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, 11/10/2013Juliet 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.