and I didn’t like it. Karena is all for keeping the fact that her brother is bipolar a secret from the people she chases with. “This is family business” she remembers her dad saying and I thought yeah this makes sense; it’s nobody’s business what your personal life is. She keeps from telling anyone—for three days—and then she caves in and tells Kevin. By the end of the week everyone in the crew knows about her brother, way to keep it a secret Karena. Also she and Kevin hook up by the end of the week after two meaningful conversations. My only complaint is, why so much build up? They waited sooooo long before they got together. I know she tried to build up the relationship thoroughly before doing anything unwise like sleeping with someone you just met but seriously she waited six whole days! If you couldn't tell I'm being sarcastic.

Now the other secret that is major she keeps under wraps much longer, maybe too long. The middle section of the story I enjoyed the most, which is when the reader finds out what the major secret is. The relationship between Karena and Charles is as realistic as I can imagine with a bipolar disorder in the mix. It’s darker than I had imagined but I learned more about the bipolar disorder. There are parts I could feel for both siblings and their mother. There is some cheesy dialect but overall the writing was great.

And last but not least the ending, I may be spoiling but I don’t think so. I wasn’t not satisfied, but I’m big on endings. Meaning, I like happy endings. And you would think on how it turned out she would be happy but she’s not, not completely. It was like things are all right, but they will never be any better than that. Karena can never truly let Charles go it seems; she has to be near him all the time (within driving distance that is). I thought I was close to my siblings but they are really close. I could appreiciate their relationship. (less)

like 3 likes

· see review

Sep 18, 2011

Emlyn Chand rated it

Can you imagine the strange incompleteness one must experience when carrying-on life in the absence of her twin sibling? Factor in that Karena’s twin, Charles, suffers unmedicated bipolar disorder and that she hasn’t seen him for twenty years. And, oh yeah, he left her after a catastrophic event tore them apart—a secret they keep sheltered from the rest of the world.

One day, Karena receives a call from an unknown hospital three states away. Her brother is being treated there. Karena rushes to th...moreCan you imagine the strange incompleteness one must experience when carrying-on life in the absence of her twin sibling? Factor in that Karena’s twin, Charles, suffers unmedicated bipolar disorder and that she hasn’t seen him for twenty years. And, oh yeah, he left her after a catastrophic event tore them apart—a secret they keep sheltered from the rest of the world.

One day, Karena receives a call from an unknown hospital three states away. Her brother is being treated there. Karena rushes to the hospital, feeling a rush of excitement, fear, and longing—only to find that Charles has been discharged. This close brush stirs up feelings that she had long attempted to suppress.

Settling back into her normal routine would now be impossible. She has to find Charles. But where is he?

Karena reasons that the best way to find Charles is to figure out where he will be going, not where he currently is. When manic, Charles chases storms; Karena joins up with a chasing tour, hoping that this dangerous path will reunite the long-separated twins.

During this journey, Karena must confront her own fears associated with the adventure and her lingering guilt about the secret they share. She must also figure out what finding Charles will mean for her both practically and emotionally. Despite the risks to body and heart, Karena must find Charles; the gaping emptiness has been leading her life for far too long.

“The Storm Chasers” by Jenna Blum is a fantastic read. At times, readers will be tempted to pause and reflect upon the poetically woven passages. At others, they will soar along with the rhythmic, breathing storyline. The most compelling aspect of the novel lies in the juxtaposition of character development and metaphor.

As Charles so aptly points out, he likes the storms, because he can relate to them. The parallel between manic-depressiveness and tornadoes is marked. Both can crop up from seemingly nowhere and leave destruction in their wake. Both are at the same time deadly yet beautiful to behold. They are enigmatic, energetic, and exciting. And so is this novel.

Besides having the opportunity to read this fabulous book, I also had the pleasure of twitterviewing its author, Ms. Jenna Blum (@jenna_blum). Read on to learn more about Jenna’s writing credits, process, and success.

Link to the twitterview here: http://www.emlynchand.com/2011/04/author...(less)

like 2 likes

· see review

Dec 31, 2011

Nikki rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like

· see review

Dec 30, 2011

Laura Droege rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, mainstream

I first heard of The Stormchasers while researching comparative titles for my book proposal. (No, I’m not published, but I still needed to know what other novels dealt with similar subject matter.) So I picked up a copy from the library and devoured it in a few days.

Karena, a 38-year-old news reporter, has been searching for her missing bipolar twin brother for over two decades. When she gets word that he has been hospitalized, she is both relieved (at last, she’ll see him!) and fearfu...more

like

· see review

Feb 28, 2011

Joanne rated it

Shelves: fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like 1 like

· see review

Feb 14, 2011

David Sullivan rated it

Here's my review that I posted on Amazon:

Storms are such an apt metaphor for this well-written novel that moves along as if caught in a tornado's cycling winds. There are the actual storms, brought to life with descriptive prose, full of color, fury and passion. Then there are the storms between characters, brother and sister, children and parents, boyfriend and girlfriend. And finally, there is the storm that rages in Charles' head, electric synapses firing in unpredictable sequence...more

like 2 likes

· see review

Dec 14, 2010

Linda C rated it

Jenna Blum writes very well, but this book wasn't in the same league as her debut novel, "Those Who Save Us," which was brilliant. This was simply an ok, easy read, 3 stars-- while there were some beautifully written passages, at the end of the day, I'm not sure how much I cared about these people and their issues.

The book was divided into three sections-- present day Karena searching for her brother, past when Kerena and Charles were children, and present after the big re...more

like 1 like

· see review

Nov 02, 2010

Rachel Carr rated it

To read more reviews check out Reading Rendezvous on MISS at www.missomnimedia.com/tag/reading-rendez...

Jenna Blum’s novel The Stormchasers : A Novel is a heartbreaking story of family and love. As we follow Karena on a search for love and her brother, Charles, Charles is plagued with bi-polar disorder and a chronic need to follow danger. Charles and Karena are twins who haven’t seen each other in 20 years due to his illness. Karena constantly checks stormchaser websites to look for u...moreTo read more reviews check out Reading Rendezvous on MISS at www.missomnimedia.com/tag/reading-rendez...

Jenna Blum’s novel The Stormchasers : A Novel is a heartbreaking story of family and love. As we follow Karena on a search for love and her brother, Charles, Charles is plagued with bi-polar disorder and a chronic need to follow danger. Charles and Karena are twins who haven’t seen each other in 20 years due to his illness. Karena constantly checks stormchaser websites to look for updates her brother has submitted. She has hired countless investigators to search for her brother, yet the she have come up empty. Following a call from a hospital Karena rushes to her brother’s side; yet when she arrives he is gone. In a last ditch effort Karen decides to follow stormchasers in hopes of finding her brother.

Blum focuses on the human relationship and the boding between siblings especially twins. Karena and Charles are linked more than ever in what they call their twindar and they haven’t seen each other in 20 years. Following a horrible accident Karena chooses to follow her own path and separate from her bi-polar brother. Yet this accident plagues them both forcing themselves to not only confront the situation but each other. Along the trial of redemption each sibling is confronted with their own obstacles. As Karena follows the stormchasers she is forced to confront her past in order to learn to love and trust again. Charles must confront the evils of his disease and its effects on his life.

But I’m going to prove there’s a link between storms that rapid-cycle and ones that produce tornadoes, because I’m a rapid cycler myself . In fact I am the closet thing a human can be to a storm…
As we follow Karena and Charles it becomes evident that Human emotion is controlled throughout this novel. Jenna Blum has an innate ability to link the human condition with the intensity of a disorder. Not only that but it is evident that these emotions can be linked with the upheaval that is brought on by tornadoes and storms.

This novel is infused with beauty, love, devotion, agony, and so much more. Blum’s ability to examine the human condition is exemplary. In conjunction with this heart-breaking story the portrayal of bi-polar disorder and the effects it has not only on the individual but their whole family. The Stormchasers: A Novel is a moving and heart breaking story that every person should read and learn about the human condition. As we follow Karena into tornado alley emotions fly as quickly as a storm, enticing the reader to get involved, while we witness the fearless and heart-breaking actions of Karena.

(less)

like 1 like

· see review

Sep 17, 2010

Jlaurenmc rated it

Jenna Blum's newest novel The Stormchasers relates the story of fraternal twins Karena and Charles Hallingdahl. Estranged for twenty years, Karena receives a phone call one day from a hospital that is treating her brother for anxiety attacks. Karena leaves her life in the Twin Cities to travel to Kansas to see her brother, so long missing from their family. However, by the time she arrives Charles has been discharged from the hospital and is gone once again. Karena explains to the doctor who tr...moreJenna Blum's newest novel The Stormchasers relates the story of fraternal twins Karena and Charles Hallingdahl. Estranged for twenty years, Karena receives a phone call one day from a hospital that is treating her brother for anxiety attacks. Karena leaves her life in the Twin Cities to travel to Kansas to see her brother, so long missing from their family. However, by the time she arrives Charles has been discharged from the hospital and is gone once again. Karena explains to the doctor who treated Charles that anxiety is not her twin's primary diagnosis. Rather, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder decades ago and refused treatment prior to his disappearance.

Karena's only knowledge of her brother's interests -- at least twenty years ago -- lies in the dangerous hobby of storm chasing. Desperate to see him and terrified of the affect the anti-anxiety medications Charles has been prescribed might have on his manic symptoms, Karena decides to join a storm chasing tour group under the guise of writing an article for the Minneapolis newspaper where she works. Karena falls for a guide on the tour, who has a long history in the storm chasing world, and who has met Karena's brother. Will Karena find her brother, and what will happen if she does?

Blum sections the novel into three distinct parts -- the adventurous and suspense-filled storm chasing tour, then a mid-book flashback to 1988 when the twins turned 18 and faced adulthood, and finally a return to the present with the novel's denouement. The flashback threw me for a loop initially. I so enjoyed Blum's introductory pages, that I was stunned by the switch to, not just scenes from, but an entire section devoted to the twins' teenage selves. However, upon reflection I feel that the flashback and background story were an absolute necessity. Blum's transition was a bit too abrupt, but after a few pages I was once again entranced by her writing and deeply involved in the twins' 18-year-old issues.

Bipolar disorder is an oft-discussed but highly misunderstood mental health diagnosis. Many people still think of and refer to bipolar disorder by its former name: manic depression. Having worked for several years in the mental health field, I was initially skeptical about an author's ability to translate the disorder realistically onto the page. Movies depict bipolar disorder as many things it is not, and a fictional book struck me as one more way the illness could be skewed for the public. However, as Blum states in the video interview below, she has personal experience with the disorder -- people in her life who have been diagnosed with this illness. Blum's words carry with them a truthfulness when she describes Charles's symptoms: days at a time without sleep, psychosis with auditory and visual hallucinations, grandiose thoughts and ideas. Each person diagnosed with bipolar disorder's experience is different, but Blum does an excellent job of describing at least some of the symptoms individuals with the disorder face.

The novel is an extended metaphor of sorts -- Blum uses big storms as a way of discussing bipolar disorder. As she states in the interview below, bipolar disorder is sometimes described as an "electrical storm" within the brain, occurring when there is an abnormality in brain circuit structures and/or functions. The lightning of storms is similar to the misfiring of neurons that researchers hypothesize happens in the brains of those diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The disorder also is known for its cyclic patterns, both long and short. These cycles are mimicked by the tornadoes in the book. Blum describes Charles's initial diagnosis as cyclothymia, a slightly milder version of bipolar. The word obviously has links to the root word for cyclone, an alternate word for circular storms like tornadoes.

Blum conducted years of research while writing The Stormchasers, including going on several storm chasing tours with the Tempest Tours group based in Texas. Storm chasing is not an invented hobby, but rather a serious method of research that scientists and meteorologists employ in the study of storms. The National Association of Storm Chasers and Spotters, headed by famous chaser Warren Faidley, partners with The Weather Channel and other media outlets to help alert the public during dangerous weather outbreaks. Discovery Channel also has a reality show which depicts the lives of chasers as they follow storms that pop up on the Great Plains, called Storm Chasers.(less)

like 1 like

· see review

Jun 12, 2010

Grace rated it

As a teenager, Karena Jorge had always been the one to look out for her twin brother Charles, who suffers from bipolar disorder. But as Charles begins to refuse medication and his manic tendencies worsen, Karena finds herself caught between her loyalty to her brother and her fear for his life. Always obsessed with the weather-enraptured by its magical unpredictability that seemed to mirror his own impulses- Charles starts chasing storms, and his behavior grows increasingly erratic . . . until a ...more

like

· see review

Aug 13, 2010

Denise rated it

3.0 out of 5 stars Ultimately unsatisfying..., August 13, 2010

This review is from: The Stormchasers (Hardcover)
This book was not on the same level as Blum's previous work, Those Who Save Us. Although I enjoyed this narrative well enough at the beginning, the middle really dragged, and the ups and downs of reading about Karena dealing with obstinate Charles (the twin with severe bipolar illness) wore me out and ultimately bored me.

Although the metaphor of stormchasing a...more

like 1 like

· see review

Jan 27, 2012

Gina rated it

Shelves: ebook, read-in-2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Honestly, I wishlisted this book on my library e-book wish list 6 months ago and it's been available off and on but I haven't downloaded it until three days ago. Since I started reading it to say I was hooked would be an understatement.

I'll admit the first thing that intrigued me was the whole stormchasing concept. I've watched the Discovery Channel's hit show "Stormchasers" and had the reaction of "How could anyone in their right mind do this"? The second th...more

like

· see review

Dec 12, 2011

Erika Robuck rated it

When The Stormchasers begins, Karena Jorge is turning 38, but in spite of her newspaper job and close friends, her life feels empty. She feels the vacancy of her separation from her bipolar, storm-chasing twin, Charles. Before the day is over, she gets the call she’s been anticipating for years–a psychiatric ward in Kansas contacts her looking for the family of a man who has just checked in. Once Karena is able to get to the hospital, her brother is gone, but she is determined to find him. Karen...more

like 1 like

· see review

May 30, 2011

Heather Hall-Martin rated it

I met Jenna at the local library several weeks ago. Had I not met her I probably would not have read her book so soon, however it would have been on my "want to read list." She made a presentation at the library that was excellent. She had a powerpoint presentation with some fascinating shots of tornadoes. She explained the relationship between the tornadoes and the character(s) in her book - which really deals with the issue of bipolar. The book was excellent in every aspect. We...more

like 1 like

· see review

Apr 17, 2011

Reading Lark rated it

· review of another edition

Review Written by Andrea @ Reading Lark

When I was approached about reading this novel I hesitated. I have never been particularly interested in the weather or bi-polar disorder. Furthermore, these topics seemed like a massive undertaking to merge into one cohesive novel. However, I am really trying this year to read things outside of my normal reading comfort zone and broaden my horizons with new genres and authors. Because Goldberg McDuffie has never lead me astray before in the books...more

like 1 like

· see review

Apr 27, 2010

Chelsea rated it

Karena Jorge is one-half of twins. Her brother, Charles, has been missing for some time, with no contact. Then, on the day of their thirty-eighth birthday, Karena gets a phone call from a mental ward in Wichita, Kansas, saying her brother had been there and they needed her help bringing him back in. Charles, who is Bi-Polar, has always loved chasing tornadoes. Karena knows she will have to chase a few storms herself if she wants any hope in finding her lost brother. With the help of a handsome t...more

like 1 like

· see review

Sep 12, 2011

Debbie rated it

I thought this book was an interesting read. Besides the movie "Twister", which I saw a long time ago, I did not realize there are actual stormchasers out there who take people on tours of tornados (I'm assuming that part is based on truth). The book follows the main character Karena in the present and past. It begins with her trying to find her twin brother who is bipolar and who she hasn't seen for 20 years. It hints at something bad that happened in their past that created their sep...more

like

· see review

Aug 15, 2011

Anne R rated it

This book didn't live up to my expectations. I wasn't interested in the "storm" chasing or the information about weather patterns. I experienced a serious tornado when I was 14 years. One school friend lost her father when his car was sucked into the tornado and knew some people who lived in areas that were totally leveled. Our school organized a tree planting day because 20-30 year old trees were literally torned out of the ground. With that personal background, I just don't get peopl...more

like

· see review

Apr 17, 2011

Andrea (Reading Lark) rated it

· review of another edition

Review Posted on Reading Lark 4/17/11

When I was approached about reading this novel I hesitated. I have never been particularly interested in the weather or bi-polar disorder. Furthermore, these topics seemed like a massive undertaking to merge into one cohesive novel. However, I am really trying this year to read things outside of my normal reading comfort zone and broaden my horizons with new genres and authors. Because Goldberg McDuffie has never lead me astray before in the books t...more

like 1 like

· see review

Jun 06, 2010

Jennifer rated it

Shelves: 2010

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. As a huge fan of Jenna Blum's first book Those Who Save Us, I was disappointed that this book didn't deliver the same impact as her first. And very surprised that the writing style is one of the major drawbacks. The plot is certainly compelling enough - Karena is searching for her estranged bipolar twin among the storm chasers of the mid west. Karena and Charles carry a dark secret that binds them as much as their twin-ness. A romance, a tornado, and a reunion all add to the fairly fast pace...more

like

· see review

May 31, 2011

LAURA KAY A Novel Review rated it

Karena Jorge, a reporter celebrating her 38th birthday. It’s on her birthday; she can’t help but admit her feelings of emptiness as she longs to be with her twin brother, Charles. She hasn’t seen her twin in more than a decade and has no idea where he is. As she blows out the candles on her birthday cake, it’s no wonder she wishes to reconnect with him. Later that night, Karena believes her wish came true when a hospital calls looking for Charles next of kin. She takes off in hopes of finally re...moreKarena Jorge, a reporter celebrating her 38th birthday. It’s on her birthday; she can’t help but admit her feelings of emptiness as she longs to be with her twin brother, Charles. She hasn’t seen her twin in more than a decade and has no idea where he is. As she blows out the candles on her birthday cake, it’s no wonder she wishes to reconnect with him. Later that night, Karena believes her wish came true when a hospital calls looking for Charles next of kin. She takes off in hopes of finally reconnecting with Charles, her storm chasing twin who suffers from bipolar disorder. Sadly, he has left the hospital before she gets there. Having missed him once again she decides to follow ‘his’ work by taking a storm chasing tour in hopes of finding him. As Karena sets off on her odyssey to bring him home, she is forced to confront the storm that separated the twins and she realizes she must go through the storm if she ever wants to find the rainbow that awaits her on the other side.
I personally loved reading all the information about storms and how the storm cashers go after them. I one of those people who when the tornado sirens go off…I run outside to see if I can anything. I felt this first part of the book gave a lot of story, but I really didn’t feel any real connection to the story. I didn’t really get the why Karena was so determined to find her brother (I mean yes; he has a disorder and wants to see him safe).
When I hit part two of the story I was hooked. Part two takes you into the twins past. I really understood Karena on a whole new level. I just was so engaged in what was going on. I felt so many emotions—moments where I was holding my breath. The story goes from a story about twins with one having bipolar and the other one being responsible for the other, to a story with a deadly situation. I was so impressed with Blums’ writing causing me to feel such a range of emotions.
Part three is back to present day. I felt like I was waiting for a storm to blow-up, and Blum delivered! Karena has spent the last twenty years of her life running from a storm so big, so intense…and it’s finally come for her.
A gripping novel bringing a face to bipolar and showed how an entire family is impacted over a lifetime when one member is diagnosed with it. For me, I found I enjoyed the book the more and more I read. It was really in the second half where I could connect to Karena and that was a huge turning point for me. I loved the range of emotions the three main characters go through even though we only see them through Karena’s perspective. For me, The Stormchasers is a novel you read and then take the time to savor. Definitely a great read and I will be looking forward to reading more by Jenna Blum!
(less)

like

· see review

Apr 19, 2011

LORI CASWELL rated it

This is a story about a brother and sister that are twins, Karena and Charles. Charles suffers from rapid cycling bipolar disorder. They have not seen each other for 20 years when Karena receives a call from a mental hospital in Kansas telling her they have admitted her brother. She rushes to the hospital only to learn that he had been released and the doctor there knew nothing about his bipolar disorder.

Charles has always been obsessed with tornadoes, even when they were children...moreThis is a story about a brother and sister that are twins, Karena and Charles. Charles suffers from rapid cycling bipolar disorder. They have not seen each other for 20 years when Karena receives a call from a mental hospital in Kansas telling her they have admitted her brother. She rushes to the hospital only to learn that he had been released and the doctor there knew nothing about his bipolar disorder.

Charles has always been obsessed with tornadoes, even when they were children. He has been taking off and chasing storms his whole life. He went missing after a terrible accident that occurred when he and Karena were chasing a storm.

It is prime storm season and Kansas is in the part of the United States known as "Tornado Alley". If she is ever going to find her brother now is the time. She signs on with professional storm chasing tour group under the guise of her real job as a journalist writing a story about storm chasing. She hopes she will find her brother while touring with this group and get him the help her really needs.

I was so psyched about this book. I loved the first part, learning about chasing the storms and the part where they actually got caught up in one and witnessed the aftermath. After that this book became very disjointed for me and a bit repetitive. It starts out in 2008, then goes back to the twins past, then back to 2008 and then ends with an epilogue in 2009 to tie everything together. Written this way the story seems to lose the natural flow, some of the relationships seem forced and not believable. The ending seems rushed and again unbelievable. It seems people either loved this book or feel like I do. This is my first Jenna Blum book and this may be her writing style and it just isn't "my cup of tea. The premise is very good and seemed well researched but I would recommend that unless you are a true fan of this author, this would be a good library pick, not one to rush out and purchase.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Plume Books, a division of Penguin Publishing . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

like

· see review

Nov 09, 2010

Sara rated it

Shelves: 40-in-2010

This book was written well enough to read quickly and was engaging enough that I wanted to keep reading. I loved "Those Who Save Us" and was expecting something great from Jenna Blum, but this is nothing like "Those Who Save Us" - not in writing style, type of story, nothing similar at all. I was really thrown off by that.

I felt very distracted throughout this book. I don't know if it was Blum's writing style so much as her inability to convince me that she knew ...more

like

· see review

May 06, 2011

Julie rated it

I loved Blum's first book, Those Who Save Us, and so I was somewhat eager to read her second novel, The Stormchasers. Somewhat, because while she is clearly a fantastic writer, a second novel is often either disappointing or a near-replica of the first book. Authors who continue to write the same book over and over bug me, and so I can thankfully report Blum is not among them. However, I did not love this book like I did the first.

This is a modern-day story, of Karena and Charles, tw...more

like 1 like

· see review

Jan 26, 2011

Chera Federle rated it

Miss Blum has done it again…she has taken me on yet another emotional journey with her vivid, flowing way of storytelling … in Stormchasers we are gently careened into the life of Karena Jorge, a journalist who has not seen her twin brother Charles in twenty years. Charles suffers from bipolar disorder. On their birthday-eve, Karena gets an unexpected phone call that sets her on a course to find Charles within his realm of storm chasing, where she finds love and understanding in Kevin. We are...moreMiss Blum has done it again…she has taken me on yet another emotional journey with her vivid, flowing way of storytelling … in Stormchasers we are gently careened into the life of Karena Jorge, a journalist who has not seen her twin brother Charles in twenty years. Charles suffers from bipolar disorder. On their birthday-eve, Karena gets an unexpected phone call that sets her on a course to find Charles within his realm of storm chasing, where she finds love and understanding in Kevin. We are then cast into the memory of the secret that has kept them apart for so long.

What can I give other than great praise for this story …vivid, witty; an emotional web of brilliance. In the midst of the storms (actual and inner), you become the characters; feeling the need and want of each. The story is filled with great dialogue, mainly Charles … he has wonderful dialogue …his voice brings you into his disease, giving you a close-up glimpse of this disorder, often rabid and vile, yet innocent and sincere enough to want to hold his hand through it all. “…When you get scared for no reason. Then it gets worse. Everything is – tilted. All the surfaces are untrustworthy. All the familiar things seem hostile, and nothing is safe…That’s this tarry, oozy place that traps me and holds me while my brain is raked over and over with a comb made of knives.”

One of my favorite passages reflects the many rumbles held within the bindings of The Stormchasers: “Karena has always heard tornado survivors say the sound of a tornado is like a train…People must say this because a train is a noise that can be felt with one’s feet, in the stomach, as it rumbles closer.” No explanation needed … this is the truth of how negativity affects the soul … destroying everything in its path.

I have also read Those Who Save Us by Blum; it is obvious that she takes the time to invest in all of her characters before placing pen to pad, therefore, we as readers become invested as well. … again, Bravo, Jenna Blum! Bravo! Can’t wait to see what comes next.

(less)

like 2 likes

· see review

Jul 25, 2010

Elizabeth rated it

"Twindar," bipolar, secrets, family life, manslaughter....

Birthdays and phones...two things Karena likes to forget about, but her birthday and the phone ringing off the hook with bad news both happen on the same day.

The news did help in other ways, though. Karena was learning about what stormchasers do, and she was closer to finding her twin brother who she hadn't seen for twenty years since he too is a stormchaser.

Karena is invited, or rather she invites...more

like

· see review

Jun 03, 2010

Heather rated it

Shelves: library-books, general-to-everything-in-between, books-read-in-2010

I was really excited to read this book, especially after reading the synopsis. I immediately thought of the movie Twister, a movie that I love, and I had hoped this book would be similar in plot and action, unfortunately my hopes had been dashed. I was disappointed in the delivery of the action sequences. I felt Jenna Blum was a little lackadaisical in the description of the tornado/storm chases. I felt a little let down in some parts, because I wanted more. The feeling of being thrilled or some...more

like 3 likes

· see review

May 31, 2011

Pam rated it

Recommends it for: Anyone interested in reading about storms

Wanted to read this in part because there have been so many storms this year and I will say that it did impart some interesting information about tornadoes and storms in general.
This book seems like a complete departure from her first book which I think I liked a little better.
There was an ongoing story in this one with the storms as a backdrop and while there was nothing wrong with the story, there wasn't really anything very exciting or unusual about it.
Some of the dialogue ...more

like

· see review

Dec 16, 2011

Mandy rated it

Cover

An effectual cover, the darkness of the clouds conveys the oppression of the upcoming storm to the reader. Makes you wonder why the children are sitting in the middle of the road, though.

Plot

Because of a phone call from a hospital, Karena decides to use her job, as a reporter, as a semi-ruse to go hunting for her twin brother. Since her brother is a storm chaser, she joins up with a storm chasing company that takes people on week-long expeditions.

Afte...more

like

· see review

Jun 26, 2010

Kathy rated it

I was a huge fan of Those Who Save Us so I was really psyched to see that Jenna Blum had a new book out. The Stormchasers was a very quick read, but nowhere near as fulfilling as Those Who Save Us was. The story centers on Karena and Charles, fraternal twins who have been estranged since Charles' bipolar disorder landed him in the hospital 20 years earlier. Charles is a storm chaser, following tornados and equating them to the storm of emotions in his own head that his disorder brings him. K...more

like 1 like

· see review

title link	preview: The Stormchasers
avg rating	preview: The Stormchasers Goodreads rating: 3.54 (874 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7249506-the-stormchasers?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275622080m/7249506.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7249506-the-stormchasers?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum[/url]

The Stormchasers

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (8)

Genres

Readers Also Enjoyed

About Jenna Blum

Books by Jenna Blum

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Stormchasers

Groups That Shelved The Stormchasers