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Coming of Age at the End of Days
Alice LaPlante's acclaimed psychological thrillers are distinguished by their stunning synthesis of family drama and engrossing suspense. Her new novel is an affecting foray deeper into the creases of family life—and the light-and-dark battle of faith—as LaPlante delves into the barbed psyche of a teenager whose misguided convictions bear irrevocable consequences.
Never one to conform, Anna always had trouble fitting in. Earnest and willful, as a young girl she quickly learned how to hide her quirks from her parents and friends. But when, at sixteen, a sudden melancholia takes hold of her life, she loses her sense of self and purpose. Then the Goldschmidts move in next door. They're active members of a religious cult, and Anna is awestruck by both their son, Lars, and their fervent violent prophecies for the Tribulation at the End of Days. Within months, Anna's life—her family, her home, her very identity—will undergo profound changes. But when her newfound beliefs threaten to push her over the edge, she must find her way back to center with the help of unlikely friends. An intimate story of destruction and renewal, New York Times bestselling author LaPlante delivers a haunting exploration of family legacies, devotion, and tangled relationships.
Never one to conform, Anna always had trouble fitting in. Earnest and willful, as a young girl she quickly learned how to hide her quirks from her parents and friends. But when, at sixteen, a sudden melancholia takes hold of her life, she loses her sense of self and purpose. Then the Goldschmidts move in next door. They're active members of a religious cult, and Anna is awestruck by both their son, Lars, and their fervent violent prophecies for the Tribulation at the End of Days. Within months, Anna's life—her family, her home, her very identity—will undergo profound changes. But when her newfound beliefs threaten to push her over the edge, she must find her way back to center with the help of unlikely friends. An intimate story of destruction and renewal, New York Times bestselling author LaPlante delivers a haunting exploration of family legacies, devotion, and tangled relationships.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2015
33 people are currently reading
1262 people want to read
About the author
Alice LaPlante
22 books282 followersAlice LaPlante is an award-winning writer of both fiction and non-fiction. She teaches creative writing at Stanford University, where she was a Wallace Stegner Fellow and Jones Lecturer. She also teaches in the MFA program at San Francisco State University. Her fiction has been widely published in Epoch, Southwestern Review, and other literary journals. Alice is the author of five books, including the LA Times bestseller Method and Madness: The Making of a Story (W.W. Norton 2009). Her latest book, the novel Turn of Mind, was published by Grove Atlantic in 2011 and won the Wellcome Trust Book Prize for 2011. She lives with her family in Northern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
March 10, 2015
Eerie...strangely surreal, rarest of fictional subjects,...heady-page-turner!
Psychologically acute - morally complex story about a 'coming-of-age' girl named Anna.
Anna is 16 years old. She lives in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Mom is a music teacher --gives piano lessons.
Dad is an amateur scientist. He studies earthquakes.
This story is much too interesting to share many details. Small sly moments get revealed when you least see them coming.
For example...Some of the most haunting -screwed-up -conversations took place while driving in the car. I 'had' to re-read a couple of sentences...as in "WHAT did he just tell her"?
I consider this a brain-teaser book for several reasons --
I lived with these questions:
...Does Anna have an illness, or see visions? Or is she just trying to figure out who she is in the world?
...What is at the core of devotion? What role does doubt play?
...What happens when our beliefs get distorted?
...If I had a child passionately in love with 'death' --how would I handle the situation?
...What is the difference if a scientist believes we are destroying our planet-- (humans are simply too stupid to take care of the world) ...
Or....
...The belief in prophecies about the approaching plagues and storms and earthquakes are coming from a higher power?
...If your 16 or 17 year old daughter started attending a Church --one that you -as a parent did not believe in --would you do anything to stop her from going? Should you?
While the storytelling a 'creepy-good' - The themes are of suffering - loss - love & death- -sacrifice -resilience- unifying & dividing - self-loathing darkness- as well as energetic light!
A beautiful gift of writing --- and a significant contribution to understanding and dealing with a topic not found in fiction books often.
Thank you very much to Grove Atlantic - To Netgalley --and to Alice La Plante
Psychologically acute - morally complex story about a 'coming-of-age' girl named Anna.
Anna is 16 years old. She lives in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Mom is a music teacher --gives piano lessons.
Dad is an amateur scientist. He studies earthquakes.
This story is much too interesting to share many details. Small sly moments get revealed when you least see them coming.
For example...Some of the most haunting -screwed-up -conversations took place while driving in the car. I 'had' to re-read a couple of sentences...as in "WHAT did he just tell her"?
I consider this a brain-teaser book for several reasons --
I lived with these questions:
...Does Anna have an illness, or see visions? Or is she just trying to figure out who she is in the world?
...What is at the core of devotion? What role does doubt play?
...What happens when our beliefs get distorted?
...If I had a child passionately in love with 'death' --how would I handle the situation?
...What is the difference if a scientist believes we are destroying our planet-- (humans are simply too stupid to take care of the world) ...
Or....
...The belief in prophecies about the approaching plagues and storms and earthquakes are coming from a higher power?
...If your 16 or 17 year old daughter started attending a Church --one that you -as a parent did not believe in --would you do anything to stop her from going? Should you?
While the storytelling a 'creepy-good' - The themes are of suffering - loss - love & death- -sacrifice -resilience- unifying & dividing - self-loathing darkness- as well as energetic light!
A beautiful gift of writing --- and a significant contribution to understanding and dealing with a topic not found in fiction books often.
Thank you very much to Grove Atlantic - To Netgalley --and to Alice La Plante
April 30, 2015
This is the perfect example of a publisher's blurb gone wrong. If your author is changing genres, SAY SO CLEARLY.
"Alice LaPlante's acclaimed psychological thrillers are distinguished by their stunning synthesis of family drama and engrossing suspense. Her new novel is an affecting foray deeper into the creases of family life..." does not say "Hey, here's some women's fiction from thriller author..."
Actual review of the book:
LaPlante's foray into mainstream fiction is an uneven one. The idea of a troubled young girl who sinks into a major depressive episode coming out of it when she joins a religious cult is a fascinating one, and this starts out as an absolutely riveting read.
Unfortunately, the cult aspect seems a bit contrived, the set-up for the book's ending too pat, and the heroine's borderline obsession with her older neighbor on the disturbing side. The eventual resolution is rushed -- pacing is a huge issue here -- and ultimately involves a medical issue that is never properly addressed other than the aside in the epilogue.
This is a book that had a great deal of potential that it fails to live up to.
"Alice LaPlante's acclaimed psychological thrillers are distinguished by their stunning synthesis of family drama and engrossing suspense. Her new novel is an affecting foray deeper into the creases of family life..." does not say "Hey, here's some women's fiction from thriller author..."
Actual review of the book:
LaPlante's foray into mainstream fiction is an uneven one. The idea of a troubled young girl who sinks into a major depressive episode coming out of it when she joins a religious cult is a fascinating one, and this starts out as an absolutely riveting read.
Unfortunately, the cult aspect seems a bit contrived, the set-up for the book's ending too pat, and the heroine's borderline obsession with her older neighbor on the disturbing side. The eventual resolution is rushed -- pacing is a huge issue here -- and ultimately involves a medical issue that is never properly addressed other than the aside in the epilogue.
This is a book that had a great deal of potential that it fails to live up to.
August 19, 2015
“Coming of Age at the End of Days” is a book about depression, other unspecified illnesses, loss, cults, religion as a whole, and what it means to be growing up in the midst of all of these things. It’s an interesting concept, but the execution left something to be desired.
The character development was actually very extensive. However, the main character, Anne, was an extremely unsympathetic character. Depression is involved, along with some other unspecified medical issues that may or may not also be physical. None of that is ever clarified, but there are definitely clues that something else is going on. The problem is that these things are presented, along with her home life, as reasons for why she acts the way she does. While it is true in some of the instances, even if she were completely healthy with a perfect life she would still be the sort of person who is the walking equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. It’s difficult to become lost in a story when you don’t care much about the main character.
The premise of mental illness and how cults exploit it to gain followers was promising, but the first two-thirds of the book dragged so much that the interesting parts were lost in a sea of banality. I would have liked to see more details of the cult itself. The last third of the book moved well and was enjoyable, but it required quite a bit of suspension of disbelief to go with it. The ultimate conclusion felt as though it were an afterthought.
I gave “Coming of Age at the End of Days” three stars because technically the characters and plot are sound. It’s the end product that needed some trimming. Alice LaPlante is a very talented author, but this is definitely not her best work. I’d give it a pass unless you’re a diehard fan.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The character development was actually very extensive. However, the main character, Anne, was an extremely unsympathetic character. Depression is involved, along with some other unspecified medical issues that may or may not also be physical. None of that is ever clarified, but there are definitely clues that something else is going on. The problem is that these things are presented, along with her home life, as reasons for why she acts the way she does. While it is true in some of the instances, even if she were completely healthy with a perfect life she would still be the sort of person who is the walking equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. It’s difficult to become lost in a story when you don’t care much about the main character.
The premise of mental illness and how cults exploit it to gain followers was promising, but the first two-thirds of the book dragged so much that the interesting parts were lost in a sea of banality. I would have liked to see more details of the cult itself. The last third of the book moved well and was enjoyable, but it required quite a bit of suspension of disbelief to go with it. The ultimate conclusion felt as though it were an afterthought.
I gave “Coming of Age at the End of Days” three stars because technically the characters and plot are sound. It’s the end product that needed some trimming. Alice LaPlante is a very talented author, but this is definitely not her best work. I’d give it a pass unless you’re a diehard fan.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2015
ARC for review.
A solid 3.5 for this - great premise, Anna, a seventeen year old, has never really fit in anywhere, and now she's moved into a deepdepression melancholia from which it doesn't seem likely she'll emerge - her permissive parents are worried about suicide, but don't seem to know how to help her.
Things change when Anna begins dreaming of a red heifer, then in short order gets new neighbors, the Goldschmidts, including teenage son Lars. The Goldschmidts belong to a doomsday cult (but not what you're thinking about....transfer the idea to the suburbs and you get the idea) and Anna thinks she may have found a place where she belongs, especially when a guest speaker comes and talks about the group's efforts to breed a pure red heifer to fulfill the third prophecy of Revelations. Anna and Lars are outcasts at school, of course, but there's a teacher who seems to understand how to handle them, and a young neighbor who is supportive of Anna.
Cult books - I love them, and in LaPlante's hands it's easy to see how today's teenagers, who are often looking for something to believe in, would grasp at anything that would allow them to feel as if they belong. I would have enjoyed the book much more but for two plot twists, one probably necessary and one I still don't get. Even with that, I couldn't put the book down (loved the very end), even though I wanted...more.
A solid 3.5 for this - great premise, Anna, a seventeen year old, has never really fit in anywhere, and now she's moved into a deep
Things change when Anna begins dreaming of a red heifer, then in short order gets new neighbors, the Goldschmidts, including teenage son Lars. The Goldschmidts belong to a doomsday cult (but not what you're thinking about....transfer the idea to the suburbs and you get the idea) and Anna thinks she may have found a place where she belongs, especially when a guest speaker comes and talks about the group's efforts to breed a pure red heifer to fulfill the third prophecy of Revelations. Anna and Lars are outcasts at school, of course, but there's a teacher who seems to understand how to handle them, and a young neighbor who is supportive of Anna.
Cult books - I love them, and in LaPlante's hands it's easy to see how today's teenagers, who are often looking for something to believe in, would grasp at anything that would allow them to feel as if they belong. I would have enjoyed the book much more but for two plot twists, one probably necessary and one I still don't get. Even with that, I couldn't put the book down (loved the very end), even though I wanted...more.
August 15, 2015
This one did not work for me compared to the author's other books. Real struggle to finish.
Just weird
Petri dish
Alcoholic science father
Depressed teen who turns to end of the world cult
visions and prophecies.
Damn red calf born in Israel!
I guess I got my own issues with revelations because I missed the message in this story!
Just weird
Petri dish
Alcoholic science father
Depressed teen who turns to end of the world cult
visions and prophecies.
Damn red calf born in Israel!
I guess I got my own issues with revelations because I missed the message in this story!
August 24, 2015
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've read Alice LaPlante's first three novels now, and they are getting less and less appealing to me.
The basic premise of this book is that a depressed young teenage girl discovers a Christian sect very focused on the Rapture and the Tribulation. You may or may not know a lot of details about these two things. My parents are evangelist Christians, so I know a fair bit. I was curious to see how these ideas would be treated.
I've spoiler-warning-ed this review already, so I feel safe also saying that Anna, the young protagonist, also has seizures. I'm not on quite as familiar ground with this, but I have read before of seizures causing an aura that can feel very powerfully spiritual. A great novel about this phenomenon is Lying Awake by Mark Salzman. Anna feels connected to the apocalyptic focus of the church she has found, and some of the members see her as especially holy. This doesn't fit with the evangelicals I've known, who believe that God does not communicate through prophets at this point in history, and don't believe in fluffy-bunny visions. But, hey, fringe group, maybe it could happen.
So this sounds pretty fascinating, right? I thought so too, but the book failed to grab me. The problem began right at the beginning of the book with Anna's depression. It didn't feel real to me. I think it was because the author focused on Anna's behavior, which is frankly annoying to someone who isn't depressed. If there had been more emphasis on the emotional black pit that Anna was in, why she felt so hopeless, she would have been more sympathetic. I've struggled with this issue myself and know that it is biological as much as anything, but there is a definite thought pattern that goes with it. I wasn't just blankly depressed, I had a negative, anxious view of everything that happened to me and everything I focused on. Maybe the "show don't tell" mantra doesn't work as well for mental illness, because you do need to understand the POV of the person afflicted. This is what the author did so well in Turn of Mind. The first person POV really let the reader in to experience the progression of Alzheimer's. The third person POV of Anna left me just too removed.
Next, the crowd where Anna finds her comfort felt like a weird mix of Southern snake-handling cults and evangelical apocalyptic thinking. Most evangelicals I know come from a more northern, Protestant, mind-over heart tradition. It's the cold, white church with dreary hymns and lecturing sermons about God's judgement. Well, that's my experience anyway. Visions and doomsday preppers were not part of that world for me. Everyone kind of figured it would be obvious when the Anti-Christ came along because then we'd hit WWIII. There were no Red Heifers as signs- that's Jewish tradition, and at least where I grew up, that was right out of any Bible study we had. So the church didn't really feel convincing either. Neither did the strange young boy that brings Anna to the church for the first time.
To the end of the book, it was hard to figure out whether the mystical part of the book was to be taken literally, or whether it was Anna's skewed perception. The only character I really attached to was Anna's mother, who was at a total loss as to what to do with her child, who reached out, but couldn't make the connection. I couldn't make the connection either, so I suppose it's no surprise I related to her.
This book took an interesting premise and then failed to do anything with it that interested me, and in addition it did not ring true to my experience.
I've read Alice LaPlante's first three novels now, and they are getting less and less appealing to me.
The basic premise of this book is that a depressed young teenage girl discovers a Christian sect very focused on the Rapture and the Tribulation. You may or may not know a lot of details about these two things. My parents are evangelist Christians, so I know a fair bit. I was curious to see how these ideas would be treated.
I've spoiler-warning-ed this review already, so I feel safe also saying that Anna, the young protagonist, also has seizures. I'm not on quite as familiar ground with this, but I have read before of seizures causing an aura that can feel very powerfully spiritual. A great novel about this phenomenon is Lying Awake by Mark Salzman. Anna feels connected to the apocalyptic focus of the church she has found, and some of the members see her as especially holy. This doesn't fit with the evangelicals I've known, who believe that God does not communicate through prophets at this point in history, and don't believe in fluffy-bunny visions. But, hey, fringe group, maybe it could happen.
So this sounds pretty fascinating, right? I thought so too, but the book failed to grab me. The problem began right at the beginning of the book with Anna's depression. It didn't feel real to me. I think it was because the author focused on Anna's behavior, which is frankly annoying to someone who isn't depressed. If there had been more emphasis on the emotional black pit that Anna was in, why she felt so hopeless, she would have been more sympathetic. I've struggled with this issue myself and know that it is biological as much as anything, but there is a definite thought pattern that goes with it. I wasn't just blankly depressed, I had a negative, anxious view of everything that happened to me and everything I focused on. Maybe the "show don't tell" mantra doesn't work as well for mental illness, because you do need to understand the POV of the person afflicted. This is what the author did so well in Turn of Mind. The first person POV really let the reader in to experience the progression of Alzheimer's. The third person POV of Anna left me just too removed.
Next, the crowd where Anna finds her comfort felt like a weird mix of Southern snake-handling cults and evangelical apocalyptic thinking. Most evangelicals I know come from a more northern, Protestant, mind-over heart tradition. It's the cold, white church with dreary hymns and lecturing sermons about God's judgement. Well, that's my experience anyway. Visions and doomsday preppers were not part of that world for me. Everyone kind of figured it would be obvious when the Anti-Christ came along because then we'd hit WWIII. There were no Red Heifers as signs- that's Jewish tradition, and at least where I grew up, that was right out of any Bible study we had. So the church didn't really feel convincing either. Neither did the strange young boy that brings Anna to the church for the first time.
To the end of the book, it was hard to figure out whether the mystical part of the book was to be taken literally, or whether it was Anna's skewed perception. The only character I really attached to was Anna's mother, who was at a total loss as to what to do with her child, who reached out, but couldn't make the connection. I couldn't make the connection either, so I suppose it's no surprise I related to her.
This book took an interesting premise and then failed to do anything with it that interested me, and in addition it did not ring true to my experience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2015
A special thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
COMING OF AGE AT THE END OF DAYS by Alice LaPlante is a quirky dark look inside a troubled girl’s mind, spiraling out of control, and her search for a higher purpose and meaning— with a dystopian, apocalyptic twist, highly charged psychological suspense, and haunting exploration of family, cause, faith, and relationships.
Following a desperate search for meaning in life, a depressed teenager turns to a doomsday cult for answers and support.
Anna a teen, living in Sunnyvale, California in a sixties housing development subdivision, she is sixteen when the darkness descends. She has had hints it was coming with interludes of deep sadness over the past twelve months. Mourning, triggered by the smallest things. Depression. She feels her body is the true enemy. She is awaiting for the expiration date to be released from the pain.
Her mom begins reading her the Bible (literature purposes), which once belonged to Anna’s grandmother, giving them some time together. Anna is fascinated. Dismayed as much by Anna’s fixation on death found in Revelation as by her depression, Anna’s parents and her therapist try to trace Anna’s current state back to its roots. She was a loner and had trouble sleeping. She never really fit in. She has a therapist, Dr. Cummings. They continue feeding her pills and she is terrified when her therapist mentions hooking her to a machine and shooting her with electricity.
Her parents remove everything in her closet, and razors, afraid of suicide. She is in love with death. Her therapist tells her to go through the motions. Her mother enjoyed music and her dad loved charting and graphing geological seismic activity. They are running out of options to help their daughter. Have they already lost her?
In February of Anna’s junior year of high school, the Goldschmidts move in next door, active members of a religious cult and there is Jim, as well and teachers in her life. Anna is drawn in by their prophecies and beliefs as well as their fifteen year old son, son, Lars. Anna and Lars are both outcasts at school. Anna is drawn to something and grabs hold and she is content hearing about the Tribulation. The earthquakes, the Antichrist, the evil, corrupt, the armies – exciting to her. The church members are stockpiling, goods, saving money, preparing for the end.
After Anna begins dreaming of a cryptic Red Heifer, she is even more excited about the Rapture, and is no longer in her depressed stage. The religious community is a breath of fresh air for her, with her cold parents – offering her a real connection.
Her parents are atheists, and liberal-minded, and have no clue how to handle their daughter’s new found obsession. She feels she is part of the prophecy. However her new beliefs may push her over the edge. However, she now has found a purpose, she is driven, and alive.
An intimate story of destruction, loss, death, love, sacrifice, and renewal--a dark, and haunting exploration into complex relationships. Having read Alice LaPlante’s previous books, a gifted writer --deep and psychological.
Even though the book was dark and deals with religious cults, many young teens are drawn to a cause, and can get caught up and mislead in dangerous ways. Even adults have a purpose as the mother loved music and the dad science--Anna needed a connection. I did not enjoy this topic as much as LaPlante's other books; however, Anna’s character was well-developed, as we get to experience her journey.
A thought-provoking and entertaining novel, and an ideal choice for book clubs or discussions with a variety of perspectives. May also have a strong appeal for the YA audience.
Turn of Mind
Circle of Wives
JDCMustReadBooks
COMING OF AGE AT THE END OF DAYS by Alice LaPlante is a quirky dark look inside a troubled girl’s mind, spiraling out of control, and her search for a higher purpose and meaning— with a dystopian, apocalyptic twist, highly charged psychological suspense, and haunting exploration of family, cause, faith, and relationships.
Following a desperate search for meaning in life, a depressed teenager turns to a doomsday cult for answers and support.
Anna a teen, living in Sunnyvale, California in a sixties housing development subdivision, she is sixteen when the darkness descends. She has had hints it was coming with interludes of deep sadness over the past twelve months. Mourning, triggered by the smallest things. Depression. She feels her body is the true enemy. She is awaiting for the expiration date to be released from the pain.
Her mom begins reading her the Bible (literature purposes), which once belonged to Anna’s grandmother, giving them some time together. Anna is fascinated. Dismayed as much by Anna’s fixation on death found in Revelation as by her depression, Anna’s parents and her therapist try to trace Anna’s current state back to its roots. She was a loner and had trouble sleeping. She never really fit in. She has a therapist, Dr. Cummings. They continue feeding her pills and she is terrified when her therapist mentions hooking her to a machine and shooting her with electricity.
Her parents remove everything in her closet, and razors, afraid of suicide. She is in love with death. Her therapist tells her to go through the motions. Her mother enjoyed music and her dad loved charting and graphing geological seismic activity. They are running out of options to help their daughter. Have they already lost her?
In February of Anna’s junior year of high school, the Goldschmidts move in next door, active members of a religious cult and there is Jim, as well and teachers in her life. Anna is drawn in by their prophecies and beliefs as well as their fifteen year old son, son, Lars. Anna and Lars are both outcasts at school. Anna is drawn to something and grabs hold and she is content hearing about the Tribulation. The earthquakes, the Antichrist, the evil, corrupt, the armies – exciting to her. The church members are stockpiling, goods, saving money, preparing for the end.
After Anna begins dreaming of a cryptic Red Heifer, she is even more excited about the Rapture, and is no longer in her depressed stage. The religious community is a breath of fresh air for her, with her cold parents – offering her a real connection.
Her parents are atheists, and liberal-minded, and have no clue how to handle their daughter’s new found obsession. She feels she is part of the prophecy. However her new beliefs may push her over the edge. However, she now has found a purpose, she is driven, and alive.
An intimate story of destruction, loss, death, love, sacrifice, and renewal--a dark, and haunting exploration into complex relationships. Having read Alice LaPlante’s previous books, a gifted writer --deep and psychological.
Even though the book was dark and deals with religious cults, many young teens are drawn to a cause, and can get caught up and mislead in dangerous ways. Even adults have a purpose as the mother loved music and the dad science--Anna needed a connection. I did not enjoy this topic as much as LaPlante's other books; however, Anna’s character was well-developed, as we get to experience her journey.
A thought-provoking and entertaining novel, and an ideal choice for book clubs or discussions with a variety of perspectives. May also have a strong appeal for the YA audience.
Turn of Mind
Circle of Wives
JDCMustReadBooks
February 8, 2016
Anna is a depressed teenager living with her parents in a conventional California suburb. One day, she finds herself pulled out of her "melancholia" by meeting Lars, another teen who moves into her neighborhood, and his parents. Lars and his family introduce Anna to the world of his "church," which is more of religious cult that has a forceful prophecy about the upcoming end of days.
As Anna becomes more and more drawn into this religious world, she finds herself beset by visions and otherwise withdrawing from life around her, including her parents, who are confused and upset by her religious fervor. Anna's only other real contacts are her neighbor, Jim, a mid-20-something who has returned home to live with his parents after a string of disgraces, and Jim's crush/sweetheart, Clara, who also teaches chemistry at Anna's high school.
I'll be honest - I just didn't like this book. It wasn't what I was expecting from this author, or even the description of the novel. I loved LaPlante's "Turn of Mind," but this was nothing like that novel. The plot was odd, disjointed, and really seemed to make no sense. Anna is not a sympathetic character to me -- I completely empathized with her bewildered parents. There really seems to be no reason why Anna would become so drawn into this religion (which perhaps may be the point, but if so, it's not really made well). There are odd plot twists and turns that seem just to pop up out of nowhere, for no reason, including the oddly inserted ending and epilogue. Even's Anna's visions aren't really explained well.
I don't know; I was disappointed by this read. Perhaps I just missed a greater point this book was trying to make, but it didn't do it for me.
(Note I received an ARC of this book from Negalley in return for an unbiased review.)
As Anna becomes more and more drawn into this religious world, she finds herself beset by visions and otherwise withdrawing from life around her, including her parents, who are confused and upset by her religious fervor. Anna's only other real contacts are her neighbor, Jim, a mid-20-something who has returned home to live with his parents after a string of disgraces, and Jim's crush/sweetheart, Clara, who also teaches chemistry at Anna's high school.
I'll be honest - I just didn't like this book. It wasn't what I was expecting from this author, or even the description of the novel. I loved LaPlante's "Turn of Mind," but this was nothing like that novel. The plot was odd, disjointed, and really seemed to make no sense. Anna is not a sympathetic character to me -- I completely empathized with her bewildered parents. There really seems to be no reason why Anna would become so drawn into this religion (which perhaps may be the point, but if so, it's not really made well). There are odd plot twists and turns that seem just to pop up out of nowhere, for no reason, including the oddly inserted ending and epilogue. Even's Anna's visions aren't really explained well.
I don't know; I was disappointed by this read. Perhaps I just missed a greater point this book was trying to make, but it didn't do it for me.
(Note I received an ARC of this book from Negalley in return for an unbiased review.)
March 9, 2015
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
I wanted to like this book, as I have enjoyed the author's previous work. It simply doesn't work for me. The initial premise of the story, the 16 year old girl, who never fits in; her new religious neighbors and her new religious fervour makes sense. We have seen this before with religion, with drugs, with music, etc. as teenagers work out who they are, who they will become. Then the story goes downhill. The strange neighbor Jim, the unsympathetic chemistry teacher and their relationship seemed tangential to the story, little did I know that they would become part of the gigantic deus ex machina at the end.
Anna's parents are not well developed characters, and Lars' parents are non-entities. The only in depth character we find is Anna. Lars seems more one dimensional.
The final scenes in the novel, actually from the time they go on the run, simply don't make sense at all and the grand finale- but of course, that was why her father had that hobby-and the deus ex machina swoops down to the rescue.
I wanted to like this book, as I have enjoyed the author's previous work. It simply doesn't work for me. The initial premise of the story, the 16 year old girl, who never fits in; her new religious neighbors and her new religious fervour makes sense. We have seen this before with religion, with drugs, with music, etc. as teenagers work out who they are, who they will become. Then the story goes downhill. The strange neighbor Jim, the unsympathetic chemistry teacher and their relationship seemed tangential to the story, little did I know that they would become part of the gigantic deus ex machina at the end.
Anna's parents are not well developed characters, and Lars' parents are non-entities. The only in depth character we find is Anna. Lars seems more one dimensional.
The final scenes in the novel, actually from the time they go on the run, simply don't make sense at all and the grand finale- but of course, that was why her father had that hobby-and the deus ex machina swoops down to the rescue.
July 28, 2015
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy.
I really hate when the summary of a book sounds so promising and then it falls completely flat. That is the case for this. It was disjointed and awkward. I'm still unsure of the whole premise. I didn't like any of the characters and it felt like many of them had their own issues that weren't ever explained. I had to breathe a sigh of relief when I finished.
I really hate when the summary of a book sounds so promising and then it falls completely flat. That is the case for this. It was disjointed and awkward. I'm still unsure of the whole premise. I didn't like any of the characters and it felt like many of them had their own issues that weren't ever explained. I had to breathe a sigh of relief when I finished.
July 24, 2018
I loved this book. It was my first experience with Alice LaPlante's work and as soon as I finished it, I went out and bought her craft book "The Making of a Story."
Honestly, I don't understand some of the poor reviews this book received, unless the promotional marketing of the novel was completely off-base. It's not a thriller, in the normal sense. It's a well-written and well-crafted story with compelling and believable characters. There is a great deal of tension in the story, but the kind of tension which makes you feel for the characters and hope they make good choices. I thought it was frankly a beautiful novel, and I intend to read the rest of her work. She managed to make religious extremists sympathetic and painted what I felt was a very accurate portrait of teenage clinical depression. The book held me spell-bound, and if I could give it more than 5 stars I would.
Honestly, I don't understand some of the poor reviews this book received, unless the promotional marketing of the novel was completely off-base. It's not a thriller, in the normal sense. It's a well-written and well-crafted story with compelling and believable characters. There is a great deal of tension in the story, but the kind of tension which makes you feel for the characters and hope they make good choices. I thought it was frankly a beautiful novel, and I intend to read the rest of her work. She managed to make religious extremists sympathetic and painted what I felt was a very accurate portrait of teenage clinical depression. The book held me spell-bound, and if I could give it more than 5 stars I would.
January 18, 2016
2.5 on my blog. This book was fabulous in the beginning, but to facilitate the climax (at about 66% in) the author had one of the characters do something way out of character, not only for them, but any person. After this event the entire storyline starts to unravel and was kept limping along with contrived happenings, and ended with an outlandishly desparate attemp at a conclusion. The epilogue dunked the story farther into a piss poor abyss. It was like being given a luscious dessert and having it yanked away and thrown in the garbage half way through! I was approved for this eARC through Edelweiss in return for an honest review. I will not be reviewing this book on my blog because it is less than four stars.
June 8, 2015
The Tribulations of Adolescence: A Character Study
(Full disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC for review through NetGalley. Trigger warning for sexual assault.)
Anna Franklin has never really fit in. A native of Sunnyvale, California, Anna was perhaps the least "sunny" kid in her subdivision. Socially awkward and unsure, she usually watched from the sidelines while the neighborhood children played tag. Her parents meant well, but failed to pay Anna enough attention, absorbed as they were - are - in their own interests: she, a pianist; he, an amateur scientist.
When Anna turns sixteen, things go from bad to worse as she's caught in the bleak, gloomy grip of depression - or melancholia, in Anna's parlance. Nothing can seem to shake its hold on her: not a psychiatrist (who Anna dislikes), not drugs (which Anna tosses), not her parents' well-intentioned encouragements. Until, one night - in an effort to rekindle mother-daughter rituals of old - Anna's mom institutes mandatory bedtime reading. Her first choice? The Bible. Not for any religious purposes, mind you - Anna's parents are both atheists - but because it's the basis for so much subsequent literature.
Yet something (read: the promise of death, violence, and retribution) in Revelations speaks to Anna. She discovers that she is "passionately in love with death." Anna begins to have dreams - and then waking visions - of a red heifer. Anna's overnight religious mania coincides with the arrival of the Goldschmidts, a weird family that seems mostly disengaged from the world (or at least Anna's small slice of it). When Lars invites Anna to his church, she finds a ready and receptive outlet for her newly discovered fundamentalist fervor.
The Franklins' guarded optimism about Anna's recovery turns to frustration and anger as she preaches fire and brimstone at them, letting her grades slip and eschewing college so that she can join her Church and help prepare for - and even possibly hasten - the coming Tribulations and End of Days. But when death touches Anna in the most unexpected and intimate of ways, it more than quenches her thirst for it. With the first domino poised to fall, Anna must figure out how to save the world in lieu of destroying it.
Coming of Age at the End of Days is an odd little book. Mostly lacking in action, it's really more of a character study: of a teenager on the cusp of adulthood, searching for purpose and meaning in a mostly dreary and mundane life. Anna's religious conversion - similar in many ways to her father's penchant for earthquakes - gives her all of this, and more: a way to not just persevere, but to shine. Through her visions and her involvement in Fred Wilson's quest to breed a red heifer - one of just many steps on the path to the End of Days - Anna has a chance to be a hero. (In the eyes of a chosen few, anyhow.) Who among us hasn't daydreamed of just that?
Yet in Anna's science teacher, Clara Thadeous ("Ms. Tedious"), we see what often becomes of these childish dreams, what happens when they are thwarted. Teenage angst turned to adult discontent.
And her lover, Jim Fulson, offers a glimpse of what Anna might have become, had she not found an outlet for her ambition: intractable depression, multiple suicide attempts, moving back into your parents' rec room, and becoming the neighborhood recluse, a topic of whispers and gossip.
The third person/past tense narration is weirdly dispassionate and detached. This put me off initially, but I soon found that it complemented Anna's melancholia nicely. Once she "found god," the tone felt strangely incongruous, but not always in a bad way; I felt like it helped underscore the intensity of Anna's religious fervor.
LaPlante did a wonderful job of portraying Anna and Jim's depression. As someone who's struggled with depression my entire life, I found myself nodding time and again. Especially heartbreaking are Anna's parents' futile attempts to help her. I didn't give it much thought when I was younger, but now - and especially when I read books featuring teenagers with depressive and/or anxiety disorders similar to my own - I consider how my illness must have affected my parents. I felt my heart crack a little upon this exchange between Anna and her mom: "Oh Annie...Do you see any way out of this?"
I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about the entirety of the book, though. This is my first Alice LaPlante book, and it definitely doesn't fit into her usual "psychological thriller" niche. It's a slow, understated book, and probably not for everyone. It took me a while to get into it, and then LaPlante lost me again when the grown-ups decided to take the kids on a road trip. Sure, I guess it works for the allegory of the story, but it's hardly the most realistic plot twist.
Also, the ending is downright anticlimactic (doubly so given that a natural disaster is involved); definitely not the payoff I was hoping for/expecting given the slow buildup.
3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 where necessary. Coming of Age at the End of Days isn't entirely to my taste, but it's not "bad," either. I'd recommend this to those interested in books about religion, particularly fringe religions/cults, and with a YA angle.
http://www.easyvegan.info/2015/08/05/...
(Full disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC for review through NetGalley. Trigger warning for sexual assault.)
Anna Franklin has never really fit in. A native of Sunnyvale, California, Anna was perhaps the least "sunny" kid in her subdivision. Socially awkward and unsure, she usually watched from the sidelines while the neighborhood children played tag. Her parents meant well, but failed to pay Anna enough attention, absorbed as they were - are - in their own interests: she, a pianist; he, an amateur scientist.
When Anna turns sixteen, things go from bad to worse as she's caught in the bleak, gloomy grip of depression - or melancholia, in Anna's parlance. Nothing can seem to shake its hold on her: not a psychiatrist (who Anna dislikes), not drugs (which Anna tosses), not her parents' well-intentioned encouragements. Until, one night - in an effort to rekindle mother-daughter rituals of old - Anna's mom institutes mandatory bedtime reading. Her first choice? The Bible. Not for any religious purposes, mind you - Anna's parents are both atheists - but because it's the basis for so much subsequent literature.
Yet something (read: the promise of death, violence, and retribution) in Revelations speaks to Anna. She discovers that she is "passionately in love with death." Anna begins to have dreams - and then waking visions - of a red heifer. Anna's overnight religious mania coincides with the arrival of the Goldschmidts, a weird family that seems mostly disengaged from the world (or at least Anna's small slice of it). When Lars invites Anna to his church, she finds a ready and receptive outlet for her newly discovered fundamentalist fervor.
The Franklins' guarded optimism about Anna's recovery turns to frustration and anger as she preaches fire and brimstone at them, letting her grades slip and eschewing college so that she can join her Church and help prepare for - and even possibly hasten - the coming Tribulations and End of Days. But when death touches Anna in the most unexpected and intimate of ways, it more than quenches her thirst for it. With the first domino poised to fall, Anna must figure out how to save the world in lieu of destroying it.
Coming of Age at the End of Days is an odd little book. Mostly lacking in action, it's really more of a character study: of a teenager on the cusp of adulthood, searching for purpose and meaning in a mostly dreary and mundane life. Anna's religious conversion - similar in many ways to her father's penchant for earthquakes - gives her all of this, and more: a way to not just persevere, but to shine. Through her visions and her involvement in Fred Wilson's quest to breed a red heifer - one of just many steps on the path to the End of Days - Anna has a chance to be a hero. (In the eyes of a chosen few, anyhow.) Who among us hasn't daydreamed of just that?
Yet in Anna's science teacher, Clara Thadeous ("Ms. Tedious"), we see what often becomes of these childish dreams, what happens when they are thwarted. Teenage angst turned to adult discontent.
And her lover, Jim Fulson, offers a glimpse of what Anna might have become, had she not found an outlet for her ambition: intractable depression, multiple suicide attempts, moving back into your parents' rec room, and becoming the neighborhood recluse, a topic of whispers and gossip.
The third person/past tense narration is weirdly dispassionate and detached. This put me off initially, but I soon found that it complemented Anna's melancholia nicely. Once she "found god," the tone felt strangely incongruous, but not always in a bad way; I felt like it helped underscore the intensity of Anna's religious fervor.
LaPlante did a wonderful job of portraying Anna and Jim's depression. As someone who's struggled with depression my entire life, I found myself nodding time and again. Especially heartbreaking are Anna's parents' futile attempts to help her. I didn't give it much thought when I was younger, but now - and especially when I read books featuring teenagers with depressive and/or anxiety disorders similar to my own - I consider how my illness must have affected my parents. I felt my heart crack a little upon this exchange between Anna and her mom: "Oh Annie...Do you see any way out of this?"
I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about the entirety of the book, though. This is my first Alice LaPlante book, and it definitely doesn't fit into her usual "psychological thriller" niche. It's a slow, understated book, and probably not for everyone. It took me a while to get into it, and then LaPlante lost me again when the grown-ups decided to take the kids on a road trip. Sure, I guess it works for the allegory of the story, but it's hardly the most realistic plot twist.
Also, the ending is downright anticlimactic (doubly so given that a natural disaster is involved); definitely not the payoff I was hoping for/expecting given the slow buildup.
3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 where necessary. Coming of Age at the End of Days isn't entirely to my taste, but it's not "bad," either. I'd recommend this to those interested in books about religion, particularly fringe religions/cults, and with a YA angle.
http://www.easyvegan.info/2015/08/05/...
August 8, 2019
Full review to come!
August 9, 2015
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Alice LaPlante’s Coming of Age at the End of Days is the story of a 16-year-old girl named Anna who lived in Sunnyvale, California, with her piano teacher mother and her earthquake-obsessed father. Anna falls into a deep depression that begins to abate after her mother, who is quite anti-Christianity, reads the Bible to her in hopes of lifting her spirits. Anna is most intrigued by the Book of Revelations, which she sees as mirroring her own feelings of impending doom. Not long after that she is introduced to the apocalyptic religious organization of her neighbors, the Goldschmidts. This group seeks to bring about the end of days, and Anna is enthralled almost immediately. However, after experiencing a life-altering tragedy, Anna must confront her quest to help bring about the rapture.
Coming of Age at the End of Days depicts depression and the seeking of death and destruction in a very realistic way. During the beginning Anna reminded me of Justine from Melancholia, as she was looking forward to the end of it all. She became more active than Justine once she believed that through her actions she could help bring about the rapture.
The way Anna comes to her obsession with death is somewhat inconsistent with the characterization of her mother. I felt that the author did not satisfactorily explain why her mother would read Anna the Bible when she was strongly opposed to Christianity.
Nevertheless, Coming of Age at the End of Days was a very satisfying read. Not only was I not able to put it down, but Ms. LaPlante’s writing did what I love for writing to do—it transported me into Anna’s mind, complete with the feelings of unease, devastation, and utter loneliness. Mrs. LaPlante also does a masterful job of creating three-dimensional characters in the world around Anna, each of whom plays a major part in her growth during the course of the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to people looking for an eerie and surreal read that is morally and psychologically complex.
Alice LaPlante’s Coming of Age at the End of Days is the story of a 16-year-old girl named Anna who lived in Sunnyvale, California, with her piano teacher mother and her earthquake-obsessed father. Anna falls into a deep depression that begins to abate after her mother, who is quite anti-Christianity, reads the Bible to her in hopes of lifting her spirits. Anna is most intrigued by the Book of Revelations, which she sees as mirroring her own feelings of impending doom. Not long after that she is introduced to the apocalyptic religious organization of her neighbors, the Goldschmidts. This group seeks to bring about the end of days, and Anna is enthralled almost immediately. However, after experiencing a life-altering tragedy, Anna must confront her quest to help bring about the rapture.
Coming of Age at the End of Days depicts depression and the seeking of death and destruction in a very realistic way. During the beginning Anna reminded me of Justine from Melancholia, as she was looking forward to the end of it all. She became more active than Justine once she believed that through her actions she could help bring about the rapture.
The way Anna comes to her obsession with death is somewhat inconsistent with the characterization of her mother. I felt that the author did not satisfactorily explain why her mother would read Anna the Bible when she was strongly opposed to Christianity.
Nevertheless, Coming of Age at the End of Days was a very satisfying read. Not only was I not able to put it down, but Ms. LaPlante’s writing did what I love for writing to do—it transported me into Anna’s mind, complete with the feelings of unease, devastation, and utter loneliness. Mrs. LaPlante also does a masterful job of creating three-dimensional characters in the world around Anna, each of whom plays a major part in her growth during the course of the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to people looking for an eerie and surreal read that is morally and psychologically complex.
May 19, 2015
In this well-written and compelling story, 16 year old Anna suffers from melancholia and is fixated on death. She doesn’t fit in at school and her only friend is her new neighbor, Lars, a misfit of a different sort. He and his family are members of a doomsday cult and when Anna begins to have strange dreams (visions? prophecies?), she easily falls under the spell of their beliefs and the mission to bring about the Tribulation, the time preceding the End. Anna is convinced her purpose is to help fulfill the prophecy. Her atheist parents are liberal-minded but are at a loss on how to handle her (frankly, they are rather strange too and a conversation that takes place between Anna and her father is jaw-dropping). Her therapist gave me a chuckle (perhaps unintentionally) when her advice and solution to Anna’s lack of friends was to “hunt with the pack, even if it’s just an act at first”.
Along the way, Anna and Lars gain two companions: Jim, a neighbor in his early 20s who also suffers from a lack of direction, and a teacher who sees something of herself in them (although as an atheist who grew up in a devout household it’s expressed differently).
I really liked Anna and the story kept me flipping the pages, even when events turned a bit improbable. When I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about it and continue to do so– a sign of a good read. There’s a lot to ponder and much of it is delivered in a witty and ironic way. There were a few twists along the way, and while the ending may be a little too tidy, I would recommend the book for those who like their stories a little quirky.
**Thanks to NetGalley who provided me with an ARC of this book in an exchange for an honest review
Along the way, Anna and Lars gain two companions: Jim, a neighbor in his early 20s who also suffers from a lack of direction, and a teacher who sees something of herself in them (although as an atheist who grew up in a devout household it’s expressed differently).
I really liked Anna and the story kept me flipping the pages, even when events turned a bit improbable. When I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about it and continue to do so– a sign of a good read. There’s a lot to ponder and much of it is delivered in a witty and ironic way. There were a few twists along the way, and while the ending may be a little too tidy, I would recommend the book for those who like their stories a little quirky.
**Thanks to NetGalley who provided me with an ARC of this book in an exchange for an honest review
April 15, 2015
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Not quite sure what to make of this book. I did enjoy it, hence the four stars, but it was quite a dismal foray inside the head of a depressed and very susceptible teenager.
The main character, Anna, revels and wallows in her own misery, and it’s hard to say whether she has a mental illness or is being overly dramatic. She has little to be miserable about, which is a statement in itself. But when tragedy strikes she finally realises how much worse life can get.
Religion is at the heart of the story, and the author works hard to show the ease with which vulnerable people can be sucked into what is almost a cult. At first Anna enjoys the self-flagellation of her religious choice – the ostracism at school, the scarcity of creature comforts at Lars’ house. She even envies Lars because his parents’ apparent lack of concern for him.
With selfish disregard toward the people who care about her, Anna drags them into events that could have had far-reaching consequences for them.
All in all, Anna is not a likeable or empathetic character, but rather one I wanted to shake some sense into.
Even with all the above comments, I still enjoyed this tale and was compelled to read until I finished: the sign of good storytelling.
Not quite sure what to make of this book. I did enjoy it, hence the four stars, but it was quite a dismal foray inside the head of a depressed and very susceptible teenager.
The main character, Anna, revels and wallows in her own misery, and it’s hard to say whether she has a mental illness or is being overly dramatic. She has little to be miserable about, which is a statement in itself. But when tragedy strikes she finally realises how much worse life can get.
Religion is at the heart of the story, and the author works hard to show the ease with which vulnerable people can be sucked into what is almost a cult. At first Anna enjoys the self-flagellation of her religious choice – the ostracism at school, the scarcity of creature comforts at Lars’ house. She even envies Lars because his parents’ apparent lack of concern for him.
With selfish disregard toward the people who care about her, Anna drags them into events that could have had far-reaching consequences for them.
All in all, Anna is not a likeable or empathetic character, but rather one I wanted to shake some sense into.
Even with all the above comments, I still enjoyed this tale and was compelled to read until I finished: the sign of good storytelling.
June 24, 2015
Set in Sunnyvale CA, coming of Age Anna Franklin (18) is caught up in her neighbors Lars Goldschmidt religious cult; Tribulations at the end of the day.
Reverend Michael of the Third Temple Commission showed Lar’s the ropes.
The groups focus is to the group's efforts to breed a pure Red Heifer in hopes it will fulfill their 3rd prophecy (Revelations).
Jim Fulson & Clara (Chemistry teacher) are Anna’s confidants as she struggles with both mental/medical issues & the cult.
How will their lives turnout?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great movie, or mini TV series. To be continued. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Atlantic Monthly Press; ARC; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Reverend Michael of the Third Temple Commission showed Lar’s the ropes.
The groups focus is to the group's efforts to breed a pure Red Heifer in hopes it will fulfill their 3rd prophecy (Revelations).
Jim Fulson & Clara (Chemistry teacher) are Anna’s confidants as she struggles with both mental/medical issues & the cult.
How will their lives turnout?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great movie, or mini TV series. To be continued. A very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Atlantic Monthly Press; ARC; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
September 14, 2016
What an odd and interesting book.
Anna's mind works in different ways from others. She's depressed, obsessive, longing for death. Her parents, predictably, have no idea what to do for her. When she seems to find some joy, they try to overlook her fascination with a doomsday cult. They hope it will be a phase that will pass.
Instead, the search for the end of days becomes central to her life, and she follows a path that could not have been predicted at the beginning of the saga. She is alone and not lonely, shifting her understanding of the world as her situation continues to change.
No spoilers here, but this is a fascinating story of a girl who makes huge choices based on an adolescent's understanding of the world. The big understandings -- of death, faith, sex, and love -- come ever so slowly, after Anna has already taken action based on her immature but mindful thinking. She is certifiably "mentally ill", yet there is a logic and fascination with seeing what, in fact, she will do, and how it will all end up.
The writer tends to use short, episodic chapters in the beginning, lending the book a distracting and incomplete feeling, a sense of too many epiphanies. Later, the logic of Anna's actions, though, is compelling...perhaps too much like "real life" to ignore.
So interesting.
Anna's mind works in different ways from others. She's depressed, obsessive, longing for death. Her parents, predictably, have no idea what to do for her. When she seems to find some joy, they try to overlook her fascination with a doomsday cult. They hope it will be a phase that will pass.
Instead, the search for the end of days becomes central to her life, and she follows a path that could not have been predicted at the beginning of the saga. She is alone and not lonely, shifting her understanding of the world as her situation continues to change.
No spoilers here, but this is a fascinating story of a girl who makes huge choices based on an adolescent's understanding of the world. The big understandings -- of death, faith, sex, and love -- come ever so slowly, after Anna has already taken action based on her immature but mindful thinking. She is certifiably "mentally ill", yet there is a logic and fascination with seeing what, in fact, she will do, and how it will all end up.
The writer tends to use short, episodic chapters in the beginning, lending the book a distracting and incomplete feeling, a sense of too many epiphanies. Later, the logic of Anna's actions, though, is compelling...perhaps too much like "real life" to ignore.
So interesting.
August 21, 2015
Well-written, original and compelling, this is a coming-of-age story with a difference. Anna is a deeply troubled teenager who feels out of place and alienated from her family and peers. Then she comes under the sway of Lars, her next door neighbour and his fundamentalist faith. He and his family believe in the coming End of Days and Anna finds their belief gives her a purpose and meaning to her life. On one level this is a family drama and an exploration of mental health and adolescent angst, and on the other an exploration of fundamentalist faith and ideology. I found it a real page-turner, in spite of some of its more bizarre episodes, particularly with the scheme to breed a perfect red heifer (look it up, it’s a weird but true story). It’s a complex and multi-layered story, a psychological thriller and at the same time a very human story of an unhappy girl, the problem she has fitting in and the lack of understanding she receives even from her own parents. I very much enjoyed the book, and felt it was an intelligent exploration of some very complex issues.
January 14, 2025
Alice LaPlante has apparently written quite a few other books that are of a different genre than this one but this is the first book I've read of hers so I have no basis for comparison. I quite enjoyed it. Anna was a wonderful, wonderful character. Ms. LaPlante's descriptions of the depressive episodes were very accurate and expertly done. Her prose is brilliant. Though I liked the movement of the story around Anna there were a few characters that felt like filler. They were flat and honestly didn't do much to advance the story. However, Anna was so vivid that it (mostly) made up for it. I also felt that the ending was a little anti-climactic. It just...ended. There was no resolution or epiphany. The story just stopped. Other than those criticisms I was really taken with the story and with Anna.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2016
There's something clearly wrong with Anna. First the depression, followed by visions/hallucinations and then religious fervor point to something being not quite right. But what that is, exactly, isn't clear. Is she truly somehow chosen? Her parents' reaction is a little puzzling (if Anna were my child, I'd have her seeing a doctor and therapist) but given their other issues, not altogether surprising. As the book progresses, Anna seems to become more and more unmoored but then develops a clarity of purpose that may surprise readers. The ending feels a little off, perhaps a little too predictable and abrupt. This might be a problematic read for evangelicals and nonbelievers alike.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
August 9, 2015
I typically love Alice LaPlante's books - her psychological thrillers. This is a move into more general fiction and while I loved the premise and enjoyed it, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. This is the story of Anna - a teenager who becomes clinically depressed. Her parents are obsessed in their own ways and can't seem to understand or help Anna. A new family moves in the neighborhood who are involved in an End of Days cult religion and she awakens from her depression to become engrossed in this religious fervor. Throw in the son, an older neighbor and a chemistry teacher and they become Anna's world. Ending explained a lot but kind of wrapped things up a little too neatly.
August 15, 2016
I just grabbed this one off the "new" shelf at the library. The premise - a depressed teen who becomes energized through involvement with a religious cult - sounded intriguing. The book held my interest well enough but was nothing spectacular. It did make me ponder severe depression, family secrets, and religious zealots. The ending was rather abrupt but appropriate enough. I think at that point, I was ready for it to end. I appreciated the epilogue.
November 20, 2016
So much more than I thought
This book was much more than I was expecting. I wasn't necessarily in love with every aspect of the authors writing style but I love Anna & I love Jim. I I thought it was a bit long but I enjoyed the different stages that Anna went through. I would have liked a more detailed end/conclusion to the story.
This book was much more than I was expecting. I wasn't necessarily in love with every aspect of the authors writing style but I love Anna & I love Jim. I I thought it was a bit long but I enjoyed the different stages that Anna went through. I would have liked a more detailed end/conclusion to the story.
could-not-finish
July 21, 201525% in and can't get into this book. It's not for me.
ARC provided by NetGalley. No star rating given since I didn't complete the book.
ARC provided by NetGalley. No star rating given since I didn't complete the book.
January 12, 2016
I was intrigued all the way through but disappointed in the end. I LOVED Turn Of Mind and was hoping for a similar "can't put it down" experience. Not quite.
July 11, 2017
I thought the buildup and plot of this book was, for the most part, really interesting. LaPlante created brilliant tension with Anna's extremist beliefs and dreams. She portrays Anna's depression in a way that, honestly, I could really relate to. I believed her desperation and need to turn to the End-of-Days cult. And then the book went off the rails for me. It just felt like it jumped the shark. Once. Twice. More!
The conclusion let me down. It just felt ...flat.
The book delves into several factions of extremist Christian ideology, but doesn't do so with any discernable thought or feeling about it, which, to be frank, I found disturbing in today's political climate, where Christian extremists have made dangerous inroads to the seats of power in the US.
If you're looking for a diverse cast of interesting characters, steer clear. This book is mayo on Wonder Bread white. There is zero representation of LGBT folx On the whole, I think all the characters could have used more personality.
The conclusion let me down. It just felt ...flat.
The book delves into several factions of extremist Christian ideology, but doesn't do so with any discernable thought or feeling about it, which, to be frank, I found disturbing in today's political climate, where Christian extremists have made dangerous inroads to the seats of power in the US.
If you're looking for a diverse cast of interesting characters, steer clear. This book is mayo on Wonder Bread white. There is zero representation of LGBT folx On the whole, I think all the characters could have used more personality.
August 1, 2024
This is the first book I've read by this author so I can't compare it to any previous works. But, having read other books I can say the ending felt rushed. It was going well until the last seventy or so pages. It felt as though the publisher said "Give me an ending NOW" and that's what she did. She spewed words into her PC. It wasn't satisfying and didn't go with the previous three hundred or so pages. The ending effected my rating (between two and three stars). I'm sticking with three stars so I don't damage the author's rating too badly.
I was able to read this book through my local library's Libby program.
I was able to read this book through my local library's Libby program.
November 29, 2017
Teenage angst and the religious cult doesn't mix well.
Depressed teenager Anna discovers a religious cult immersed in rapture and soaks in its teachings and her own visions.
Sounds interesting? Yes, but it is not. It is sa psychedelic, angst-filled ride, but this ride has no aim, almost no interesting plot and a very little literary "fuel" to keep your interest.
I would go for 1 star, but there are few interesting thoughts and I liked the character of no-nonsense teacher Ms Thadeous.
Depressed teenager Anna discovers a religious cult immersed in rapture and soaks in its teachings and her own visions.
Sounds interesting? Yes, but it is not. It is sa psychedelic, angst-filled ride, but this ride has no aim, almost no interesting plot and a very little literary "fuel" to keep your interest.
I would go for 1 star, but there are few interesting thoughts and I liked the character of no-nonsense teacher Ms Thadeous.
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