From her lookout in the crumbling mansion that was her childhood home, Ginny watches and waits for her younger sister to arrive. Vivien has not set foot in the house since she left nearly fifty years ago; the reclusive Ginny has rarely ventured out, retreating into the precise routines that define her days, carrying on her father’s solitary work studying moths. As the sisters revisit their shared past, they realize that their recollections differ in essential and unsettling ways. Before long, the deeply buried resentments that have shaped both their lives rise to the surface, and Vivien’s presence threatens to disrupt Ginny’s carefully ordered world. Told in Ginny’s unforgettable voice, this subtle and chilling debut novel tells an extraordinary story of how families are capable of undoing themselves—especially in the name of love.
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"If you've had a complicated relationship with your sister, you'll enjoy this book. However, it may not make you want to spend the night at her place. Well written and narrated through the simple mind of one sister who's isolation has shaped her in ways unimagined."
— Tori (4 out of 5 stars)
" Ginny lives by herself in the family's deteriorating mansion in Dorset. She is surprised by her sister's decision to move back in, after a 50 year absence. It is clear, as Ginny prepares for her sister, that there is a tangled past between the two, and Ginny appears to have some form of autistic spectrum disorder that may aid in her scientific endeavors with moths, an occupation passed from her father, but it challenges her relationships with people. We see numerous flashbacks from the past on the two sisters' relationship and the terrible accident that happened to Vivien that has serious consequences later in their lives. The feel of the novel is gothic and dark and there are many unanswered questions that arise over the course of the novel, most of which remain frustratingly unanswered. Tensions build between the sisters leading to dark ends. Overall, I found it to be an intriguing but in some ways, disappointing book. "
— Michelle, 2/11/2014" If you expect this novel to be in the line of the " The Thirteenth Tale" or " The House at Riverton" - which were decent novels - forget it. The trivia about moths are the best parts of this novel which has one of the dullest plots I ever came across.... "
— Roberto, 2/6/2014" I didnt read the braille version.. "
— Louise, 1/31/2014" Slow...slow...slow! It had way too many words wasted on the study of moths that really did very little for the story. The author left the story unresolved and that made the tedious read even worse because there was no payoff! ugg... "
— Kristy, 1/24/2014" Well written but I'd rather forget these characters. "
— Nonie, 1/23/2014" I had to give up on this one. It just never got underway. Too much about moths and not enough to the story. I hate to stop in the middle of a book, but if you're still bored by the middle and there are many other books to be read, it's a no go. "
— Stacey, 1/11/2014" This reminded me a bit of The Thirteenth Tale--sort of a Gothic tale about 2 sisters. Very little language, good halloween-type book, and (bonus) you learn a lot about moths! A solid 3.0 for me. "
— MariLee, 1/8/2014" A VERY long book that I didn't particularly enjoy. "
— Sheila, 12/24/2013" Quote an extraordinary read. What you expected comes to a big wobbly stop in a place where and when you didn't expect it at all. Perhaps a bit too much factual information, but then again, I have lots of work to do at the moment, so I didn't have as much patience as I normally have when reading. "
— Helene, 11/15/2013" A bit of an eerie British old lady gothic novel, very picturesque. Seemed to be missing something - - like the author held back. Still, if you like a dreary, dilapidated old mansion with two old sisters reflecting on their life's tragedies (and who doesn't?!) this is a good one to pick up. "
— Pamela, 11/13/2013" I learned way more about the lifecycle of moths than I ever cared to know. This was a random pick from the library and the jacket summary sounded interesting. It was, minus the moth part. "
— Arianne, 11/10/2013" enojoyed but was left wanting - needed more from it. "
— Costantia, 7/22/2013" Discover magazine suggested this book about a family of moth collectors. Its very strange and spooky too. "
— ~☆, 7/10/2012" Predictable as a mystery but well-written. I found it absorbing as a novel. And despite guessing how it turned out, I wasn't sure until the end whether or not I was correct. Interesting study of sisters and the impact of family roles and secrets. "
— Ellie, 6/8/2012" This book wasn't super exciting or thrilling but it kept my interest and in the end I was glad I read it. I liked all the scientific information and the way the main character lived in her own memories of the past. "
— melody, 12/30/2011" Another novel of mystery and intrigue among sisters. My attention wavered throughout the listening time but it was overall an interesting read with a nice conclusion. "
— Sarah, 11/6/2011" A very strange novel that is surprisingly addictive. What starts out as an elderly lady's seemingly innocent memories of childhood and moth collecting ends up a sinister tale that is as gripping as it is unsettling. Definitely unforgettable. "
— Tracy, 7/30/2011" Good story, loved the main character but would never have guessed the ending. Very good but I'm still desperate to know what was wrong with her, Clever. "
— Lynne, 7/2/2011" Not something I would normally read. The language got a little too scientific for me at times. Loved the twisted storyline. Overall good read. "
— Christina, 5/16/2011" This book was dark and disturbing. Superbly written, it reminded me of early VC Andrews. Interesting plot and characters....something you will keep thinking about long after you've read it. "
— Erin, 5/10/2011" Very strange book told by an older woman with mental problems about her life. All the information about moths was quite interesting. "
— Katie, 5/2/2011" A disturbing read, at times benign, at others disconcertingly challenging. "
— Jenny, 3/28/2011" not what your thinking! give it a go "
— Susan, 3/15/2011" Was listening to this on CD in the car. It was so slow moving that I only got the the 4th disk before my 3 weeks were up at the library and I had to turn it back in... "
— Dawn, 2/20/2011" I was glad that I stuck it out to the end. At one point there was too much on the moths - I got bored and was going to put it down. "
— Mandy, 1/9/2011" I couldn't even finish this book it was so bad. "
— Marie, 11/5/2010" “The Behavior of Moths” is short, fun, and creepy little gothic tale. <br/> <br/>No I didn’t read it in braille, but this is the only version in Goodreads. <br/> "
— Todd, 10/31/2010" I wasn't sure about this book as it started out, but it got more interesting as Ginny begin to tell back-stories. Interesting ending, but way too much detail about moths, etc. I ended up skipping over those paragraphs only because I'm not as fascinated by that as some might be. "
— Tamlyn, 10/6/2010Juliet Mills is a highly acclaimed actress. She won an Emmy Award for QB VII and a Tony nomination for her role in Five Finger Exercise, and was one of the stars of the daytime drama show Passions.