About:
The Kept by James Scott is a novel set in rural America during in the late 1800s. This is Mr. Scott’s debut novel, a Boston native who grew up in upstate New York.
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Thoughts:
The Kept by James Scott is a difficult book to review. The book takes some serious reading and re-reading. I had to go back to several parts because I missed a key point or to make sure I understood what was going on.
I’m sure the book would make an interesting re-read because now, when I know the end, I can look for clues which, on hindsight, I skipped on the first reading. The author did keep me in suspense, I was not sure what was about to happen and every time I got a bit bored, Mr. Scott hooked me right back in.
The book starts out as a revenge novel, but slowly turns into something more, a deeper story both moving and interesting. The story is not an easy read and the ending is brutal.
The narrative is strange, Gothic, very dark and cold. I don’t think it’s for everybody but the novel is certainly worth reading and, as I mentioned earlier, certainly worth a second read.
Time permitting.
Synopsis:
Midwife Elspeth Howell returns to her home after spending a few months away working. Elspeth can’t wait to get back; she has gifts for each of her five children and her husband.
What Elspeth finds, however, is a bloodbath. Her husband and children are murdered and one son, 12 year old Caleb, is missing. But Caleb is hiding and is so startled that he shoots his mother.
Caleb tries to nurse his mother back to health, but Elspeth is sure that the violence is divine retribution for her past sins. As the mother and son search for the killers, they unearth family secrets and are torn between hatred and loyalty.
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Zohar — Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I got this book for free from TLC Book Tours.
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My dad is reading this one right now and was raving about it the other day. I'll definitely be borrowing it!
With books like this I usually want to start rereading immediately after I get to the last page - there's so much that I think I would appreciate more the second time around.
Thanks for being a part of the tour!