Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27628 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-16
• Released on: 2007-10-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Review
It is a truth universally acknowledged that an author in possession of a good story must be in want of an arresting first sentence. Alice Sebold s new novel, The Almost Moon, contains one of the best opening lines of any book published this year: When all is said and done, killing my mother came easily. It is eerily reminiscent of Albert Camus s L Etranger and certainly had me hooked from the start. --Evening Standard

Metro
'A cracker...Boy does she know how to tell a story...Devote a full day to this sad and exhilarating novel.'

Sunday Herald
'This is a powerful, intricate and beautifully written novel...a worthy successor to The Lovely Bones.'

Customer Reviews

when all is said and done reading this book wasnt easy
Alice Sebold has again focused on a depressing topic, yes things like these i believe do happen in the real world but when you have based your career writing 3 books on the same topic, it becomes slightly old. I found this book hard to read but frankly who wouldnt find a book about mothers and death easy, the lovely bones was indeed an excellent book and it is hard not to put it on a pedestal, but this book just wasnt what i thought it was going to be. It is probably best to get this book if you have no expectations and can read uneasy subjects, if you don't like emotional subjects you are choosing the wrong subject.

Sadly, very disappointing
I bought this book after absolutely loving 'The Lovely Bones'. The opening page, which I read in the bookshop, had me gripped and I had high hopes for it: I couldn't wait to start it. Sadly, I have to say it is one of the most awful books I've ever encountered. It was difficult to read, not because of any flamboyant language, but because it was so 'lumpy', with no natural flow. I found it impossible to relate to any of the characters or the circumstances they found themselves in. I detest giving up on a book but had to really force myself to finish this. It was a chore, a nasty one at that, from page 2 until the end. For me, this book is more like a first-time attempt from a particularly inept author. I do wonder what Ms Sebold was trying to say with this book, what feelings she was experiencing to produce a novel such as this. Perhaps with this insight, I may have understood the story and its purpose a bit more. As it is, I just feel let down.

Haunting and very disturbing...............
I was really looking forward to reading this book; I have read the previous Alice Sebold books, and really loved them, so couldn't wait to get my teeth into this book.

However, I can't tell you if I enjoyed it really or not. I am left feeling totally haunted and I cannot stop thinking about the book. I was a little disappointed by the ending, I wanted to know more; but actually, I have continued to analyse the story since I finished it, and the more I have thought about it the more I understand it, and the more I now see Helen's unbalanced thoughts and feelings we were shown throughout the story.

I, have questioned if really Helen's father did kill himself, or maybe Helen's mother really killed him? Helen never seemed to think of that, but I did.

I didn't like the book in so many ways, but that was not the fault of Alice Sebold; it was the discomfort I felt for this awful family, especially Helen's dreadful deed. I'm sorry, but they are simply not people you would want to know!

Today, after finishing the book late last night and then as a result being unable to sleep afterwards. I feel totally haunted, disturbed and out of sorts. I'd say these were all signs of a totally excellent author. However, I do not feel I can recommend this book to anyone who doesn't have a strong disposition! I usually pass all my books on to my Mother to read when I have finished them; somehow, I don't think I can give her this one to read!