I finally did it. After years of reading mysteries and thrillers, I correctly guessed an ending well before the final pages and never once changed my mind, despite the authors’ repeated attempts to send me in other directions. I’m usually terrible at predicting where a story is headed, which is odd considering how much practice I have in reading the genre.
Some of my favorite books are the ones that completely blindside me. I still remember reading The Goldfinch and audibly gasping when the story took a turn I never saw coming. If I can’t tell where a book is headed, I’m on the edge of my seat, turning pages faster and faster because I need to know what happens next.
But I had Remain’s number early.
The novel, a collaboration between Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan, caught my attention during a recent bookstore trip with friends. One of those friends happened to have a copy on hand, and before long, it came home with me.
If this had been a typical Nicholas Sparks novel, I probably wouldn’t have given it a second look. I’ve read several of his books over the years, enjoying some more than others, but romance isn’t usually the genre that pulls me in. Add a supernatural element, though, and suddenly you’ve got my attention.
Remain follows architect Tate Donovan, who encounters a mysterious young woman named Wren while staying in a secluded coastal town. As their connection deepens, Tate finds himself drawn into a mystery that blurs the line between the natural and supernatural. The further he digs, the more he realizes that both Wren and the town are hiding secrets that may change his understanding of reality itself.
I flew through the book in just a few days. There were moments I genuinely enjoyed and a few ideas I thought were intriguing, but overall, this one didn’t quite land for me.
Part of the problem was that I never fully connected with the characters. I kept waiting for someone to grab hold of my emotions and refuse to let go, but it never happened. And because I felt fairly confident I knew where the story was headed, the suspense never really took hold. When the reveal finally arrived, I was more relieved to have my theory confirmed than shocked by what happened.
That doesn’t mean others won’t enjoy it. In fact, I’d be curious to hear from readers who had a different experience. Did the twist catch you off guard? Did the romance resonate more strongly? Let me know. Sometimes the best part of reading is discovering how differently two people can experience the same story.
Of course, one reader’s disappointment is another reader’s favorite book. Sometimes opinions are all over the map. Other times, a title keeps popping up and seems to be beloved by all who encounter it.
Anne Deneen in Grand Marais wrote in about what she’s been reading and brought up one that NSRRU readers seem to really love, Simon Van Booy’s Sipsworth.
“I know it’s been talked about before, but what a beautiful story,” she wrote. “I loved Helen and rooted for her all the way through the book. I loved Sipsworth too!”
Deneen has been battling illness lately, but on Halloween she and a friend took their three “good sized dogs” for a walk. Unfortunately, the dogs apparently saw no reason to slow down and plowed into her at full speed, sending her airborne.
As a result, she ended up with a pinched nerve and a knee injury. Though she initially thought a heating pad and some ice time would help her get some more reading in, she quickly discovered her pets had other plans.
“I get covered in my animals,” she reported, advising that every time she sits down to rest, her dog and cats quickly claim any available lap space. “I don’t usually sit much till evening so the novelty of laying low right now makes my cats and dogs think I’m more here for them than I already am.”
While her hands are occupied with animals and her body is busy healing, she’s been listening to The Botanist’s Assistant by Peggy Townsend.
She described the novel as “a very good book about a misfit woman who was a scientist with impeccable habits surrounding her life and her work. Her life gets out of her control when her boss and department head dies, she believes suspiciously, but no one will listen to her concerns. At first it seems as though the police, the rest of the University administration and even colleagues dismiss her because of her gender, looks and personality which are different from general societal norms.”
Deneen said part of what made the book work was the growing realization that the people ignoring the protagonist’s concerns may have reasons of their own for wanting the death ruled natural. As the mystery unfolds, the suspect list only grows.
“PS. She rescues a cat!” she added.
Deneen also listened to a book over the weekend titled Tressa: The 12-Year-Old Mum.
The memoir follows Tressa Middleton, who grew up amid addiction, dysfunction and abuse. Deneen described much of the book as a “train wreck” as Middleton struggles through years of family turmoil.
She listened all the way to the end, hoping circumstances would improve. The lone bright spot, she said, was that the child at the center of the story was eventually adopted by a loving family after years of chaos and foster placements.
“This book is not recommended unless you are trying to convince someone to attend Al-Anon or face and address destructive codependency,” Deneen said.
She’s currently reading The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon, an author whom both NSRRU readers and I have recommended in the past.
“I love it, but it’s taking me some time because of the Gaelic references,” she said. “I stop and look up in the glossary, and time shifts by chapters.”
Deneen promises to report back when she finishes the book.
I’ve since moved on to, and am nearly finished with, a book from the University of Minnesota Press. I’m hoping to speak with the author soon, so I’ll save that discussion for a future column to avoid any spoilers.
I’ve also finally started East of Eden.
The Steinbeck classic has been following me around for years. Friends have recommended it. Readers have recommended it. Most recently, my friend Steve Fernlund brought it up, and then it surfaced again during a Brimson Coffee and Book Chat discussion. At some point I ran out of excuses.
News that Netflix developed a series adaptation gave me one more reason to quit procrastinating and finally open the book.
My only hesitation was its size. It’s not that thick books intimidate me. Quite the opposite. The problem is that my TBR stack is so large that I can usually finish several shorter books in the time it takes to get through one doorstopper.
To satisfy both my curiosity and my reading goals, I’ve decided to read East of Eden alongside a few other books.
That used to be normal for me. I almost always had multiple books going at once, but somewhere between deadlines, a day job, a side gig, and everyday life, I drifted away from the habit.
Thankfully, there’s no deadline for East of Eden and after all these years, that feels like exactly the way Steinbeck should be read.
That said, I’m telling you all this partly to help keep me accountable. (Wink wink.)
What books caught you completely off guard? Which ones telegraphed every twist from a mile away? Is there a book you’ve recommended so often your friends are tired of hearing about it? Have you read anything recently that made you laugh, cry, or stay up way too late listening to just one more chapter? What thick tomes are worth the commitment? Do you read multiple books at once or stay faithful to one until the end? All bookish thoughts are welcome, and you can remain anonymous if you’d like. Write to sarahwritesnsj@yahoo.com to share your recommendations.
