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Incurable
“Marilyn’s menacing past was loose and in close pursuit. The fear of the thing lived in her eyes, and trepidation sounded with each step her heels made as she fled The Western Detective Agency…”
Los Angeles 1956—Marilyn Palmer is a beauty with a deep dark secret. After a threatening blackmail note arrives with the milk bottles on the porch of the bucolic home she shares with her doctor husband and young daughter, she hires a private eye to keep her unsavory past hidden.
Incurable is a story wrought with impetuous and regrettable decisions made by a desperate young woman. Barely eighteen years old, and a gifted seamstress, she makes the ill-fated decision to run away from her Detroit home with a wily friend. Bound for Hollywood, and seeking stardom, the girls set out on an incredible journey.
This splendidly imagined debut explores the tumultuous life and times of a woman who suffered the ultimate betrayal as a child during the Great Depression. A tale of survival set against the backdrop of early Hollywood, misery on Hotel Street in Honolulu before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and heartbreak in Los Angeles during WWII. Incurable delivers emotional intensity with each turn of the page.
Los Angeles 1956—Marilyn Palmer is a beauty with a deep dark secret. After a threatening blackmail note arrives with the milk bottles on the porch of the bucolic home she shares with her doctor husband and young daughter, she hires a private eye to keep her unsavory past hidden.
Incurable is a story wrought with impetuous and regrettable decisions made by a desperate young woman. Barely eighteen years old, and a gifted seamstress, she makes the ill-fated decision to run away from her Detroit home with a wily friend. Bound for Hollywood, and seeking stardom, the girls set out on an incredible journey.
This splendidly imagined debut explores the tumultuous life and times of a woman who suffered the ultimate betrayal as a child during the Great Depression. A tale of survival set against the backdrop of early Hollywood, misery on Hotel Street in Honolulu before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and heartbreak in Los Angeles during WWII. Incurable delivers emotional intensity with each turn of the page.
310 pages, Paperback
First published July 22, 2015
1 person is currently reading
512 people want to read
About the author
E.C. Moore
7 books21 followersWhen Elizabeth’s not writing feverishly, you will find her out walking or sightseeing. She’s crazy about coffee, books, cooking, good wine, cairn terriers, miniature ponies, historical houses, tapas, and witty people.
She resides in a fifties bungalow in Southern California, with her creative-director, hubba-hubba husband, a yappy blonde dog, and one feisty Chihuahua.
She resides in a fifties bungalow in Southern California, with her creative-director, hubba-hubba husband, a yappy blonde dog, and one feisty Chihuahua.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 27, 2015
Times may change, but we remain incurable...
Sometimes you receive a book (an ARC, in my case), and you hope it is good. When you read it, you are honoured, because it is excellent. Incurable will have you flipping through its word-painted images, and thinking about its characters long after you've read the last line.
The book tells the story about a very young woman in the USA, in the time before during and after WW II, trying to escape the fake world of wealth-polished abuse, and falling into the hellish tapestry of Hollywood glitter and the naked truth hidden below. It is filled with excellent, inobtrusive descriptions, which blend naturally within the story. The author has obviously done lots of research, and manages to put you on the scene skillfully, without evident effort, engaging all your senses. The crime story streaming through the plot is truly engaging, and has you guessing and rooting for the heroine till the very end.
From the gripping first, but especially second chapter, reminiscent in atmosphere of P. Marlowe, the story is told with love and respect, both for the characters and readers. There is a mind-blowing myriad of characters, especially women, strong women, battling their weakness and centuries-long submission to men's leading role as providers. Not all beauty is skin-deep, and public success may well be just an optical illusion. Not every hero is always good, not every villain is completely irredeemable. The author displays people's vanity, weakness, balancing the thin line between what is and isn't considered moral or immoral, all in order to survive, to escape their history and family legacy if possible. Intriguing human stories fill the pages - from the wise, uneducated nanny to the miserable rich ladies, the seemingly successful stars of burlesque, seedy human trafickers, family histories tainted with greed and revenge, dream-filled immigrants and prejudiced narrow-minded abusers. The intensity of brutal hate and malice is sometimes so overwhelming, just like in real life, and yet the characters all keep chasing love, friendship and success. There is a very open account of sexuality and promiscuity of the time, which is rarely spoken of in such a matter-of-fact way, even gruesome topics, so despite your romantic notions of love during the war, do not expect a soothing, romantic, dreamy account. But do expect friendships and love forged through hellfire!
Each decade of the main character's life brings us an array of different people, each with their own set of values and prejudice, all naked under the facade. It is hard to pick my favourites, although detective Reg and his accidental assistant Doris do take the lead. But Wesley is so tenderly portrayed, with all his faults and virtues, and has such a good heart; he is one of those people who never dominate, but are always cherished.
The span through several decades provides us with proof that we can never truly know what motivates someone to do something, till we talk it all out openly. Secrets hurt, and sometimes they even kill. Historical events in Europe influencing the lives of people in the USA seem to follow the main storyline, but actually emphasize how intricate all our relationships are, and how intertwined our destinies are. Each ripple counts.
E.C. Moore's Incurable kept me on my toes wanting to read as fast as I could. There were plenty of topics I never relish thinking about, but they are topics we must think about if we are to face them and change them. Families which are never the safe haven they should be, dream jobs which are more like purgatory, friendships of convenience... But there is always passion and love at the root of things. Incurable is a proper saga, and lends itself to a fabulous TV-series. If you want a book which will engage your mind, soul and senses, Incurable will deliver.
I love the ending - despite all the dire straits, it celebrates accomplishment, not fame. It celebrates the real values in life, earned through hardship, but cherished forever.
Sometimes you receive a book (an ARC, in my case), and you hope it is good. When you read it, you are honoured, because it is excellent. Incurable will have you flipping through its word-painted images, and thinking about its characters long after you've read the last line.
The book tells the story about a very young woman in the USA, in the time before during and after WW II, trying to escape the fake world of wealth-polished abuse, and falling into the hellish tapestry of Hollywood glitter and the naked truth hidden below. It is filled with excellent, inobtrusive descriptions, which blend naturally within the story. The author has obviously done lots of research, and manages to put you on the scene skillfully, without evident effort, engaging all your senses. The crime story streaming through the plot is truly engaging, and has you guessing and rooting for the heroine till the very end.
From the gripping first, but especially second chapter, reminiscent in atmosphere of P. Marlowe, the story is told with love and respect, both for the characters and readers. There is a mind-blowing myriad of characters, especially women, strong women, battling their weakness and centuries-long submission to men's leading role as providers. Not all beauty is skin-deep, and public success may well be just an optical illusion. Not every hero is always good, not every villain is completely irredeemable. The author displays people's vanity, weakness, balancing the thin line between what is and isn't considered moral or immoral, all in order to survive, to escape their history and family legacy if possible. Intriguing human stories fill the pages - from the wise, uneducated nanny to the miserable rich ladies, the seemingly successful stars of burlesque, seedy human trafickers, family histories tainted with greed and revenge, dream-filled immigrants and prejudiced narrow-minded abusers. The intensity of brutal hate and malice is sometimes so overwhelming, just like in real life, and yet the characters all keep chasing love, friendship and success. There is a very open account of sexuality and promiscuity of the time, which is rarely spoken of in such a matter-of-fact way, even gruesome topics, so despite your romantic notions of love during the war, do not expect a soothing, romantic, dreamy account. But do expect friendships and love forged through hellfire!
Each decade of the main character's life brings us an array of different people, each with their own set of values and prejudice, all naked under the facade. It is hard to pick my favourites, although detective Reg and his accidental assistant Doris do take the lead. But Wesley is so tenderly portrayed, with all his faults and virtues, and has such a good heart; he is one of those people who never dominate, but are always cherished.
The span through several decades provides us with proof that we can never truly know what motivates someone to do something, till we talk it all out openly. Secrets hurt, and sometimes they even kill. Historical events in Europe influencing the lives of people in the USA seem to follow the main storyline, but actually emphasize how intricate all our relationships are, and how intertwined our destinies are. Each ripple counts.
E.C. Moore's Incurable kept me on my toes wanting to read as fast as I could. There were plenty of topics I never relish thinking about, but they are topics we must think about if we are to face them and change them. Families which are never the safe haven they should be, dream jobs which are more like purgatory, friendships of convenience... But there is always passion and love at the root of things. Incurable is a proper saga, and lends itself to a fabulous TV-series. If you want a book which will engage your mind, soul and senses, Incurable will deliver.
I love the ending - despite all the dire straits, it celebrates accomplishment, not fame. It celebrates the real values in life, earned through hardship, but cherished forever.
July 19, 2015
Honestly it's a strong 3.5 ***^
I had a hard time following along with the many many time period switches, but other than that this was good. The writing was solid, the story was heartbreaking but worth the pain to get to the conclusion. There were a few moments were I thought that maybe too many characters were introduced, but seeing how they were all intertwined was a fun trick. All in all a good book, that I was glad I got took the time to read.
I had a hard time following along with the many many time period switches, but other than that this was good. The writing was solid, the story was heartbreaking but worth the pain to get to the conclusion. There were a few moments were I thought that maybe too many characters were introduced, but seeing how they were all intertwined was a fun trick. All in all a good book, that I was glad I got took the time to read.
November 15, 2015
This a wonderful book. So much happens in this book. It just shows what life can be .... things don't go according to plans .... bad things happen ..... we are stronger than we think .... and we meet people who we need to when we need to. I will recommend this book to others, may even read it again my self. I received this book in the Goodreads giveaway.
August 16, 2015
In 1956, Marilyn Walsh catches the eye of a handsome doctor in Los Angeles. They fall in love at first sight and shortly afterwards marry. Marilyn adjusts herself to be a doctor’s wife and has a daughter named Lily. One day Marilyn receives a blackmail note that threatens all she holds dear. She hires a private detective named Reg, and the two of them go on a mission to find the blackmailer.
The story alternates back and forth from Marilyn's present and past. In this novel, we slowly peel off Marilyn's layers as we see how Marilyn has arrived in the present. The reader then realizes that there is more to Marilyn then what she seems. There are ghosts from her past that seek to reveal who she is. While Marilyn is the main character, the viewpoints from the present also alternately switch from Marilyn to Reg as he seeks to solve the case.
Marilyn is a complex character. She has a dark past that she does not want to reveal. She hopes that in her present life that she can let go of her past and to start over. However, with the blackmail note, she knows that her past can not be erased completely. She has a tragic childhood, but she has found a place of belonging by making friends with June, a feisty young girl. Together the two of them run away to Hollywood where they hope to make their dreams come true. At first Marilyn is naive and idealistic. She believes that she can be successful and that she can start her life anew. However, circumstances prove that it is not to be the case. Throughout her adventures, Marilyn strives to find happiness and to erase her past.
Overall, this story is about friendship, choices, forgiveness, and redemption. It is about a girl’s quest to find her identity and her sense of belonging. While I found the mystery element to be unsatisfying and needs improvement, I did like that it was a character driven story. The characters were complex, and were very relatable. The reader will be immersed in Marilyn's story, and the reader could not help but empathize with her as she makes tough choices. I also found the setting to be very detailed, and felt like I was transported alongside her walking the streets of Los Angeles. This novel is recommended for anyone who is into mysteries, historical fiction, and1950s Hollywood.
(Note: This book was given to me as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.)
The story alternates back and forth from Marilyn's present and past. In this novel, we slowly peel off Marilyn's layers as we see how Marilyn has arrived in the present. The reader then realizes that there is more to Marilyn then what she seems. There are ghosts from her past that seek to reveal who she is. While Marilyn is the main character, the viewpoints from the present also alternately switch from Marilyn to Reg as he seeks to solve the case.
Marilyn is a complex character. She has a dark past that she does not want to reveal. She hopes that in her present life that she can let go of her past and to start over. However, with the blackmail note, she knows that her past can not be erased completely. She has a tragic childhood, but she has found a place of belonging by making friends with June, a feisty young girl. Together the two of them run away to Hollywood where they hope to make their dreams come true. At first Marilyn is naive and idealistic. She believes that she can be successful and that she can start her life anew. However, circumstances prove that it is not to be the case. Throughout her adventures, Marilyn strives to find happiness and to erase her past.
Overall, this story is about friendship, choices, forgiveness, and redemption. It is about a girl’s quest to find her identity and her sense of belonging. While I found the mystery element to be unsatisfying and needs improvement, I did like that it was a character driven story. The characters were complex, and were very relatable. The reader will be immersed in Marilyn's story, and the reader could not help but empathize with her as she makes tough choices. I also found the setting to be very detailed, and felt like I was transported alongside her walking the streets of Los Angeles. This novel is recommended for anyone who is into mysteries, historical fiction, and1950s Hollywood.
(Note: This book was given to me as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.)
October 7, 2015
Incurable is set for the most part in Southern California. Which along with the description was what made me feel as if I needed to read it-- I was raised in Sunny Cali and have some fond memories of the places mentioned in the story. This was definitely the most different story that I have read! And not different bad! I would have to call it dramatic historical fiction-- not romance, although there were some romantic elements at times. If you like World War II era settings, you'll like Incurable. It sets up the war, and also lets you view the world after the recovery from the war.
It is the story of two friends Marilyn (Beryl) and June. The story is set during the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Each decade had its own theme and the author definitely makes use of those themes and really made me think about how much the world was changing in each perspective period. As you read, you are reading between two times, both present time (for the story) which is mid-50s, and the past.
Two beautiful teenage girls decide to leave Detroit, and go to Hollywood. You can imagine the reasons, and you better guess it doesn't turn out the way they are planning. For Marilyn it is even worse than you can imagine. For June, you are never quite sure how it really is.
June is outgoing and could do almost anything. She does do all kinds of things too!
Marilyn's more reserved, and though she is at first looking for fame, she finds another path she almost follows before she is pulled in by June on another hairbrained adventure and then another. Devastation ensues until she finally finds a way out, and as things are looking up, sorrow shows up once more.
Incurable was fun and heartwrenching at the same time. It was fun because most of the places I knew, and that was really a thrill after living in the Midwest for close to 25 years. But it was heartwrenching because of the scenes that the two young women go through.
The story is an awesome tale of friendship, destruction, betrayal, recovery, and healing. It never lulls, and always keeps you trying to guess. The writing is very good, and everything holds together nicely. It was not quite a book I could read in a night (my favorite), but I did read it in two days. Finally it left me with all the questions answered and also with a good ending.
It is the story of two friends Marilyn (Beryl) and June. The story is set during the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Each decade had its own theme and the author definitely makes use of those themes and really made me think about how much the world was changing in each perspective period. As you read, you are reading between two times, both present time (for the story) which is mid-50s, and the past.
Two beautiful teenage girls decide to leave Detroit, and go to Hollywood. You can imagine the reasons, and you better guess it doesn't turn out the way they are planning. For Marilyn it is even worse than you can imagine. For June, you are never quite sure how it really is.
June is outgoing and could do almost anything. She does do all kinds of things too!
Marilyn's more reserved, and though she is at first looking for fame, she finds another path she almost follows before she is pulled in by June on another hairbrained adventure and then another. Devastation ensues until she finally finds a way out, and as things are looking up, sorrow shows up once more.
Incurable was fun and heartwrenching at the same time. It was fun because most of the places I knew, and that was really a thrill after living in the Midwest for close to 25 years. But it was heartwrenching because of the scenes that the two young women go through.
The story is an awesome tale of friendship, destruction, betrayal, recovery, and healing. It never lulls, and always keeps you trying to guess. The writing is very good, and everything holds together nicely. It was not quite a book I could read in a night (my favorite), but I did read it in two days. Finally it left me with all the questions answered and also with a good ending.
August 12, 2015
This book was interesting to say the least. Ms. Moore has a great writing style she keeps you interested into the book. She makes you part of the book. There were times I forgot that I was actually reading a book and I was able to zone out all that was around me and actually felt like I was in the book watching what was happening.
God Bless the main character of the story. She is so strong and she can bounce back from anything and everything. I found myself relating to her from my own past. I understood what she was feeling and how she felt during some situations. Having the strength to move on and putting things in the past like she was able to is very enduring. I am happy that she was able to get her happily ever after!
June, oh my! Oh my! She is a bit of a firecracker let me tell you!! She was trouble with all capital letters not just a T if you know what I mean! I am happy that she was able to get her happily ever after also. She had to go through some tough situations also. And the strength that she needed to make it through it all was a lot!
The historical facts in the book were spot on. I liked reading a bit more on the history of World War 2 and hearing some "stories" from the characters that went to war in World War 1. I like how she brought in the politics into the story and had the people in the book actually concerned for what was going on in the world and in the states.
I was really stumped on who was trying to hurt Marilyn. I was trying to figure it out for the life of me. Ms. Moore did an excellent job of keeping it a secret on who would be trying to harm Marilyn. She just did a great job, I like a mystery that can stump me!
Overall I really liked this book. It had some romance but nothing to much to override the premise of the book which was a nice turn of reading. Usually when you read books with romance in it that is all they focus on. Had a good deal of mystery and stumping those that are reading it. Had some good history lessons in there. It was a well rounded book. I highly recommend this book.
God Bless the main character of the story. She is so strong and she can bounce back from anything and everything. I found myself relating to her from my own past. I understood what she was feeling and how she felt during some situations. Having the strength to move on and putting things in the past like she was able to is very enduring. I am happy that she was able to get her happily ever after!
June, oh my! Oh my! She is a bit of a firecracker let me tell you!! She was trouble with all capital letters not just a T if you know what I mean! I am happy that she was able to get her happily ever after also. She had to go through some tough situations also. And the strength that she needed to make it through it all was a lot!
The historical facts in the book were spot on. I liked reading a bit more on the history of World War 2 and hearing some "stories" from the characters that went to war in World War 1. I like how she brought in the politics into the story and had the people in the book actually concerned for what was going on in the world and in the states.
I was really stumped on who was trying to hurt Marilyn. I was trying to figure it out for the life of me. Ms. Moore did an excellent job of keeping it a secret on who would be trying to harm Marilyn. She just did a great job, I like a mystery that can stump me!
Overall I really liked this book. It had some romance but nothing to much to override the premise of the book which was a nice turn of reading. Usually when you read books with romance in it that is all they focus on. Had a good deal of mystery and stumping those that are reading it. Had some good history lessons in there. It was a well rounded book. I highly recommend this book.
August 13, 2015
When I first began reading, I admit, I thought it was slow. Painfully. A perk was seeing Lucy and Desi Arnaz mentioned, as they are two of my favorite people ever. (I Love Lucy is my favorite show). But when it picked up, it sure picked up! We are introduced to Marilyn Walsh, who we are going to see get married, have a child, be unhappy in her marriage and also see her whilst suffering from what she thinks are ulcers. Obviously, since she enlists the help of a private investigator named Reg, you can assume that is not the case. It is worth mentioning that isn't why she originally enlists his help but I am trying to keep the spoilers to a minimum.
We also learn about her earlier life and it has more twists and turns than I can count. There are many devastating moments but if there was something about Marilyn that I liked, it was that she got back up again, whereas others might have hit the bottom and not gotten back up. You're also going to be thrust into World War II era America and you'll hear about Pearl Harbor, what life was like during the war. There's mention of the Japanese interment camps. You do get to hear many a celebrity name dropped: Cary Grant, Lana Turner, Better Davis and Frank Sinatra, to name a few. I enjoyed that greatly.
I admit, I found the ending...odd. were it me who had written the book, I would have gone a different route. It was a bit too happily ever after for my taste.
For me, the characters weren't fully rounded, Marilyn had a story but I found her to be too mealy mouthed and too willing to go along with June's schemes. If you get a bad feeling, do you go along with it? June was too flighty and I found her quite detestable. The girl was trouble and I just didn't like her much.
All in all, it was a solid read and I enjoyed it along with the author's writing. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, which will feature Doris, Reg's secretary.
We also learn about her earlier life and it has more twists and turns than I can count. There are many devastating moments but if there was something about Marilyn that I liked, it was that she got back up again, whereas others might have hit the bottom and not gotten back up. You're also going to be thrust into World War II era America and you'll hear about Pearl Harbor, what life was like during the war. There's mention of the Japanese interment camps. You do get to hear many a celebrity name dropped: Cary Grant, Lana Turner, Better Davis and Frank Sinatra, to name a few. I enjoyed that greatly.
I admit, I found the ending...odd. were it me who had written the book, I would have gone a different route. It was a bit too happily ever after for my taste.
For me, the characters weren't fully rounded, Marilyn had a story but I found her to be too mealy mouthed and too willing to go along with June's schemes. If you get a bad feeling, do you go along with it? June was too flighty and I found her quite detestable. The girl was trouble and I just didn't like her much.
All in all, it was a solid read and I enjoyed it along with the author's writing. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, which will feature Doris, Reg's secretary.
August 15, 2015
I had the pleasure of reading E.C. Moore’s new novel, Incurable. Incurable is the story of a woman, Marilyn, who has many secrets from her past that are impacting her present. The main story takes place in the mid fifties but there are numerous flash backs to Marilyn’s younger days in the 1930s and 40s.
The book is a mystery on a number of levels: the secrets that Marilyn is hiding from others and the mystery of who might know these secrets and use them against her.
Marilyn hires a private detective, Reg Hartman, to solve the mystery. Reg is an old fashioned gumshoe.. At times it feels like he’s just stepped out of a 1940/50s detective movie. This, of course, makes him fun to follow.
For much of the book Moore keeps the story moving and with each page I wanted to know what was going to happen next. My favorite sections were the ones that occurred in Marilyn’s present (mid 1950s) where solving of the mystery was the main concern..
As someone who is also doing research into the 1940s and 50s I was concerned that there were a number of times when the words and expressions used were not from the forties or fifties, but were quite modern. This tended to kick me out a mid-twentieth century reality. Some examples of this are “bonkers,” “I hear you,” “You think?” Still, I do personally know how tough it is to write strictly using the language of another time period. One’s own words can easily slip in without awareness.
Despite this, I was able to get back into the story and I found the first ending quite satisfying: the situation was resolved. However, the author felt compelled to tell the reader more about her characters than seemed needed after the main storyline was fulfilled. Once the mystery was solved I had trouble maintaining my interest in the additional chapters.
Still, I found Incurable to be a well-written, enjoyable read that I would recommend to others.
The book is a mystery on a number of levels: the secrets that Marilyn is hiding from others and the mystery of who might know these secrets and use them against her.
Marilyn hires a private detective, Reg Hartman, to solve the mystery. Reg is an old fashioned gumshoe.. At times it feels like he’s just stepped out of a 1940/50s detective movie. This, of course, makes him fun to follow.
For much of the book Moore keeps the story moving and with each page I wanted to know what was going to happen next. My favorite sections were the ones that occurred in Marilyn’s present (mid 1950s) where solving of the mystery was the main concern..
As someone who is also doing research into the 1940s and 50s I was concerned that there were a number of times when the words and expressions used were not from the forties or fifties, but were quite modern. This tended to kick me out a mid-twentieth century reality. Some examples of this are “bonkers,” “I hear you,” “You think?” Still, I do personally know how tough it is to write strictly using the language of another time period. One’s own words can easily slip in without awareness.
Despite this, I was able to get back into the story and I found the first ending quite satisfying: the situation was resolved. However, the author felt compelled to tell the reader more about her characters than seemed needed after the main storyline was fulfilled. Once the mystery was solved I had trouble maintaining my interest in the additional chapters.
Still, I found Incurable to be a well-written, enjoyable read that I would recommend to others.
November 30, 2015
In summing up this book, the best way to describe it would be with this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, "A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water. As Marilyn's past collides with her present, there is a lot happening in this story which can make it dizzying for the reader. This is the beginning. Then the reader observes how Marilyn bounces back every single time life throws something difficult her way. It's almost like there is an unseen force who is out to get Marilyn. Paranoia or truth? That was the mystery in Marilyn's story.
Then there is June. The extrovert version of Marilyn who has set her heights on the best things in life. As both women venture into the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, their plans are nothing compared to what reality has in store for them. A powerful story of women dealing with friendship, betrayal and life's challenges. An enthralling story with memorable characters. Looking forward to reading other books by the same author.
Reviewer Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Then there is June. The extrovert version of Marilyn who has set her heights on the best things in life. As both women venture into the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, their plans are nothing compared to what reality has in store for them. A powerful story of women dealing with friendship, betrayal and life's challenges. An enthralling story with memorable characters. Looking forward to reading other books by the same author.
Reviewer Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
October 2, 2016
Incurable by E.C. Moore is commendable for a first novel. My only criticism is that it sometimes seems as though too much happens in the life of the main characters, especially Marilyn and June, to be realistic. However, life does sometimes throw a lot at some individuals and it is the way that Marilyn and June handle this adversity that makes the novel worthwhile reading. The characters are well developed and the plot is interesting and intriguing and held my interest throughout. The title is quite appropriate and the book demonstrates that fact that; as the author says, "Marilyn recognized the entire population of the world-every man, woman and child- were incurable; every one set on a collision course with mortality from day one, We enter this life and can never know what wonderful or terrible thing might strike next. Time and time again we reinvent ourselves,for good or bad. What just happened is gone forever and all we have to hold onto is what happens next." Incurable is certainly a tale of survival and gives hope to those who experience terrible events and tragedies in life.
August 14, 2015
Copy received from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for an honest review
When I started reading "Incurable" by E.C. Moore I was surprised to learn it was a debut novel. I thought that the story was very sophisticated. I was incredibly impressed with how she was able to balance all the different characters in the story. I especially enjoyed the strong female characters and how they were pivotal to the success of the plot. Although a story that spans different years can be a little overwhelming to read, I fund this one to be very smooth and easy to see how events and characters were interconnected.
Finally, I thought the story was engaging. I was interested and intrigued from the very beginning. I loved the raw truths and emotions that the story presented. I found that the author was very honest and straightfoward about many different topics and themes. I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it to anyone looking forward to a satisfying read.
When I started reading "Incurable" by E.C. Moore I was surprised to learn it was a debut novel. I thought that the story was very sophisticated. I was incredibly impressed with how she was able to balance all the different characters in the story. I especially enjoyed the strong female characters and how they were pivotal to the success of the plot. Although a story that spans different years can be a little overwhelming to read, I fund this one to be very smooth and easy to see how events and characters were interconnected.
Finally, I thought the story was engaging. I was interested and intrigued from the very beginning. I loved the raw truths and emotions that the story presented. I found that the author was very honest and straightfoward about many different topics and themes. I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it to anyone looking forward to a satisfying read.
August 20, 2015
The book started little slow but it sure did pick up later on. The girls surely didn’t live a quiet time!
The book jumps between Marilyn’s past and present but it was easy to keep up. Marilyn grows to a strong woman who despite everything that happens just finds her way forward. Now she’s married with a baby and believes she’s put her past behind her but discovers that past isn’t so easy to erase.
Her friend June is completely the opposite of Marilyn; carefree and spontaneous with no thought of tomorrow. I gotta say that I didn’t care much of her and she was my least favourite character. I can’t believe how naïve Marilyn was at times and how she went with June’s crazy ideas time after time.
All in all it was enjoyable read and a great debut book.
The book jumps between Marilyn’s past and present but it was easy to keep up. Marilyn grows to a strong woman who despite everything that happens just finds her way forward. Now she’s married with a baby and believes she’s put her past behind her but discovers that past isn’t so easy to erase.
Her friend June is completely the opposite of Marilyn; carefree and spontaneous with no thought of tomorrow. I gotta say that I didn’t care much of her and she was my least favourite character. I can’t believe how naïve Marilyn was at times and how she went with June’s crazy ideas time after time.
All in all it was enjoyable read and a great debut book.
September 18, 2015
E.C. Moore wrapped me around her literary finger from the first chapter. The rich characters and expert storytelling kept me turning pages until my work, family and daily grind were nearly forgotten. When life forced me to stop reading, I found the characters whispering in my head and when I opened the book again, I ate up every suspenseful, emotional chapter. Five-stars for Incurable from me! And yes, I still feel guilty for my literary-gluttony.
September 12, 2015
This debut novel brims with color, adventure and the best and worst of our human impulses and deeds. E.C. Moore provides such detail in her characters that one can visualize them on a screen that any actor would love to play. I enjoyed following Beryl Quinn on her many adventures, one part "Tales of the City", one part historical novel, with a dash of noir. This is just the beginning of a promising career for this author.
February 27, 2016
Moore really creates good characters. Well paced and a perfect one day read while tucked into a comfortable chair and indulging yourself in a good story. Can't wait for her next book to arrive. Found another author to fill my bookshelves.
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