The Keepsake
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Book Overview
In hypnotic and mesmerizing language, Kirsty Gunn explores the dark world of a young girl who has grown up with a mother dependent on storytelling and the oblivion of addiction to cope with the memory... This description may be from another edition of this product.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0871136759
ISBN13:9780871136756
Release Date:April 1997
Publisher:Atlantic Monthly Press
Length:213 Pages
Weight:0.75 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 5.7" x 7.8"
Customer Reviews
4 ratings
OH MY GOD!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
I WASN'T EVEN SURE HOW TO RATE THIS BOOK. I WILL SAY WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY THAT I HAVE NEVER READ A BOOK LIKE THIS IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. THE WRITING WAS STUNNING. THE AUTHOR DRAWS YOU INTO HER SICK AND TWISTED WORLD IN THE MOST HYPNOTIC WAY THAT I FELT I WAS DROWNING IN HER WORDS. I WOULD READ A PAGE AND GASP OUT LOUD "OH MY GOD" BUT I COULDN'T STOP READING IT. I WAS COMPELLED TO GO ON EVEN THOUGH I WAS HORRIFIED AT THE SAME TIME. AT THE END OF THE BOOK I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER TO APPLAUD THE BRILLIANCE OF THE WRITING OR HIGHLY SUGGEST SHE GET SOME SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP.
Beautiful prose for an ugly, very uncomfortable subject.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
I agree completely with the previous reviewer that stated that they were not sure they "enjoyed" this book. However, it was extremely well-written in an enchanting, dream-like style. It lulls you in and then bangs you over the head with it's subject matter of abuse, confinement, imprisonment, rape, torture and drug-use. Not comfortable subject matter, but is life always comfortable and happy? I don't think any author today is as powerful as Kirsty Gunn to make such an ugly and horribly macabre story so compelling and interesting. Isn't that what good authors do? They seduce you by excellent writing to visit another world, completely different and unique and yes, horrible to fathom.I preferred Rain, Gunn's first novel. Rain was also a painful, but well-written read about an uncomfortable subject matter. I find her writing poetic and beautiful and yes, carthritic. An amzazing talent and two truly hypnotic novels: The Keepsake and Rain. Don't miss either novel from this extraordianaryly talented young muse.
Intriguing, hypnotic, distrubing
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
I don't know that I would call my reaction to this book "enjoyment" but it continues to haunt me. I was impressed with Ms. Gunn's writing style. She shows a remarkable ability to give a scene an intense emotional color. The circumstances under which the keepsake is acquired should evoke horror. But the events recounted by the narrator are recalled at what seems to be an immense remove. Whether this is the result of the passage of time or deep-seated trauma is impossible to tell. I think Ms. Gunn has a lot of potential and I look forward to reading her next book
Good book, though I liked "Rain" better.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
I must admit that I was a little disappointed by this book. "Rain" was so good, that perhaps I had unfair expectaions of this book. Still, "The Keepsake" is worth reading, and I think I might like it better once I get around to re-reading it. Kirsty Gunn has become my favorite author, and I look forward to her next book
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