Winterset Hollow: A Novel

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The milkshakes arrived to silent, smile-laden approvals from Mark and Eamon and actual applause from Caroline who clapped her hands together like a schoolgirl as a tall glass of strawberry slurry was set in front of her. As for Mark, he could never say no to chocolate in any situation where it was an option, and Eamon, it seemed, still hadn’t evolved beyond the delicious predictability of vanilla. What I didn’t like: While I absolutely loved this book, I would say the one part that wasn’t as impactful was the secondary human characters. Because we get introduced to them so briefly and have an idea of who they are, when the carnage and hunt begins, I didn’t really have any vested interest in if they survived or not.

Even his own mother had passed during childbirth, so to a young man who couldn’t possibly know any better, the gift of a lonesome life was always to be valued over the death of living otherwise. That sentiment was etched so deeply in his heart that it took Eamon years of painful adjustment to understand that nobody really cared enough about him to wish him any sort of hereditary mortal harm, and though that gave him some solace from his childhood anxieties, it also made him feel somehow more insignificant. There were times when he wished he was the center of some grand conspiracy, if only to feel like the focus of something other than a handful of utility bills at the end of the month. Times when he wished that somebody would pay enough attention to hate him. Anything really.” Contrasted against all of these strengths, I am left with only a handful of criticisms, each admittedly minor: though Durham’s use of “show, don’t tell” is by and large excellent, there are times where I feel he leans a little too far into telling something about various characters’ emotions or intentions that has already been effectively shown; a few of the close calls may stretch believability regarding the survival of certain characters; and by a little over halfway through the novel, readers should have a pretty good sense of which members of the cast have secured a place in the finale. But said finale certainly does not disappoint, and though the epilogue does feel somewhat rushed, the ending points of each characters’ respective journey still feel thoroughly proper in a way befitting the spirit of the storybook framing device. Even the excerpts of Addington’s fictional classic, which appear before each of the novel’s four parts and bookend the epilogue, authentically evoke the style of their early-20 th-century inspirations while also effectively foreshadowing the events about to unfold (or, in the case of the final excerpt, providing a bittersweet sense of closure). Caroline shoved another fry between her typically demure lips, put a hand on her chest and collapsed against the window, overcome by the sheer deliciousness of it all. “God, he gets me in a way you never could,” she razzed, never missing an opportunity to throw a barb the way of her beau. “Tomatoes need love too. So much love.” Certainly not me,” Eamon squeaked, but as he looked down at the suddenly useless freebies in his hand, his silent reverie for their weekend trip was interrupted by the sturdy chug of a big diesel engine and they all turned to see an old fishing troller limping in from the sea. The haggard boat swung a wide turn across the shoreline and idled to a stop before reversing until its stern was close enough for Eamon to see that “The Standard ” was painted on the hull in faded lettering. The boat was in rough shape and its captain didn’t appear to be faring any better as he stepped out of the wheelhouse sporting canvas pants, a hefty fleece, and a beard befitting a very particular image that he clearly had no intention of avoiding.What I didn’t like: While I absolutely loved this book, I would say the one part that wasn’t as impactful was the secondary human c Mark and Caroline were like proof to him. They were proof that it could all work out even if it shouldn’t. Proof that different didn’t necessarily equal broken, even when the math seemed so sure."

Why you should buy this: I mean, if my earlier comments didn’t grab you, I don’t know how else I can tell you how amazing this book is! This made me squirm with nervousness and fright, had me on the seat of the chair at moments and made me bawl my eyes out several times. This book is not only a book that I enjoyed reading, but it’s easily cemented itself as one of my all-time favorite books and I’ll be getting a physical copy to treasure and a physical copy to be able to share this stunning story with my son when he’s old enough. Caroline, too, was a source of support for Eamon in his constant struggle to adjust to the world beyond his upbringing, albeit for entirely different reasons, and though her outlook wasn’t nearly as plain and positive as Mark’s was, she understood Eamon in a way he didn’t. She knew what it was to feel like an outsider, even in familiar situations. She knew what it was to look at the table and not see a seat, even when the table was her own, and most of the time, all it took was a gentle glance in Eamon’s direction or a friendly hand on his shoulder to remind him that he wasn’t the only one who felt lost and encumbered by his circumstance of birth. To remind him that she also had a history laced with mirrors. I immediately looked to see what else the author had out (nothing yet looks like) but I will absolutely be keeping an eye out for more. Eamon continued, “And look, just because they’re all staring at their shoes and clearly horribly uncomfortable in their own skin doesn’t mean they’re my people.” There is actually a lot more I didn’t like or understand, but speaking with our Bookclub (the Spooky Curious Bookclub) helped me with most of the other things I didn’t quite get.The tourists were invited to sit down to a vegetarian feast. When the meal was over, Eamon asked Runny: What happens now?... and all of a sudden, before him stood one inarguable answer and a hundred burning questions. One mighty rope and a thousand loose ends. He was an old rabbit.” I’ve only just managed to finish this due to writing commitments. What can I say? I feel like this is just the beginning for this author. Jon's poetic writing filled with masterful descriptions had me hooked from the start.

I feel like this is Great Gatsby meets Animal Farm meets Hunger Games meets Watership Down...and maybe a little of The Magicians (TV version). Eamon (the main character) reminds me a lot of Quentin as portrayed on the TV show, especially as he finds out the truth about his favorite author. Uh huh. It also doesn’t necessarily mean she’s not dumb,” Eamon retorted, raising his eyebrows and slurping his shake as Caroline stroked her boyfriend’s chubby cheek with her perfect, graceful fingers. “Although, for a woman, I must admit she’s quite handsome.” After finishing their meal and meeting up with a group of fellow fans who have similarly come to celebrate “Barley Day,” the focal holiday of the animal community of Addington’s novel, the group takes a boat ride to the famed author’s private island, where, upon exploring the grounds of the estate, they discover that there may have been more truth to their literary idol’s magnum opus than previously suspected.This is an unforgettable book that has brought emotions that will stay with me for a very long time. It’s Barley Day on Addington Isle – an isolated private island where reclusive author Edward Addington, the author once resided. Winterset Hollow, a popular in-text fictional novel, was once written by Addington and has since acquired a cult following. I pretty much just finished this book due to the extreme hate I was feeling towards the writing. I hate read this book! Words like: maw and pike became super repetitive. Characters were all sounding alike when it was their view. This novel needed massive editing. Durham was writing in prose and making his vocabulary "floofy and pretty" but in the end it was unnecessary and I found myself trying to skim through the long paragraphs of unnecessary data. I bet the author loves to hear himself talk. I had some preconceived notions about the book because of its name; it seemed just the type of fantasy that I wanted to read. However, I was in for a surprise when I found out that it's an intersection between two worlds in the same time period, a mix of animal fantasy and the burden of inheritance. My people!? Did you hear that?” Eamon replied with a snoot. “My people have been through a lot and frankly, we don’t need your insensitive stereotyping right now, okay?”