A Gathering Light

Product Information

this book, as is, i think would not do so well as an adult-fiction title, but the care that went into writing it, and the multilayeredness of it - it is certainly more ambitious than many of the other titles intended for a teen audience, and i say "three cheers". The story describes Mattie’s coming of age at the turn of the century, in a family of four girls who have just lost their mother to cancer and whose brother has run away. I mean, yes, they're both at least partially historical, but that's kind of as far as the similarities go. But Mattie 's widowed father, her little sisters, and her first love all question why Mattie wouldn't just be content to do her duty to her family.

There's a little gem embedded in the beginning of each chapter, which is not numbered but starts off with the introduction of a new word, as part of a game that Mattie and her friend Weaver play every day to strengthen their vocabulary. Each of Mattie’s sisters has a personality that comes off the page; and her father is one of the strongest characters in the story. It is excellently written, features a strong and likable heroine and perfectly captures her hopes and fears in an era so different to our own. But when Grace's drowned body is fished from the lake, Mattie discovers that the letters could reveal the grim truth behind a murder. I would recommend this book to any reader looking for a quality YA story that doesn't involve vampires, fairies, TSTL heroines and abusive boyfriends.Being well into my twenties, I'm actually surprised this book is considered a young adult book as I never thought of it like that while I was reading it.

However it is the written words of the drowned girl, her love letters entrusted to Mattie, that prove the great catalyst for Mattie's inner struggle. Slowly the two stories merge to one amazing conclusion as Mattie finds the courage to make very important decisions. Adele Geras, Guardian 'Part history, part compelling murder mystery, Jennifer Donnelly's A GATHERING LIGHT brings the past to powerful and vivid life. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions. The backdrop of the narrative is the famous murder that also inspired Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy, although voice is only given to the murdered girl through letters she gave to Mattie and asked to burn.Something I wanted to add: I've only read one other book by Jennifer Donnelly, Revolution, and it's amazing to see how different the two books are in voice. Is Mattie really going to be tied down to her small town by a promise she once made to her dying mother? I listened and read A Northern Light and give high marks to the narrator Hope Davis for capturing the varied emotions of youth and giving voice to the many characters who comprise this gem.

Quite thankfully, though, a lovely review convinced me to pick this one up and I'm so very glad I did. This book is not weighed down by an all-consuming love story, but I would have wished for the romance to be a bit more … romantic and for me to actually be involved in it. Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item. When I started it, I had avoided reading the summary on the back cover (a bit revealing I later realised), but I was glad I did, so that the last part of the book took me completely by surprise.i would have liked more resolution with some of the storylines, but overall, this was a very fine novel, and i won't get mad if it tries to sneak onto my shelves again. Will Mattie find the courage and selfishness to leave home, or will she marry handsome Royal Loomis instead? We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others.

Set in 1906, the book follows an important period in a 16-year old girl's life, when she faces the dilemma of what her future will be.Working at the Glenmore hotel gives her the chance to earn her tuition, but will she be able to leave everyone she loves behind? Her husband, who does not approve of Emily's poetry, tries to get her committed and eventually, she flees to Paris. Set in 1906 and built around the real life murder of a young woman in a popular holiday resort this novel is touching, surprising, moving and compelling.