The Stormchasers

Jul 04, 2010 Valerie rated it 3 of 5 stars · 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 another story...more 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 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)

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Mar 31, 2013 Andrea at Reading Lark rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-stars, adult, contemporary, read-in-2011

Review Posted on Reading Lark 4/17/11: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2011/...

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...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Emlyn Chand rated it 4 of 5 stars

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...more 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 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/aut...(less)

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Jun 17, 2013 Mookie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I love prairie storms. It's hard to articulate to someone not from the prairies what's so beautiful about miles of flat land, and overwhelming sky, and the dark clouds that encroach from the horizon. Jenna Blum writes in ways that is so tangent and real and she articulates perfectly the feel of summer road-trips and solo flights and sitting in empty parking of highway motels. You can taste the scenery. I will read this book over and over again for the descriptors alone.

A lot of reviewers have m...more I love prairie storms. It's hard to articulate to someone not from the prairies what's so beautiful about miles of flat land, and overwhelming sky, and the dark clouds that encroach from the horizon. Jenna Blum writes in ways that is so tangent and real and she articulates perfectly the feel of summer road-trips and solo flights and sitting in empty parking of highway motels. You can taste the scenery. I will read this book over and over again for the descriptors alone.

A lot of reviewers have mentioned they dislike Charles, and that the book would have benefited without him. I disagree, I think the stormchasing was a secondary plot-point for a very good reason. Having a sibling with bi-polar issues, I thought the descriptions of Charles manic episodes was written bang on. Loving brother one day, malevolent force the next. Rarely laid back, you get the sense that he's always spring-loaded. There's an intense current that exists inside many people with 'mood' disorders, again like a summer storm crackling on the horizon, and I thought this tornado theme was an absolutely perfect metaphor. Blum might have hyped his mood swings a bit more than necessary. I think that a lot of readers who don't have loved ones with mental disorders might not relate to how absolutely hard it is for Karena. They might ask, why isn't she tougher? Can't she see that's he playing her? Can't she see that he needs meds? Why doesn't she lose him, he's a jerk. It's not as black and white as that. It's not that easy to cut out your only remaining family. I understand how your life can become irrevocably intertwined with that of a sibling. And medication comes at a great cost, and with my sibling I've seen a complete personality shift. It really does play with how you view the fundamentals of your brain, and whether or not you should dim the lights down. So it was very realistic to see this intense guy integrating holistic remedies into his life, and native philosophies of mental mania, because a lot of people with these disorders do the exact same things, to avoid turning to drugs. Really struck a cord with me. I think Karena did overreact to his rambling journal entries and pinned-up articles on the wall. I know a lot of artists that do the same thing.

The person that bothered me the most was the romantic interest, Kevin. On one hand, I liked him immensely. There was just something endearing about this 'loafy' stormchaser always tugging down his shirt like a schoolboy. On the other hand, he irritated the hell out of me. As another review mentioned, there was no reason to call her 'Laredo' every other sentence. How many times do you call somebody by their name during a conversation? The dialogue could have gone a lot smoother had he stopped calling her nicknames every minute. And I found it annoying how he lectured her her all the time. It felt like in every conversation he would hold up a hand and say "whoa, Laredo. Hold up. A, we can't do that, B, etc etc". I get that he's a high school teacher but she's not a student. It was patronizing. He was way too overprotective of her in terms of her relationship with her brother, and at that point I wanted him to butt out. I also understand how he has 'trust' issues, but they've known each other for two weeks, she's not obligated to unload every deep dark secret right away. Aand they started discussing kids names a wee bit early for my liking. Karena was so great away from Kevin, but when she was with him I felt she became a bit meek and pathetic. I think Kevin was written more as a bulletin brief of stormchasing facts, and Blum struggled with integrating him into a natural character. I like the idea of Kevin, but he wasn't well-written, and I couldn't get a good grasp of his character. Also, for the life of me, I can't envision what a "pancake face" looks like. I mean I can, but it's fairly comical.

I think the relationships between Karena and both men felt a little forced, which was a shame because an easy solution to that would have been to get rid of them constantly addressing each other (Laredo, K, sistah), having them stop clapping each other on the back, cool it with the lectures, and the interactions would have been much more natural.

I make it sound like this book was an awful read. Not at all! Very compelling, engaging story, with realistic people (although unrealistic dynamics), with an incredibly evocative landscape, of which I will read over and over again.

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Apr 12, 2013 Miraphora rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ma che bella copertina! Appena è uscito questo libro ho pensato: lo voglio. La copertina si, ma anche la trama mi attirava in maniera particolare. Non sono una che si lascia andare ad acquisti impulsivi, perché quando lo faccio mi becco certe fregature!, quindi me lo sono segnato e ho atteso che comparisse nel circuito bibliotecario.
L'ho iniziato un mese fa, prima di partire per le vacanze, ma poi l'ho lascialo lì perché non mi prendeva molto e avevo sotto mano romanzi più leggeri da leggere in...more Ma che bella copertina! Appena è uscito questo libro ho pensato: lo voglio. La copertina si, ma anche la trama mi attirava in maniera particolare. Non sono una che si lascia andare ad acquisti impulsivi, perché quando lo faccio mi becco certe fregature!, quindi me lo sono segnato e ho atteso che comparisse nel circuito bibliotecario.
L'ho iniziato un mese fa, prima di partire per le vacanze, ma poi l'ho lascialo lì perché non mi prendeva molto e avevo sotto mano romanzi più leggeri da leggere in spiaggia. Però, appena sono tornata, ho deciso che dovevo assolutamente ritentare e così, nel giro di 1 settimana, l'ho finito. Mi è piaciuto - e si vede dal voto - non tanto per l'originalità della trama che, tutto sommato, è un'americanata stile Twister 2 il ritorno quanto per la facilità con la quale si legge lasciando anche delle belle sensazioni. E' un romanzo che si basa sul rapporto di due gemelli: Karena, una giornalista di 48 anni divorziata, e Charles il gemello cattivo, malato della sindrome bipolare. La storia parla di come Karena viva alla disperata ricerca del fratello che non vede da 20 anni e di come, quando lo trova, non riesca in nessun modo a non farsi travolgere dalla malattia del fratello. Insomma, una situazione molto particolare, che genera un sentimento contrastante: si odia Charles perché rovina la vita di ogni persona che ha attorno. Certo, non lo fa apposta e nei momenti di lucidità si sente estremamente in colpa, ma intanto il danno è fatto. Karena, essendo sua gemella e quindi vittima di questo legame, non riesce a farsi una vita propria perché in sottofondo c'è il gemello e la sua malattia. Anche se sono separati da così tanti anni, Karena non dimentica mai che una parte di lei è in giro a caccia di tornado, rischiando la vita. Per Charles, infatti, una tempesta è la rappresentazione della sua malattia: un tornado è la sua crisi. Così Karena parte per una spedizione a caccia di tornado, nella speranza di incontrare il fratello. Durante queste gite incontra Kevin, un insegnate di scienze che va a caccia di tornado nel tempo perso. Tra i due nasce un sentimento molto tenero, fatto di battute e scherzi ma anche di attrazione. In due si metteranno sulle tracce di Charles, tra tornado, drammi e crisi bipolari.
Un romanzo molto dolce, piacevole e commovente al punto giusto, con un pizzico di azione e di adrenalina che rende tutto più coinvolgente e avventuroso. Il lieto fine non è scontato, perché fino all'ultima pagina ci si aspetta che Charles la combini veramente grossa, ma per fortuna l'autrice ha deciso di far trionfare la medicina e i sentimenti.(less)

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Nov 26, 2012 Jane rated it 5 of 5 stars

In "The Stormchasers," author Jenna Blum explores the reconciliation between estranged twin siblings Karena and Charles and their confrontation of a terrible secret from their past.

The novel begins in 2008 with Karena receiving a phone call to pick up her twin brother Charles, who suffers from bipolar disorder, from a psychiatric hospital in Kansas. The two siblings have not seen each other in 20 years and upon her arrival at the hospital Karena discovers that Charles has lied about his conditio...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Christi Craig rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Go get him, Karena, he said. You’re the only one who can.

And Karena knew this to be true, from the nights she was the only one who could sing Charles to sleep, the only one who could coax him off the roof, keep him from climbing the water tower, make him stop chanting that song, stop bouncing that ball, stop kicking that door. She ran out into the lot, tasting the dirt in the air, positioning herself…where Charles would either have to stop or run her down….
~ from The Stormchasers

More than once...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Nikki rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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Dec 30, 2011 Laura Droege rated it 4 of 5 stars · 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 fearful (has he...more

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Feb 28, 2011 Joanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

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

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Feb 14, 2011 David Sullivan rated it 5 of 5 stars

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 sequences, connectin...more

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Dec 14, 2010 Linda C rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 reunion. The middle secti...more

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Nov 02, 2010 Rachel Carr rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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

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.

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Sep 17, 2010 Jlaurenmc rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 tre...more 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 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)

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Jun 12, 2010 Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars

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

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Aug 01, 2012 Carol Kean rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Willa Cather character once said the only thing that happens in Nebraska is the weather, but who needs fireworks and big cities when there are spectacles like a Midwest thunderstorm? Jenna Blum captures the majesty of storms and rural landscapes with Catheresque attention and skill. I was hesitant to read about stormchasers after the awful crew in the movie Twisters, but this cast of tornado followers is believable and even likable.

My husband is storm obsessed, so this novel seemed like a plau...more A Willa Cather character once said the only thing that happens in Nebraska is the weather, but who needs fireworks and big cities when there are spectacles like a Midwest thunderstorm? Jenna Blum captures the majesty of storms and rural landscapes with Catheresque attention and skill. I was hesitant to read about stormchasers after the awful crew in the movie Twisters, but this cast of tornado followers is believable and even likable.

My husband is storm obsessed, so this novel seemed like a plausible birthday present. Of course I read it immediately. The storm scenes are so good, I read them out loud while he was driving, but I soon fell silent, engrossed in the real story: a woman in search of her lost brother. We know from reading the back cover that the twin who's been missing for 20 years will resurface. We also know he's a royal pain, wreaking havoc on his family, who should be saying "good riddance!" But, but, but....oh, Charles!

His charm goes deeper than a dazzling smile, blue eyes and golden hair. He has a rare brilliance that makes every moment with him unforgettable, much as one might wish to forget some of them. Charles can be so full of himself, so insulting, so unbearably awful - and so endearing. Karena may seem like his floor mat, but pure, unconditional love and devotion isn't earned. It's freely given, even to the least deserving.

But love doesn't always conquer. Charles has to be committed. Drugged. Other reviewers claim his mental illness is misrepresented, but I disagree. Every agonizing moment rings true, along with every facet of his glorious up-modes.

The flashback involving a jacket is excruciating. I'd say more if not for plot spoilers. I can't resist saying the chapter that ends with a boiled egg is the most amazing scene I've read in a long, long, long time. Immensely satisying. Simple, every-day details can be the most memorable and profound.

Never mind the 1- and 2-star reviews: "The Stormchasers" is one of the best novels I have ever read. This is an extraordinary achievement for an author, especially given my normal disdain for junk-food eating, small-town heroines(too close to home). The chain smoking mother is so awful, she has to be straight out of real life. Charles can be such a jerk. The teenage Karena makes enough bad choices, I wouldn't want my daughters hanging out with her, but I love her and see where she's coming from-- the era, the small town. Sadly, girls to this day, urban or rural, suffer the bad reputation for doing what guys want, while guys get off unscathed.

I noted line after memorable line of great prose in this novel. Some scenes were so wonderful, I had to stop and re-read them. The only other contemporary authors who do this for me are Rod Usher, James Lockhart Perry or Joyce Carol Oates. (There are others but offhand, they're the first who came to mind.) In a new world of ebooks written by anyone who can type or issue voice command, it's hard to find competent writing, and still harder to find good writing. GREAT writing is an elusive treasure in a chest full of bling. It's a rare novel that I love so much I want to read it twice, but I could easily read this one again today, word for word. Bravo!! More storm novels, and more Charles, please! Thank you Jenna for the all-too-unusual treat of a read this good.(less)

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Aug 13, 2010 Denise rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 and bipolar "storms" was apt...more

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Sep 30, 2012 William Land rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fiction, book-club

This book is an amazing story about a set of twins: a brother and sister, the former who is a person living with bipolar disorder. As a child and teenager, the sister, Karena Jorge, always took care of her twin brother, Charles Hallingdahl. The siblings were very close often being able to read and finish each others thoughts. The Hallingdahl parents, Frank and Siri, are present in their children’s lives. Frank is largely absent, though, consumed with work. Siri is unable to connect positively or...more This book is an amazing story about a set of twins: a brother and sister, the former who is a person living with bipolar disorder. As a child and teenager, the sister, Karena Jorge, always took care of her twin brother, Charles Hallingdahl. The siblings were very close often being able to read and finish each others thoughts. The Hallingdahl parents, Frank and Siri, are present in their children’s lives. Frank is largely absent, though, consumed with work. Siri is unable to connect positively or reach her troubled son. Karena was the only person who was able to calm Charles.

In late teens, Charles, who has always been fascinated by storms, becomes increasingly unstable. He refuses to accept the medical diagnosis of bipolar disease and is unusually sensitive to medication. Charles believes the side effects of the medication are worse than the disease.

During a particularly fierce storm chase, Charles inadvertently kills a man. He begs his twin to keep this horrible secret. Karena agrees because she fears for Charles mental well being and is afraid of the legal consequences of this man’s death.

The novel opens on the day of the twins’ 38th birthday. Karena, a newspaper journal, celebrates with her co-workers. She is particularly fretful on this day because she hasn’t seen Charles in approximately 20 years and doesn’t know where he is. On this day, she keeps checking the Storm Prediction Center website to find a clue to her brother’s whereabouts.

That evening Karena receives a call from a medical facility in Kansas where Charles was admitted. Karena is listed as his next of kin; Siri had died several years before and Frank being incapacitated. After missing Charles at the hospital (he was released), Karena vows to search for him.

Karena joins Whirlwind Tours in the guise of a reporter writing a story. She is actually writing the story for her newspaper with her editor’s permission, but her foremost goal is to find her brother. She makes friends among the group participants especially bonding with Kevin Wiebke. She learns that Kevin knew Chuck Hallingdahl, but hasn’t seen him in a few years.

A romance quickly blossoms between Karena and Kevin, although both have trust issues. Karena is divorced and Kevin, while never married, was jilted on his wedding day. When the couple finds Charles, he agrees to return to and live with Karena.

The reunited twins are glad to be together, but there are adjustments to living with each other. Karena’s relationship with Kevin continues to be explored successfully. Also, the friendship between the two men is renewed and strengthened. Charles’s disorder is largely untreated except for his holistic treatments. In order to find peace of mind, Charles decides to turn himself in for the murder of the dead man. Karena is extremely fearful of the consequences of this action and begs him to reconsider. For the first time in a long time, the twins are at odds with each other.

Blum writes an accurate portrait of a man living with mental illness and of the effects the illness has on his family, friends, and community. Karena is a compassionate, caring person who truly loves her twin, but is challenged by the care needed for a person with bipolar disorder. Charles is someone with mental illness, who is attractive, engaging, personable, and entertaining when not tormented by demons. Kevin is a likeable man who is very loving and loyal to both twins. The erstwhile happiness each person is experiencing could possibly be destroyed by the outcomes of Charles’s disclosures.
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Jan 27, 2012 Gina rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 thing was the whole twin angle of the...more

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Dec 12, 2011 Erika Robuck rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

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May 30, 2011 Heather Hall-Martin rated it 5 of 5 stars

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. Well written due t...more

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Apr 02, 2013 Robbins Library rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: jenny-recommends

The Stormchasers (by the author of Those Who Save Us) is a story about 38-year-old Karena and her bipolar, tornado-chasing twin, Charles, told in four parts: Karena in July 2008; Karena and Charles in 1988, the summer after their senior year of high school; Karena and Charles in August 2008; and an epilogue, set a year later, in August 2009.

Karena, a journalist in Minnesota, joins a tornado-watching tour to try to find her brother, who she hasn't seen in twenty years. Reluctantly, she reveals he...more

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Apr 27, 2010 Chelsea rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

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Mar 12, 2013 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really think Jenna Blum did an outstanding job on this book despite many negative reviews I have read. Of course this is not like her first book, it doesn't have to be. I really wish people would quit trying to compare apples to oranges and just enjoy this for what it is.

Now that I go that out of my system, I really liked the story line. I loved all the characters despite their issues. When you are dealing with someone you love and their bi-polarism life can and will be very difficult at time...more

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Sep 12, 2011 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 separation. T...more

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Aug 15, 2011 Anne R rated it 2 of 5 stars

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 people who race...more

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Jun 06, 2010 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 paced st...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Fran rated it 2 of 5 stars

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

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May 31, 2011 LAURA KAY A Novel Review rated it 4 of 5 stars

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...more 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 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!
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Apr 19, 2011 LORI CASWELL rated it 3 of 5 stars

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. He has been...more 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. 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)

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