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Olivay
We don’t believe that our lives can change in an instant—until they do.Olivay, widowed for a year and sleepwalking through life, meets Henry by chance. She takes him to her Los Angeles loft, thinking it will just be for the night. But the following morning, bombs detonate across the city; mayhem and carnage fill the streets; and her loft is covered in broken glass and her own blood. Henry is skittish, solicitous, and strangely distracted. Who is this man she’s marooned with as the city goes on lockdown? Why is she catching him in lie after lie? Is he somehow connected to her husband’s death and the terrorist attacks outside?With eloquent and suspenseful prose, Olivay explores the wreckage of loss and the collision of grief, desire, and terror in its aftermath. As the characters get pushed outside their comfort zones, forced to walk the thin line between destruction and salvation, Olivay keeps readers guessing what will become of Olivay and Henry until the very end.
Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2015
37 people are currently reading
678 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Reed
5 books199 followersDEBORAH REED is the author of seven novels, most recently Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan, and The Days When Birds Come Back, both published with Mariner, now an imprint of Harper Collins. Her novel, Things We Set On Fire, sold over 100,000 copies in the first six months, and another, Carry Yourself Back To Me, was an Amazon Editors’ Pick of the Year.
She has taught novel writing at the Hellenic American University in Athens, Greece, the UCLA extension program in Los Angeles, and was previously the co-director of the Black Forest Writing Seminars at Albert-Ludwig University in Freiburg, Germany. Until June of 2022, she was the owner of Cloud & Leaf Bookstore in Manzanita, Oregon. She now lives and writes in Berlin. Her forthcoming novel will be announced soon.
She has taught novel writing at the Hellenic American University in Athens, Greece, the UCLA extension program in Los Angeles, and was previously the co-director of the Black Forest Writing Seminars at Albert-Ludwig University in Freiburg, Germany. Until June of 2022, she was the owner of Cloud & Leaf Bookstore in Manzanita, Oregon. She now lives and writes in Berlin. Her forthcoming novel will be announced soon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
March 25, 2016
This book was like nothing I had read in a while, after reading the synopsis I moved this to the top of my reading pile. It was a very unique read and possibly not for everybody.
The prose is stunning and the underlying tension throughout the book kept me on my toes. It's not a super fast paced book, in fact it seems to meander, but it always does so with a purpose to reveal more of the story.
We don’t believe that our lives can change in an instant—until they do.
Olivay, widowed for a year and sleepwalking through life, meets Henry by chance. She takes him to her Los Angeles loft, thinking it will just be for the night. But the following morning, bombs detonate across the city; mayhem and carnage fill the streets; and her loft is covered in broken glass and her own blood.
Henry is skittish, solicitous, and strangely distracted. Who is this man she’s marooned with as the city goes on lockdown? Why is she catching him in lie after lie? Is he somehow connected to her husband’s death and the terrorist attacks outside?
Can you trust your own instincts?
This book messed with my head as I flicked between theories of how and why Henry turned up like he did in Olivay's life. Oh how I fluctuated about him, over and over again. Which is the whole idea.
In the midst of a terrorist bombing and the two of them being locked down Olivay's apartment they do a tentative, passionate, yet distant dance around each other. Each sharing parts of themselves but each knowing it's not the full story, so they pull close they can't help it, but is there trust?
It's a bizarre setting, but it works as it has Henry and Olivay in this type of pressure cooker situation. The world has gone made outside and all they have is each other. The book flashes back to Henry's past in the Peace Corps, which reveals things to us the reader that it doesn't to Olivay, so we know more than she, hence me yelling at her whilst reading the book. Olivay too, reflects on her past with her just deceased husband and who she really is today.
Henry keeps things secret from Olivay on purpose, but why? After I worked out why I was gasping for air.
It's quite moving, haunting, powerful but not everybody's cup of tea. It's a dance of tension, trust, passion, lies that you are desperate to unravel and see clearly. It kept me interested all the way to the end.
Then ending - what can I say? I didn't get it until DAYS later as I reflected on the book and it's message, then when I did get it I was stunned by the power in the ending. I am getting all worked up here just writing about it.
Not an upbeat book, it requires a reader who likes to go deep into the human psyche and treasures a book that stands out from the crowd. Just what is the story REALLY of Olivay and Henry? Read and see.
Don't forget to check out my reviews and book blog at:
https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley, thanks for the opportunity to review. Release date is July 7, 2015
The prose is stunning and the underlying tension throughout the book kept me on my toes. It's not a super fast paced book, in fact it seems to meander, but it always does so with a purpose to reveal more of the story.
We don’t believe that our lives can change in an instant—until they do.
Olivay, widowed for a year and sleepwalking through life, meets Henry by chance. She takes him to her Los Angeles loft, thinking it will just be for the night. But the following morning, bombs detonate across the city; mayhem and carnage fill the streets; and her loft is covered in broken glass and her own blood.
Henry is skittish, solicitous, and strangely distracted. Who is this man she’s marooned with as the city goes on lockdown? Why is she catching him in lie after lie? Is he somehow connected to her husband’s death and the terrorist attacks outside?
Can you trust your own instincts?
This book messed with my head as I flicked between theories of how and why Henry turned up like he did in Olivay's life. Oh how I fluctuated about him, over and over again. Which is the whole idea.
In the midst of a terrorist bombing and the two of them being locked down Olivay's apartment they do a tentative, passionate, yet distant dance around each other. Each sharing parts of themselves but each knowing it's not the full story, so they pull close they can't help it, but is there trust?
It's a bizarre setting, but it works as it has Henry and Olivay in this type of pressure cooker situation. The world has gone made outside and all they have is each other. The book flashes back to Henry's past in the Peace Corps, which reveals things to us the reader that it doesn't to Olivay, so we know more than she, hence me yelling at her whilst reading the book. Olivay too, reflects on her past with her just deceased husband and who she really is today.
Henry keeps things secret from Olivay on purpose, but why? After I worked out why I was gasping for air.
It's quite moving, haunting, powerful but not everybody's cup of tea. It's a dance of tension, trust, passion, lies that you are desperate to unravel and see clearly. It kept me interested all the way to the end.
Then ending - what can I say? I didn't get it until DAYS later as I reflected on the book and it's message, then when I did get it I was stunned by the power in the ending. I am getting all worked up here just writing about it.
Not an upbeat book, it requires a reader who likes to go deep into the human psyche and treasures a book that stands out from the crowd. Just what is the story REALLY of Olivay and Henry? Read and see.
Don't forget to check out my reviews and book blog at:
https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley, thanks for the opportunity to review. Release date is July 7, 2015
May 17, 2015
Seriously, I don't know how I feel about this book. It is strange and yet beautiful, absolutely compelling but slowly drawn out - there is a wonderful poetry to the prose and an odd underlying tension throughout. It gripped me utterly, I started it this morning and here I am done. And yet I do not now how I feel about this book...
Olivay lost her husband to a terrible accident. Sometime later she meets a man whilst out in one of her rare forays beyond her front door and brings him home with her. Then bombs go off and suddenly they are stuck together, but who exactly is he? And, indeed, who exactly is Olivay?
This is a claustrophobic and intelligently engaging psychological drama - two characters, one setting, a real play on emotions and a story of actions and consequences. The author slowly slowly and with really haunting detail gives us a portrait of this woman and this man, brought together possibly by chance, by coincidence or maybe not. The truth lies hidden beneath many layers that Deborah Reed gradually peels away for the reader, letting them see through to the core.
Purely character driven, a touch of literary genius, really stunning writing and that underlying tension I mentioned earlier is created through a very deft use of language and a really gorgeous play on words, sinking you into this story and holding you there enthralled.
The ending is subtle, takes a while to absorb, the book has left me emotionally wrung out and pensive. This is one that will stay with me for a long time and that I'm sure my mind will worry at and reassess - the kind of read that is truly thought provoking for reasons beyond my ken.
Definitely highly recommended - with the caveat that it will not be for everyone - but still give it a go. Although I have done my best it really is a book that defies description. Take from it what you find there.
Happy Reading Folks!
Olivay lost her husband to a terrible accident. Sometime later she meets a man whilst out in one of her rare forays beyond her front door and brings him home with her. Then bombs go off and suddenly they are stuck together, but who exactly is he? And, indeed, who exactly is Olivay?
This is a claustrophobic and intelligently engaging psychological drama - two characters, one setting, a real play on emotions and a story of actions and consequences. The author slowly slowly and with really haunting detail gives us a portrait of this woman and this man, brought together possibly by chance, by coincidence or maybe not. The truth lies hidden beneath many layers that Deborah Reed gradually peels away for the reader, letting them see through to the core.
Purely character driven, a touch of literary genius, really stunning writing and that underlying tension I mentioned earlier is created through a very deft use of language and a really gorgeous play on words, sinking you into this story and holding you there enthralled.
The ending is subtle, takes a while to absorb, the book has left me emotionally wrung out and pensive. This is one that will stay with me for a long time and that I'm sure my mind will worry at and reassess - the kind of read that is truly thought provoking for reasons beyond my ken.
Definitely highly recommended - with the caveat that it will not be for everyone - but still give it a go. Although I have done my best it really is a book that defies description. Take from it what you find there.
Happy Reading Folks!
July 14, 2015
I stumbled upon Deoborah Reed’s Olivay thanks to fellow writer and Matera brainstormer, S.G. Redling. A few days ago, she mentioned it in a Facebook post, and it caught my eye. I loved the premise: a woman, widowed one year, brings home a stranger and spends the night with him–the next day bombs explode in Los Angeles, not far from where she lives–and the stranger she brought home may have saved her life…and he may have been involved.
Olivay is a literary thriller that–even with its very tight timeline–slowly unfurls, not rushing to reveal all its secrets. Even with the backdrop of the novel being set against a terrorist attack during the LA Marathon that is exacerbated by the Santa Ana winds and wildfire, Olivay tells more than just the story of a terrorist attack. It is the story of a woman struggling to emerge from her grief. It is the story of two people finding one another. It is the story of discovering that your marriage is not what you thought it was. It is the story of a murder and of reinventing oneself.
What I love about this novel is that both of the characters–Olivay and Henry–are so marvelously flawed. Both are unreliable yet vulnerable. Sometimes both are so solicitous of one another and yet capable of cruelty. Olivay recounts at one point that both her husband and her mother accused her of being full of meanness. There are times when her behavior towards Henry seems to confirm this and yet, there are other times when she is so tender towards him–even when she begins to feel suspicious of his skittishness.
This is one of those pageturner novels–seriously, I had a hard time setting aside my Kindle because I didn’t want to stop reading. And it’ll have you guessing as you try to figure out Henry’s–and at times, Olivay’s–intentions. The descriptions–of the bombings and its aftermath are so rich and so powerful… Of course it will remind you at times of that surreal, disconnected and yet hypersensitive state many of us were in following the September 11th attacks and the Boston Marathon. Reed’s use of how the media reports misinformation and retractions is especially important to the plot and helps to increase the novel’s frenetic tension.
Olivay is a fantastic, thought-provoking novel to lose yourself in this summer. Make sure you get a friend to read it at the same time–you will want to discuss it as soon as you finish reading it!
Loved it!
My rating? Five stars!
Olivay is a literary thriller that–even with its very tight timeline–slowly unfurls, not rushing to reveal all its secrets. Even with the backdrop of the novel being set against a terrorist attack during the LA Marathon that is exacerbated by the Santa Ana winds and wildfire, Olivay tells more than just the story of a terrorist attack. It is the story of a woman struggling to emerge from her grief. It is the story of two people finding one another. It is the story of discovering that your marriage is not what you thought it was. It is the story of a murder and of reinventing oneself.
What I love about this novel is that both of the characters–Olivay and Henry–are so marvelously flawed. Both are unreliable yet vulnerable. Sometimes both are so solicitous of one another and yet capable of cruelty. Olivay recounts at one point that both her husband and her mother accused her of being full of meanness. There are times when her behavior towards Henry seems to confirm this and yet, there are other times when she is so tender towards him–even when she begins to feel suspicious of his skittishness.
This is one of those pageturner novels–seriously, I had a hard time setting aside my Kindle because I didn’t want to stop reading. And it’ll have you guessing as you try to figure out Henry’s–and at times, Olivay’s–intentions. The descriptions–of the bombings and its aftermath are so rich and so powerful… Of course it will remind you at times of that surreal, disconnected and yet hypersensitive state many of us were in following the September 11th attacks and the Boston Marathon. Reed’s use of how the media reports misinformation and retractions is especially important to the plot and helps to increase the novel’s frenetic tension.
Olivay is a fantastic, thought-provoking novel to lose yourself in this summer. Make sure you get a friend to read it at the same time–you will want to discuss it as soon as you finish reading it!
Loved it!
My rating? Five stars!
April 7, 2015
"So what's your story here, kid? When are you going to get to the point?"
This is a quote near the end of the novel, and pretty much sums up how I felt about the entire book. I felt the novel started strong: the premise of a woman grieving the inexplicable loss of her husband undergoes another trauma with a man she isn't sure if she can trust. The writing intertwined violence with passion, blurring the boundaries of each.
But after the bombings occur, and it becomes clear that the reader won't get answers anytime soon, I quickly lost interest. Between Henry's sudden interest in sweeping to Olivay's musings about a long-lost cat, the pacing was incredibly slow. My rating quickly fell from four stars, to three stars, and by the end of the novel I was skimming so much I decided on a final two star rating. As great as the synopsis was, the writing just fell too flat.
I received an online galley from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
This is a quote near the end of the novel, and pretty much sums up how I felt about the entire book. I felt the novel started strong: the premise of a woman grieving the inexplicable loss of her husband undergoes another trauma with a man she isn't sure if she can trust. The writing intertwined violence with passion, blurring the boundaries of each.
But after the bombings occur, and it becomes clear that the reader won't get answers anytime soon, I quickly lost interest. Between Henry's sudden interest in sweeping to Olivay's musings about a long-lost cat, the pacing was incredibly slow. My rating quickly fell from four stars, to three stars, and by the end of the novel I was skimming so much I decided on a final two star rating. As great as the synopsis was, the writing just fell too flat.
I received an online galley from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
June 4, 2015
Three and a half stars: A stunning, haunting, psychological, character driven book that will leave your head spinning.
Olivay can still smell the blood and the burnt asphalt. It has been a year since a motorcyclist ran over her husband, smashing open his head and killing him on the sidewalk, as a nightgown clad, Olivay cradled his head and begged him to stay. Since then, Olivay has been living in fog, trying to overcome her grief and find her way. A bright spot occurs unexpectedly when a handsome stranger stops at her table in the cafe she frequents. He asks to join her. Normally, Olivay would decline, but something about Henry draws her to him. The two chatter happily, and Olivay begins to see light through the fog. One thing leads to another, until the moment when the two find themselves trapped in Olivay's apartment after a terrorist bomb goes off in the streets of L.A. Olivay begins to wonder who exactly is this man she is marooned with and what is he hiding?
What I Liked:
*Olivay is one of those novels I am having a hard time finding the words to describe. This is a beautifully written, suspenseful, character driven, psychological work that will keep you addictively turning the pages until the stunning finale. This isn't a book for everyone, and some people will be confused and perplexed over the ending. If you are a reader that enjoys intelligent, well written, thinking books, this is a book you should try. It is one that grabbed me and wouldn't let go until the last sentence, and even now, I am still contemplating over what happened.
*This is a book that relies heavily on suspense, tension and underlying secrets as two strangers, who are attracted to one another, are thrown into a chaotic, life and death situation, where in order to survive, they must trust each other. Yet when the pieces start to fall into place, Olivay begins to wonder how well she knows this person, and if he is telling the truth. It is slow burning book that is full of questions, secrets and mystery. It is the type of read that drops a few tidbits of intriguing information every chapter, that will make the reader want to know more. It is a read that requires patience, but if you like a good psychological read with plenty of suspense try this.
*At the heart of the story, are two emotionally damaged and psychologically scarred individuals. They are deeply flawed and in turmoil. Olivay is depressed and still reeling from the death of her husband, but was she truly happy in her marriage? Henry is more of an enigma, and the truth of his past isn't revealed until the second half, and even then, it isn't to Olivay. As the book progresses, the two learn to trust each other, to a point, and there is a strange sexual undercurrent between them. It is a dance of tension, sex and secrets that leads up to a haunting and stunning finale.
*The writing is lovely. It is full of rich descriptions and lots of details. The way the author executes the plot is brilliant and sophisticated. It moves at a slow and steady pace. With plenty of moments of terror as the attack unfolds and the disturbing aftermath. It all leads up to a moment ripe with tension, and then it ends, leaving the reader in a tailspin trying to decide the fate of the two. All I can say, is you have to read it for yourself to experience the brilliance and sophistication of the story.
And The Not So Much:
*This isn't a read for everyone. It is slow and sometimes the pace even drags as the reader is overly anxious to learn the truth. The story is complex and deep, and it all leads up to an open ending, where the reader is given all the information, and left to determine the final fate of Henry and Olivay. If you are not the type that likes a book that takes it sweet time, and leaves you wondering, this isn't for you.
*I was bothered that I never knew for sure what about Will and his actions before he died. Were Olivay's suspicions true?
*Henry still kept many of his secrets close, and I had some nagging issues with him after the book was done.
This is such a strange story, I still can't quite put into words how I feel about it. I think what bothers me is that much of it is up to me to decipher, and I always wonder if I have truly grasped the author's intentions. I guess I will never know.....
*Olivay is one of those books that will stick with me for a long time to come. It is a thought provoking, psychological journey, ripe with tension and driven by strong and interesting characters. This isn't a book for everyone, but for the savvy reader who likes a sophisticated and compelling story, this is definitely a read to take a chance on.
Favorite Quotations:
"Once her mother stopped abruptly, and said she should listen, try really hard to listen how the whole of life was contained in a song---the rise and fall, the violence and forgiveness, the suspense, the tension, the not knowing how it might end until you felt that very last note."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Olivay can still smell the blood and the burnt asphalt. It has been a year since a motorcyclist ran over her husband, smashing open his head and killing him on the sidewalk, as a nightgown clad, Olivay cradled his head and begged him to stay. Since then, Olivay has been living in fog, trying to overcome her grief and find her way. A bright spot occurs unexpectedly when a handsome stranger stops at her table in the cafe she frequents. He asks to join her. Normally, Olivay would decline, but something about Henry draws her to him. The two chatter happily, and Olivay begins to see light through the fog. One thing leads to another, until the moment when the two find themselves trapped in Olivay's apartment after a terrorist bomb goes off in the streets of L.A. Olivay begins to wonder who exactly is this man she is marooned with and what is he hiding?
What I Liked:
*Olivay is one of those novels I am having a hard time finding the words to describe. This is a beautifully written, suspenseful, character driven, psychological work that will keep you addictively turning the pages until the stunning finale. This isn't a book for everyone, and some people will be confused and perplexed over the ending. If you are a reader that enjoys intelligent, well written, thinking books, this is a book you should try. It is one that grabbed me and wouldn't let go until the last sentence, and even now, I am still contemplating over what happened.
*This is a book that relies heavily on suspense, tension and underlying secrets as two strangers, who are attracted to one another, are thrown into a chaotic, life and death situation, where in order to survive, they must trust each other. Yet when the pieces start to fall into place, Olivay begins to wonder how well she knows this person, and if he is telling the truth. It is slow burning book that is full of questions, secrets and mystery. It is the type of read that drops a few tidbits of intriguing information every chapter, that will make the reader want to know more. It is a read that requires patience, but if you like a good psychological read with plenty of suspense try this.
*At the heart of the story, are two emotionally damaged and psychologically scarred individuals. They are deeply flawed and in turmoil. Olivay is depressed and still reeling from the death of her husband, but was she truly happy in her marriage? Henry is more of an enigma, and the truth of his past isn't revealed until the second half, and even then, it isn't to Olivay. As the book progresses, the two learn to trust each other, to a point, and there is a strange sexual undercurrent between them. It is a dance of tension, sex and secrets that leads up to a haunting and stunning finale.
*The writing is lovely. It is full of rich descriptions and lots of details. The way the author executes the plot is brilliant and sophisticated. It moves at a slow and steady pace. With plenty of moments of terror as the attack unfolds and the disturbing aftermath. It all leads up to a moment ripe with tension, and then it ends, leaving the reader in a tailspin trying to decide the fate of the two. All I can say, is you have to read it for yourself to experience the brilliance and sophistication of the story.
And The Not So Much:
*This isn't a read for everyone. It is slow and sometimes the pace even drags as the reader is overly anxious to learn the truth. The story is complex and deep, and it all leads up to an open ending, where the reader is given all the information, and left to determine the final fate of Henry and Olivay. If you are not the type that likes a book that takes it sweet time, and leaves you wondering, this isn't for you.
*I was bothered that I never knew for sure what about Will and his actions before he died. Were Olivay's suspicions true?
*Henry still kept many of his secrets close, and I had some nagging issues with him after the book was done.
This is such a strange story, I still can't quite put into words how I feel about it. I think what bothers me is that much of it is up to me to decipher, and I always wonder if I have truly grasped the author's intentions. I guess I will never know.....
*Olivay is one of those books that will stick with me for a long time to come. It is a thought provoking, psychological journey, ripe with tension and driven by strong and interesting characters. This isn't a book for everyone, but for the savvy reader who likes a sophisticated and compelling story, this is definitely a read to take a chance on.
Favorite Quotations:
"Once her mother stopped abruptly, and said she should listen, try really hard to listen how the whole of life was contained in a song---the rise and fall, the violence and forgiveness, the suspense, the tension, the not knowing how it might end until you felt that very last note."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
July 10, 2015
The review was first posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds as part of the Blog Tour hosted by TLC Book Tours.
"For all the times she'd wanted to die, she now understood how badly she wanted to live."
A year ago, Olivay, was was married content if not happy. She was working as an architect, in love with her life. A year later, she is a widow, her life and her husband's accident became a media spectacle and she has now become a loner.
She is in two minds about living her life again and the one morning she does go out for a cup of coffee, she meets a man, Henry. Now Henry, appeals to her, not just physically but there is a connection between them, that was palpable even to the reader.
She bring him back, they spend a night together and the next day everything just blows up, literally! There is a terrorist attack, and now they are stuck with each other and all the secrets that is between them!
"People are capable of doing all kinds of things, Olivay. The "why" doesn't even matter."
Olivay is a book that stays with you long after you are done with it - you keep thinking about the various connotations of each and every revelations that you just have to go back and check whether your perceptions were right or not.
The book starts off a little slow and it's only when the book is done 60%, is when it starts to pick up pace. But that doesn't mean it detracts from the plot, in fact the slowness of the plot is perfect buildup for the scenarios that take place.
I, personally would have loved Henry's POV from the start, rather than only 40% of the book - it would have made it more clear as to what was happening and the secrets that Henry was keeping and the reasons why!
I also think, the author had left it to readers to their own interpretations when it came most of the plot twists - she only gives only vague clues as to the secrets and it's on the reader to figure out what is happening, or what has happened. This is a bloody brilliant move on her part, especially since it's one of the major reasons why I am still hung up on this book!
I will definitely check out Deborah Reed's books - but I will give it at least a month in between her books, especially since I can't afford be to be hung up on books when I am supposed to be studying for my Doctorate :D
"For all the times she'd wanted to die, she now understood how badly she wanted to live."
A year ago, Olivay, was was married content if not happy. She was working as an architect, in love with her life. A year later, she is a widow, her life and her husband's accident became a media spectacle and she has now become a loner.
She is in two minds about living her life again and the one morning she does go out for a cup of coffee, she meets a man, Henry. Now Henry, appeals to her, not just physically but there is a connection between them, that was palpable even to the reader.
She bring him back, they spend a night together and the next day everything just blows up, literally! There is a terrorist attack, and now they are stuck with each other and all the secrets that is between them!
"People are capable of doing all kinds of things, Olivay. The "why" doesn't even matter."
Olivay is a book that stays with you long after you are done with it - you keep thinking about the various connotations of each and every revelations that you just have to go back and check whether your perceptions were right or not.
The book starts off a little slow and it's only when the book is done 60%, is when it starts to pick up pace. But that doesn't mean it detracts from the plot, in fact the slowness of the plot is perfect buildup for the scenarios that take place.
I, personally would have loved Henry's POV from the start, rather than only 40% of the book - it would have made it more clear as to what was happening and the secrets that Henry was keeping and the reasons why!
I also think, the author had left it to readers to their own interpretations when it came most of the plot twists - she only gives only vague clues as to the secrets and it's on the reader to figure out what is happening, or what has happened. This is a bloody brilliant move on her part, especially since it's one of the major reasons why I am still hung up on this book!
I will definitely check out Deborah Reed's books - but I will give it at least a month in between her books, especially since I can't afford be to be hung up on books when I am supposed to be studying for my Doctorate :D
April 5, 2015
Wow. This novel takes romance and sprinkles in a whooping dash of hell. Reed starts with a bang as Will is mowed down when a motorcycle jumps a curb. As Olivay cradles her dying husband's head telling Will not to look up, not wanting him to see the inside his own head, the nightmare of the moment takes hold. "The stench of burnt rubber, of warm blood on hot concrete would remain in her nose for weeks," As will the question of who the motorcyclist was.
We, the readers, are privy to far more than widowed Olivay. When she meets Henry, bombs detonate and they are holed up together, forced to confront intense feelings and squirming suspicions. But who the heck is he anyway? Is he connected to her husband's death and now, the terrorism? Why is Henry a 'fairly good study in calm' and then suddenly explosive and strange? And why is this erotic to the reader? What happened to Henry during his time with Peace Corps? Where is the truth? Who is the monster? Everything wil ring clear before the end. The charm of this novel is how it can start of gruesome and creep into passion and somehow manage to torture you with confusion. I really liked this, it is a different sort of story with the destruction outside and the inner destructive forces inside Olivay's 'safe haven'.
We, the readers, are privy to far more than widowed Olivay. When she meets Henry, bombs detonate and they are holed up together, forced to confront intense feelings and squirming suspicions. But who the heck is he anyway? Is he connected to her husband's death and now, the terrorism? Why is Henry a 'fairly good study in calm' and then suddenly explosive and strange? And why is this erotic to the reader? What happened to Henry during his time with Peace Corps? Where is the truth? Who is the monster? Everything wil ring clear before the end. The charm of this novel is how it can start of gruesome and creep into passion and somehow manage to torture you with confusion. I really liked this, it is a different sort of story with the destruction outside and the inner destructive forces inside Olivay's 'safe haven'.
February 18, 2018
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Olivay, widowed for a year and sleepwalking through life, meets Henry by chance. She takes him to her Los Angeles loft, thinking it will just be for the night. But the following morning, bombs detonate across the city, and she and Henry are trapped together. Henry is skittish, solicitous, and strangely distracted. Who is this man she’s marooned with as the city goes on lockdown? Why is she catching him in lie after lie? Is he somehow connected to her husband’s death and the terrorist attacks outside?
What we have here is a novelist with a wonderful command of the English language, combined with a lack of story-telling. What started out as a promising psychological thriller, ended being a bit of a confusing mess.
Let's get one thing right from the start, though - Deborah Reed can put sentences together. Her writing is both poetic and distressing - there are sentences that make you feel the beauty of your surrounds, and then there are others that make you shiver right down to your bootstraps. Some real talent there.
But if a book was only based on the authors word-choices...
The opening of this book was wonderful - following the death of her husband, Olivay meets Henry and she decides he is a good choice for a one-night stand. Then he comes back the next day, hat in hand to tell her not everything is as it seems...and just when you think it is about to get interesting, terrorism happens and the story of Olivay kind of gets shuffled sideways and partially forgotten as we learn more about Henry - his background, history, motivations...which would have been okay if we hadn't set up for something different at the start. By the time we actually got back to Olivay's husbands' death, I didn't really care anymore...
Also, who cares about page after page of her cat? That was just silly.
Overall, I would still recommend this - there is enough in it for those who like a bit of psychological suspense with a dash of women's fiction. Give it a try and decide for yourself.
Paul
ARH
Olivay, widowed for a year and sleepwalking through life, meets Henry by chance. She takes him to her Los Angeles loft, thinking it will just be for the night. But the following morning, bombs detonate across the city, and she and Henry are trapped together. Henry is skittish, solicitous, and strangely distracted. Who is this man she’s marooned with as the city goes on lockdown? Why is she catching him in lie after lie? Is he somehow connected to her husband’s death and the terrorist attacks outside?
What we have here is a novelist with a wonderful command of the English language, combined with a lack of story-telling. What started out as a promising psychological thriller, ended being a bit of a confusing mess.
Let's get one thing right from the start, though - Deborah Reed can put sentences together. Her writing is both poetic and distressing - there are sentences that make you feel the beauty of your surrounds, and then there are others that make you shiver right down to your bootstraps. Some real talent there.
But if a book was only based on the authors word-choices...
The opening of this book was wonderful - following the death of her husband, Olivay meets Henry and she decides he is a good choice for a one-night stand. Then he comes back the next day, hat in hand to tell her not everything is as it seems...and just when you think it is about to get interesting, terrorism happens and the story of Olivay kind of gets shuffled sideways and partially forgotten as we learn more about Henry - his background, history, motivations...which would have been okay if we hadn't set up for something different at the start. By the time we actually got back to Olivay's husbands' death, I didn't really care anymore...
Also, who cares about page after page of her cat? That was just silly.
Overall, I would still recommend this - there is enough in it for those who like a bit of psychological suspense with a dash of women's fiction. Give it a try and decide for yourself.
Paul
ARH
July 12, 2015
Initial thoughts on this book is that it's bizarre. It's written in a way that the writing feels lyrical almost? But it's so incredibly slow and drawn out that many would give it up before anything worth reading started happening.
The basics are that we have Olivay, who essentially watched her husband die in her arms. She goes through a tenuous grieving process and by the time she ventures out, she meets Henry. Henry seems nice enough, and he turns into what she thinks is possibly a one-night stand. When he comes back later in the day, she learns that he hasn't totally been upfront with her, but before she can really delve into that, explosions happen, rendering them trapped in her apartment for days. Throughout that process Olivay becomes more suspicious of Henry and his actions. But while keeping her suspicions to herself, they both tell each other weird, sometimes disjointed pieces of information from their pasts.
There are times while reading this book where I felt like we were really moving towards something epic, and then... then we start hearing about a cat. It's really strange. I have to admit, when I started the book I really liked Olivay's character. Something about her seemed so endearing. Then as the story goes on I really started to hate her. She comes across as a very angry (maybe rightfully so) and kind of mean person.
I also didn't find the ending to be a "twist". I know that some readers are going to disagree with me, but I kind of felt it coming the entire time. Oh, can we also talk about how it feels odd that amidst all of the chaos and devastation just outside the door, these two are constantly on the brink of sex, having sex, thinking about sex, etc? It just feels... misplaced. Are we aiming for a weird love story, or are we supposed to be focusing on loss and grief? I wasn't sure but neither avenue felt right to me. I really struggled with this book to the end, but I stuck with it because I wanted to see if I was right about the ending and I was.
Overall, I'd have to give it 3/5 stars. It really was just OK to me. I didn't hate it, it is exceptionally written. It just didn't pull at me like I had hoped it would based on the back cover description.
The basics are that we have Olivay, who essentially watched her husband die in her arms. She goes through a tenuous grieving process and by the time she ventures out, she meets Henry. Henry seems nice enough, and he turns into what she thinks is possibly a one-night stand. When he comes back later in the day, she learns that he hasn't totally been upfront with her, but before she can really delve into that, explosions happen, rendering them trapped in her apartment for days. Throughout that process Olivay becomes more suspicious of Henry and his actions. But while keeping her suspicions to herself, they both tell each other weird, sometimes disjointed pieces of information from their pasts.
There are times while reading this book where I felt like we were really moving towards something epic, and then... then we start hearing about a cat. It's really strange. I have to admit, when I started the book I really liked Olivay's character. Something about her seemed so endearing. Then as the story goes on I really started to hate her. She comes across as a very angry (maybe rightfully so) and kind of mean person.
I also didn't find the ending to be a "twist". I know that some readers are going to disagree with me, but I kind of felt it coming the entire time. Oh, can we also talk about how it feels odd that amidst all of the chaos and devastation just outside the door, these two are constantly on the brink of sex, having sex, thinking about sex, etc? It just feels... misplaced. Are we aiming for a weird love story, or are we supposed to be focusing on loss and grief? I wasn't sure but neither avenue felt right to me. I really struggled with this book to the end, but I stuck with it because I wanted to see if I was right about the ending and I was.
Overall, I'd have to give it 3/5 stars. It really was just OK to me. I didn't hate it, it is exceptionally written. It just didn't pull at me like I had hoped it would based on the back cover description.
May 22, 2015
°Thankyou to the publishers and author for an ARC of their book.°
Olivay was a book about many things. About love in the face of hardship and danger. About dealing with death and the abhorrent feelings it leaves behind. Deeply engaging and thought provoking, Olivay was an outstanding read and thoroughly thrilling. Following recently widowed Olivay, the book opens with her husbands brief but shocking death, instantly drawing you into the book, posing you with many questions that contribute to the main thread of it. In comes Henry, or as his late partner, Genevieve, 'ornery' her accent undulating the true spelling. He appears to be all that Olivay could need right now - someone who too has experienced hardship and is not afraid of loving another. The novel takes a sinister turn when a series of bombs go off, similar to that of the Boston Bombings in 2013. Plunging not only the state of California into disarray but also the brief relationship between Henry and Olivay.
The book was fairly claustrophobic, in the sense that it was mainly acted out in Olivay's loft apartment, apart from the odd time at the local coffee shop, Levine's. Nonetheless, it was expertly written and showed true and raw emotions, focusing on broken people, with whole intentions.
Olivay was a book about many things. About love in the face of hardship and danger. About dealing with death and the abhorrent feelings it leaves behind. Deeply engaging and thought provoking, Olivay was an outstanding read and thoroughly thrilling. Following recently widowed Olivay, the book opens with her husbands brief but shocking death, instantly drawing you into the book, posing you with many questions that contribute to the main thread of it. In comes Henry, or as his late partner, Genevieve, 'ornery' her accent undulating the true spelling. He appears to be all that Olivay could need right now - someone who too has experienced hardship and is not afraid of loving another. The novel takes a sinister turn when a series of bombs go off, similar to that of the Boston Bombings in 2013. Plunging not only the state of California into disarray but also the brief relationship between Henry and Olivay.
The book was fairly claustrophobic, in the sense that it was mainly acted out in Olivay's loft apartment, apart from the odd time at the local coffee shop, Levine's. Nonetheless, it was expertly written and showed true and raw emotions, focusing on broken people, with whole intentions.
March 9, 2018
My expectations about this book were a little too high I guess. Mostly I felt like swimming in a cold sea and at times going under the water. I found myself simple unable to be engage with the characters.
October 14, 2017
A haunting book that’s stays with you, but so cleverly written I became an instant fan.
May 6, 2019
quick read - I needed one more step to closure
March 9, 2016
Title: Olivay
Author: Deborah Reed
Series: n/a
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: July 2015
Genre(s): Fiction, Thriller, Mystery
Rating: 4 stars
Opening Line:
Olivay’s entire life changed in a single moment. After a tragic accident that left her widowed, Olivay plunges into a dark depression. She confines herself to solitude and slowly tries to heal the gaping hole left after her husband Will’s death. A little over a year after the accident, she finds herself in the presence of Henry at a local coffee shop. Henry is perfect – charming, beautiful, smart, funny. Best of all, he seems to help her forget about Will. The morning after what was supposed to be a one night stand, Olivay finds herself trapped with Henry in her home following a brutal terrorist attack right outside her front door. With the city in pandemonium, Olivay begins to wonder just who is this man that she’s stranded with, and why is he acting so skittish and mysterious? As Olivay begins to unravel the mystery of Henry, she realizes her life is about to once again change in an instant.
Olivay wasn’t necessarily the best thriller I’ve read, but it was certainly an interesting read. First of all, let's just take a moment and appreciate the gorgeous cover.
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...
...
Sorry, I just really love it. Okay. So, the premise was really interesting and hooked me right away. I got this feeling while reading it, though, that I sometimes get during books and it’s really hard for me to explain, but basically I felt like nothing really happened throughout the entire novel. Obviously things happened, but I felt like a lot of the novel was inner turmoil, flashbacks, and thoughts. Not that that’s a bad thing, but it just felt like there was a lack of events occurring. Yet at the same time, I blew through the novel hoping to solve the mystery. The mystery of Will’s murder was very lackluster for me. The mystery of Genevieve was a lot more interesting. Both mysteries, however, were incredibly gruesome and sad, and it kind of made me sick to read about them. I have to say, this book definitely tugged on my heartstrings with these incidents. The mystery about the attacks were also a little lackluster and a little under-explained for my taste, but I thought it was creative. Oh, and the ending was pretty cool. I liked that the chapters kept getting shorter and shorter. It really helped keep me on the edge of my seat. And the ambiguity of the ending was a nice touch, although part of me really wanted to know what happened next. I can assume, though, nothing good.
Olivay was an interesting character. The novel is told in third-person omniscient, so even though Olivay is not the narrator, we’re still getting her thoughts and feelings. I would have to say she’s a very unreliable character. First she’s in love with Henry, then she’s suspicious of him, then she’s really suspicious of him, then she’s in love with him, etc, etc, etc. The story is pretty much seen through her eyes until Part Two, where we get chapters (still in third-person) from Henry’s perspective. It’s interesting how my perception of Henry changed once I got to read about his life, thoughts, and feelings. I think Part Two completely changes how you feel about both Olivay and Henry. As the novel continued, I liked Olivay less and Henry more. But that’s all personal preference, I suppose. Really these two characters are the main characters and pretty much who the story revolves around.
I’ve never read anything from Deborah Reed, but it looks like (from her “About the Author” in the back of the book) she’s written a few other novels that have gained her some success, and she’s even written under the pen name Audrey Braun. Olivay was a pretty good book. I liked the writing style, and even though I didn’t love it, I would still say Reed is pretty good at writing thrillers. I can honestly say I was eager to get home from work last night to finish the last portion of the novel. This book has been sitting on my shelf since late last year, and I'm glad I finally found time to read it.
Favorite Quote(s): “It was impossible to fully know another human being.”
“I was aware of the feeling while I was feeling it, and ended up deciding it was a kind of nostalgia … but I understood even then that is also applied to things that weren’t yet lost. … I remember feeling that way at random moments, like holding a book in my hands, imagining it already read and gone…”
“Existence is a finer line than anyone cares to consider.”
Check out this review and more on my book blog: theultimatebookgeek.wordpress.com
Author: Deborah Reed
Series: n/a
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Publication Date: July 2015
Genre(s): Fiction, Thriller, Mystery
Rating: 4 stars
Opening Line:
Those who saw what happened that morning never said a word about Will's long stride when he walked down the sidewalk, or the way his legs bowed slightly with every step.
Olivay’s entire life changed in a single moment. After a tragic accident that left her widowed, Olivay plunges into a dark depression. She confines herself to solitude and slowly tries to heal the gaping hole left after her husband Will’s death. A little over a year after the accident, she finds herself in the presence of Henry at a local coffee shop. Henry is perfect – charming, beautiful, smart, funny. Best of all, he seems to help her forget about Will. The morning after what was supposed to be a one night stand, Olivay finds herself trapped with Henry in her home following a brutal terrorist attack right outside her front door. With the city in pandemonium, Olivay begins to wonder just who is this man that she’s stranded with, and why is he acting so skittish and mysterious? As Olivay begins to unravel the mystery of Henry, she realizes her life is about to once again change in an instant.
Olivay wasn’t necessarily the best thriller I’ve read, but it was certainly an interesting read. First of all, let's just take a moment and appreciate the gorgeous cover.
...
...
...
Sorry, I just really love it. Okay. So, the premise was really interesting and hooked me right away. I got this feeling while reading it, though, that I sometimes get during books and it’s really hard for me to explain, but basically I felt like nothing really happened throughout the entire novel. Obviously things happened, but I felt like a lot of the novel was inner turmoil, flashbacks, and thoughts. Not that that’s a bad thing, but it just felt like there was a lack of events occurring. Yet at the same time, I blew through the novel hoping to solve the mystery. The mystery of Will’s murder was very lackluster for me. The mystery of Genevieve was a lot more interesting. Both mysteries, however, were incredibly gruesome and sad, and it kind of made me sick to read about them. I have to say, this book definitely tugged on my heartstrings with these incidents. The mystery about the attacks were also a little lackluster and a little under-explained for my taste, but I thought it was creative. Oh, and the ending was pretty cool. I liked that the chapters kept getting shorter and shorter. It really helped keep me on the edge of my seat. And the ambiguity of the ending was a nice touch, although part of me really wanted to know what happened next. I can assume, though, nothing good.
Olivay was an interesting character. The novel is told in third-person omniscient, so even though Olivay is not the narrator, we’re still getting her thoughts and feelings. I would have to say she’s a very unreliable character. First she’s in love with Henry, then she’s suspicious of him, then she’s really suspicious of him, then she’s in love with him, etc, etc, etc. The story is pretty much seen through her eyes until Part Two, where we get chapters (still in third-person) from Henry’s perspective. It’s interesting how my perception of Henry changed once I got to read about his life, thoughts, and feelings. I think Part Two completely changes how you feel about both Olivay and Henry. As the novel continued, I liked Olivay less and Henry more. But that’s all personal preference, I suppose. Really these two characters are the main characters and pretty much who the story revolves around.
I’ve never read anything from Deborah Reed, but it looks like (from her “About the Author” in the back of the book) she’s written a few other novels that have gained her some success, and she’s even written under the pen name Audrey Braun. Olivay was a pretty good book. I liked the writing style, and even though I didn’t love it, I would still say Reed is pretty good at writing thrillers. I can honestly say I was eager to get home from work last night to finish the last portion of the novel. This book has been sitting on my shelf since late last year, and I'm glad I finally found time to read it.
Favorite Quote(s): “It was impossible to fully know another human being.”
“I was aware of the feeling while I was feeling it, and ended up deciding it was a kind of nostalgia … but I understood even then that is also applied to things that weren’t yet lost. … I remember feeling that way at random moments, like holding a book in my hands, imagining it already read and gone…”
“Existence is a finer line than anyone cares to consider.”
Check out this review and more on my book blog: theultimatebookgeek.wordpress.com
March 31, 2021
Olivay is a book that draws you in and makes you want to find out what happens to the protagonist. From the first page we get the feel that this story won’t be an easy read. Something horrifying happens in the first chapter and filters the lens for Olivay. Every thing else stems from that.
Olivay has lost her husband to a hit and run. She lost him and a clip of her reaction went viral, and her fame has kept her inside trying to mentally recover for the past year. She gathers up the courage to go out one night and she meets Henry. They get to know each other intimately and the next day he seems eager to leave. Thinking this is a one night stand, she lets him go. Henry comes back and reveals that he told her a big lie last night. She is hesitant but she lets him to try to explain. Just thena all hell breaks loose in the city. Bombs go off outside of Olivay’s apartment and she becomes wounded. Henry and Olivay are stranded together in her loft apartment. The city goes into lockdown and Henry’s other lies unravel under scrutiny. Why does he keep the truth from her? Could Henry have something to do with her husband’s death or could he really be the man behind the terrorist behind the bombs outside?
The first chapter of this book had me on the hook. Olivay is a very mysterious character and acts unpredictably. I don’t know how I would act if my husband’s death went viral. Her reflex reaction is to distrust those around her. I might be the same way if people just wanted to tell my story, a very personal story, of how I am living as a widow. This story is told entirely in Olivay’s POV. She isn’t a good historian either, because at some point she gets a concussion. We don’t really know what is real, and what is her overreacting. Almost this whole story takes place in Olivay’s loft and Olivay is unable to walk during most of the scenes. The writing is a bit lyrical. Olivay almost thinks in prose, so this made the reading interesting.
So Olivay is very vulnerable at this point in her life and Henry is her caretaker. She is in pain and being defensive is a normal thing for her. This is good to a point, but then it just gets annoying. For me, Olivay was too much. She kept saying these awful things to Henry and then she would ask him, “what’s wrong?”, like that didn’t just happen. Her story was sad, but the way she treated Henry at times made me really question her sanity. Besides the fact that Olivay is unpredictable during most of this tale, I didn’t like the pacing. The story starts off really fast and then it slows to an almost stop. We get a lot of details about her previous marriage, many stories of Henry’s past. It was almost too much for me, but I had to figure out what happened with Olivay and Henry. I wanted more of the details of what was happening outside of the apartment. By the time I was ready to quit this read, the author flips the script and I realized that nothing is what it appears.
So weighing out the good and the bad, I am giving it three stars. This book will appeal to people who like psychological suspense.
July 9, 2015
he premise of this book immediately hooked me-coming off of the Boston Marathon trial, the many threat advisories that come up for events and major holidays like the recent July 4th weekend, and the current focus on 'lone wolf' terrorists. It is almost impossible to turn on the news and hear these kind of stories and warnings and not feel at least a frisson of anxiety. 'Olivay' brings those fears close with the story of a woman faced with the dawning realization that the attractive man she has just met could be involved in heinous terrorist acts. Olivay, the title character, has had the very worst happen already when her husband was killed in front of their apartment in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident and died in her arms. A year later, she is finally making steps to leave the apartment and meets Henry in her neighborhood coffee shop. Finally feeling something for the first time since her husband's death, she brings him home for a one-night stand. The next morning, the world goes crazy when bombs go off in the city, including one at the finish line of the LA Marathon just up the street. The blast destroys part of her apartment, badly injuring her leg in the process. Martial law has the city locked down and Olivay finds herself stuck in her loft with Henry and his behavior is becoming increasingly suspicious. Is he involved? Could he even be involved in her husband's death?
Chilling and well written with a slow building tension that completely pulled me in. Both Olivay and Henry have a story and secrets that they are keeping, told in short chapters and bursts of detail that made me want more as the story unfolded in layers. Fair warning that not everything is completely uncovered and resolved, even by the book's end (something that normally drives me crazy), but that lack of closure has kept me mulling over the story since I finished the book a few days ago. I have a feeling that I will keep thinking about it and that might not be the case if everything had been neatly buttoned up. If you can deal with some ambiguity and want a quietly frightening and thought-provoking book, 'Olivay' is a great addition to a summer reading list.
You can see my review post along with a recipe inspired by the book on my blog post here: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...
Note: A review copy of "Olivay" was provided to me by the publisher and TLC Book Tours in return for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review and as always my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Chilling and well written with a slow building tension that completely pulled me in. Both Olivay and Henry have a story and secrets that they are keeping, told in short chapters and bursts of detail that made me want more as the story unfolded in layers. Fair warning that not everything is completely uncovered and resolved, even by the book's end (something that normally drives me crazy), but that lack of closure has kept me mulling over the story since I finished the book a few days ago. I have a feeling that I will keep thinking about it and that might not be the case if everything had been neatly buttoned up. If you can deal with some ambiguity and want a quietly frightening and thought-provoking book, 'Olivay' is a great addition to a summer reading list.
You can see my review post along with a recipe inspired by the book on my blog post here: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...
Note: A review copy of "Olivay" was provided to me by the publisher and TLC Book Tours in return for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review and as always my thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 24, 2015
Originally published on: http://www.peekingbetweenthepages.com...
Every so often you come by a really unique novel, one that is hauntingly beautiful … that is Olivay by Deborah Reed. The book moves at a slow pace but as you read the tension is constantly building within the story and that alone keeps you turning the pages quickly. Olivay is a novel of grief, loss, of moving on, and of coming face to face with the reality that our lives can irrevocably change in an instant.
The novel opens with Olivay losing her husband in a hit-and-run accident. Devastated she barely drags herself along for the next year of her life. Eventually she begins to step outside of her apartment to the coffee shop near her home. On one such occasion she meets Henry and feels an instant attraction. It’s something so foreign to her now that she takes him back to her apartment planning on a one-night stand. As the next morning dawns she notices some strange behavior with Henry but hasn’t got the time to fully analyze it because bombs are detonating all across Los Angeles and one of those bombs is right by her home. Her windows have blown out, and glass is everywhere. Olivay is not only injured, she is also trapped inside her apartment with Henry as no one is allowed out on the streets and Henry has begun to act even more strange than he had in the morning. He seems nervous and uncomfortable and Olivay begins to have suspicions about him. Could he be part of the terrorist plot? He drives a motorcycle – is he the one who killed her husband? And why is guarding that backpack of his so diligently?
This book keeps you guessing throughout. The tension builds and you think you’ve got it all figured out but in the very next sentence you realize that you don’t. It is beautifully written and the emotion and power of the author’s words flow in each and every sentence. You feel the grief and loss, the fear and helplessness in the face of a terrorist attack, and the power of new love. Truly this is one of those books that I loved but can’t find adequate words to describe just how it made me feel … especially the unexpected ending. It’s an emotional book and one that will stay with me for a long time… it is a very good book. One of my favorites this year. Highly recommended!
Every so often you come by a really unique novel, one that is hauntingly beautiful … that is Olivay by Deborah Reed. The book moves at a slow pace but as you read the tension is constantly building within the story and that alone keeps you turning the pages quickly. Olivay is a novel of grief, loss, of moving on, and of coming face to face with the reality that our lives can irrevocably change in an instant.
The novel opens with Olivay losing her husband in a hit-and-run accident. Devastated she barely drags herself along for the next year of her life. Eventually she begins to step outside of her apartment to the coffee shop near her home. On one such occasion she meets Henry and feels an instant attraction. It’s something so foreign to her now that she takes him back to her apartment planning on a one-night stand. As the next morning dawns she notices some strange behavior with Henry but hasn’t got the time to fully analyze it because bombs are detonating all across Los Angeles and one of those bombs is right by her home. Her windows have blown out, and glass is everywhere. Olivay is not only injured, she is also trapped inside her apartment with Henry as no one is allowed out on the streets and Henry has begun to act even more strange than he had in the morning. He seems nervous and uncomfortable and Olivay begins to have suspicions about him. Could he be part of the terrorist plot? He drives a motorcycle – is he the one who killed her husband? And why is guarding that backpack of his so diligently?
This book keeps you guessing throughout. The tension builds and you think you’ve got it all figured out but in the very next sentence you realize that you don’t. It is beautifully written and the emotion and power of the author’s words flow in each and every sentence. You feel the grief and loss, the fear and helplessness in the face of a terrorist attack, and the power of new love. Truly this is one of those books that I loved but can’t find adequate words to describe just how it made me feel … especially the unexpected ending. It’s an emotional book and one that will stay with me for a long time… it is a very good book. One of my favorites this year. Highly recommended!
August 26, 2015
Review also found at http://manyhatsblog.com/2015/07/17/bo...
I was really excited to sit down and read this book, as the synopsis piqued my interest. The first few chapters did keep my interest, and I thought I was in for a really great read. Though I found the book intriguing and well written. I wouldn’t say it was the fantastic read that I thought I was getting into.
I was really excited to sit down and read this book, as the synopsis piqued my interest. The first few chapters did keep my interest, and I thought I was in for a really great read. Though I found the book intriguing and well written. I wouldn’t say it was the fantastic read that I thought I was getting into.
The writing in this book is great– eloquent, descriptive and engaging. I love how author, Reed, paints the picture of scene or gives a description of the characters. Reed has a great way of making the reader “feel” through the pages. One review, courtesy of Vice Magazine, characterizes Reed’s writing as “complex, layered, diverse, and, much like the writer herself, a bit paradoxical”, and I fully agree. I enjoy good use of language.
The plot moves slowly, but the build-up is written well. There were times I thought I’d figured what was to come, but the plot twists were not as easily projected as I thought. It’s easy to get lost in what Reed leaves open for interpretation (this is what it seems like she’s doing, anyway). Whether or not this works for a reader depends on the reader’s preferences. I thought what was left open for interpretation gave a certain vagueness to the material where I would rather have had a concrete understanding of what was going on. The book lingers in the mind, and I found myself contemplating the connections between characters and situations.
Most striking is the juxtaposition of the potential for a budding relationship against the backdrop of terrorism and turmoil. It seemed odd to me that something as trivial as a projected “one night stand” be butted up against something as serious as bombings, but the complexities of the main characters— Olivay and Henry— brought about a layered effect that worked well.
Overall, I liked the book. I loved the writing, but desired a more concrete plot. There’s a fine line between mystery and ambiguity, and this book teeters on that line from time to time.
I was really excited to sit down and read this book, as the synopsis piqued my interest. The first few chapters did keep my interest, and I thought I was in for a really great read. Though I found the book intriguing and well written. I wouldn’t say it was the fantastic read that I thought I was getting into.
I was really excited to sit down and read this book, as the synopsis piqued my interest. The first few chapters did keep my interest, and I thought I was in for a really great read. Though I found the book intriguing and well written. I wouldn’t say it was the fantastic read that I thought I was getting into.
The writing in this book is great– eloquent, descriptive and engaging. I love how author, Reed, paints the picture of scene or gives a description of the characters. Reed has a great way of making the reader “feel” through the pages. One review, courtesy of Vice Magazine, characterizes Reed’s writing as “complex, layered, diverse, and, much like the writer herself, a bit paradoxical”, and I fully agree. I enjoy good use of language.
The plot moves slowly, but the build-up is written well. There were times I thought I’d figured what was to come, but the plot twists were not as easily projected as I thought. It’s easy to get lost in what Reed leaves open for interpretation (this is what it seems like she’s doing, anyway). Whether or not this works for a reader depends on the reader’s preferences. I thought what was left open for interpretation gave a certain vagueness to the material where I would rather have had a concrete understanding of what was going on. The book lingers in the mind, and I found myself contemplating the connections between characters and situations.
Most striking is the juxtaposition of the potential for a budding relationship against the backdrop of terrorism and turmoil. It seemed odd to me that something as trivial as a projected “one night stand” be butted up against something as serious as bombings, but the complexities of the main characters— Olivay and Henry— brought about a layered effect that worked well.
Overall, I liked the book. I loved the writing, but desired a more concrete plot. There’s a fine line between mystery and ambiguity, and this book teeters on that line from time to time.
December 28, 2016
I'd been anticipating reading this book for quite a while and honestly I'm kind of disappointed. I thought it would be a more suspenseful psychological thriller. It was a bit of a mind game but more of a really drawn out story. I just kept being like alright already let's get on with this. Basically nothing had anything to do with anything else. I didn't feel like anything was actually connected in the end after all the speculation, explanations and leads. I don't know. Maybe it just wasn't the book for me.
July 21, 2015
Olivay’s husband’s death was a tragedy. As she sat cradling Will’s broken head in her lap on the Los Angeles street, the video images of that moment went viral. People began comparing her to Jackie Kennedy. One year after the accident, she meets Henry. They instantly seem attracted to each other to the point she takes him home to her loft where he spends the night with her. Olivay’s world is about to collide with disaster again. The next morning, Henry leaves for his work at the Tribune, the same paper for which Will worked. It’s the day of the LA Marathon. Only an hour or two after Henry leaves, he returns and must see her. No sooner than she lets him up, an explosion rocks the city and there’s utter chaos everywhere. The windows in her apartment shatter throwing glass and debris everywhere. Her knee becomes badly injured.
Who is Henry anyway? Why did he manage to just show up at this time in Olivay’s life? The reader initially wants to like him, yet it doesn’t take long to realize there’s reason for caution here.
The opener blew me away! It held the promise of everything I hoped for. Olivay has closely guarded secrets for which the reader feels like they need to listen a little harder. They are unspoken hints of a marriage that was not quite what it appeared to be. Initially, this story really gripped my full attention. However, after the bombing, logistics kept getting in the way. Much of the destruction was described very well. But, some begged to differ with reality. The streets were flooded because two bombs busted two water mains. But yet a few hours into the chaos, she’s talking to Henry about getting her car which was in the “lot beneath the building.” Wouldn’t the car be flooded? Then too, the blast caused the windows to blow. So, they spend a couple of days in an apartment with a gaping hole where windows used to be. Also, maybe there are a few people who would enjoy a good ‘Woo Hoo’ at this time, but I honestly think sex would be the furthest thing from my mind at this point. Rating: 3 out of 5.
Who is Henry anyway? Why did he manage to just show up at this time in Olivay’s life? The reader initially wants to like him, yet it doesn’t take long to realize there’s reason for caution here.
The opener blew me away! It held the promise of everything I hoped for. Olivay has closely guarded secrets for which the reader feels like they need to listen a little harder. They are unspoken hints of a marriage that was not quite what it appeared to be. Initially, this story really gripped my full attention. However, after the bombing, logistics kept getting in the way. Much of the destruction was described very well. But, some begged to differ with reality. The streets were flooded because two bombs busted two water mains. But yet a few hours into the chaos, she’s talking to Henry about getting her car which was in the “lot beneath the building.” Wouldn’t the car be flooded? Then too, the blast caused the windows to blow. So, they spend a couple of days in an apartment with a gaping hole where windows used to be. Also, maybe there are a few people who would enjoy a good ‘Woo Hoo’ at this time, but I honestly think sex would be the furthest thing from my mind at this point. Rating: 3 out of 5.
August 6, 2015
Goodreads asks "What did you think?" and I'm just not really sure. I loved the concept of having a one night stand and ending up trapped in your home with him the next day. This is what happens to Olivay, who was widowed one year earlier when her husband died in a freak accident on the sidewalk in front of their building. Olivay slowly but surely came out of her self-imposed seclusion and meets Henry in the coffee shop she frequents. Her conversation with Henry is enjoyable and they end up talking the afternoon away, going out for dinner, and then back to her apartment for the night. The next morning a bomb goes off nearby which shatters the windows of Olivay's apartment and sends foreign objects flying in causing much destruction and a serious injury to Olivay's knee. Henry is okay because he was quick to take cover. Henry and Olivay are now stuck in the apartment building and basically cut off from the world for awhile as phones, wifi, TV, etc. do not work. Olivay begins to realize that she doesn't know this man and she isn't sure she can trust him. Some of the things he says and does cause her to question who this man really is and if he is hiding something from her.
So that right there makes for a pretty exciting book.
Ah, but there is more. As the story moves along we are provided flashbacks of Henry's life and I found these flashbacks so weird. The way the situation is described, I couldn't help but picture it taking place in the 1940's. I had to remind myself each and every time the chapter switched to Henry's flashbacks that it should take place in the 2000's and consciously erase the image of Geneieve and Henry looking like Liesl and Rolf from the Sound of Music.
And then there is the ending. I was lost and had to re-read it - I was sure that I had missed something. No, that's really how it ended. And THAT is why I don't know what to think.
So that right there makes for a pretty exciting book.
Ah, but there is more. As the story moves along we are provided flashbacks of Henry's life and I found these flashbacks so weird. The way the situation is described, I couldn't help but picture it taking place in the 1940's. I had to remind myself each and every time the chapter switched to Henry's flashbacks that it should take place in the 2000's and consciously erase the image of Geneieve and Henry looking like Liesl and Rolf from the Sound of Music.
And then there is the ending. I was lost and had to re-read it - I was sure that I had missed something. No, that's really how it ended. And THAT is why I don't know what to think.
February 3, 2016
--I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review—
Olivay is a woman who was widowed when her husband died in a terrible accident. Because of the large amount of media coverage about her husband’s death, Olivay became a bit of a recluse while she coped with her depression. One day, she met a man named Henry, who she takes back to her place and spends the night together with. The next day, multiple bombs are set off through the city, leaving them temporarily trapped together in her apartment. Henry’s odd reactions to the chaotic event leads Olivay to wonder who this stranger actually is and is he maybe had some part in it.
I’ve very conflicted about how I feel about this book. It’s quite different then the books I’ve been reading lately, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I do agree with some other reviews I’ve read that point out you’re either going to love this book or hate it. It was a dark story, full of sadness and loss that was portrayed fairly well. Even though the time frame of the story was over the period of a few days, I found some parts to be a bit slow.
I found it to be a good read, but it’s not something I would really go out of my way to recommend.
Olivay is a woman who was widowed when her husband died in a terrible accident. Because of the large amount of media coverage about her husband’s death, Olivay became a bit of a recluse while she coped with her depression. One day, she met a man named Henry, who she takes back to her place and spends the night together with. The next day, multiple bombs are set off through the city, leaving them temporarily trapped together in her apartment. Henry’s odd reactions to the chaotic event leads Olivay to wonder who this stranger actually is and is he maybe had some part in it.
I’ve very conflicted about how I feel about this book. It’s quite different then the books I’ve been reading lately, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I do agree with some other reviews I’ve read that point out you’re either going to love this book or hate it. It was a dark story, full of sadness and loss that was portrayed fairly well. Even though the time frame of the story was over the period of a few days, I found some parts to be a bit slow.
I found it to be a good read, but it’s not something I would really go out of my way to recommend.
August 14, 2015
An intense, deeply personal novel which takes place over two days, almost entirely inside the titular protagonist's Los Angeles apartment, and almost entirely between her and a man she has barely met. We know from the outset that Olivay's husband died in a tragic accident, and later a bomb goes off. The rest of the physical action in the novel takes place in the distant background and in memory. Set up almost like a stage drama, as the two characters walk or trip around the confines of the flat, the tension is built on emotional upheavals, revelations of past traumas, and the gradual development of the two characters' relationship.
If this sounds arty and dull to you, I assure you it isn't. First, it reads quickly, and is hard to put down. The dialogue crackles, the tension is unrelenting, building like a slow wave, while Reed tackles complex issues of trust and identity which are thought-provoking, and bring the novel to a climax worthy of a mystery-thriller.
This is a very smart novel which will challenge your senses and send you through an emotional wringer by the end. Maybe not a beach read, more a book to read late at night under a bedside reading lamp.
If this sounds arty and dull to you, I assure you it isn't. First, it reads quickly, and is hard to put down. The dialogue crackles, the tension is unrelenting, building like a slow wave, while Reed tackles complex issues of trust and identity which are thought-provoking, and bring the novel to a climax worthy of a mystery-thriller.
This is a very smart novel which will challenge your senses and send you through an emotional wringer by the end. Maybe not a beach read, more a book to read late at night under a bedside reading lamp.
December 29, 2015
I just realized that I never posted this review! I actually did the review for the Daily Bruin, Los Angeles' third most circulated newspaper, which was sent a copy of the book by the author. I gave this book a 2.5 for the Daily Bruin, but since that's not an option on Goodreads, I rounded down to 2. The full review can be found here. I'd really appreciate it if you checked the whole thing out. The following is an excerpt:
In large, boldfaced text at the top of the back cover of “Olivay” by Deborah Reed are the words, “We don’t believe that our lives can change in an instant – until they do.”
It is an elegant statement that, at first glance, promises depth and profundity. However, upon a closer look, its meaning is shallow – an accurate representation of the impression left by the novel as a whole.
While some readers may enjoy the opportunity to interpret the novel and the questions it raises in one’s mind as they wish, many will find it frustrating to sift through the philosophical queries 'Olivay' boldly poses but, ultimately, does not answer within its own strange world of fictionalized reality.
In large, boldfaced text at the top of the back cover of “Olivay” by Deborah Reed are the words, “We don’t believe that our lives can change in an instant – until they do.”
It is an elegant statement that, at first glance, promises depth and profundity. However, upon a closer look, its meaning is shallow – an accurate representation of the impression left by the novel as a whole.
While some readers may enjoy the opportunity to interpret the novel and the questions it raises in one’s mind as they wish, many will find it frustrating to sift through the philosophical queries 'Olivay' boldly poses but, ultimately, does not answer within its own strange world of fictionalized reality.
August 23, 2015
Olivay is a fast and engaging read with an action-packed plot (and some bizarre love rectangles). This was a delightful transit commute read - short chapters and easy to pick up after neglecting the book for a few days.
Olivay watched her husband die before her eyes in a traumatic motorcycle hit and run, and finds herself the unwanted center of media attention in the months that follow. Henry, a journalist, makes attempts to woo her, which gradually work and lead them to Olivay's bed. A series of explosions, possibly terrorist attacks, rattle the city and trap them both in Olivay's home. Olivay begins to doubt her initial trust of Henry after finding out about his past and her dead husband's past, and tension builds between the two.
The ending is unbelievable (in the way that cassette tapes and VHS tapes were infuriating when the magnetic tape suddenly snapped, mid-emotion, ruining the whole tape and never to be repaired again).
(this review written based on a goodreads first reads selection.)
Olivay watched her husband die before her eyes in a traumatic motorcycle hit and run, and finds herself the unwanted center of media attention in the months that follow. Henry, a journalist, makes attempts to woo her, which gradually work and lead them to Olivay's bed. A series of explosions, possibly terrorist attacks, rattle the city and trap them both in Olivay's home. Olivay begins to doubt her initial trust of Henry after finding out about his past and her dead husband's past, and tension builds between the two.
The ending is unbelievable (in the way that cassette tapes and VHS tapes were infuriating when the magnetic tape suddenly snapped, mid-emotion, ruining the whole tape and never to be repaired again).
(this review written based on a goodreads first reads selection.)
March 9, 2016
Read my review on my blog at
http://palmerspageturners.blogspot.co...
This book is so bizarre! I'm having a hard time putting into words how I feel about it because it was so different and so crazy--but in a good way. Reed's writing was fantastic. It's what I liked most about the book! I also really liked the character development in the novel. The plot did move a bit slowly for me at times, and I kept asking myself "where is this story going?' Regardless of my questioning, the book still sucked me in and kept me reading. The book definitely gave me enough to stay engaged in the story, but still left me confused and wondering what was really going on and where things were headed. The psychological thriller aspect of the novel was an aspect I loved as well. I couldn't figure Henry out--figuring out what was going on with him kept me reading and kept me guessing!
If you looking for a suspenseful book with beautiful writing, this is a great book for you! My rating: 3.5
http://palmerspageturners.blogspot.co...
This book is so bizarre! I'm having a hard time putting into words how I feel about it because it was so different and so crazy--but in a good way. Reed's writing was fantastic. It's what I liked most about the book! I also really liked the character development in the novel. The plot did move a bit slowly for me at times, and I kept asking myself "where is this story going?' Regardless of my questioning, the book still sucked me in and kept me reading. The book definitely gave me enough to stay engaged in the story, but still left me confused and wondering what was really going on and where things were headed. The psychological thriller aspect of the novel was an aspect I loved as well. I couldn't figure Henry out--figuring out what was going on with him kept me reading and kept me guessing!
If you looking for a suspenseful book with beautiful writing, this is a great book for you! My rating: 3.5
September 7, 2015
check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Olivay endures a tragedy at the beginning of the book and this tragic event will shape the person she is for the rest of the book - her husband dies almost right in front of her and she has to put the pieces of her life back together. A year later a man enters her life and he will send her life reeling out of control.
A combination of love story with a political thriller this was an interesting read. With bombings and potential terrorists, this book made me think of those who are there when these major events happen - those in the city on 9/11 or in Boston during the marathon; these people who are caught up in history and are on the news but would rather not be newsworthy. I really enjoyed thinking about the people behind the new stories, the family of the accused of massive shootings or those who are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Olivay endures a tragedy at the beginning of the book and this tragic event will shape the person she is for the rest of the book - her husband dies almost right in front of her and she has to put the pieces of her life back together. A year later a man enters her life and he will send her life reeling out of control.
A combination of love story with a political thriller this was an interesting read. With bombings and potential terrorists, this book made me think of those who are there when these major events happen - those in the city on 9/11 or in Boston during the marathon; these people who are caught up in history and are on the news but would rather not be newsworthy. I really enjoyed thinking about the people behind the new stories, the family of the accused of massive shootings or those who are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
dnf
July 23, 2015Olivay seemed like a good premise, but ultimately in the end, I didn't end up finishing the book. I did feel like the author did a good job of portraying the grief and loss that someone feels when losing a loved one. Olivay's struggle to work through tragically losing her husband was heartbreaking. But, the pace of the book was kind of rambling and a bit slow for me. I got about halfway and didn't really feel like it was very suspenseful.
But my main reason for not pushing through was the following. In the story, the two bombings occur during the LA marathon at the finish line. Sound familiar? I could see parallels with the Boston Marathon bombings and for some reason that just really turned me off of the story. I am from the area and work in Boston and can still remember that day as well as that week in the city after. It's nothing against the book, the author or how it was written. I know Olivay has received good reviews. It just wasn't for me.
But my main reason for not pushing through was the following. In the story, the two bombings occur during the LA marathon at the finish line. Sound familiar? I could see parallels with the Boston Marathon bombings and for some reason that just really turned me off of the story. I am from the area and work in Boston and can still remember that day as well as that week in the city after. It's nothing against the book, the author or how it was written. I know Olivay has received good reviews. It just wasn't for me.
September 16, 2015
If you can make yourself read all the way through this is an excellent psychological thriller. Is he? Isn't he? He is. No that's ridiculous he's not- is he? You are not sure if this is going to be an amazing love story or a nightmare. I'm not telling which it is. I am very undisciplined when it comes to this sort of thing but I hung on as long as I could. Finally I could take no more, I had to know the answer! So I cheated and went straight to the end of the book. The writing is excellent, not too flowery, not too mundane. The joy of the book is in how it is able to have you pretty well convinced the one way then pretty well convinced the other and then back again. And maybe there is a message in there about betrayal and trust too.
June 29, 2015
One thing is this book is not for everyone. But if you are one of those who this book is made for, congrats. You have just walked into a whole new perspective of life. It has a slow pace, but it still manages to keep you on your toes with the tension the story contains. It’s a whole other way of writing,, it’s incredible how the author keeps putting these thougths into your head, but you can’t be certain of any, so you find yourself needing to get to the end just to find out what is really going on with the characters. This book is a head spinner for sure, so if you think you can handle it, go for it. My rating is 3.5 stars.
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