Helpful Score: 2
Fans of Anita Shreve will not be disappointed with "Stella Bain." Her newest book has all of the elements that have made Shreve such a popular author: it's compelling, disturbing, sometimes hard to read, impossible to put down. The story concerns a young woman found outside a garden in London who knows nothing of her past prior to waking up in a French infirmary on the front lines of WWI. As the story unfolds, we learn that Stella is suffering from amnesia, as a result of shell shock incurred while she was working as a nurses' aide and ambulance driver during the war. Stella also suffers from another, deeply repressed trauma that only comes to light with the help of a British surgeon and his wife, who take Stella in and care for her until she is able to uncover her past.
The book lost some of its steam about two-thirds of the way through. Without giving too much away, let me just say that the ending was somewhat predictable and the description of the trial (which occurred in the second half of the book) wasn't nearly as believable as Shreve's depiction of Stella's experiences during the war. I found those scenes absolutely riveting and I admire Shreve's ability to pull me in so completely, I could almost imagine being there.
I didn't know very much about shell shock prior to reading "Stella Bain" and I found it was a good introduction. The beginnings of art therapy and Freudian psychoanalysis are also explored, adding another layer of interest to the story.
Overall, "Stella Bain" was an easy, enjoyable read. However, there is a deceptive lightness to Shreve's work. She's not a self-indulgent writer - her prose is simple and unassuming - there are no wasted words. But don't underestimate the power of her story-telling. Shreve will pull you in and not let go until its 1:30am in the morning and you've finished the last page! And this.story, just like her others, will haunt you long after it's over.
I received this book to review through GoodReads Early Readers program.
The book lost some of its steam about two-thirds of the way through. Without giving too much away, let me just say that the ending was somewhat predictable and the description of the trial (which occurred in the second half of the book) wasn't nearly as believable as Shreve's depiction of Stella's experiences during the war. I found those scenes absolutely riveting and I admire Shreve's ability to pull me in so completely, I could almost imagine being there.
I didn't know very much about shell shock prior to reading "Stella Bain" and I found it was a good introduction. The beginnings of art therapy and Freudian psychoanalysis are also explored, adding another layer of interest to the story.
Overall, "Stella Bain" was an easy, enjoyable read. However, there is a deceptive lightness to Shreve's work. She's not a self-indulgent writer - her prose is simple and unassuming - there are no wasted words. But don't underestimate the power of her story-telling. Shreve will pull you in and not let go until its 1:30am in the morning and you've finished the last page! And this.story, just like her others, will haunt you long after it's over.
I received this book to review through GoodReads Early Readers program.
Helpful Score: 2
An usual story about an unusual woman with memory loss, and many other losses in her life. It's a hard life with a sweet ending. I enjoyed this audiobook very much and found myself hoping for all the best in life for this woman who'd had so many dreadful things happen to her. Anita Shreve has long been a favorite author of mine. Her books have a good rhythm, and a deep story bubbling up from depths not always found in popular fiction. Hope Davis as the narrator in this audiobook was spot on perfection.
