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Abigail Dare
The need to go home is as unyielding as steel, more important to the human spirit than flesh and bone, more powerful than life itself. If you think you know how this story ends, you're wrong. Engrossing, heartbreaking, and just creepy enough to keep you up at night, Abigail Dare is not your ordinary ghost story.
200 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2011
About the author
Jon Etheredge
7 books26 followersBorn in the middle of the 20th century (an experience he denies remembering but steadfastly refuses to reinact on the pretext of being too old), Jon Etheredge has labored a lifetime to avenge his honor, sullied in the fourth grade where he met and subsequently agitated Mrs. Ebinotia Mummelsome, a horrid rat of a woman who gave him a D-minus in Citizenship, tainting his permanent record...permanently.
He lives on a small tree farm in East Central Mississippi, the cultural headwaters of blues, jazz, and American literature. All the best writers come from Mississippi. Also catfish.
He lives on a small tree farm in East Central Mississippi, the cultural headwaters of blues, jazz, and American literature. All the best writers come from Mississippi. Also catfish.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 10, 2012
Review: I discovered Jon on Goodreads. He is a member of some the same groups that I am, and I have found myself laughing out loud at some of his posts. I had already decided that I wanted to read some of his work when he sent me a message recommending Abigail Dare. I bought myself a copy with the hope that it would be at least half as entertaining and witty as his posts to GR. I was absolutely NOT disappointed.
The Nitty Gritty:
Plot: When you first start reading, the story line seems a little disjointed. It feels like it is skipping around. And it is, because it is giving the more recent history of the Dare house, and gives the reader an idea of what is currently happening there. It then goes back even further, taking the reader back to before the house was even built. That’s where the real story begins, and that is the point where I could no longer put it down until I was finished. That is what made Abigail Dare one of those “holy shit its 3am and I’m still reading” kind of books.
Characters: I’m going to start with Abigail’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Northbridge, because I loved them. Supporting characters don’t get much better than these two, and Etheredge gives you just enough information on both of them to be satisfied. William “Billy” Dare’s story is both heartbreaking and uplifting. Given everything he had to overcome in life, I’d say he did pretty damn well. His portion of the story is executed perfectly, and left me with no questions, whatsoever, about who he was. Billy is the type of character who doesn’t really need an inner-monologue. You can tell what he is thinking/feeling by his actions. Abigail is also an excellent character, but I was left with some questions on her, or at least her post-life motivations. I’m trying not blurt out spoilers here, so my apologies for being a bit vague.
Setting: The story stretches from around the time of the Great Depression, up to present day. The back drop was well chosen. The details of the historical events of the times were easily visible in the lives of the characters. The hardship and struggle of the Depression were shown mainly through Billy Dare’s life. The story he brings home from World War II is also a great example of the author showing how things were, rather than just telling the reader, “Times were tough in the big WWII.”
Dialogue: Hopefully by now everyone knows that I am a big fan of good dialogue. Conversations in a story have to seem real for me to like the story. If it comes across as forced or ridiculous I won’t read it. The conversations in Abigail Dare are well done, and the reader even gets a little glimpse at the wit of the author. That it something I was really hoping to see, so I’m glad that even in a book that struck me as being more on the serious side, he still managed to toss in a bit of humor.
Break Down: I really enjoyed this book. In the beginning I thought, initially, that it got off to a rocky start, but upon reflection, I can see that it was necessary. If you pick it up and have that same feeling, stick with it. It’ll be worth it in the end. As I stated above, I do have some minor questions about Abigail, but in the grand scheme of things they are irrelevant to the story itself. I laughed. I cried. It made me think. It made me remember. If a book can cause that many reactions in me I need nothing else to recommend it. I would even recommend this one to my mother…and that is a rare thing indeed. J
P.S. One of the things it made me think about: If you know, meet, or just randomly bump into someone who is a Veteran or is currently serving in the military, shake their hand, give them a hug, or just tell them, “Thank you.”
The Nitty Gritty:
Plot: When you first start reading, the story line seems a little disjointed. It feels like it is skipping around. And it is, because it is giving the more recent history of the Dare house, and gives the reader an idea of what is currently happening there. It then goes back even further, taking the reader back to before the house was even built. That’s where the real story begins, and that is the point where I could no longer put it down until I was finished. That is what made Abigail Dare one of those “holy shit its 3am and I’m still reading” kind of books.
Characters: I’m going to start with Abigail’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Northbridge, because I loved them. Supporting characters don’t get much better than these two, and Etheredge gives you just enough information on both of them to be satisfied. William “Billy” Dare’s story is both heartbreaking and uplifting. Given everything he had to overcome in life, I’d say he did pretty damn well. His portion of the story is executed perfectly, and left me with no questions, whatsoever, about who he was. Billy is the type of character who doesn’t really need an inner-monologue. You can tell what he is thinking/feeling by his actions. Abigail is also an excellent character, but I was left with some questions on her, or at least her post-life motivations. I’m trying not blurt out spoilers here, so my apologies for being a bit vague.
Setting: The story stretches from around the time of the Great Depression, up to present day. The back drop was well chosen. The details of the historical events of the times were easily visible in the lives of the characters. The hardship and struggle of the Depression were shown mainly through Billy Dare’s life. The story he brings home from World War II is also a great example of the author showing how things were, rather than just telling the reader, “Times were tough in the big WWII.”
Dialogue: Hopefully by now everyone knows that I am a big fan of good dialogue. Conversations in a story have to seem real for me to like the story. If it comes across as forced or ridiculous I won’t read it. The conversations in Abigail Dare are well done, and the reader even gets a little glimpse at the wit of the author. That it something I was really hoping to see, so I’m glad that even in a book that struck me as being more on the serious side, he still managed to toss in a bit of humor.
Break Down: I really enjoyed this book. In the beginning I thought, initially, that it got off to a rocky start, but upon reflection, I can see that it was necessary. If you pick it up and have that same feeling, stick with it. It’ll be worth it in the end. As I stated above, I do have some minor questions about Abigail, but in the grand scheme of things they are irrelevant to the story itself. I laughed. I cried. It made me think. It made me remember. If a book can cause that many reactions in me I need nothing else to recommend it. I would even recommend this one to my mother…and that is a rare thing indeed. J
P.S. One of the things it made me think about: If you know, meet, or just randomly bump into someone who is a Veteran or is currently serving in the military, shake their hand, give them a hug, or just tell them, “Thank you.”
May 9, 2012
originally appeared on: Bookshelf Confessions
I admit it takes a while to get into the beginning. It’s a little confusing in a way that the story jumps a lot that it’s hard to focus on one thing. Sometimes, I think some of the first chapters are not really that necessary it would even be better to start with maybe the 6th and so on chapters.
But then, once you’ve passed these chapters and really get into the book, it was actually a great.
John Etheredge is a good story teller who has a unique way of telling it. There was enough detail to understand and yet you always need to figure out what’s coming next and how it’ll end.
What I loved most about this book is Abbie and Bill's story. You might be wondering who these two are because they’re not mentioned in the description, but for me, the book revolves around them and their lovestory. Here comes then, a well-written book that speaks to the heart. This book is character driven. The characters may be imperfect but what’s going on with them keeps me reading it.
I would have wanted an expansion of their story. Their lives were too deep to be kept in one book. I have so many questions about them but I know it would be better kept unanswered. The conciseness of this book is somewhat a blessing in its own way. It spoke to me something deeper.
The ghost aspect though just made the story a little different from other love stories or even historical. Abigail Dare is not really about ghosts, just sort of.
About the ending, I wasn’t expecting that at all. But what should I expect?, the whole book is unexpected..:D
This book isn’t about fairytales coming true, this is about accepting reality and yet hope blossoming in everyone’s heart.
Abigail Dare is a fast-read book that could be contained in two words, inspiring and heartbreaking.
I would recommend to anyone who’s a fan of romance, historical fictions and even horror..:D
Highly Recommended!
I admit it takes a while to get into the beginning. It’s a little confusing in a way that the story jumps a lot that it’s hard to focus on one thing. Sometimes, I think some of the first chapters are not really that necessary it would even be better to start with maybe the 6th and so on chapters.
But then, once you’ve passed these chapters and really get into the book, it was actually a great.
John Etheredge is a good story teller who has a unique way of telling it. There was enough detail to understand and yet you always need to figure out what’s coming next and how it’ll end.
What I loved most about this book is Abbie and Bill's story. You might be wondering who these two are because they’re not mentioned in the description, but for me, the book revolves around them and their lovestory. Here comes then, a well-written book that speaks to the heart. This book is character driven. The characters may be imperfect but what’s going on with them keeps me reading it.
I would have wanted an expansion of their story. Their lives were too deep to be kept in one book. I have so many questions about them but I know it would be better kept unanswered. The conciseness of this book is somewhat a blessing in its own way. It spoke to me something deeper.
The ghost aspect though just made the story a little different from other love stories or even historical. Abigail Dare is not really about ghosts, just sort of.
About the ending, I wasn’t expecting that at all. But what should I expect?, the whole book is unexpected..:D
This book isn’t about fairytales coming true, this is about accepting reality and yet hope blossoming in everyone’s heart.
Abigail Dare is a fast-read book that could be contained in two words, inspiring and heartbreaking.
I would recommend to anyone who’s a fan of romance, historical fictions and even horror..:D
Highly Recommended!
December 16, 2012
Jon Etheredge is as a writer as trustworthy as a used car dealer is trustworthy.
My fault, should have downloaded a sample instead of the whole novel *sigh* Read the first four chapters before I have had enough.
Myra, obviously not poor, and living in a nursing home, "almost jumps out of her wheelchair" when she discovers a certain house on the market. She knows the former owner, Abigail, who had "wandered off and died" two years ago, and it doesnt look like they have been the best of friends. Myra wants to buy the house to burn it down.
The second chapter feature Cody Cousins, an annoying guy suffering from Too-Stupid-To-Live syndrome. As a proud owner of a new truck he is on house hunting. He stops at the Dare house, from the "crazy old woman", where he has an accident. I am surprised that he survived, idiot that he is. Then the talk of Myra, who people say "had gone plum nuts last months" ... blah blah ... yeah, I have read this in the previous chapter, thanks.
Third chapter: Jerry and Nina "had learned to ignore the river of sound coursing through the old Dare house" etc etc. Then there is the old Lady, appearing at night helping Nina finding lost things. There are no ghosts, of course not, but both had seen her independently from each other.
Juvenile, show-off telling style and the dialogues between Jerry and Nina in the two chapters are a joke.
If you are suicidal and looking for a Christmas gift for someone you dislike, or for gang of drug-dealing bikers, "Abigal Dare" might be a good choice.
My fault, should have downloaded a sample instead of the whole novel *sigh* Read the first four chapters before I have had enough.
Myra, obviously not poor, and living in a nursing home, "almost jumps out of her wheelchair" when she discovers a certain house on the market. She knows the former owner, Abigail, who had "wandered off and died" two years ago, and it doesnt look like they have been the best of friends. Myra wants to buy the house to burn it down.
The second chapter feature Cody Cousins, an annoying guy suffering from Too-Stupid-To-Live syndrome. As a proud owner of a new truck he is on house hunting. He stops at the Dare house, from the "crazy old woman", where he has an accident. I am surprised that he survived, idiot that he is. Then the talk of Myra, who people say "had gone plum nuts last months" ... blah blah ... yeah, I have read this in the previous chapter, thanks.
Third chapter: Jerry and Nina "had learned to ignore the river of sound coursing through the old Dare house" etc etc. Then there is the old Lady, appearing at night helping Nina finding lost things. There are no ghosts, of course not, but both had seen her independently from each other.
Juvenile, show-off telling style and the dialogues between Jerry and Nina in the two chapters are a joke.
If you are suicidal and looking for a Christmas gift for someone you dislike, or for gang of drug-dealing bikers, "Abigal Dare" might be a good choice.
October 30, 2011
The Beginning of this book was a little confusing. It seemed like it jumped a lot. I didn't even realize that someone bought the house until they had talked with those characters for 2 or more chapters.
Around chapter 8 when Abbie and Bill's story started it made a lot more sense. I really liked that story in the book. I thought it was well told and well written. The Book is really about the lives of these two people, and not a ghost story. It follows them from childhood until they are old and eventually die. In the short amount of time you really do want to know how these people survive and grow to love each other through many trials and good times. I had some questions that were never answered in their lives but I appreciate that it was short and not a super long extended tale of their lives. It was a great balance. Adding the ghost aspect to it made it a little different and interesting.
Overall a fun read, with a little spooky factor. Still not sure who the story teller is, kind of confused by that, have some ideas, but not sure, I guess it adds to the mystery.
Fast read, pretty well done.
Around chapter 8 when Abbie and Bill's story started it made a lot more sense. I really liked that story in the book. I thought it was well told and well written. The Book is really about the lives of these two people, and not a ghost story. It follows them from childhood until they are old and eventually die. In the short amount of time you really do want to know how these people survive and grow to love each other through many trials and good times. I had some questions that were never answered in their lives but I appreciate that it was short and not a super long extended tale of their lives. It was a great balance. Adding the ghost aspect to it made it a little different and interesting.
Overall a fun read, with a little spooky factor. Still not sure who the story teller is, kind of confused by that, have some ideas, but not sure, I guess it adds to the mystery.
Fast read, pretty well done.
July 15, 2012
This was a wonderful book, I love the writing style and plan to read other books by this author. It was a scary book with an intriguing plot. But this is the type of writing where the plot is almost secondary because the writing style is so good. Nevertheless the plot was excellent too, about an ornery ghost who is always looking for something.
September 26, 2012
Wow, this book is so good and so sad!!! I cried in most of it. Jon Etheredge, you wrote one fantastic book!!!!
August 17, 2012
Abigail Dare, what a wonderful name. The title of this book immediately sparked my interest and I have to say I wasn't disappointed.
I have to disagree with those reviewers who felt that the initial chapters were confusing or unnecessary. For me they were a crucial part of the theme. Unfortunately, it is difficult to say why without risking a spoiler. The first few chapters do focus on 'the Dare house' rather than the main characters but that is what builds the intrigue. What causes Myra Luckworth's reaction to visiting the house? Why do a series of accidents keep Cody Cousins away?
These were the questions on my mind as I read the rest of the story where I came to know (and love) the Dare family. Billy and Abigail Dare do not have an easy life by any stretch of the imagination and yet they endure with their spirit and humanity intact. It is the story of a family's struggle through the Great Depression and war but it is also the story of love and kindness, even in the hardest of times.
Jon Etheredge tells the story with such a wonderful and natural style that I found myself laughing, crying and everything in between, often in quick succession.
Read it. You'll be missing out if you don't.
I have to disagree with those reviewers who felt that the initial chapters were confusing or unnecessary. For me they were a crucial part of the theme. Unfortunately, it is difficult to say why without risking a spoiler. The first few chapters do focus on 'the Dare house' rather than the main characters but that is what builds the intrigue. What causes Myra Luckworth's reaction to visiting the house? Why do a series of accidents keep Cody Cousins away?
These were the questions on my mind as I read the rest of the story where I came to know (and love) the Dare family. Billy and Abigail Dare do not have an easy life by any stretch of the imagination and yet they endure with their spirit and humanity intact. It is the story of a family's struggle through the Great Depression and war but it is also the story of love and kindness, even in the hardest of times.
Jon Etheredge tells the story with such a wonderful and natural style that I found myself laughing, crying and everything in between, often in quick succession.
Read it. You'll be missing out if you don't.
April 27, 2014
A beautiful ghost story; a real surprise. When a couple moves into an old house, they determine to find out who the ghost is who's haunting the place; the book then abuptly shifts to the ghost's life story, which is alternately a love story, a WW2 yarn, a slice of life story, and something of an old age tragedy. Etheredge has created real, believable characters and he's just a magnificent writer. I read it in two days.
One caveat - he's put a bunch of alternative versions of this book out on the market. I really don't know if I read the most recent one. I cannot imagine any revisions would have fixed anything. It's perfection.
Incidentally, I don't know Mr. Etheredge, never met him, never spoke to him. It's a good book.
One caveat - he's put a bunch of alternative versions of this book out on the market. I really don't know if I read the most recent one. I cannot imagine any revisions would have fixed anything. It's perfection.
Incidentally, I don't know Mr. Etheredge, never met him, never spoke to him. It's a good book.
October 28, 2011
It was a quite good book. I got it through the first-reads program, which was fantastic! And I did enjoy the book a lot. The story was a bit disjointed and odd in the beginning, however once I really got into the book it was a lot easier to follow. Though, overall it was rather oddly set up.
However, the story was not at all what I had thought it would be based on the description. It wasn't really a ghost story, rather it followed the life of a woman who became a ghost. It was more heartbreaking than scary, actually it wasn't scary at all. I definitely enjoyed it, but it was a very different story than I had anticipated.
However, the story was not at all what I had thought it would be based on the description. It wasn't really a ghost story, rather it followed the life of a woman who became a ghost. It was more heartbreaking than scary, actually it wasn't scary at all. I definitely enjoyed it, but it was a very different story than I had anticipated.
December 10, 2011
I won this through the Goodreads First Reads program. I loved this book. It's less about ghosts and more about the love story between Abbie and Bill. Eventually, I was more interested in them than I was in the ghost part of the story. It was a little spooky at times, but mostly just satisfying. My only problem was that the first few chapters didn't really make sense. But all in all, I loved the book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a book that's mostly sad and a little scary.
October 29, 2012
This book got off to a bit of a clunky start, but once it moved into the back story, I found it enjoyable. It's less of a 'ghost story' than advertised, and I thought the ending was less than satisfying. It felt like the author just stopped writing rather than really wrapping up the story. Still, I think it was worth the few bucks I paid for the kindle edition.
September 6, 2011
I really wanted to enjoy this book. Lots of high and low points. Beginning was hard to get into, middle was interesting, and disliked the ending. Would try the author again, however.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews