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The Spaces In Between
One of the most disturbing true stories you will ever read…
Paris, 1968. Nicholas finds himself broke, without papers and on the verge of being deported back to England. Seeking to stay in France, Nicholas takes a three-month contract as an English tutor to the 17-year-old Imperial Highness Natalya. It is the perfect solution; free room and board, his wages saved, and a place to hide from police raids. All that is asked of Nicholas is to obey the lifestyle of the household and not to leave the grounds.
It should have solved all his problems…
The Spaces In Between details the experience of Nicholas as he finds himself an unwitting prisoner within an aristocratic household, apparently frozen in time, and surrounded by macabre and eccentric personalities who seem determined to drag him to the point of insanity. Much deeper runs a question every reader is left to ponder – if this tale is fact and not fiction, then what motivation could have driven his tormenters?
Paris, 1968. Nicholas finds himself broke, without papers and on the verge of being deported back to England. Seeking to stay in France, Nicholas takes a three-month contract as an English tutor to the 17-year-old Imperial Highness Natalya. It is the perfect solution; free room and board, his wages saved, and a place to hide from police raids. All that is asked of Nicholas is to obey the lifestyle of the household and not to leave the grounds.
It should have solved all his problems…
The Spaces In Between details the experience of Nicholas as he finds himself an unwitting prisoner within an aristocratic household, apparently frozen in time, and surrounded by macabre and eccentric personalities who seem determined to drag him to the point of insanity. Much deeper runs a question every reader is left to ponder – if this tale is fact and not fiction, then what motivation could have driven his tormenters?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2018
1 person is currently reading
54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 22, 2017
I received an e-ARC of The Spaces in Between by Collin Van Reenan from NetGalley and the Publishers in exchange for an honest review.
There's just so much going on in this book that I have no idea where to start. I think I'll have to begin with the cover. Its absolutely GORGEOUS! Part of the attraction of the book for me was the cover.
The Spaces in Between focuses on Nicholas and is narrated from his point of view as he finds himself trapped in a household with, lets just say "eccentric" people. From the very beginning, the reader can sense that something is wrong but what makes the mystery fun is that there is no way to know how it ends! It could be supernatural, realistic or a psychological thriller! I was just as in the dark about what was going on as Nicholas!
The book has a bunch of great characters but unfortunately, you don't get to know them much through the story since the whole point of the story seems to be that Nicholas knows absolutely nothing. However, I still did enjoy reading about them through his Point of View (however limited it was).
The book begins with a fictional "foreword" from Nicholas' psychologist, which somehow enhanced that mysterious feeling of the story.. The plot of the book was beautifully executed and the writing style was wonderful.
If I had one complaint however, it would be the ending. I'm not entirely sure if I missed something or if the author wanted it to be that way but I didn't quite understand what exactly happened. The title of the book while quite mysterious, was not well explained either.
There's just so much going on in this book that I have no idea where to start. I think I'll have to begin with the cover. Its absolutely GORGEOUS! Part of the attraction of the book for me was the cover.
The Spaces in Between focuses on Nicholas and is narrated from his point of view as he finds himself trapped in a household with, lets just say "eccentric" people. From the very beginning, the reader can sense that something is wrong but what makes the mystery fun is that there is no way to know how it ends! It could be supernatural, realistic or a psychological thriller! I was just as in the dark about what was going on as Nicholas!
The book has a bunch of great characters but unfortunately, you don't get to know them much through the story since the whole point of the story seems to be that Nicholas knows absolutely nothing. However, I still did enjoy reading about them through his Point of View (however limited it was).
The book begins with a fictional "foreword" from Nicholas' psychologist, which somehow enhanced that mysterious feeling of the story.. The plot of the book was beautifully executed and the writing style was wonderful.
If I had one complaint however, it would be the ending. I'm not entirely sure if I missed something or if the author wanted it to be that way but I didn't quite understand what exactly happened. The title of the book while quite mysterious, was not well explained either.
February 20, 2018
What a strange and unusual story this is. The fact that it is true is mind boggling.
Poor Nicholas is in his early twenties and a bit down on his luck. Then low and behold a friend tells him of an English tutor position that is available and that also includes room and board. Finally he feels like things in his life are starting to look up.
So many warning signs he ignores. A bronze placard at the door which translates to "Let idle talk be silenced. Let laughter be banished. Here is the place where Death delights to succour Life." And so our tale begins and what a hallucinatory experience it is. I won't get into the details but this is one of the most disturbing stories I've read. Not gruesome, mind you. Just manipulative mind tricks that have Nicholas, and us the readers, questioning everything that is happening.
This is something I think you'll just have to read for yourself. To explain it would spoil everything.
It's well written and had me absolutely riveted to the pages.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Poor Nicholas is in his early twenties and a bit down on his luck. Then low and behold a friend tells him of an English tutor position that is available and that also includes room and board. Finally he feels like things in his life are starting to look up.
So many warning signs he ignores. A bronze placard at the door which translates to "Let idle talk be silenced. Let laughter be banished. Here is the place where Death delights to succour Life." And so our tale begins and what a hallucinatory experience it is. I won't get into the details but this is one of the most disturbing stories I've read. Not gruesome, mind you. Just manipulative mind tricks that have Nicholas, and us the readers, questioning everything that is happening.
This is something I think you'll just have to read for yourself. To explain it would spoil everything.
It's well written and had me absolutely riveted to the pages.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 31, 2018
Netgalley #34
Many thanks to Von Reenan, Red Door, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
I failed to see the point of this novel. Yes, I read it and I highlighted all over it. But I just don't understand why
So the text ends with,"there is truth and there is lies, there is fact and there is fiction, there is life and there is death. And then there is are the spaces in between." So my assumption is speaking about the shades of grey as opposed to all of the areas of black and white in society and how to turn one into the other???? I have no idea. The book was confusing. And strange. The plot just seemed like a really weird off kilter way of expressing that sentiment.
I didn't like it. It was not my favorite. I think there have been other authors who have tackled this same topic more successfully.
Many thanks to Von Reenan, Red Door, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
I failed to see the point of this novel. Yes, I read it and I highlighted all over it. But I just don't understand why
So the text ends with,"there is truth and there is lies, there is fact and there is fiction, there is life and there is death. And then there is are the spaces in between." So my assumption is speaking about the shades of grey as opposed to all of the areas of black and white in society and how to turn one into the other???? I have no idea. The book was confusing. And strange. The plot just seemed like a really weird off kilter way of expressing that sentiment.
I didn't like it. It was not my favorite. I think there have been other authors who have tackled this same topic more successfully.
February 10, 2018
Before I even talk about what I thought of the book, I have to say that the cover of The Spaces in Between is absolutely magnificent. At first glance, I just saw a Venetian style mask but on looking more closely I noticed the skeleton underneath and then my eye was drawn to the amazing detail of the mask itself. The whole story is told in this mask so it's worth lingering a little longer on the cover before diving into the book.
It is clear from the preface that this is an unusual book. The preface is written from the point of view of Marie-Claire, a doctor of psychology. Newly qualified, Nicholas is her first patient and he has given Marie-Claire permission to publish his story. A story that is so unbelievable, I had to keep reminding myself it was true. It is the truth as Nicholas remembers it in his bewildered state after his escape from the house.
Even before a chapter was named Danse Macabre I had the memorable piece by Saint-Saëns playing in my head and I think it would be the perfect theme song for this book as Nicholas is manipulated and manoeuvred into place like a puppet. He is powerless to resist the charms of Natalya, the Russian princess he is employed to teach, and her guardian, Madame Lili. As his stay in the house lengthens, Nicholas starts to see figures in monochrome including Russian soldiers in the library and a family walking in the garden. Only one member of the family is in colour, the mysterious Tatiana, but only Nicholas can see her.
I loved the format of the book with Marie-Claire talking about her patient, Nicholas. It gives a level of credence to the story that could very easily be mistaken as fiction without such endorsement. I was fascinated and intrigued from start to finish and it felt so very psychedelic at times that I think I will need to read the book again to appreciate every little nuance.
It's an astonishing true story, written so very vividly that you can easily picture each scene, both monochrome and technicolour, in your mind. Scenes of life in colour, scenes of death in monochrome but what colour are The Spaces in Between? A very enjoyable read with dark gothic undertones and trippy psychedelic moments that make it impossible to separate fact from fiction, leaving the reader limited only by their imagination.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
It is clear from the preface that this is an unusual book. The preface is written from the point of view of Marie-Claire, a doctor of psychology. Newly qualified, Nicholas is her first patient and he has given Marie-Claire permission to publish his story. A story that is so unbelievable, I had to keep reminding myself it was true. It is the truth as Nicholas remembers it in his bewildered state after his escape from the house.
Even before a chapter was named Danse Macabre I had the memorable piece by Saint-Saëns playing in my head and I think it would be the perfect theme song for this book as Nicholas is manipulated and manoeuvred into place like a puppet. He is powerless to resist the charms of Natalya, the Russian princess he is employed to teach, and her guardian, Madame Lili. As his stay in the house lengthens, Nicholas starts to see figures in monochrome including Russian soldiers in the library and a family walking in the garden. Only one member of the family is in colour, the mysterious Tatiana, but only Nicholas can see her.
I loved the format of the book with Marie-Claire talking about her patient, Nicholas. It gives a level of credence to the story that could very easily be mistaken as fiction without such endorsement. I was fascinated and intrigued from start to finish and it felt so very psychedelic at times that I think I will need to read the book again to appreciate every little nuance.
It's an astonishing true story, written so very vividly that you can easily picture each scene, both monochrome and technicolour, in your mind. Scenes of life in colour, scenes of death in monochrome but what colour are The Spaces in Between? A very enjoyable read with dark gothic undertones and trippy psychedelic moments that make it impossible to separate fact from fiction, leaving the reader limited only by their imagination.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
January 31, 2018
**RATING 3.5**
What is real? And what is fiction? These are the questions that will constantly replay in your mind on a loop as you delve into the dark and mysterious pages of THE SPACES IN BETWEEN by Collin Van Reenan.
In 1968 Nicholas finds himself more or less destitute in Paris, desperate to find a job and remain under the radar. Becoming a tutor to Natalya seems to be the perfect job for him but he soon realises that all is not what it seems behind the walls of this household. Everyone must dress and follow the Victorian lifestyle down to the very last detail and obedience is essential at all times. Stuck in what seems like a time warp, it is not long before Nicholas feels trapped, but can he truly escape ...
Deftly weaving between fact and fiction, this is a creepy and intriguing story that blurs the lines of reality, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are fascinating and although I didn't always feel connected to them, it did not take away from my enjoyment of this tale. THE SPACES IN BETWEEN by Collin Van Reenan is an unusual story with a gothic feel to it and would suit anyone who enjoys a plot where not everything can be explained away - a solid story!!
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
What is real? And what is fiction? These are the questions that will constantly replay in your mind on a loop as you delve into the dark and mysterious pages of THE SPACES IN BETWEEN by Collin Van Reenan.
In 1968 Nicholas finds himself more or less destitute in Paris, desperate to find a job and remain under the radar. Becoming a tutor to Natalya seems to be the perfect job for him but he soon realises that all is not what it seems behind the walls of this household. Everyone must dress and follow the Victorian lifestyle down to the very last detail and obedience is essential at all times. Stuck in what seems like a time warp, it is not long before Nicholas feels trapped, but can he truly escape ...
Deftly weaving between fact and fiction, this is a creepy and intriguing story that blurs the lines of reality, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are fascinating and although I didn't always feel connected to them, it did not take away from my enjoyment of this tale. THE SPACES IN BETWEEN by Collin Van Reenan is an unusual story with a gothic feel to it and would suit anyone who enjoys a plot where not everything can be explained away - a solid story!!
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
February 2, 2018
The Spaces in Between is a story about a young man, named Nicholas and his tale of horror he experienced while tutoring a young girl in a mysteriously gothic manor. We first meet Nicholas while being treated by a psychiatrist for insomnia and clinical depression. It is here that we learn why he is having so many issues. His time in the manor… The doctor treating him, Dr. Groller comes up with an idea for him to write everything down, each and every detail of time there, so she can know how to help him. And this is where the real story begins.
In 1968, Nicholas has found himself with no money and no where to go, so when an opportunity for wages and board comes open, he takes it. He’s young, smart, why wouldn’t he take a position tutoring a young lady. Who happens to be the Imperial Highness Natalya, the Grand Duchess’ niece of Russia. Natalya suffers from a hereditary “illness” and expects things a certain way. The manor has no electricity, only oil lamps. All staff dresses like those who live in the Victorian era and all live within the grounds, and no ones leaves the grounds. All in all, this is a strange place.
With so many staff living in the manor, we don’t get to know all of them, most of it is passing through here and there. I don’t think even Nicholas knows all that much about them. The whole house and those in are mysterious and guarded. Madame Amelie, Natalya’s spiritual adviser was one frightening woman though. She held a lot of control over pretty much everything. With so many strange happenings, and no one wanting to talk about them, Nicholas is trapped there, he’s basically a prisoner. Escaping is his only hope though. Only after some awful things that transpired, he does make it out. I want to tell so you about so many things that happened, but I do not want to give anything away either. Ugh..
This is a dark and strange world that Nicholas found himself in, and we’re left with was it all real? I will say, Reehan did a fantastic job keeping it all right on the line between reality and imagined. I even questioned some of what took place and I do like when a book can do that. So, I really enjoyed this one!
In 1968, Nicholas has found himself with no money and no where to go, so when an opportunity for wages and board comes open, he takes it. He’s young, smart, why wouldn’t he take a position tutoring a young lady. Who happens to be the Imperial Highness Natalya, the Grand Duchess’ niece of Russia. Natalya suffers from a hereditary “illness” and expects things a certain way. The manor has no electricity, only oil lamps. All staff dresses like those who live in the Victorian era and all live within the grounds, and no ones leaves the grounds. All in all, this is a strange place.
With so many staff living in the manor, we don’t get to know all of them, most of it is passing through here and there. I don’t think even Nicholas knows all that much about them. The whole house and those in are mysterious and guarded. Madame Amelie, Natalya’s spiritual adviser was one frightening woman though. She held a lot of control over pretty much everything. With so many strange happenings, and no one wanting to talk about them, Nicholas is trapped there, he’s basically a prisoner. Escaping is his only hope though. Only after some awful things that transpired, he does make it out. I want to tell so you about so many things that happened, but I do not want to give anything away either. Ugh..
This is a dark and strange world that Nicholas found himself in, and we’re left with was it all real? I will say, Reehan did a fantastic job keeping it all right on the line between reality and imagined. I even questioned some of what took place and I do like when a book can do that. So, I really enjoyed this one!
January 29, 2018
The cover drew me in to begin with! So much mystery and that follows on when you get inside the book! It is one of those books that you never quite put your finger on as to what is happening - is it supernatural? Is it horror? Is it drama?! Well, it's all 3! I found it to be a really fascinating mix of mystery and intrigue and it kept me engrossed throughout.
We start with the viewpoint of the Doctor of Psychiatry who is talking about one of her patients whose case has her baffled. She then makes him write his story out and that is what we then read and get to know Nicholas and what had been happening to him that had left him in such a state! He was running out of money fast and had nowhere to go, when a mysterious job opportunity opened up to teach English to a young woman in an aristocratic household. And this is where the fun/madness begins!
It isn't your normal household!! If you like your characters weird and disturbed then you're in luck! The household have to live in Victorian conditions - no electricity, no tv or radio - just oil lamps, candles and coal fires - to appease the Grand Duchess. His pupil is the Princess Nataliya who is 17 and has an illness that leaves her unable to leave the home. There is also a very dark side to her mental condition and Nicholas soon gets to witness this first hand.
This book does a great job of leaving you guessing as to whether you are reading fact or fiction. Could a household live like this and all the strange goings on, did they really happen? There was always a really unsettling feeling about what was happening, and what would happen next! I did find the first half of the book much more enthralling as I found the story did run out of steam a little towards the end, but it still made for such a fascinating read
thank you to the publishers for the advanced readers copy in return for a fair and honest review
February 11, 2018
*** ARC provided by the author for an honest review ***
Nicholas is being treated for insomnia and clinical depression. The story that is about to unfold is very descriptive and shockingly titillating. The doctor requests of him that he tell his story by writing down every detail that he can bring himself to remember. This is The Spaces In Between by Collin Van Reenan. A story that makes the reader question their own sanity and that of the household.
The year is 1968. Paris. Nicholas is in a precarious situation where he must find work or be deported back to England. He signs on for a three month contract to be a tutor for an Imperial Highness. However, he may have signed on for more than he knows.
As the reader comes to find, the job that Nicholas finds himself in, is not one that leads to the comfort of his sanity. Nicholas believes that this is the perfect opportunity for himself. He happily complies with the dress code and rules put forth by his employers. The situation is within a Victorian lifestyle. However, the residents of this household are not quite sane themselves. Something is not quite right here in this household. As the story unfolds, there are many layers and questions that cause the reader to wonder, what is really happening behind these closed doors.
This was a good read. I was fascinated by how the story continued to grow overtime. I wasn’t quite sure what would happen, and this was what kept me reading. This is a book that makes the reader question the sanity of not only those around them, but of themselves. This book also makes the reader question their beliefs and the realities of the world around them.
Four stars
Nicholas is being treated for insomnia and clinical depression. The story that is about to unfold is very descriptive and shockingly titillating. The doctor requests of him that he tell his story by writing down every detail that he can bring himself to remember. This is The Spaces In Between by Collin Van Reenan. A story that makes the reader question their own sanity and that of the household.
The year is 1968. Paris. Nicholas is in a precarious situation where he must find work or be deported back to England. He signs on for a three month contract to be a tutor for an Imperial Highness. However, he may have signed on for more than he knows.
As the reader comes to find, the job that Nicholas finds himself in, is not one that leads to the comfort of his sanity. Nicholas believes that this is the perfect opportunity for himself. He happily complies with the dress code and rules put forth by his employers. The situation is within a Victorian lifestyle. However, the residents of this household are not quite sane themselves. Something is not quite right here in this household. As the story unfolds, there are many layers and questions that cause the reader to wonder, what is really happening behind these closed doors.
This was a good read. I was fascinated by how the story continued to grow overtime. I wasn’t quite sure what would happen, and this was what kept me reading. This is a book that makes the reader question the sanity of not only those around them, but of themselves. This book also makes the reader question their beliefs and the realities of the world around them.
Four stars
February 18, 2018
I would like to thank Red Door Publishing and the author Collin Van Reenan for the ARC of The Spaces In Between in return for an honest review.
I loved this exciting historical thriller and found it virtually impossible to put down.
It is a complex and sophisticated story about the tricks our minds can play on us when manipulated by forces intent on harming us. It has a dark heart and a complex atmosphere that seeps of the page into the readers mind.
The characters are layered with elements of good and bad and no one is whom they initially seem to be. I often had to reevaluate my opinions of them all and was overjoyed at how the writer managed to bring them to life in a way that was surprising and unexpected.
The combination of the historical/thriller elements gives it an added layer of interest. I found myself absorbed into the period the characters are immersed in and become as isolated within the walls of the house as Nicholas.
If you are looking for a riveting read, this would be a good choice. It’s complex and fast flowing, rewarding and addictive.
I loved this exciting historical thriller and found it virtually impossible to put down.
It is a complex and sophisticated story about the tricks our minds can play on us when manipulated by forces intent on harming us. It has a dark heart and a complex atmosphere that seeps of the page into the readers mind.
The characters are layered with elements of good and bad and no one is whom they initially seem to be. I often had to reevaluate my opinions of them all and was overjoyed at how the writer managed to bring them to life in a way that was surprising and unexpected.
The combination of the historical/thriller elements gives it an added layer of interest. I found myself absorbed into the period the characters are immersed in and become as isolated within the walls of the house as Nicholas.
If you are looking for a riveting read, this would be a good choice. It’s complex and fast flowing, rewarding and addictive.
September 27, 2022
I recently read Dinner With Eloise by this author and I loved how eerie and atmospheric it was. This one I actually loved even more. In fact, it blew my mind knowing this was based on true events!
The story follows Nicholas who lives for a few months in a gothic manor which has various eccentric people living there. They all live as if they are in the Victorian era. They wear old style clothes, there is no electricity and no one is allowed to leave the house. Nicholas tutors a young Russian princess who has a mysterious illness.
Lots of odd goings on happens that are very unnerving. You start to wonder what is actually going on. Is Nicholas seeing ghosts? Is he being drugged? Is he losing his mind? So much happens that you will question everything as some awful things occur. The book has a chapter or two from Nicholas’ psychologist’s point of view who makes the story feel more realistic and believable.
I can’t say too much of what actually occurs as it would spoil the story for you. But if you like a mystery that has a gothic/paranormal feel to it, this is one you will be completely engrossed in. I felt quite on edge reading each page!
The Spaces In Between is a well written novel that was thought provoking and left me feeling quite emotional. The author decided to write about his traumatic experiences fifty years later. It has taken him a lot of courage to write and come to terms with what happened to him. I would like to thank him for approaching me and sending me a copy. It is genuinely one I will treasure and be thinking about for many years to come.
The story follows Nicholas who lives for a few months in a gothic manor which has various eccentric people living there. They all live as if they are in the Victorian era. They wear old style clothes, there is no electricity and no one is allowed to leave the house. Nicholas tutors a young Russian princess who has a mysterious illness.
Lots of odd goings on happens that are very unnerving. You start to wonder what is actually going on. Is Nicholas seeing ghosts? Is he being drugged? Is he losing his mind? So much happens that you will question everything as some awful things occur. The book has a chapter or two from Nicholas’ psychologist’s point of view who makes the story feel more realistic and believable.
I can’t say too much of what actually occurs as it would spoil the story for you. But if you like a mystery that has a gothic/paranormal feel to it, this is one you will be completely engrossed in. I felt quite on edge reading each page!
The Spaces In Between is a well written novel that was thought provoking and left me feeling quite emotional. The author decided to write about his traumatic experiences fifty years later. It has taken him a lot of courage to write and come to terms with what happened to him. I would like to thank him for approaching me and sending me a copy. It is genuinely one I will treasure and be thinking about for many years to come.
October 10, 2019
3 1/2 stars.
Review in English:
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I would like to thank NetGalley and Publisher RedDoor Publishing again for this incredible opportunity.
Publication date: February 16th, 2018
"There is truth and there are lies; there is fiction and there is fact; there is life and there is death; and then there are the spaces in between."
This was definitely a weird book. It implies that it's a real story and that the main character is the author of the book. Is he really? It wasn't clear to me. Well, it was, but it's almost unbelievable that it's real, and if it really is, it's a very sad story.
At the beginning of the book we are introduced to Nicholas, a young man who should be full of life, but who is totally broken, the result of something terrible that happened in his past. We are informed by his psychologist that the report of what happened will be published with the consent of the patient.
We are then transported to 1968 Paris. Nicholas is an unemployed student and is on the verge of living on the street. As a result, he accepts a job as an English tutor for a 17-year-old Russian royalty. The problem is that this girl apparently has psychological problems and must be confined to her home, living as if she was in the Victorian age. And if Nicholas accepts the job, he must agree to stay in this house, without ever leaving, for three months.
Needless to say, strange things begin to happen, right? Very strange things. We come to question ourselves about what is real and what is not, and even the most skeptical are led to believe that perhaps something supernatural is happening.
The story is very strange. From the first few pages I felt this sensation of strangeness, a feeling that something very bad was about to happen. We meet very strange and mysterious characters and wonder all the time what is happening. An Nicholas, the poor guy, is completely lost, just like us, for this is something told to us by him.
It's a very interesting book, full of mysteries, where you don't know what is real and what is not.
I gave it 3 1/2 stars because it didn't catch my attention as much as I wanted. It's a short book, but it took me a long time to read it through. And the explanations, like some things that happen, are too fast. Some of the main character's feelings are too fast and intense (well, maybe that has to do with the explanation at the end, but I still find it a bit rushed).
But I enjoyed the book and recommend it to those who like books with a darker atmosphere, in which you don't quite know what is happening, being carried away by the plot.
"Just because you don't believe in it, it doesn't mean you're safe."
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Resenha em português:
Recebi acesso antecipado a este livro através da NetGalley em troca da minha opinião honesta. Gostaria de agradecer novamente à NetGalley e à Editora RedDoor Publishing por esta incrível oportunidade.
Data de publicação: 16 de fevereiro de 2018
"Há a verdade e há a mentira; há a ficção e há os fatos; há vida e há a morte; e então há os espaços no meio (spaces in between)."
Definitivamente esse foi um livro bem estranho. Dá a entender que é uma história real e que o personagem principal é o autor do livro. Será? Não ficou claro pra mim. Na verdade ficou, mas é quase inacreditável que seja real e, se realmente for, é uma história muito triste.
No início do livro conhecemos Nicholas, um rapaz que devia ser cheio de vida, mas que está totalmente quebrado, fruto de algo terrível que aconteceu em seu passado. Somos informados por sua psicóloga que o relato do que aconteceu será publicado com a autorização do paciente.
Somos transportados então para a Paris de 1968. Nicholas é um estudante desempregado e que se encontra à beira de morar na rua. Por conta disso, ele aceita um emprego como tutor de inglês de uma moça de 17 anos, membro da realeza russa. O problema é que essa moça aparentemente tem problemas psicológicos e deve ficar confinada em casa, vivendo como se estivesse na era vitoriana. E se Nicholas aceitar o trabalho, deve concordar em permanecer nesta casa, sem nunca sair, por três meses.
Nem preciso dizer que coisas estranhas começam a acontecer, não é? Coisas muito estranhas. Passamos a nos questionar sobre o que é real e o que não é, e até os mais céticos são levados a acreditar que talvez algo de sobrenatural esteja acontecendo.
A história é muito estranha. Desde as primeiras páginas senti essa sensação de estranheza, uma sensação de que algo de muito ruim estava prestes a acontecer. Conhecemos personagens muito estranhos e misteriosos e nos perguntamos o tempo todo o que está acontecendo. Nicholas, coitado, está completamente perdido, assim como nós, pois este é um relato dele.
É um livro muito interessante, cheio de mistérios, onde você não sabe o que é real e o que não é.
Dei 3 1/2 estrelas porque ele não conseguiu me prender tanto quanto eu gostaria. É um livro curto, mas demorei muito para lê-lo completamente. E as explicações, assim como algumas coisas que acontecem, são rápidas demais. Alguns sentimentos do personagem principal são rápidos e intensos demais (bom, talvez isso tenha a ver com a explicação no final, mas mesmo assim achei meio corrido).
Mas gostei do livro e recomendo para aqueles que gostam de livros com uma pegada mais sombria, na qual você não sabe bem o que está acontecendo, sendo levado pela trama.
"Só porque você não acredita, não significa que não seja real."
Review in English:
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I would like to thank NetGalley and Publisher RedDoor Publishing again for this incredible opportunity.
Publication date: February 16th, 2018
"There is truth and there are lies; there is fiction and there is fact; there is life and there is death; and then there are the spaces in between."
This was definitely a weird book. It implies that it's a real story and that the main character is the author of the book. Is he really? It wasn't clear to me. Well, it was, but it's almost unbelievable that it's real, and if it really is, it's a very sad story.
At the beginning of the book we are introduced to Nicholas, a young man who should be full of life, but who is totally broken, the result of something terrible that happened in his past. We are informed by his psychologist that the report of what happened will be published with the consent of the patient.
We are then transported to 1968 Paris. Nicholas is an unemployed student and is on the verge of living on the street. As a result, he accepts a job as an English tutor for a 17-year-old Russian royalty. The problem is that this girl apparently has psychological problems and must be confined to her home, living as if she was in the Victorian age. And if Nicholas accepts the job, he must agree to stay in this house, without ever leaving, for three months.
Needless to say, strange things begin to happen, right? Very strange things. We come to question ourselves about what is real and what is not, and even the most skeptical are led to believe that perhaps something supernatural is happening.
The story is very strange. From the first few pages I felt this sensation of strangeness, a feeling that something very bad was about to happen. We meet very strange and mysterious characters and wonder all the time what is happening. An Nicholas, the poor guy, is completely lost, just like us, for this is something told to us by him.
It's a very interesting book, full of mysteries, where you don't know what is real and what is not.
I gave it 3 1/2 stars because it didn't catch my attention as much as I wanted. It's a short book, but it took me a long time to read it through. And the explanations, like some things that happen, are too fast. Some of the main character's feelings are too fast and intense (well, maybe that has to do with the explanation at the end, but I still find it a bit rushed).
But I enjoyed the book and recommend it to those who like books with a darker atmosphere, in which you don't quite know what is happening, being carried away by the plot.
"Just because you don't believe in it, it doesn't mean you're safe."
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Resenha em português:
Recebi acesso antecipado a este livro através da NetGalley em troca da minha opinião honesta. Gostaria de agradecer novamente à NetGalley e à Editora RedDoor Publishing por esta incrível oportunidade.
Data de publicação: 16 de fevereiro de 2018
"Há a verdade e há a mentira; há a ficção e há os fatos; há vida e há a morte; e então há os espaços no meio (spaces in between)."
Definitivamente esse foi um livro bem estranho. Dá a entender que é uma história real e que o personagem principal é o autor do livro. Será? Não ficou claro pra mim. Na verdade ficou, mas é quase inacreditável que seja real e, se realmente for, é uma história muito triste.
No início do livro conhecemos Nicholas, um rapaz que devia ser cheio de vida, mas que está totalmente quebrado, fruto de algo terrível que aconteceu em seu passado. Somos informados por sua psicóloga que o relato do que aconteceu será publicado com a autorização do paciente.
Somos transportados então para a Paris de 1968. Nicholas é um estudante desempregado e que se encontra à beira de morar na rua. Por conta disso, ele aceita um emprego como tutor de inglês de uma moça de 17 anos, membro da realeza russa. O problema é que essa moça aparentemente tem problemas psicológicos e deve ficar confinada em casa, vivendo como se estivesse na era vitoriana. E se Nicholas aceitar o trabalho, deve concordar em permanecer nesta casa, sem nunca sair, por três meses.
Nem preciso dizer que coisas estranhas começam a acontecer, não é? Coisas muito estranhas. Passamos a nos questionar sobre o que é real e o que não é, e até os mais céticos são levados a acreditar que talvez algo de sobrenatural esteja acontecendo.
A história é muito estranha. Desde as primeiras páginas senti essa sensação de estranheza, uma sensação de que algo de muito ruim estava prestes a acontecer. Conhecemos personagens muito estranhos e misteriosos e nos perguntamos o tempo todo o que está acontecendo. Nicholas, coitado, está completamente perdido, assim como nós, pois este é um relato dele.
É um livro muito interessante, cheio de mistérios, onde você não sabe o que é real e o que não é.
Dei 3 1/2 estrelas porque ele não conseguiu me prender tanto quanto eu gostaria. É um livro curto, mas demorei muito para lê-lo completamente. E as explicações, assim como algumas coisas que acontecem, são rápidas demais. Alguns sentimentos do personagem principal são rápidos e intensos demais (bom, talvez isso tenha a ver com a explicação no final, mas mesmo assim achei meio corrido).
Mas gostei do livro e recomendo para aqueles que gostam de livros com uma pegada mais sombria, na qual você não sabe bem o que está acontecendo, sendo levado pela trama.
"Só porque você não acredita, não significa que não seja real."
February 8, 2018
Review originally posted on The Bibliophile Chronicles.
"The most dangerous lies are the lies we tell ourselves…”
This was such a strange and unusual story that hooked me in from start till finish. Nicholas takes a job as an English tutor for a young woman named Natayla. The house has some odd rules – there’s no electricity, you’re not allowed to leave and everyone thinks the Russian war is still going on. Despite this Nicholas stays on, he’s desperate and the job is good, but as things take a darker turn, he’s not altogether sure he made the right choice.
I love an unreliable narrator and that’s exactly what Nicholas is. The story is framed with a doctor who sees Nicholas as a patient and he recounts his fantastic story. But what he saw, was it real? I was constantly questioning if what he saw was ghosts, a hallucination or in fact real. It keep me desperate to know more because I was never really sure what was real and what wasn’t.
The characters were similarly duplicitous, and everyone seemed to have an alternative motive. Nicholas was a really interesting protagonist, trying to understand what happened to him, and exactly why it did. The ending was a bit of a shock, and I would never have guessed the truth. There were also plenty of creepy, unsettling moments and I loved the setting of the big old house with long corridors and moving shadows.
If you love a story with plenty of twists and creepy moments, The Spaces in Between is a fantastic read and should definitely be on your to be read list. It also has a completely stunning cover!
"The most dangerous lies are the lies we tell ourselves…”
This was such a strange and unusual story that hooked me in from start till finish. Nicholas takes a job as an English tutor for a young woman named Natayla. The house has some odd rules – there’s no electricity, you’re not allowed to leave and everyone thinks the Russian war is still going on. Despite this Nicholas stays on, he’s desperate and the job is good, but as things take a darker turn, he’s not altogether sure he made the right choice.
I love an unreliable narrator and that’s exactly what Nicholas is. The story is framed with a doctor who sees Nicholas as a patient and he recounts his fantastic story. But what he saw, was it real? I was constantly questioning if what he saw was ghosts, a hallucination or in fact real. It keep me desperate to know more because I was never really sure what was real and what wasn’t.
The characters were similarly duplicitous, and everyone seemed to have an alternative motive. Nicholas was a really interesting protagonist, trying to understand what happened to him, and exactly why it did. The ending was a bit of a shock, and I would never have guessed the truth. There were also plenty of creepy, unsettling moments and I loved the setting of the big old house with long corridors and moving shadows.
If you love a story with plenty of twists and creepy moments, The Spaces in Between is a fantastic read and should definitely be on your to be read list. It also has a completely stunning cover!
October 16, 2018
This review will remain free of any major spoilers.
I was very intrigued by the synopsis of this book. Paris, 1968 Nicholas finds a job as a live-in tutor. A condition of his job offer... he must not leave the grounds. Although he is a little apprehensive to start he decides to accept the job.
The lifestyle of those at the house, both family and staff, is odd to say the least. They are stuck back in time. The family believe they are living 50 years before the present day and everyone must follow this lifestyle. There is no electric, just candles, oil lamps and plenty wine, champagne and Russian coffee. The characters are quite eccentric and from the start you get an uneasy feeling. You can't put your finger on it though! You just know something odd is going to be going on. There are hidden staircases, mysterious sightings of a young woman who supposedly died 50 years ago. There is love, a seance, masquerades and a wedding! All while confined to the grounds of a big grand house. And this is all based on a true story.
Although all these things are going on there is a constant nagging in your head that something is off with this house and its inhabitants. Something just isn't right. We soon find out as this is quite a short story of 186 pages. I wont say much about the ending to avoid all spoilers but I was not expecting how it ended! Your mind continuously questions what might be real and what might be fake... what might be true and what might be an act. What could it be? We get clarity towards the end around the events that have taken place and I was very surprised about the authors link to the story. The ending surprised me a lot and wasn't expecting it to go in the direction it did but I am glad it did as it rounded up the book nicely.
I also enjoyed the writing style although it might not be for everyone. I found it easy and enjoyable to read the authors style. I also liked the fact the book wasn't smothered in descriptions every few words which seems to be how quite a lot of books are at the moment. There is just enough descriptions and details throughout.
Overall, I would recommend this to people as it is a quick read and not at all what you might expect by the end. Your mind tries to make sense of some of the goings on only to be thrown in another direction, questioning all of the characters behaviours. This being said it is not a confusing book. You don't get left feeling confused or mixed up, it makes you think and question but it doesn't leave you feeling like you don't know what has gone on. A very nice read. I enjoyed it a lot.
I was very intrigued by the synopsis of this book. Paris, 1968 Nicholas finds a job as a live-in tutor. A condition of his job offer... he must not leave the grounds. Although he is a little apprehensive to start he decides to accept the job.
The lifestyle of those at the house, both family and staff, is odd to say the least. They are stuck back in time. The family believe they are living 50 years before the present day and everyone must follow this lifestyle. There is no electric, just candles, oil lamps and plenty wine, champagne and Russian coffee. The characters are quite eccentric and from the start you get an uneasy feeling. You can't put your finger on it though! You just know something odd is going to be going on. There are hidden staircases, mysterious sightings of a young woman who supposedly died 50 years ago. There is love, a seance, masquerades and a wedding! All while confined to the grounds of a big grand house. And this is all based on a true story.
Although all these things are going on there is a constant nagging in your head that something is off with this house and its inhabitants. Something just isn't right. We soon find out as this is quite a short story of 186 pages. I wont say much about the ending to avoid all spoilers but I was not expecting how it ended! Your mind continuously questions what might be real and what might be fake... what might be true and what might be an act. What could it be? We get clarity towards the end around the events that have taken place and I was very surprised about the authors link to the story. The ending surprised me a lot and wasn't expecting it to go in the direction it did but I am glad it did as it rounded up the book nicely.
I also enjoyed the writing style although it might not be for everyone. I found it easy and enjoyable to read the authors style. I also liked the fact the book wasn't smothered in descriptions every few words which seems to be how quite a lot of books are at the moment. There is just enough descriptions and details throughout.
Overall, I would recommend this to people as it is a quick read and not at all what you might expect by the end. Your mind tries to make sense of some of the goings on only to be thrown in another direction, questioning all of the characters behaviours. This being said it is not a confusing book. You don't get left feeling confused or mixed up, it makes you think and question but it doesn't leave you feeling like you don't know what has gone on. A very nice read. I enjoyed it a lot.
February 1, 2018
First I’d like to start by saying that I absolutely love the cover for this book, I know you should never judge a book by its cover as the saying goes but this is one of those cover’s that if I saw it in a book shop I’d instantly pick it up and buy it.
The Spaces In Between tells the story of Nicholas and is told from his point of view as he finds himself taking a job as English tutor in a grand house in Paris. This is a job that will help Nicholas save enough money to renew his work papers and save him from being deported back to England.
It’s instantly clear that there is more to the house than meets the eye and before even entering, Nicholas has a weird feeling and nearly about turns, thank goodness he doesn’t though or there wouldn’t be a story to tell and what a story it is. It’s an eccentric house hold, everyone lives in the past. They do have electricity but it’s not used, instead of lights they use oil burners but Nicholas is happy to go along with things, after all he’s getting a free room and board while being able to save for the future.
I have to say I found this quite a busy book, it’s full of interesting characters, unique in every sense and each page you turn makes you more and more intrigued. I sat reading this into the early hours of the morning which wasn’t a good idea as I will admit it had me a little bit spooked. It’s a story where it will really make you question what you are reading.
The author really sets the scene and the story is told incredibly well, it has your mind constantly wondering whether it’s fact or fiction and I loved that about this book. It’s difficult to say much about The Spaces In Between with fear of giving anything away, this is a story that will have the reader totally intrigued and the less they know before hand the better.
Often after finishing a story you feel quite satisfied but with The Spaces In Between it really felt like it had gotten under my skin and I couldn’t help thinking about it after I’d finished. It’s a unique and unsettling story with a gothic feel to it that I will definitely be recommending and I’m looking forward to seeing what will be the next offering from Collin Van Reenan.
The Spaces In Between tells the story of Nicholas and is told from his point of view as he finds himself taking a job as English tutor in a grand house in Paris. This is a job that will help Nicholas save enough money to renew his work papers and save him from being deported back to England.
It’s instantly clear that there is more to the house than meets the eye and before even entering, Nicholas has a weird feeling and nearly about turns, thank goodness he doesn’t though or there wouldn’t be a story to tell and what a story it is. It’s an eccentric house hold, everyone lives in the past. They do have electricity but it’s not used, instead of lights they use oil burners but Nicholas is happy to go along with things, after all he’s getting a free room and board while being able to save for the future.
I have to say I found this quite a busy book, it’s full of interesting characters, unique in every sense and each page you turn makes you more and more intrigued. I sat reading this into the early hours of the morning which wasn’t a good idea as I will admit it had me a little bit spooked. It’s a story where it will really make you question what you are reading.
The author really sets the scene and the story is told incredibly well, it has your mind constantly wondering whether it’s fact or fiction and I loved that about this book. It’s difficult to say much about The Spaces In Between with fear of giving anything away, this is a story that will have the reader totally intrigued and the less they know before hand the better.
Often after finishing a story you feel quite satisfied but with The Spaces In Between it really felt like it had gotten under my skin and I couldn’t help thinking about it after I’d finished. It’s a unique and unsettling story with a gothic feel to it that I will definitely be recommending and I’m looking forward to seeing what will be the next offering from Collin Van Reenan.
December 28, 2017
In the beginning, it is explained by Nicholas's psychiatrist that his story is being published with his consent and begins to explain how she came to meet him. In a session, she encourages him to write what he is thinking and why his current state is the way it is. Upon meeting once again he brings his story that explains how he all the events that have taken place which then leads to her doing her best to bring him closure.
"Let idle talk be silenced. Let laughter be banished. Here is the place where Death delights to succour Life"
The story of Nicholas is most intriguing. He takes a job as a tutor in this household that promises him shelter and generous pay. With an expired student visa and no money to his name he takes the job in hope that the payment would better things for him. He finds himself trapped in a household that is stuck in time and dangerously close to loosing his sanity.
Everything about this book made me not want to put it down. From the beautiful cover until the last page was exciting. This book will leave its readers as clueless as Nicholas throughout the book and that is what makes this book fantastic. Until the very end, the books makes you question if all this took really took place. The characters that were introduced in the book were captivating and as much as I wish there was more to them, their roles were marvelous. I was impressed with the information obtained from reading from the two characters point of views in this story. Each was crucial and left your mind unsettled in which reality you believed happened.
Given an E-ARC book from the publishers and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
"Let idle talk be silenced. Let laughter be banished. Here is the place where Death delights to succour Life"
The story of Nicholas is most intriguing. He takes a job as a tutor in this household that promises him shelter and generous pay. With an expired student visa and no money to his name he takes the job in hope that the payment would better things for him. He finds himself trapped in a household that is stuck in time and dangerously close to loosing his sanity.
Everything about this book made me not want to put it down. From the beautiful cover until the last page was exciting. This book will leave its readers as clueless as Nicholas throughout the book and that is what makes this book fantastic. Until the very end, the books makes you question if all this took really took place. The characters that were introduced in the book were captivating and as much as I wish there was more to them, their roles were marvelous. I was impressed with the information obtained from reading from the two characters point of views in this story. Each was crucial and left your mind unsettled in which reality you believed happened.
Given an E-ARC book from the publishers and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2018
1968 in Paris, Nicholas finds himself penniless with no legal papers and is desperate to remedy his situation. When he learns about a teaching job in a grand house for a young woman he jumps at the chance to remain in his beloved Paris (instead of returning home to England).
Upon joining the household he quickly learns that all is not as it seems. Natalie, his pupil, cannot often attend lessons due to her mysterious illness. He never meets her guardian The Duchess as she is confined to her rooms also by an illness.
He also is told that he has to live, dress and act like he is Victorian. Including using no electricity. He’s not allowed to leave the house grounds. Then he meets the powerful and terrifying Madame Lily, who holds great secrets and is revered (and feared) by all of the staff...
This is a gorgeously gothic book with great supernatural undertones.
You could almost smell the cloying perfume of Madame Lily and feel the tension building in the deliciously dark house.
Van Reenan has written a deliciously dark book and has played it out brilliantly by adding in a foreword and chapters by Nicholas’s psychologist.
I would have loved to have found out more about Anya, Serge, Natalie and The Duchess. I was chomping at the bit to see why they all danced along to Madame Lily’s tune, and although we find out what has happened to Nicholas we don’t seem to find out why.
However an immensely enjoyable book, I will look forward to Van Reenan’s future offerings.
I would like to thank Anna Burt at Red Door Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Upon joining the household he quickly learns that all is not as it seems. Natalie, his pupil, cannot often attend lessons due to her mysterious illness. He never meets her guardian The Duchess as she is confined to her rooms also by an illness.
He also is told that he has to live, dress and act like he is Victorian. Including using no electricity. He’s not allowed to leave the house grounds. Then he meets the powerful and terrifying Madame Lily, who holds great secrets and is revered (and feared) by all of the staff...
This is a gorgeously gothic book with great supernatural undertones.
You could almost smell the cloying perfume of Madame Lily and feel the tension building in the deliciously dark house.
Van Reenan has written a deliciously dark book and has played it out brilliantly by adding in a foreword and chapters by Nicholas’s psychologist.
I would have loved to have found out more about Anya, Serge, Natalie and The Duchess. I was chomping at the bit to see why they all danced along to Madame Lily’s tune, and although we find out what has happened to Nicholas we don’t seem to find out why.
However an immensely enjoyable book, I will look forward to Van Reenan’s future offerings.
I would like to thank Anna Burt at Red Door Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
February 10, 2018
let me begin by saying, that you have to take five seconds out of your day to enjoy this cover. Hats off from me to the artist who made it, and if I would’ve had a paperback of this book, I would not be able to resist the urge to colour it in 😀 It is just so cool 😀 Another thing which still has me debating with myself is was this book based on a true story? All this experience was real? I am just left confused, where the fiction ends and true facts begin…
The main star of this book is Nicholas for sure. It is his story which makes the jaw drop. Lack of money and job forces him to work in this creepy house as an English tutor, but this house has strange residents, who live like it is 1916ies Russia. I really liked the complexity of all the residents in that house, they all were very amusing and unique personalities. They all have a role to play, and it is hard to distinguish whether they want to help or to harm Nicholas. The main character brought out many different emotions in me, I felt pity for the events he had to suffer, I was happy when good things happened to him and I was angry when he took silly decisions.
The whole story was told from two different perspectives. We have the introduction and investigative part told by a psychologist Dr Marie – Claire Groller, and the main story written down by Nicholas. I found both of the stories absolutely fascinating. The events highlighted in the blurb, which Nicholas had to suffer, are absolutely unimaginable, and the whole story is very dark, atmospheric, twisted and unbelievable. There is so much detail and emotions in his story, it is just creepy. I really enjoyed the investigation done by Dr Marie Clare and her father. I really liked all the information which they were able to find out, but I do miss the proper conclusion to this story. I WANT JUSTICE! 😀
I really enjoyed the structure of this book, I think it gave this book a great element of surprise. This book was easy to read, except for the French parts. I know maybe three words in French, so all the sentences without a translation left me a little annoyed. I really liked the decent length of the chapters and I loved the mask picture on the pages throughout the book. It gave this good feeling, that I am reading something written in medieval times. 🙂 So, to conclude, I strongly recommend reading this book, filled with unusual, eccentric characters and very unique and sinister setting, where reality mixes with fiction and imagination. What is real and what is an illusion? That’s the question. Enjoy 😀
The main star of this book is Nicholas for sure. It is his story which makes the jaw drop. Lack of money and job forces him to work in this creepy house as an English tutor, but this house has strange residents, who live like it is 1916ies Russia. I really liked the complexity of all the residents in that house, they all were very amusing and unique personalities. They all have a role to play, and it is hard to distinguish whether they want to help or to harm Nicholas. The main character brought out many different emotions in me, I felt pity for the events he had to suffer, I was happy when good things happened to him and I was angry when he took silly decisions.
The whole story was told from two different perspectives. We have the introduction and investigative part told by a psychologist Dr Marie – Claire Groller, and the main story written down by Nicholas. I found both of the stories absolutely fascinating. The events highlighted in the blurb, which Nicholas had to suffer, are absolutely unimaginable, and the whole story is very dark, atmospheric, twisted and unbelievable. There is so much detail and emotions in his story, it is just creepy. I really enjoyed the investigation done by Dr Marie Clare and her father. I really liked all the information which they were able to find out, but I do miss the proper conclusion to this story. I WANT JUSTICE! 😀
I really enjoyed the structure of this book, I think it gave this book a great element of surprise. This book was easy to read, except for the French parts. I know maybe three words in French, so all the sentences without a translation left me a little annoyed. I really liked the decent length of the chapters and I loved the mask picture on the pages throughout the book. It gave this good feeling, that I am reading something written in medieval times. 🙂 So, to conclude, I strongly recommend reading this book, filled with unusual, eccentric characters and very unique and sinister setting, where reality mixes with fiction and imagination. What is real and what is an illusion? That’s the question. Enjoy 😀
February 2, 2018
This is the story of Nichola's and his trip to the past... a ghostly tale!
As we enter to this story told like a book inside a book, you'll find a few surprises waiting for you... we are advised since the first page that everything will sound strange, even crazy, but in fact is true. As we start reading the first pages we are abducted by this mysterious book, because who would trust living in a house in which the residents think they are living during the Russian Civil War! Can you believe it?
Let me say that as we enter to the story, more and more questions will start popping into your mind, but the most insistent will be... What the hell! Run, Nicholas, run!
I have to tell you that this had been a quite curious read, original and gothic at the same time, at all times making the reader trying to decipher what is real and what is fantasy, and I have to admit it, it was difficult sometimes.
There are a few questions that never are solved about the story, but I think this makes it more real and more intriguing at the end, but at the same time I would love to read the same story told from one of the other characters...
Before reading this story remember, there is truth, there are lies and then there are the spaces in between!
As we enter to this story told like a book inside a book, you'll find a few surprises waiting for you... we are advised since the first page that everything will sound strange, even crazy, but in fact is true. As we start reading the first pages we are abducted by this mysterious book, because who would trust living in a house in which the residents think they are living during the Russian Civil War! Can you believe it?
Let me say that as we enter to the story, more and more questions will start popping into your mind, but the most insistent will be... What the hell! Run, Nicholas, run!
I have to tell you that this had been a quite curious read, original and gothic at the same time, at all times making the reader trying to decipher what is real and what is fantasy, and I have to admit it, it was difficult sometimes.
There are a few questions that never are solved about the story, but I think this makes it more real and more intriguing at the end, but at the same time I would love to read the same story told from one of the other characters...
Before reading this story remember, there is truth, there are lies and then there are the spaces in between!
April 2, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
'The Spaces In Between' has one of the most interesting stories I have ever read. It has everything - the biggest mystery, love story, some Russian history and cultural features, a little bit of Paris, psychological thriller, a bit of drama and lots, lots, lots of secrets.
The ending of the book can be disappointing for some readers, but I just liked it the way it was. Was it all fiction or not? Was it just a game of imagination? Was it a very vicious plan? And why...
Without giving anything away, I just say that I liked absolutely everything about this book. It kept my attention so much that I couldn't wait to get on the bus on the way home or to work to start reading again chapter after chapter. The story is truly captivating. The possible truths are very interesting as well. And in my opinion, quite possible.
The cover designed by Patrick Knowles is an absolute masterpiece itself and illustrates the book so well.
'The Spaces In Between' has one of the most interesting stories I have ever read. It has everything - the biggest mystery, love story, some Russian history and cultural features, a little bit of Paris, psychological thriller, a bit of drama and lots, lots, lots of secrets.
The ending of the book can be disappointing for some readers, but I just liked it the way it was. Was it all fiction or not? Was it just a game of imagination? Was it a very vicious plan? And why...
Without giving anything away, I just say that I liked absolutely everything about this book. It kept my attention so much that I couldn't wait to get on the bus on the way home or to work to start reading again chapter after chapter. The story is truly captivating. The possible truths are very interesting as well. And in my opinion, quite possible.
The cover designed by Patrick Knowles is an absolute masterpiece itself and illustrates the book so well.
August 17, 2021
This book caught my attention for the fall season I believe in 2019 at the book store. The fact that it was supposed to be a "based-on-real-life" story had me intrigued, but when I read the actual book, it was a bit of a let-down, and it left me feeling like this is an old man's (note: self-proclaimed "count") book where he is blabbering to make himself sound cooler by writing this story. This was intriguing to read, I give it that, and the mystery that surrounds the main character in the mansion was unpredictable for me. However, when I finished the book, it left me "...huh." Thin book, fast to read, intriguing, but it didn't strike me as a particularly memorable book, or quite so good at the end. Underwhelming is the word. But I'm sure that there are people who enjoy this book as a whole. You just have to read it to see it.
February 10, 2018
What is truth? What is fiction? What is real?
Nicholas is a penniless man in Paris is the late 1960s. He's homeless, he's without necessary papers and he's desperate. He finds a job to be an English tutor at a mysterious house outside of Paris. From the moment Nicholas walks into the house.....he's trust into a mysterious world of strong tea, supernatural being and terror.
The Spaces In Between is an interesting book. There's story, is told, AFTER everything has happened and to a therapist. It's weird, but weird in the right way.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Nicholas is a penniless man in Paris is the late 1960s. He's homeless, he's without necessary papers and he's desperate. He finds a job to be an English tutor at a mysterious house outside of Paris. From the moment Nicholas walks into the house.....he's trust into a mysterious world of strong tea, supernatural being and terror.
The Spaces In Between is an interesting book. There's story, is told, AFTER everything has happened and to a therapist. It's weird, but weird in the right way.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 4, 2018
No comment, just blowed my mind!
December 2, 2024
3,5 ⭐️
ha sigut locura sobretot al final!!!
la historia en si potser no mha captivat pero el fet q estigui basada en fets reals mha enganxat moltissim i ha sumat molts punts.
ha sigut locura sobretot al final!!!
la historia en si potser no mha captivat pero el fet q estigui basada en fets reals mha enganxat moltissim i ha sumat molts punts.
July 5, 2022
It’s as though I’m reading Bram Stoker’s Dracula all over again- and equally as atmospheric. Please pour me a cup of Russian Tea as I devour this novel.
March 8, 2018
This book will take you on a journey down a rabbit hole and it will leave you questioning everything you know. I found the characters to be complex and the more I read the more my opinions changed on this crazy cast of characters. They were haunting in so many ways and I could never quite figure them out. I was completely and thoroughly engrossed in this extremely original story and I will be thinking of this story for a long time to come.
December 28, 2017
"There is truth and there are lies. There is fact and there is fiction. There is life and there is death. And then there are the spaces in between." This is the premise behind this macabre and ghostly story. Nicholas's psychologist publishes his history in pursuance of the truth and to achieve closure for him. Nicholas takes a job as private English tutor to a young lady in a strange, backward looking house in which he is enclosed for the duration of his contract. What is real? Is it all a hallucination? Creepy, intriguing, and a quick read. I enjoyed it a lot.
January 3, 2018
I would like to thank NetGalley, RedDoor Publishing and Collin Van Renan for the ARC of The Spaces In Between in return for my honest and unbiased review.
As soon as this author produces his next novel I will be reading it. This was an intriguing, well thought through plot with a macabre feel from start to finish. Frozen in time with an eccentric household Nicholas becomes trapped, not really understanding what is going and close to losing his sanity.
There were points in the story where it was difficult to distinguish reality from lies making for addictive reading. Really enjoyed this.
Recommended.
As soon as this author produces his next novel I will be reading it. This was an intriguing, well thought through plot with a macabre feel from start to finish. Frozen in time with an eccentric household Nicholas becomes trapped, not really understanding what is going and close to losing his sanity.
There were points in the story where it was difficult to distinguish reality from lies making for addictive reading. Really enjoyed this.
Recommended.
July 26, 2018
A weird story. It implies that this story is true and that it is about the author. It is very sad and a bit confusing. I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Netgalley.
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