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Jane Was Here
A mysterious young woman calling herself Jane turns up in a small New England town. She claims a fragmentary memory of growing up in this place, yet she has never been here before in her life. Upon her arrival, strange and alarming things begin happening to some of the town's inhabitants. As Jane's memories reawaken piece by piece, they carry her back in time to a long-buried secret, while the townspeople hurtle forward to a horrific event when past and present fatally collide.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2011
71 people are currently reading
3733 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Kernochan
4 books85 followersI decided to be a writer at age 14. The books I loved made me want to draw love in the same way, to beguile and woo a reader away from the sensory world. I don't think of myself as an author but rather as a storyteller. I have only published two books because I got sidetracked into film. That career reached its peak with my directing a movie from my own script called "All I Wanna Do" [original title: "The Hairy Bird"] with Kirsten Dunst and Lynn Redgrave. The other peak was winning a second Academy Award for documentary.
I worried that, when I eventually returned to writing novels, screenwriting would have ruined my prose style. I found that, instead, it had sharpened my ability to plot and shape a story. I felt more confident about constructing the intricate mystery of JANE WAS HERE and to keep readers turning pages.
Because of several personal experiences with ghosts, as well as past-life flashbacks, I became interested in reincarnation and the paranormal. (I am currently writing about those experiences in an ongoing series on my blog - sort of a paranormal memoir. Please visit!) Over time I developed my own spirituality and rapport with the divine, and I drew upon all my beliefs when writing JANE WAS HERE. This makes the novel so much more than an entertainment to me. I am still trying to lift people out of this world!
I worried that, when I eventually returned to writing novels, screenwriting would have ruined my prose style. I found that, instead, it had sharpened my ability to plot and shape a story. I felt more confident about constructing the intricate mystery of JANE WAS HERE and to keep readers turning pages.
Because of several personal experiences with ghosts, as well as past-life flashbacks, I became interested in reincarnation and the paranormal. (I am currently writing about those experiences in an ongoing series on my blog - sort of a paranormal memoir. Please visit!) Over time I developed my own spirituality and rapport with the divine, and I drew upon all my beliefs when writing JANE WAS HERE. This makes the novel so much more than an entertainment to me. I am still trying to lift people out of this world!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
September 11, 2015
I'm reposting this review because the author is a pretty special woman and I really loved this book. Sarah Kernochan is a screenwriter. You may have seen some her films ... 9 1/2 weeks, Somersby, What lies Beneath. A film of hers has just come out starring Ben Kingsley and Patricia Clarkson called Learning To Drive. I'm lucky enough to call Sarah a friend now. I'm looking forward to seeing this latest movie which is out in Australia beginning of October. If you want to read a great book about reincarnation, then this is the one. There hasn't been many around in the past few years. I just love the idea of reincarnation. So heads up, people.
A HAUNTING FATE
One of the most talked about books of the late seventies was “Audrey Rose” by Frank De Felitta. A frightening tale of reincarnation, it not only sparked a movie adaption but also began an era of passionate discussion on reincarnation.
For years after, I devoured books on reincarnation finding convincing supporting anecdotal evidence. Even the actress Shirley MacLaine is adamant she has lived multiple lives—one, famously, as a lover of ancient emperor Charlemagne.
So when I first discovered Sarah Kernochan’s book, ‘Jane Was Here’, there was an immediate sense of Déjà vu. All the memories of my pleasure and wonder when reading “Audrey Rose” flooded back. A reincarnation novel, I thought—it’s been too long between past lives.
In the first part of “Jane Was Here” we meet the strange mannered twenty-three year old Jane, knocking at an ungodly hour, on the door of Brett, claiming it to be her house. Also mysteriously drawn to the town of Graynier, Brett is renting the home with his ten-year-old son, Colin. Brett immediately overwhelmed by strong feelings of love for Jane, aids her in a determined search to discover her past life identity. Colin, less enamoured than his Father and, guided by his superstitious friend Gita, believes Jane’s real purpose is evil.
Eighteenth century Jane Pettigrew tells her story, in part two, through a section of letters from herself to her lover. These letters are a window into the innocence of this Jane, and they build dramatically to the ultimate question of the story: what happened to this Jane?
Amongst the present day townsfolk is another group of characters, all with their own dark stories whose paths, in a karmic twist, will eventually intercept Jane’s. The revelation of these character’s roles in Jane’s previous life brings the reader a satisfying ending that they will not see coming.
Sarah Kernochan is an Oscar winning screenwriter, and there is a spellbinding cinematic mood to this story. You will close this book but find days later that the idea has seeped into your consciousness. Kernochan’s poetic vision of reincarnation and fate will truly haunt you.
Visit http://anadventureinreading.blogspot.... for more reviews & author interviews.
A HAUNTING FATE
One of the most talked about books of the late seventies was “Audrey Rose” by Frank De Felitta. A frightening tale of reincarnation, it not only sparked a movie adaption but also began an era of passionate discussion on reincarnation.
For years after, I devoured books on reincarnation finding convincing supporting anecdotal evidence. Even the actress Shirley MacLaine is adamant she has lived multiple lives—one, famously, as a lover of ancient emperor Charlemagne.
So when I first discovered Sarah Kernochan’s book, ‘Jane Was Here’, there was an immediate sense of Déjà vu. All the memories of my pleasure and wonder when reading “Audrey Rose” flooded back. A reincarnation novel, I thought—it’s been too long between past lives.
In the first part of “Jane Was Here” we meet the strange mannered twenty-three year old Jane, knocking at an ungodly hour, on the door of Brett, claiming it to be her house. Also mysteriously drawn to the town of Graynier, Brett is renting the home with his ten-year-old son, Colin. Brett immediately overwhelmed by strong feelings of love for Jane, aids her in a determined search to discover her past life identity. Colin, less enamoured than his Father and, guided by his superstitious friend Gita, believes Jane’s real purpose is evil.
Eighteenth century Jane Pettigrew tells her story, in part two, through a section of letters from herself to her lover. These letters are a window into the innocence of this Jane, and they build dramatically to the ultimate question of the story: what happened to this Jane?
Amongst the present day townsfolk is another group of characters, all with their own dark stories whose paths, in a karmic twist, will eventually intercept Jane’s. The revelation of these character’s roles in Jane’s previous life brings the reader a satisfying ending that they will not see coming.
Sarah Kernochan is an Oscar winning screenwriter, and there is a spellbinding cinematic mood to this story. You will close this book but find days later that the idea has seeped into your consciousness. Kernochan’s poetic vision of reincarnation and fate will truly haunt you.
Visit http://anadventureinreading.blogspot.... for more reviews & author interviews.
January 6, 2012
Oh dear Jesus in Heaven…I don’t even know where to start with this book without sounding like Ozzy on a bender. So… I guess I could always start at the beginning. Sound good to you? (Nod your head yes.)
The beginning (aka the synopsis)
“A mysterious young woman calling herself Jane turns up in a small New England town. She claims a fragmentary memory of growing up in this place, yet she has never been here before in her life. Upon her arrival, strange and alarming things begin happening to some of the town’s inhabitants. As Jane’s memories reawaken piece by piece, they carry her back in time to a long-buried secret, while the townspeople hurtle forward to a horrific event when past and present fatally collide.”
Horror takes a certain brand of person to enjoy it. More often than not we are amused by disturbing descriptions (for instance splattered bodily fluids) the more mentally incompetent a person is the better, we take pleasure in disillusionment, the unrealistic, and the depraved; and more importantly…we enjoy books that are crude and make about as much sense as a uni-cycle riding donkey until the last 50 or so pages.
Why? Because we are gluttons for punishment I assume; well, either that or we love to stare at the ceiling and wonder what the hell the author was thinking.
“Jane Was Here” (by the very talented screenwriter Sarah Kernochan) was one of those books that makes you go, “huh?”
When I was little I readily believed in reincarnation. “When I die…I wanna come back as a rich ladies cat!” I used to tell my mom. “All they do is eat and sleep all day. What a wonderful way to live.” As a child this was naivety talking, but as I get older, (or…more “after this book”) I’m not so sure that reincarnation is the answer for me.
Imagine for just a second that you were killed in a most horrific way. Imagine that you did the killing. Imagine that you lost a string of loved ones due to your bad decisions and selfishness. Imagine, just for a second that reincarnation was a proven fact, BUT it came with a few catches, the most important being that you are either to be punished for your “past lives” transgressions, or you are forced to re-live them.
Would you still want to be reincarnated?
Relying on the ability to “write” a small town into a festering pool of “insanity” Kernochan did exactly that; she staged a crime and then she retold it…from several different points of view.
In “Part 1″ (yes, this book has been sectioned off into 3 very different, all frustrating parts) we are introduced to the townsfolk of Graynier, MA. Not the “normal” townsfolk mind you, (the ones that are in charge of carpool or bake cookies their husband’s lunch) we are introduced to the waste-a-ways, those that have already sunk themselves into a man-made whole of despair (ala Vodka and booty-calls.)
In “Part 2″ we are offered a glimpse into Jane’s (aka…mystery girl’s) identity through a series of very artfully crafted letters to a cult leader. (Ok, Kernochan said religious sect…I say “move over David Koresh we need more room on the crazy train”)
I know, I know…”A whole section with just letters? Ugh!” Trust me when I say that this was a genius way of building a character. Not only are we introduced to who Jane really is, but we get to see how the people around her influenced the path in which her life would eventually take.
And finally, in “Part 3″ (the piece de resistance) we get to find out what the hell any of it means. The characters, who before seemed unconnected, (or at the very least useless) come together in what can only be described as an explosive finale, weaving together past lives and current incarnations into a knock down drag out of the “a-moral.”
So what made this story worth reading or leaving? Hum..that’s a toughy…How about I throw you a bone in both categories.
Reading it: The writing “quality” was actually quite good. The characters are well-developed, the identity of the town is well established and the plot (as a whole) is an intriguing one. (Hello…they are dead people come back to wreck havoc!)
Leaving it: Though intriguing, the plot had a few hiccups that needed to be smoothed over. (As in…”What? I don’t get it…Can someone please explain this to me…I know I’m not this dumb”) There were several sections throughout that felt as though I was reading through muddy water, and when it was all said and done…I pretty much wanted to beat the living crap out of every damn character in the book. (Especially Gita!)
So what does this mean as a whole? It means it’s a bit of a toss-up, a very hard to describe toss up. Let me put it to you this way…if you are a fan of authors like Scott Nicholson, or Brian Keene (authors that may or may not be insane themselves.) I’m sure you will be delighted with this book. As for everyone else…leave the “mind F’s” to the professionals and pick a something else.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: The past doesn’t always stay in the past. A kids aren’t always where they say they are.
The beginning (aka the synopsis)
“A mysterious young woman calling herself Jane turns up in a small New England town. She claims a fragmentary memory of growing up in this place, yet she has never been here before in her life. Upon her arrival, strange and alarming things begin happening to some of the town’s inhabitants. As Jane’s memories reawaken piece by piece, they carry her back in time to a long-buried secret, while the townspeople hurtle forward to a horrific event when past and present fatally collide.”
Horror takes a certain brand of person to enjoy it. More often than not we are amused by disturbing descriptions (for instance splattered bodily fluids) the more mentally incompetent a person is the better, we take pleasure in disillusionment, the unrealistic, and the depraved; and more importantly…we enjoy books that are crude and make about as much sense as a uni-cycle riding donkey until the last 50 or so pages.
Why? Because we are gluttons for punishment I assume; well, either that or we love to stare at the ceiling and wonder what the hell the author was thinking.
“Jane Was Here” (by the very talented screenwriter Sarah Kernochan) was one of those books that makes you go, “huh?”
When I was little I readily believed in reincarnation. “When I die…I wanna come back as a rich ladies cat!” I used to tell my mom. “All they do is eat and sleep all day. What a wonderful way to live.” As a child this was naivety talking, but as I get older, (or…more “after this book”) I’m not so sure that reincarnation is the answer for me.
Imagine for just a second that you were killed in a most horrific way. Imagine that you did the killing. Imagine that you lost a string of loved ones due to your bad decisions and selfishness. Imagine, just for a second that reincarnation was a proven fact, BUT it came with a few catches, the most important being that you are either to be punished for your “past lives” transgressions, or you are forced to re-live them.
Would you still want to be reincarnated?
Relying on the ability to “write” a small town into a festering pool of “insanity” Kernochan did exactly that; she staged a crime and then she retold it…from several different points of view.
In “Part 1″ (yes, this book has been sectioned off into 3 very different, all frustrating parts) we are introduced to the townsfolk of Graynier, MA. Not the “normal” townsfolk mind you, (the ones that are in charge of carpool or bake cookies their husband’s lunch) we are introduced to the waste-a-ways, those that have already sunk themselves into a man-made whole of despair (ala Vodka and booty-calls.)
In “Part 2″ we are offered a glimpse into Jane’s (aka…mystery girl’s) identity through a series of very artfully crafted letters to a cult leader. (Ok, Kernochan said religious sect…I say “move over David Koresh we need more room on the crazy train”)
I know, I know…”A whole section with just letters? Ugh!” Trust me when I say that this was a genius way of building a character. Not only are we introduced to who Jane really is, but we get to see how the people around her influenced the path in which her life would eventually take.
And finally, in “Part 3″ (the piece de resistance) we get to find out what the hell any of it means. The characters, who before seemed unconnected, (or at the very least useless) come together in what can only be described as an explosive finale, weaving together past lives and current incarnations into a knock down drag out of the “a-moral.”
So what made this story worth reading or leaving? Hum..that’s a toughy…How about I throw you a bone in both categories.
Reading it: The writing “quality” was actually quite good. The characters are well-developed, the identity of the town is well established and the plot (as a whole) is an intriguing one. (Hello…they are dead people come back to wreck havoc!)
Leaving it: Though intriguing, the plot had a few hiccups that needed to be smoothed over. (As in…”What? I don’t get it…Can someone please explain this to me…I know I’m not this dumb”) There were several sections throughout that felt as though I was reading through muddy water, and when it was all said and done…I pretty much wanted to beat the living crap out of every damn character in the book. (Especially Gita!)
So what does this mean as a whole? It means it’s a bit of a toss-up, a very hard to describe toss up. Let me put it to you this way…if you are a fan of authors like Scott Nicholson, or Brian Keene (authors that may or may not be insane themselves.) I’m sure you will be delighted with this book. As for everyone else…leave the “mind F’s” to the professionals and pick a something else.
Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: The past doesn’t always stay in the past. A kids aren’t always where they say they are.
April 17, 2025
Stars: 2 out of 5
The idea behind this book is pretty solid - people who witnessed or were part of a tragedy reincarnate in the same town or are drawn to it, and then justice is finally done. This could have been one heck of a story. Problem is, the way it was written doesn't work.
The book is divided into three parts, and the first part was as boring as fish. I mean nothing happened. It's all character introduction and setting up the stage for the plot. The second part is about Jane's past. it's a bit more interesting, but while it provides information on what happened to her, the actual plot of the book is still waiting to happen. Then we get to the third part and the bloody denouement. I don't know about you, but I don't want wade through 2/3rds of the book before plot actually happens.
I would have probably stuck it out if I felt anything other than mild irritation or downright dislike for all the characters. I mean everyone in this town is a horrible person, even the kids. And Jane isn't much better either. I'm sorry, but I can't care or empathize with characters that are this awful and irritating. And if I don't care, I have no desire to see what happens to them. Or to be invested in their fate. I don't know if that was a conscious decision on the author's part to make everyone this unlikeable, but that killed the book for me.
I wouldn't recommend this. It's way to slow for a horror story, and it's not a very good ghost story either.
The idea behind this book is pretty solid - people who witnessed or were part of a tragedy reincarnate in the same town or are drawn to it, and then justice is finally done. This could have been one heck of a story. Problem is, the way it was written doesn't work.
The book is divided into three parts, and the first part was as boring as fish. I mean nothing happened. It's all character introduction and setting up the stage for the plot. The second part is about Jane's past. it's a bit more interesting, but while it provides information on what happened to her, the actual plot of the book is still waiting to happen. Then we get to the third part and the bloody denouement. I don't know about you, but I don't want wade through 2/3rds of the book before plot actually happens.
I would have probably stuck it out if I felt anything other than mild irritation or downright dislike for all the characters. I mean everyone in this town is a horrible person, even the kids. And Jane isn't much better either. I'm sorry, but I can't care or empathize with characters that are this awful and irritating. And if I don't care, I have no desire to see what happens to them. Or to be invested in their fate. I don't know if that was a conscious decision on the author's part to make everyone this unlikeable, but that killed the book for me.
I wouldn't recommend this. It's way to slow for a horror story, and it's not a very good ghost story either.
November 29, 2011
What a letdown. The author worked so hard to weave together this intricate plot with such a fascinating premise that just gets more and more interesting as it goes... Despite the ridiculous overuse of the word "truly" I was immensely enjoying this book. But at the end it feels as though the author just got tired of writing it. There's a wonderful story there, but even though I've finished the book, I don't feel like there was a resolution. At the end when everything is supposed to be revealed, I thought I would be stunned with everything coming together and falling into place. It doesn't. None of it makes sense. Some of the subplots were simply abandoned; certain highly symbolic characters were killed off with no explanation as to why; certain symbolism running throughout the book was left unexplained. Why put it there and do nothing with it? Sarah Kernochan, please finish writing this book because I'm dying to know what really happens!!!
January 27, 2013
I wish I hadn't read the reviews on Goodreads while in the midst of this book. Learning that the author was also the screenwriter for one of my favourite films, What Lies Beneath, only cemented my disappointment in this book.
The central caveat of this book is that a seemingly autistic young woman is actually the reincarnated spirit of a murdered young woman in 1800s Massachusetts. She interacts with all of the town's locals, and leads to a terrible tragedy both in the past and in the present.
IF you buy into the reincarnation belief that Kernochan posits, then I suppose the plot makes some semblance of sense. I did not enjoy the 3rd part of this book. The first one was boring, the second part (Jane's letters) were much more interesting, and the 3rd was straight up awful.
All of the non-white characters die in this book, in horribly stereotypical ways. They are also represented with stereotypes. Even the child of the ostensible male protagonist "disappears" to live with his African-American family never to trouble the white man who sired him again, as he lives out his days with the woman he fell in love with, and if you follow the reincarnations, his own bloody daughter. Kill off the town whore for having dared to not fulfill the sweet, adorable desirable role of Jane, who remains celibate but is tragically murdered for being raped? Of course we kill the whore. I'm incredibly surprised she didn't kill off the daughter too, because she was busy being a fatty fat girl who stuffs her face all the time and is a horrible person because of it. (That's the sense I got from the author, anyway.)
I could not sleep after I read this book only because I kept getting angrier and angrier as I read it. I am confounded and incredibly annoyed by this waste of a book.
The central caveat of this book is that a seemingly autistic young woman is actually the reincarnated spirit of a murdered young woman in 1800s Massachusetts. She interacts with all of the town's locals, and leads to a terrible tragedy both in the past and in the present.
IF you buy into the reincarnation belief that Kernochan posits, then I suppose the plot makes some semblance of sense. I did not enjoy the 3rd part of this book. The first one was boring, the second part (Jane's letters) were much more interesting, and the 3rd was straight up awful.
All of the non-white characters die in this book, in horribly stereotypical ways. They are also represented with stereotypes. Even the child of the ostensible male protagonist "disappears" to live with his African-American family never to trouble the white man who sired him again, as he lives out his days with the woman he fell in love with, and if you follow the reincarnations, his own bloody daughter. Kill off the town whore for having dared to not fulfill the sweet, adorable desirable role of Jane, who remains celibate but is tragically murdered for being raped? Of course we kill the whore. I'm incredibly surprised she didn't kill off the daughter too, because she was busy being a fatty fat girl who stuffs her face all the time and is a horrible person because of it. (That's the sense I got from the author, anyway.)
I could not sleep after I read this book only because I kept getting angrier and angrier as I read it. I am confounded and incredibly annoyed by this waste of a book.
February 1, 2012
2.5 Stars.
This book didn't do it for me in several ways:
1. While I enjoy the whole reincarnation idea, I also believe that through reincarnation you grow spiritually and have the opportunity to redeem or redress past wrongs. However, Kernochan uses reincarnation as a vehicle to the proverbial "what goes around comes around" saying. The characters are pitiful in their current existence, waiting for Jane to come and shake things up. Nah. Don't buy it.
2. Jane was annoying.
3. There were obviously spiritual beings around. They were referenced, but then left on the shelf to die an ignominious death (so to speak). Example - Who was the old lady on the porch? - she recognizes Jane as her daughter... but, wait, didn't the original Jane's mother die when Jane was born???? How would she recognize her and, more importantly, why? Can we say plot device... sigh.
4. What happened to the private investigator?
5. I truly felt sorry for the reincarnates who never were given the ability to "realize" their "true" identity. If you are going to have them die horrible deaths at least let them know why they are being cosmically punished! Seesh, lady.
6. Oh, and the whole father/daughter thing. Yuck. Did you have to leave me with that unpleasant taste in my mouth at the very end of the book?
That all being said, the writing was solid and with some further explanations and tie-ins being wrapped up, it would have been much better.
This book didn't do it for me in several ways:
1. While I enjoy the whole reincarnation idea, I also believe that through reincarnation you grow spiritually and have the opportunity to redeem or redress past wrongs. However, Kernochan uses reincarnation as a vehicle to the proverbial "what goes around comes around" saying. The characters are pitiful in their current existence, waiting for Jane to come and shake things up. Nah. Don't buy it.
2. Jane was annoying.
3. There were obviously spiritual beings around. They were referenced, but then left on the shelf to die an ignominious death (so to speak). Example - Who was the old lady on the porch? - she recognizes Jane as her daughter... but, wait, didn't the original Jane's mother die when Jane was born???? How would she recognize her and, more importantly, why? Can we say plot device... sigh.
4. What happened to the private investigator?
5. I truly felt sorry for the reincarnates who never were given the ability to "realize" their "true" identity. If you are going to have them die horrible deaths at least let them know why they are being cosmically punished! Seesh, lady.
6. Oh, and the whole father/daughter thing. Yuck. Did you have to leave me with that unpleasant taste in my mouth at the very end of the book?
That all being said, the writing was solid and with some further explanations and tie-ins being wrapped up, it would have been much better.
July 3, 2011
Where do you go when your only memories seem to stem from a life not your own? Who do you call family when those who birthed you are but strangers? Meet Jane...a woman lost in the past who must find herself before she is lost once again in the present.
When Jane enters the small town of Graynier, it is familiar in a way that it shouldn't be, given that she's never been there before. But she has. She hangs onto this certainty as she claims for herself a house that is being occupied by a young man and his son. "This is my home" she tells the confused Brett at 3 a.m. on a rainy night. Her quest for herself creates a karmic ripple through the whole town as author Sarah Kernochan weaves a tale rich with unique characters each stuck in their own story of life.
Kernochan brings the best of her screenwriting skills to this perfectly paced, riveting suspense. With beautifully lyrical language, rich characterization and a lush setting ripe with drama, this is a must read book that you will not be able to put down until the last word is read...and then you will want more and more!
Jane is a fascinating woman, transplanted into an era not her own, who fights to reclaim herself while discovering the truth of her former life. I was completely engaged in her quest through all the unexpected twists and turns. JANE WAS HERE is a novel for anyone who enjoys a great read!
When Jane enters the small town of Graynier, it is familiar in a way that it shouldn't be, given that she's never been there before. But she has. She hangs onto this certainty as she claims for herself a house that is being occupied by a young man and his son. "This is my home" she tells the confused Brett at 3 a.m. on a rainy night. Her quest for herself creates a karmic ripple through the whole town as author Sarah Kernochan weaves a tale rich with unique characters each stuck in their own story of life.
Kernochan brings the best of her screenwriting skills to this perfectly paced, riveting suspense. With beautifully lyrical language, rich characterization and a lush setting ripe with drama, this is a must read book that you will not be able to put down until the last word is read...and then you will want more and more!
Jane is a fascinating woman, transplanted into an era not her own, who fights to reclaim herself while discovering the truth of her former life. I was completely engaged in her quest through all the unexpected twists and turns. JANE WAS HERE is a novel for anyone who enjoys a great read!
August 19, 2011
Jane Was Here is a classic page turner. The plot shifts and turns and challenges the reader to pay very close attention to every detail. That's not hard to do since the author is such talented writer. The words seem to flow so perfectly on the page. Her style is easy to read, but not facile. Every word seems to be there for a reason. The plot jumps back and forth to modern day new england and 19th century new england with an ease only a skilled writer like sarah kernochan can deliver. it's not easy to shift from modern day prose to the language of a time long gone.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but the reader is introduced to the main character jane who wanders into the fictional town of graynier massachusetts literally like a lost soul.
jane claims she has never been to this town before and yet seems to have very string memories of people places and things that take her way back to that period in the mid 19th century. we are introduced to many unsavory characters who jane has met at another place and time. i developed a fondness for some and a hatred for others - that is the beauty of sarah's writing, delivering compelling characters along with an intricate plot.
a lot unravels in jane was here. best not to put it down before you find out who, what, when and where.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but the reader is introduced to the main character jane who wanders into the fictional town of graynier massachusetts literally like a lost soul.
jane claims she has never been to this town before and yet seems to have very string memories of people places and things that take her way back to that period in the mid 19th century. we are introduced to many unsavory characters who jane has met at another place and time. i developed a fondness for some and a hatred for others - that is the beauty of sarah's writing, delivering compelling characters along with an intricate plot.
a lot unravels in jane was here. best not to put it down before you find out who, what, when and where.
July 12, 2023
Setting: 'Graynier', Massachusetts, USA; 1850's and modern day.
The town of Graynier was established in the 19th century by the family of the same name to house the workers of their glass factory, which became renowned throughout the country. Now, the glass factory is no more but the town and its inhabitants, including descendants of the original Grayniers, is still there. Staying in a rental property in the town is visitor Brett with his 10-year-old son Collin, having been strangely drawn to the town whilst passing. When a young woman calling herself Jane knocks on Brett's door late one night, she insists that he is staying in her house - but one in which it becomes apparent she lived in 200 years ago. As Jane tries to get to the root of her memories from the past, with the aid of Brett, other residents of the town start to suffer strange and often debilitating events....
The theme of this book would appear to be reincarnation. As the story unfolds, Jane's past, together with the links with current residents of the town, are gradually revealed. This book was very nearly a 5-star read from me - I loved the various characters in the book and the unusual, and totally gripping, storyline also had me engrossed. The way that the story unfolded and was brought to a conclusion was also, for me, excellent - 9+/10 (4+ stars).
The town of Graynier was established in the 19th century by the family of the same name to house the workers of their glass factory, which became renowned throughout the country. Now, the glass factory is no more but the town and its inhabitants, including descendants of the original Grayniers, is still there. Staying in a rental property in the town is visitor Brett with his 10-year-old son Collin, having been strangely drawn to the town whilst passing. When a young woman calling herself Jane knocks on Brett's door late one night, she insists that he is staying in her house - but one in which it becomes apparent she lived in 200 years ago. As Jane tries to get to the root of her memories from the past, with the aid of Brett, other residents of the town start to suffer strange and often debilitating events....
The theme of this book would appear to be reincarnation. As the story unfolds, Jane's past, together with the links with current residents of the town, are gradually revealed. This book was very nearly a 5-star read from me - I loved the various characters in the book and the unusual, and totally gripping, storyline also had me engrossed. The way that the story unfolded and was brought to a conclusion was also, for me, excellent - 9+/10 (4+ stars).
December 15, 2011
All aspects of Sarah Kernochan's novel "Jane Was Here" can be described with one word: ridiculous.
Let's begin with the characters of this book because I find them to be where "Jane Was Here" fails the most. All of the characters are obnoxious, stupid, and pathetic. None of them are likable in the least. I don't know why it would seem reasonable to create characters with whom readers will not sympathize. Some of them are not even really woven into the main plot and are just added in to make a point about the premise of the novel, which I will address later. For the figures that are brought into the story of the titular Jane, they become unreasonably obsessed with her for no real reason and no actual explanation as to why they would decided to react to her the way they do (unless you count the premise's ultimate explanation--which I don't because it still doesn't explain anything). Jane is referred to several times as "unstable" but I think that's the perfect word to apply to all the characters as well. I promise you I am not exaggerating--none of the people in the town of Graynier come off as sane, balanced human beings. If you don't believe me, read the book... I dare you (but I'm just joking don't actually read the book; it's terrible).
The depiction of racial and cultural stereotypes in this novel borders on offensive, and at some points crosses it. This is another inexcusable failure of the book. It seems to me, as a reader, that the author hates the characters and thinks the worst of them. Racial and cultural stereotypes are everything these characters are presented as being. Even some who defy the stereotype and who are billed to be intelligent individuals are either tragically damaged psychologically and emotionally or are degraded with urban vernacular that I would assume is used to lend the character some "authenticity". There is a college educated black woman in this book with a stereotypically urban vocabulary but "Websters it" when talking to white people. Crosses the line. The Indian family in this novel is Hindu but attends church "just to fit in" in the small town of Graynier--which, as it is pointed out in the book, was once a place where you wouldn't find names with too many or too little vowels (i.e. "At 62, Thom remembers a time when the town had no Poonchwallas or Alvarezes or Ngs--names with no vowels or too many" [95]). This comment can be excused save for the fact that the rest of the novel takes on this same tone when talking about anyone. Those living in the small town are incredibly irresponsible parents, or live in trailers, or cook and deal meth which greatly colours their character despite the redeeming attributes they do have. I don't know why it is that the author chose to craft the figures in the most unattractive way possible but it's ridiculous that she does. They're not in real--they're just biases.
The novel's premise is the final flaw I'm going to discuss. I can't say too much about it without giving it away but I will say that it does not make any sense. At all. None. None whatsoever. You are going to read this book (if I have not succeeded in steering you away from it) and roll you eyes at the unraveling of this "great" mystery. It's... ugh... just dumb.
"Jane Was Here" is an awful novel with repulsive characters and a terrible premise that is carried out through a disjointed plot. I would not recommend this to anyone. Stay away from it.
--
On a side note: I have to talk about the aesthetics of the book. Italics are overused in it. Overused to death. It's EVERYWHERE. It's distracting and unnecessary. There is a point where a newspaper article is inserted in the narration using wider left and right margins and it worked but for some reason a series of letters (that go on for pages) must be italicized. Why? And for another thing, these letters were addressed to different people but they are discovered all together by the writer of the letters. Why would the writer of letter addressed to different people have them all together? Did they send them back to her? Ridiculous.
Okay, I'm officially ranting now. Apologies.
Let's begin with the characters of this book because I find them to be where "Jane Was Here" fails the most. All of the characters are obnoxious, stupid, and pathetic. None of them are likable in the least. I don't know why it would seem reasonable to create characters with whom readers will not sympathize. Some of them are not even really woven into the main plot and are just added in to make a point about the premise of the novel, which I will address later. For the figures that are brought into the story of the titular Jane, they become unreasonably obsessed with her for no real reason and no actual explanation as to why they would decided to react to her the way they do (unless you count the premise's ultimate explanation--which I don't because it still doesn't explain anything). Jane is referred to several times as "unstable" but I think that's the perfect word to apply to all the characters as well. I promise you I am not exaggerating--none of the people in the town of Graynier come off as sane, balanced human beings. If you don't believe me, read the book... I dare you (but I'm just joking don't actually read the book; it's terrible).
The depiction of racial and cultural stereotypes in this novel borders on offensive, and at some points crosses it. This is another inexcusable failure of the book. It seems to me, as a reader, that the author hates the characters and thinks the worst of them. Racial and cultural stereotypes are everything these characters are presented as being. Even some who defy the stereotype and who are billed to be intelligent individuals are either tragically damaged psychologically and emotionally or are degraded with urban vernacular that I would assume is used to lend the character some "authenticity". There is a college educated black woman in this book with a stereotypically urban vocabulary but "Websters it" when talking to white people. Crosses the line. The Indian family in this novel is Hindu but attends church "just to fit in" in the small town of Graynier--which, as it is pointed out in the book, was once a place where you wouldn't find names with too many or too little vowels (i.e. "At 62, Thom remembers a time when the town had no Poonchwallas or Alvarezes or Ngs--names with no vowels or too many" [95]). This comment can be excused save for the fact that the rest of the novel takes on this same tone when talking about anyone. Those living in the small town are incredibly irresponsible parents, or live in trailers, or cook and deal meth which greatly colours their character despite the redeeming attributes they do have. I don't know why it is that the author chose to craft the figures in the most unattractive way possible but it's ridiculous that she does. They're not in real--they're just biases.
The novel's premise is the final flaw I'm going to discuss. I can't say too much about it without giving it away but I will say that it does not make any sense. At all. None. None whatsoever. You are going to read this book (if I have not succeeded in steering you away from it) and roll you eyes at the unraveling of this "great" mystery. It's... ugh... just dumb.
"Jane Was Here" is an awful novel with repulsive characters and a terrible premise that is carried out through a disjointed plot. I would not recommend this to anyone. Stay away from it.
--
On a side note: I have to talk about the aesthetics of the book. Italics are overused in it. Overused to death. It's EVERYWHERE. It's distracting and unnecessary. There is a point where a newspaper article is inserted in the narration using wider left and right margins and it worked but for some reason a series of letters (that go on for pages) must be italicized. Why? And for another thing, these letters were addressed to different people but they are discovered all together by the writer of the letters. Why would the writer of letter addressed to different people have them all together? Did they send them back to her? Ridiculous.
Okay, I'm officially ranting now. Apologies.
December 27, 2012
JANE WAS HERE
by
Sarah Kernochan
This is, quite simply, a masterful novel. Yes, it has an essential paranormal strand, as ghosts of the past return to haunt the living. Yes, it is also a mystery, where the enigmatic Jane and the truth she seeks about her past are revealed so gradually that one dare not lose concentration for a single moment. She searches for herself with the same desperation we assume in our search of her.
But ‘Jane Was Here’ is, most importantly, a beautifully told story. The sheer quality of the writing puts it into a class of its own. Screenwriter Sarah Kernochan’s voice is mature, measured, sympathetic, respectful and ingenious. She is both imaginative composer and sensitive conductor in an elaborate literary symphony full of startling passages and vivid contrasts. And, like a symphony, it has several distinct movements – a painterly opening that sets the backdrop of small-town New England with its town of Graynier, a post-industrial nowheresville just off an interstate in Massachusetts populated by the good and the less good; a second movement, where the strangers and locals begin to collide with one another; a third, lyrical and slow, introducing 19th Century letters in the epistolary style of Austen or a Brontë; and the final, terrifying dénouement that, like all the best symphonies, contains hooks, reprises and leitmotifs that explain all, yet leave the reader bereft at having to close the book.
Careful writing makes this story entirely plausible, which is curious and clever in a book with a strong metaphysical theme of reincarnation. Even the concept of past lives is convincing here, for who can entirely reject the possibility of tangible links between what has gone before and its active influence on the present?
I would recommend this book without hesitation.
Roderick Craig Low - author
by
Sarah Kernochan
This is, quite simply, a masterful novel. Yes, it has an essential paranormal strand, as ghosts of the past return to haunt the living. Yes, it is also a mystery, where the enigmatic Jane and the truth she seeks about her past are revealed so gradually that one dare not lose concentration for a single moment. She searches for herself with the same desperation we assume in our search of her.
But ‘Jane Was Here’ is, most importantly, a beautifully told story. The sheer quality of the writing puts it into a class of its own. Screenwriter Sarah Kernochan’s voice is mature, measured, sympathetic, respectful and ingenious. She is both imaginative composer and sensitive conductor in an elaborate literary symphony full of startling passages and vivid contrasts. And, like a symphony, it has several distinct movements – a painterly opening that sets the backdrop of small-town New England with its town of Graynier, a post-industrial nowheresville just off an interstate in Massachusetts populated by the good and the less good; a second movement, where the strangers and locals begin to collide with one another; a third, lyrical and slow, introducing 19th Century letters in the epistolary style of Austen or a Brontë; and the final, terrifying dénouement that, like all the best symphonies, contains hooks, reprises and leitmotifs that explain all, yet leave the reader bereft at having to close the book.
Careful writing makes this story entirely plausible, which is curious and clever in a book with a strong metaphysical theme of reincarnation. Even the concept of past lives is convincing here, for who can entirely reject the possibility of tangible links between what has gone before and its active influence on the present?
I would recommend this book without hesitation.
Roderick Craig Low - author
June 23, 2011
In "Jane Was Here," Sarah Kernochan has created a stunning and remarkable story that grabbed me at the first sentence and didn't let me go until I had devoured the entire story. Moving smoothly and quickly, the story has so many levels that if I tried to explain what it was all about, I'd completely spoil it for you, the future reader of this amazing book.
Who is Jane? She arrives in Granynier, searching for answers. She invites herself into a house rented for the summer by Brett so he could spend the summer with his son Collin; Brett is immediately taken with her, but Collin hates her. She claims she was born in the house, but as Brett researches the past of the house he finds it is impossible, as it has been owned by its current owner for 30 years and Jane is in her early 20s. Eventually a private investigator shows up, claiming the girl's name is Caroline and that she is autistic and her parents are searching for her. Jane insists that while they may have birthed her, they are not her parents and she is not Caroline. Is she crazy, or is she a reincarnation?
Questions abound in this book, which is beautifully atmospheric. There are many characters moving through the story, but Ms. Kernochan (who was kind enough to provide me a copy of her wonderful book so I could write this review for you to read) does such a wonderful job at giving them all individual traits and characteristics that it is easy to keep track of whom is who. I can't stress enough that you should give this book a read - it's really amazing!
Who is Jane? She arrives in Granynier, searching for answers. She invites herself into a house rented for the summer by Brett so he could spend the summer with his son Collin; Brett is immediately taken with her, but Collin hates her. She claims she was born in the house, but as Brett researches the past of the house he finds it is impossible, as it has been owned by its current owner for 30 years and Jane is in her early 20s. Eventually a private investigator shows up, claiming the girl's name is Caroline and that she is autistic and her parents are searching for her. Jane insists that while they may have birthed her, they are not her parents and she is not Caroline. Is she crazy, or is she a reincarnation?
Questions abound in this book, which is beautifully atmospheric. There are many characters moving through the story, but Ms. Kernochan (who was kind enough to provide me a copy of her wonderful book so I could write this review for you to read) does such a wonderful job at giving them all individual traits and characteristics that it is easy to keep track of whom is who. I can't stress enough that you should give this book a read - it's really amazing!
August 3, 2011
There's a lot to think about with this book. Kernochan (writer for movies "What Lies Beneath" and "Sommersby") has a way with language. As I read, I would repeatedly pause and re-read a passage just to enjoy the words she chose and the way they were combined. The story has some wonderful characters -- I particularly liked the alcoholic underachiever, Hoyt. I've never read a book like this before, and thoroughly enjoyed it!
not-for-me-wtf
March 15, 2015DNF around 30%
July 7, 2018
Well written, creative read. Twists, turns, flash back style reveals. Literate and captured my attention from the beginning. Interesting , well developed characters, relatable story line, modern scary tale. Recomended.
May 15, 2012
Sometimes the biggest pleasures in life come from stepping outside what you know and trying something different. A book like "Jane Was Here" by Sarah Kernochan (@SarahKernochan) isn't something I might normally pick up to read -- I usually like some creature(s) with my paranormal -- but man, am I glad I did.
Thrilling and suspenseful, "Jane" has everything, and I mean everything, that I love in a story -- and more. Sharply-drawn characters, clear and engaging prose, and an intriguing and beguiling plot with many sub-plots that intertwine and then spin off on their own, only to come crashing back together.
Add to that some real eerie events, told vividly and without breaking the overarching narrative, and you've got a story that had me hooked from page 1. At several points I simply couldn't put my Kindle down without reading one more chapter. In fact, I stopped everything I was doing yesterday afternoon to read the final sixteen chapters: I simply had to know all of the story's secrets.
The conclusion left me both satisfied and not -- but in a good way. While pleased to have all revealed -- much of which was beyond my wildest imaginings while progressing through the book -- I would gladly have had more of such an intelligent and deeply-drawn story. For a reader, a book like this makes you hungry to find out if the next story you read will be just as good.
"Jane Was Here" opens with a young woman arriving at the town of Graynier, Massachusetts. Graynier was built in the early 1800s around a glass factory, and true to that blue-collar beginning down through the years it hasn't been the charming New England village written about in so many romance novels.
The young woman will call herself Jane, and her arrival sets into motion a chain of events that will engulf several people who live in or are visiting the town. Jane does not know who she is, but she knows the town, and its inhabitants, hold the answers. Discovering that truth changes everyone.
As always, I prefer not to spoil the details of a book, and "Jane Was Here" has so many layers that trying to write a suitable review without giving anything away is tough. I don't want to rob future readers of the experience. Those layers are so dense with detail and intrigue, like a blank jigsaw puzzle: you know the pieces fit together, but how? Does this go here? Or there?
I love stories like this.
If you're looking for a well-written, spooky, intelligent, engrossing paranormal story, I highly recommend "Jane Was Here." Don't think this is your type of story? Drop the words "spooky" and "paranormal" from the previous sentence and just realize this book is well-written, intelligent and engrossing -- everything you're looking for, and so much more.
Thrilling and suspenseful, "Jane" has everything, and I mean everything, that I love in a story -- and more. Sharply-drawn characters, clear and engaging prose, and an intriguing and beguiling plot with many sub-plots that intertwine and then spin off on their own, only to come crashing back together.
Add to that some real eerie events, told vividly and without breaking the overarching narrative, and you've got a story that had me hooked from page 1. At several points I simply couldn't put my Kindle down without reading one more chapter. In fact, I stopped everything I was doing yesterday afternoon to read the final sixteen chapters: I simply had to know all of the story's secrets.
The conclusion left me both satisfied and not -- but in a good way. While pleased to have all revealed -- much of which was beyond my wildest imaginings while progressing through the book -- I would gladly have had more of such an intelligent and deeply-drawn story. For a reader, a book like this makes you hungry to find out if the next story you read will be just as good.
"Jane Was Here" opens with a young woman arriving at the town of Graynier, Massachusetts. Graynier was built in the early 1800s around a glass factory, and true to that blue-collar beginning down through the years it hasn't been the charming New England village written about in so many romance novels.
The young woman will call herself Jane, and her arrival sets into motion a chain of events that will engulf several people who live in or are visiting the town. Jane does not know who she is, but she knows the town, and its inhabitants, hold the answers. Discovering that truth changes everyone.
As always, I prefer not to spoil the details of a book, and "Jane Was Here" has so many layers that trying to write a suitable review without giving anything away is tough. I don't want to rob future readers of the experience. Those layers are so dense with detail and intrigue, like a blank jigsaw puzzle: you know the pieces fit together, but how? Does this go here? Or there?
I love stories like this.
If you're looking for a well-written, spooky, intelligent, engrossing paranormal story, I highly recommend "Jane Was Here." Don't think this is your type of story? Drop the words "spooky" and "paranormal" from the previous sentence and just realize this book is well-written, intelligent and engrossing -- everything you're looking for, and so much more.
June 17, 2011
Jane does not remember much about her past. Only that the town of Graynier seems familiar to her somehow. When Jane arrives in town, she meets Brett. Brett is renting out a home for the summer. It just so happens that it is the home that Jane lived in or the place that she thinks she lived in. Jane ends up staying with Brett until she can piece together her past and who she really is. With Jane’s appearance comes a dark secret that some of the towns folk don’t want uncovered and will do anything to keep hidden.
When I first picked up this book and read the summary, I though ok this sounds like an interesting book. Boy, I did not know how interesting it really was going to be. Jane was a very multi dimensional character, who kept me guessing as to what her real story was. I got to know that story the further that I read. It was slowly fed to me bit by bit. There was a curve ball that I did not see coming. Though, once I was hit by it, it actually made sense. I don’t want to give away anything. This book was darker than I thought in a good way. Now that I have discovered Sarah Kernochan, I plan to keep an eye on her. Jane was Here and she is here to stay!
When I first picked up this book and read the summary, I though ok this sounds like an interesting book. Boy, I did not know how interesting it really was going to be. Jane was a very multi dimensional character, who kept me guessing as to what her real story was. I got to know that story the further that I read. It was slowly fed to me bit by bit. There was a curve ball that I did not see coming. Though, once I was hit by it, it actually made sense. I don’t want to give away anything. This book was darker than I thought in a good way. Now that I have discovered Sarah Kernochan, I plan to keep an eye on her. Jane was Here and she is here to stay!
May 18, 2011
I was lucky enough to get a galley a few weeks ago. This was a real page turner. I had to find out what happened before I could do anything else. This book has something for everybody - at least the everybodies in my life. You've got mystery and suspense, afterlife and the paranormal, 19th century romance, sex, drugs but no rock n roll, blood, gore, and even a dog or two.
I don't know how I feel about past lives and reincarnation. I try to do right in this life, but sometimes I think, "Geez! What did I do in a past life to deserve this?" Jane Was Here physically demonstrates how actions in your past life can affect your current life. It's almost proof. Yes, I know it's fiction, but the book is chilling enough to make you think the author knows for sure we have several lives.
I recommend this to anyone who questions reincarnation and to anyone who's just looking for a good summer read. It's a quick read - something you can do on a rainy weekend.
I don't know how I feel about past lives and reincarnation. I try to do right in this life, but sometimes I think, "Geez! What did I do in a past life to deserve this?" Jane Was Here physically demonstrates how actions in your past life can affect your current life. It's almost proof. Yes, I know it's fiction, but the book is chilling enough to make you think the author knows for sure we have several lives.
I recommend this to anyone who questions reincarnation and to anyone who's just looking for a good summer read. It's a quick read - something you can do on a rainy weekend.
August 6, 2013
The prose here is BEAUTIFUL. Absolutely flawless and occassionally staggering. For the writing alone this novel is worth it but the story is no slouch either; the lives of several people in a small New England town become at first complicated then supernaturally sinister after a near-miss accident with a young pedestrian - a stranger - in Graynier.
Jane is a woman with no memories yet MANY memories and as she tries to unravel the pieces of what turns out to be her very distant past, others in the community begin to experience bizarre and frightening physical symptoms which seem to be retribution for the depraved and desperate choices they make.
That this book has no clear hero yet captivated me enough to read it quickly and keep me hooked is testimony to the story it tells. Very different, very clever, and, as I said, the writing is flawlessly gorgeous.
Jane is a woman with no memories yet MANY memories and as she tries to unravel the pieces of what turns out to be her very distant past, others in the community begin to experience bizarre and frightening physical symptoms which seem to be retribution for the depraved and desperate choices they make.
That this book has no clear hero yet captivated me enough to read it quickly and keep me hooked is testimony to the story it tells. Very different, very clever, and, as I said, the writing is flawlessly gorgeous.
April 25, 2012
Really enjoyed this book. I found the characters believable and sometimes funny. Hoyt the lazy - who only wanted to drink and read (bit like me there). Marly the whore who always thought things could be worse. Brett the web designer struggling to know his son who met Gita who liked India but not being Indian and her brother who liked being Indian but not India. Lots more good characters bringing the story to a great finish when all became clear. For a supernatural book I thought it was quite jolly at times which didn't diminish it in any way. Wonderful writer and I'm going to look for her first book now.
July 7, 2018
Thrilling and suspenseful! A lot of twist and turns! Good book!
July 29, 2012
There's a story behind why I ended up reading this book. I was on my annual holiday down in Constantine Bay, Cornwall, back in May this year. I was reading an interview with Clark Gregg in Empire Film magazine. He was featured because his recurring character, S.H.I.E.LD. Agent Phil Coulson, was returning in The Avengers. The article revealed a couple of surprising things about him. As well as learning that he is he married to Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing), I discovered that he has had quite a successful screenwriting career as well - The Harrision Ford and Michelle Pheiffer movie What Lies Beneath being referred to specifically as something he co-wrote in the article. Anyway, what has all of this got to do with anything, you may ask. The very next day, I noticed that a lady who had begun to follow me on Twitter that day had a profile which described her as an Oscar winning filmmaker, screenwriter and author of paranormal suspense thriller Jane Was here. My new follower's name was Sarah Kernochan. Intrigued, I searched google to find out if she had done anything I had heard of. Indeed, she had. Her first screenwriting credit had been for the Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger movie 9 1/2 weeks. She also co-wrote the 1993 Richard Gere and Jodie Foster movie Sommerbsy, but I was amazed to learn that she was credited with co-writing What Lies Beneath. It struck me as an astonishing coincidence, showing how small a world it is with so many unlikely connections emerging. It had only been the day before that I had been surprised at Clark Gregg's involvement in What Lies Beneath and now I had been found by the lady who had passed the draft onto him to take forward (I sent her a message about it at the time and she replied that she had only met him once. She did the draft and he took over when she left to work on another film.) So, it just seemed right that I bought her novel. It was like something from that Kiefer Sutherland TV show, Touch.
It took about a month, but the novel arrived. After reading it, I felt compelled to share my story and what I thought about the novel.
Jane Was Here is a multi-layered story about the arrival of a young woman in a small town affecting the lives of many of its residents. Whilst it has the potential to seem like the author has chosen to fill sections of the novel with pointless plot strands shooting away from the main plot, nothing is unnecessary. The young woman brings a mystery with her, which imaginatively fuses the past with the present whilst addressing reincarnation, religion and fate. It may be Sarah Kernochan's screenwriting talent that contributes to the vivid way in which this suspenseful tale is told. The reader is compelled by the twists thrown along the puzzling path towards the far-reaching climax. As Past and present collide, the author masterfully takes the reader on a breathtaking ride. A recommended read, which fate brought to my door.
It took about a month, but the novel arrived. After reading it, I felt compelled to share my story and what I thought about the novel.
Jane Was Here is a multi-layered story about the arrival of a young woman in a small town affecting the lives of many of its residents. Whilst it has the potential to seem like the author has chosen to fill sections of the novel with pointless plot strands shooting away from the main plot, nothing is unnecessary. The young woman brings a mystery with her, which imaginatively fuses the past with the present whilst addressing reincarnation, religion and fate. It may be Sarah Kernochan's screenwriting talent that contributes to the vivid way in which this suspenseful tale is told. The reader is compelled by the twists thrown along the puzzling path towards the far-reaching climax. As Past and present collide, the author masterfully takes the reader on a breathtaking ride. A recommended read, which fate brought to my door.
December 4, 2013
I've wanted to read Jane Was Here since I first learned about it well over a year ago and I'm really glad I've had the opportunity to do so. As it turns out, this book ended up being a very oddly intriguing story.
I was really intrigued with oh so mysterious Jane and her parallel-time storyline, but I have to admit that much of the time it was hard to understand what was really going on. However, when the other characters' story lines started connecting with her parallel-iness it was interesting to see it all play out, and
as it turns out, there's the haunting lure of mystery in the book and the cast of characters.
The middle part, Jane's letters written to Trane, lasted 54 pages and while it *did* give a whole lot of background to Jane - where she came from and why she ended up the way she did ... and I get why it was a necessary part of the book ... sadly, however, I honestly didn't like that part very much and was relieved to get back to the present-day storyline.
Overall, I liked and enjoyed this book. It had a few minor downfalls (i.e., in addition to part two mentioned above, I'm still not sure what the deal was with the reincarnation/Colony/Realm discussion between Iris and the clown - I mean, that was two-and-a-half pages of odd at that particular point in the book and made no sense to me until I'd finished the book and went back to re-read some of the more confusing parts).
So, for the minor downfalls, it probably deserves a 3.5 star rating if 1/2 stars were available, but I'm overlooking the downfalls and adding the other half-star point simply because it was a very interesting story, one I've not come across before, and for the most part, well told. Jane was definitely a intriguing character .. I'm sure to remember her for a long time.
Would recommend to paranormaly-ish, timey-wimey readers who are looking for something off the beaten path.
**I won this book in a GoodReads first-reads giveaway listed by the author Sarah Kernochan. Thank you Goodreads and Sarah for the opportunity to read and review this intriguing book!
I was really intrigued with oh so mysterious Jane and her parallel-time storyline, but I have to admit that much of the time it was hard to understand what was really going on. However, when the other characters' story lines started connecting with her parallel-iness it was interesting to see it all play out, and
as it turns out, there's the haunting lure of mystery in the book and the cast of characters.
The middle part, Jane's letters written to Trane, lasted 54 pages and while it *did* give a whole lot of background to Jane - where she came from and why she ended up the way she did ... and I get why it was a necessary part of the book ... sadly, however, I honestly didn't like that part very much and was relieved to get back to the present-day storyline.
Overall, I liked and enjoyed this book. It had a few minor downfalls (i.e., in addition to part two mentioned above, I'm still not sure what the deal was with the reincarnation/Colony/Realm discussion between Iris and the clown - I mean, that was two-and-a-half pages of odd at that particular point in the book and made no sense to me until I'd finished the book and went back to re-read some of the more confusing parts).
So, for the minor downfalls, it probably deserves a 3.5 star rating if 1/2 stars were available, but I'm overlooking the downfalls and adding the other half-star point simply because it was a very interesting story, one I've not come across before, and for the most part, well told. Jane was definitely a intriguing character .. I'm sure to remember her for a long time.
Would recommend to paranormaly-ish, timey-wimey readers who are looking for something off the beaten path.
**I won this book in a GoodReads first-reads giveaway listed by the author Sarah Kernochan. Thank you Goodreads and Sarah for the opportunity to read and review this intriguing book!
June 4, 2013
I received this book as part of the Goodreads First Read program.
Jane Was Here is a gripping read that has had me reassessing reincarnation for weeks. Jane is not fully aware of who she was, only that she currently inhabits a body that does not belong to her. She is conscious of the fact that she does not belong and rails against her current situation, shutting her new parents out behavious that are diagnosed as autism. Eventually, she is institutionalized, and remains such until she realizes that she is legally of age to be independent. Jane goes in search of her real self, ending up in Graynier with the conviction that the place is her home and that she will discover the truth somewhere here.
The characters are gritty, imperfect and down right bizarre at times. I was constantly second guessing the motives of each character, trying to place them in the strange history. Each character is pushed to the limit, tragically turned inside out, and somehow manages to fulfill a grim destiny.
The book is divided into three parts, the second part being a series of one sided letters written by Jane to Mr. Lysander Trane. The author did a brilliant job telling the story through these letters, as Jane developed from a somewhat silly and overly romantic, impulsive teenaged girl, into a young woman determined to find fulfillment. That a fair amount of brainwashing may have taken place is in the subtext. While reading the second part, I was greviously frustrated at the lack of true insight into Lysander's POV by even having one of his letters, but by the end of the novel I fully understood the significance of this omission.
In the end, I was not sure whether to love, detest or pity each character and the role they played in the past and the present. I continue to contemplate these characters and the fact that the person they were then, is not who they are now, but that at the moment of crisis, they seemed to revert to their past selves.
Brilliant read, highly recommended.
Jane Was Here is a gripping read that has had me reassessing reincarnation for weeks. Jane is not fully aware of who she was, only that she currently inhabits a body that does not belong to her. She is conscious of the fact that she does not belong and rails against her current situation, shutting her new parents out behavious that are diagnosed as autism. Eventually, she is institutionalized, and remains such until she realizes that she is legally of age to be independent. Jane goes in search of her real self, ending up in Graynier with the conviction that the place is her home and that she will discover the truth somewhere here.
The characters are gritty, imperfect and down right bizarre at times. I was constantly second guessing the motives of each character, trying to place them in the strange history. Each character is pushed to the limit, tragically turned inside out, and somehow manages to fulfill a grim destiny.
The book is divided into three parts, the second part being a series of one sided letters written by Jane to Mr. Lysander Trane. The author did a brilliant job telling the story through these letters, as Jane developed from a somewhat silly and overly romantic, impulsive teenaged girl, into a young woman determined to find fulfillment. That a fair amount of brainwashing may have taken place is in the subtext. While reading the second part, I was greviously frustrated at the lack of true insight into Lysander's POV by even having one of his letters, but by the end of the novel I fully understood the significance of this omission.
In the end, I was not sure whether to love, detest or pity each character and the role they played in the past and the present. I continue to contemplate these characters and the fact that the person they were then, is not who they are now, but that at the moment of crisis, they seemed to revert to their past selves.
Brilliant read, highly recommended.
June 9, 2014
Jane shows up on a stranger's doorstep and says, “This is my house. I was born in this house.” From the initial confusion arises a carefully laid tapestry of metaphysical and existential mystery. Each moment of the story opens up a new question regarding the denizens of this small town. Who are they? Why are they acting so strangely? Like a puzzle, this book opens as a miasma of pieces with no obvious links between. But within a few chapters the patterns begin to emerge, the plot begins to find its footing and suddenly we have collected everything that we need to know in order to see that there is indeed a single solution.
The plots initial murkiness could only find its footing with the help of a large and impressive cast of characters whose relationships weave an intricate portrait of small town life, both past and present.
Then there is the means by which the story is told, which echoes the chaos of the narrative. The chapters often meander from present to past, from remembrance to current circumstance. An extended foray into an epistolary format reveals its own set of plot lines, diverting the reader from the actions of the moment, only to bring everything right back together again. This fractured narrative style deepens the sense that this puzzle may require every last bit of intellect. Luckily, Kernochan is smart enough to keep one step ahead of me so that the puzzle is well worth the ride.
Revelations are seldom presented at a pace as those in Jane Was Here. Answers appear for questions I never thought to ask. The nature of the soul is suddenly and brutally laid bare in just a few pages as if it needed only the simplest of explanations. Who are we? What does it mean for a soul to inhabit a body? How would you feel if we suddenly had the answer?
The plots initial murkiness could only find its footing with the help of a large and impressive cast of characters whose relationships weave an intricate portrait of small town life, both past and present.
Then there is the means by which the story is told, which echoes the chaos of the narrative. The chapters often meander from present to past, from remembrance to current circumstance. An extended foray into an epistolary format reveals its own set of plot lines, diverting the reader from the actions of the moment, only to bring everything right back together again. This fractured narrative style deepens the sense that this puzzle may require every last bit of intellect. Luckily, Kernochan is smart enough to keep one step ahead of me so that the puzzle is well worth the ride.
Revelations are seldom presented at a pace as those in Jane Was Here. Answers appear for questions I never thought to ask. The nature of the soul is suddenly and brutally laid bare in just a few pages as if it needed only the simplest of explanations. Who are we? What does it mean for a soul to inhabit a body? How would you feel if we suddenly had the answer?
August 11, 2011
I consider myself very lucky to have won a copy of this amazing book on Goodreads.
From the first two sentences I was immediately hooked:
"The night is pale, humid, with a few begrimed clouds. The moon has hung around so long it's ignored, unremarkable as a thumb-tack."
The book is full of similar gorgeous prose, which literally made me smile to myself while reading it. This novel is certainly not short on plot either!
I do love a good mystery, and when you throw that mystery into a small town, where everyone has a quirk and everyone has a secret, you end up with genius. I compare this novel to Twin Peaks as an honor, as that was my favorite TV show EVER.
The mysterious Jane arrives in a small New England town called Graynier, and her arrival promptly puts all of the character's lives in chaos in some way or another. She believes she is from another time, and she believes she was murdered, and she's determined to solve the mystery.
One thing I've never been able to nail while writing is realistic, unclunky dialogue, which the author completely masters. Some of it is literally laugh out loud hilarious, and I found myself reading a couple of "zingers" to my husband. I literally could not put the book down, and as a result Ms. Kernochan owes me a good night's sleep! :) This book is BEGGING to be made into a movie.
Highly recommended!!
From the first two sentences I was immediately hooked:
"The night is pale, humid, with a few begrimed clouds. The moon has hung around so long it's ignored, unremarkable as a thumb-tack."
The book is full of similar gorgeous prose, which literally made me smile to myself while reading it. This novel is certainly not short on plot either!
I do love a good mystery, and when you throw that mystery into a small town, where everyone has a quirk and everyone has a secret, you end up with genius. I compare this novel to Twin Peaks as an honor, as that was my favorite TV show EVER.
The mysterious Jane arrives in a small New England town called Graynier, and her arrival promptly puts all of the character's lives in chaos in some way or another. She believes she is from another time, and she believes she was murdered, and she's determined to solve the mystery.
One thing I've never been able to nail while writing is realistic, unclunky dialogue, which the author completely masters. Some of it is literally laugh out loud hilarious, and I found myself reading a couple of "zingers" to my husband. I literally could not put the book down, and as a result Ms. Kernochan owes me a good night's sleep! :) This book is BEGGING to be made into a movie.
Highly recommended!!
October 31, 2012
Jane Was Here is a spellbinding gothic tale that tingles the spine and jangles the nerves. The story explores the subject of reincarnation with a clever narrative device: a vagrant girl arrives in a sleepy town, unable to recall her past, but she remembers with conviction that her past has a profound connection to where she has found herself in the present. I was drawn into the tale from the first page and felt immersed in the small New England community. The deft prose intertwines the reader with gripping images and a cast of believable, flawed characters.
Sarah Kernochan demonstrates her writing prowess, seamlessly shifting time periods and language styles. Jane Was Here is a wondrous web at times mystical, paranormal, and visceral with gritty realism. I found the story to be Stephen King-esque in its ability to reveal the underbelly of human behavior in a small town setting. The suspense of discovering Jane’s past leads the reader on her daring present journey in a race against the future.
There is no doubt the author is a polished professional and deserves high praise for this masterpiece of paranormal suspense! I look forward to reading more of Sarah Kernochan’s work!
Sarah Kernochan demonstrates her writing prowess, seamlessly shifting time periods and language styles. Jane Was Here is a wondrous web at times mystical, paranormal, and visceral with gritty realism. I found the story to be Stephen King-esque in its ability to reveal the underbelly of human behavior in a small town setting. The suspense of discovering Jane’s past leads the reader on her daring present journey in a race against the future.
There is no doubt the author is a polished professional and deserves high praise for this masterpiece of paranormal suspense! I look forward to reading more of Sarah Kernochan’s work!
May 11, 2012
To be honest with the reader of this review, it took a bit for this book to take off for me. Once I got into it, *BAM*, it took off and ended with several twists that I didn't see coming and left me scratching my head (a good thing). This was probably one of the most unusual books I have read this year. I have owned it for a bit, but as things happen and books pop up, I found myself distracted by other books given to me or ones that were on my TBR list. It took a book challenge to shove it to the front of my TBR list. Now I wish I would have gone with my gut instict and read it earlier!!
This book is a prime example of why I prefer indie authors and publishers (Grey Swan Publishing) over big house publishers any day of the year! This book and the author came in with a fresh concept (one I didn't see coming). Ms. Kernochan could get off the porch and compete with any of those big publishing house author dogs any day of the week.
I am so happy that I stalked this author for Sisterhood of the Traveling Book when she was first published. My initial gut instinct was that Ms. Kernochan was a talent unfolding before our eyes and that instinct was right on target!
This book is a prime example of why I prefer indie authors and publishers (Grey Swan Publishing) over big house publishers any day of the year! This book and the author came in with a fresh concept (one I didn't see coming). Ms. Kernochan could get off the porch and compete with any of those big publishing house author dogs any day of the week.
I am so happy that I stalked this author for Sisterhood of the Traveling Book when she was first published. My initial gut instinct was that Ms. Kernochan was a talent unfolding before our eyes and that instinct was right on target!
March 19, 2012
I would like to start by saying I normally only really read young adult books so it was a nice change to read something for adult readers and it was such a magnificent book.
There were a LOT of interesting and exciting characters in the book and while I really enjoyed reading about them what I fell in love with was the story that blazed through the whole book. The mystery that surrounded Jane in her quest to find out the truth about herself. Who is this strange old fashioned talking young women and why are all her memories so fragmented. I loved reading as the story unfolded into something so jaw droppingly stunning.
There was religion in the book but do not be put off there is the demonic horror folded in with the story that will give you chills to the bone. The whole way through the book I was on the edge of my seat waiting to learn the truth. I could feel myself getting excited the closer I got to the end knowing I would soon know everything and oh my goodness what a conclusion this book had. I know one this book will linger in my mind for weeks to come.
A fantastic mix of mystery, supernatural, faith and horror all combined together to make one hell of a book!
5 stars
There were a LOT of interesting and exciting characters in the book and while I really enjoyed reading about them what I fell in love with was the story that blazed through the whole book. The mystery that surrounded Jane in her quest to find out the truth about herself. Who is this strange old fashioned talking young women and why are all her memories so fragmented. I loved reading as the story unfolded into something so jaw droppingly stunning.
There was religion in the book but do not be put off there is the demonic horror folded in with the story that will give you chills to the bone. The whole way through the book I was on the edge of my seat waiting to learn the truth. I could feel myself getting excited the closer I got to the end knowing I would soon know everything and oh my goodness what a conclusion this book had. I know one this book will linger in my mind for weeks to come.
A fantastic mix of mystery, supernatural, faith and horror all combined together to make one hell of a book!
5 stars
October 21, 2014
I’ve never been a big fan of reincarnation stories. I realize now that it’s probably because I’d never read one as deftly written as Jane Was Here, by Sarah Kernochan. Most reincarnation stories left me thinking, “Yeah, right.” Jane Was Here, on the other hand, made me wonder: “Could that really happen?”
What stood out for me most was how real, how human, the characters are. Their flaws (some are much more flawed than others) are there for us to see, which makes it much easier for the reader identify with these people. The overarching story follows Jane, who is trying to find out who she is by digging (literally and figuratively) into a very distant past that she’s convinced included her. But it soon becomes obvious that each of the characters in the book is trying to discover and realize themselves, each in his or her own way: connecting with estranged family members, by dabbling in religion, going from bed to bed — or diving into a bottle of booze.
I would highly recommend Jane Was Here to anyone, but especially to those who, like me, are not fans of the genre. Jane Was Here will change that.
What stood out for me most was how real, how human, the characters are. Their flaws (some are much more flawed than others) are there for us to see, which makes it much easier for the reader identify with these people. The overarching story follows Jane, who is trying to find out who she is by digging (literally and figuratively) into a very distant past that she’s convinced included her. But it soon becomes obvious that each of the characters in the book is trying to discover and realize themselves, each in his or her own way: connecting with estranged family members, by dabbling in religion, going from bed to bed — or diving into a bottle of booze.
I would highly recommend Jane Was Here to anyone, but especially to those who, like me, are not fans of the genre. Jane Was Here will change that.
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