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Among the Lesser Gods
“Tragedy and blessing. Leave them alone long enough, and it gets real hard to tell them apart.”
Elena Alvarez is living a cursed life. From the deadly fire she accidentally set as a child, to her mother’s abandonment, and now to an unwanted pregnancy, she knows better than most that small actions can have terrible consequences. Driven to the high mountains surrounding Leadville, Colorado by her latest bad decision, she’s intent on putting off the future. Perhaps there she can just hide in her grandmother’s isolated cabin and wait for something—anything—to make her next choice for her.
Instead, she is confronted by reflections of her own troubles wherever she turns—the recent widower and his two children adrift in a changed world, Elena’s own mysterious family history, and the interwoven lives within the town itself. Bit by bit, Elena begins to question her understanding of cause and effect, reexamining the tragedies she’s held on to and the wounds she’s refused to let heal.
But when the children go missing, Elena’s fragile new peace is shattered. It’s only at the prospect of fresh loss and blame that she will discover the truth of the terrible burdens we take upon ourselves, the way tragedy and redemption are inevitably intertwined—and how curses can sometimes lead to blessings, however disguised.
Elena Alvarez is living a cursed life. From the deadly fire she accidentally set as a child, to her mother’s abandonment, and now to an unwanted pregnancy, she knows better than most that small actions can have terrible consequences. Driven to the high mountains surrounding Leadville, Colorado by her latest bad decision, she’s intent on putting off the future. Perhaps there she can just hide in her grandmother’s isolated cabin and wait for something—anything—to make her next choice for her.
Instead, she is confronted by reflections of her own troubles wherever she turns—the recent widower and his two children adrift in a changed world, Elena’s own mysterious family history, and the interwoven lives within the town itself. Bit by bit, Elena begins to question her understanding of cause and effect, reexamining the tragedies she’s held on to and the wounds she’s refused to let heal.
But when the children go missing, Elena’s fragile new peace is shattered. It’s only at the prospect of fresh loss and blame that she will discover the truth of the terrible burdens we take upon ourselves, the way tragedy and redemption are inevitably intertwined—and how curses can sometimes lead to blessings, however disguised.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 9, 2017
604 people are currently reading
3240 people want to read
About the author
Margo Catts
2 books91 followersThe summer before I started fifth grade, my local library moved. They invited patrons to check out all the books they wanted from the old location, keep them twice as long as normal, and return them to the new one. I checked out 33. Those stacks of books on the dining room table were magic. I still feel the same about books I love, which are the ones I review and rate.
I'm a writer currently based in Texas because I can't be everywhere at once. My first novel is Among the Lesser Gods and I'm at work on the second, City of Walls. You can read about my life in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere abroad at http://www.margocatts.com/foreigngirl. You can find more adventures from extraordinary global-citizen women (plus one of mine) in Once Upon an Expat.
I'm a writer currently based in Texas because I can't be everywhere at once. My first novel is Among the Lesser Gods and I'm at work on the second, City of Walls. You can read about my life in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere abroad at http://www.margocatts.com/foreigngirl. You can find more adventures from extraordinary global-citizen women (plus one of mine) in Once Upon an Expat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 322 reviews
August 10, 2017
3.5 stars if I could.
Multiple tragedies, an abundance of self blame, characters struggling to move forward with pent up grief and the inability to forgive themselves make for a compelling debut novel. Sometimes it's easier to forgive others than it is to forgive ourselves. Elena Alvarez is just about to graduate with a degree in physics and she comes across as an apathetic lost soul, who detests herself for a careless act she committed at age 10 that had dire consequences. She has no job, no sense of direction for her future. To compound matters, she's pregnant and bears a bruise on her face from the baby's father. Without recourse, on her grandmother's request, she agrees to move to from Los Angeles to Leadville, Colorado to care for two children of a recently widowed truck driver.
This seemed at first to me like an improbable situation. I couldn't imagine that this broken young woman was going to be able to do any good there. So it was a surprise to me that I began to connect with Elena when she started taking care of the children and I saw a side of her that didn't seem possible at first. She was empathetic, caring and seemed to know what they needed. In spite of a scary situation with these children, Elena in so many ways saves them and their oddball father from the depths of grief and blame and at the same time saves herself. There's another thread here besides Elena's and this family. Her grandmother, Tuah and her father dealing with disappearance of Elena's aunt many years before. A pat, predictable ending kept me from giving it 4 stars. There is some beautiful descriptive writing here, especially in the earlier passages when Elena is driving from LA to Colorado. The writing in this admirable debut will have me watching for her next one.
"For this part of the journey, the desert was framed by cliffs and mesas in the distance in one direction and rusty canyons and mountains in the other. Sometime after midday I began to see occasional tree, then a snaking line of green along a river, and finally fields and orchards and sagebrush rangeland.......Spruces and firs crowded against the road, then would break open to reveal a glacial valley, newly green in early summer. In the darker hollows, I could see patches of snow, lingering under the trees. It was hard to remember I'd started the day in the desert" (From an advanced copy so may be different from final version.)
I received an advanced copy of this book from Arcade Publishing through Edelweiss.
Multiple tragedies, an abundance of self blame, characters struggling to move forward with pent up grief and the inability to forgive themselves make for a compelling debut novel. Sometimes it's easier to forgive others than it is to forgive ourselves. Elena Alvarez is just about to graduate with a degree in physics and she comes across as an apathetic lost soul, who detests herself for a careless act she committed at age 10 that had dire consequences. She has no job, no sense of direction for her future. To compound matters, she's pregnant and bears a bruise on her face from the baby's father. Without recourse, on her grandmother's request, she agrees to move to from Los Angeles to Leadville, Colorado to care for two children of a recently widowed truck driver.
This seemed at first to me like an improbable situation. I couldn't imagine that this broken young woman was going to be able to do any good there. So it was a surprise to me that I began to connect with Elena when she started taking care of the children and I saw a side of her that didn't seem possible at first. She was empathetic, caring and seemed to know what they needed. In spite of a scary situation with these children, Elena in so many ways saves them and their oddball father from the depths of grief and blame and at the same time saves herself. There's another thread here besides Elena's and this family. Her grandmother, Tuah and her father dealing with disappearance of Elena's aunt many years before. A pat, predictable ending kept me from giving it 4 stars. There is some beautiful descriptive writing here, especially in the earlier passages when Elena is driving from LA to Colorado. The writing in this admirable debut will have me watching for her next one.
"For this part of the journey, the desert was framed by cliffs and mesas in the distance in one direction and rusty canyons and mountains in the other. Sometime after midday I began to see occasional tree, then a snaking line of green along a river, and finally fields and orchards and sagebrush rangeland.......Spruces and firs crowded against the road, then would break open to reveal a glacial valley, newly green in early summer. In the darker hollows, I could see patches of snow, lingering under the trees. It was hard to remember I'd started the day in the desert" (From an advanced copy so may be different from final version.)
I received an advanced copy of this book from Arcade Publishing through Edelweiss.
May 9, 2017
AMONG THE LESSER GODS is a beautifully written novel and an impressive debut from Margo Catts. I found this book browsing Edelweiss a few weeks ago, and there was something about the synopsis that called out to me. I'm so glad I gave it a chance!
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the story is set in 1978. The protagonist Elena Alvarez is a young woman stuck in limbo for a few reasons. She's a new college graduate with no job lined up; she's faced with an unwanted pregnancy and what she should do about it; and most of all, she's still burdened with guilt over a deadly fire she caused as a child. The perfect escape comes in the form of a summer job caring for two children in her grandmother's hometown of Leadville, Colorado.
AMONG THE LESSER GODS is a compelling, multi-layered story of family secrets, self-forgiveness, and new beginnings. Elena's experiences in the small mountain town will show her she's not alone in her quest for redemption. The writing was lovely, and I especially enjoyed the vivid descriptions of Leadville and the surrounding mountains. I could easily picture myself there. The novel wraps up with an emotional resolution as secrets from the past come to the surface. Wonderful book! 5 stars.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the story is set in 1978. The protagonist Elena Alvarez is a young woman stuck in limbo for a few reasons. She's a new college graduate with no job lined up; she's faced with an unwanted pregnancy and what she should do about it; and most of all, she's still burdened with guilt over a deadly fire she caused as a child. The perfect escape comes in the form of a summer job caring for two children in her grandmother's hometown of Leadville, Colorado.
AMONG THE LESSER GODS is a compelling, multi-layered story of family secrets, self-forgiveness, and new beginnings. Elena's experiences in the small mountain town will show her she's not alone in her quest for redemption. The writing was lovely, and I especially enjoyed the vivid descriptions of Leadville and the surrounding mountains. I could easily picture myself there. The novel wraps up with an emotional resolution as secrets from the past come to the surface. Wonderful book! 5 stars.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2017
Elena Alvarez has lived a troubled life. She will never forgive herself for setting a fire that killed three people when she was ten. Shortly after this incident her mother left home and cut ties to the family. Elena is now graduating from college in Los Angeles and ready for a brighter future. These plans are put on hold when she discovers that she is pregnant.
With her life in disarray, Elena goes to Colorado to stay with grandmother. Her grandmother has provided the maternal role in her life since her mother's abandonment. Elena finds temporary employment caring for a family that has recently lost their mother in a car accident. She is surprised that she is forming an attachment to the children who are eleven and five. Elena uses these experiences along with her own issues with her mother to decide the future of her unborn child.
This is a story about growing up and learning from mistakes. It also about practicing forgiveness for others and ourselves. This is a debut novel by Margo Catts.
With her life in disarray, Elena goes to Colorado to stay with grandmother. Her grandmother has provided the maternal role in her life since her mother's abandonment. Elena finds temporary employment caring for a family that has recently lost their mother in a car accident. She is surprised that she is forming an attachment to the children who are eleven and five. Elena uses these experiences along with her own issues with her mother to decide the future of her unborn child.
This is a story about growing up and learning from mistakes. It also about practicing forgiveness for others and ourselves. This is a debut novel by Margo Catts.
April 1, 2020
In 1978, twenty-two-year-old Elena Alvarez has just graduated from college in Los Angeles but is uncertain about her future. Elena’s grandmother invites her to stay in her cabin near a mining town in Colorado to assist a widower with his two young children while he works as a trucker. Elena is dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and a past ridden with tragedy and guilt. While spending the summer in this small mining community, she encounters others who have faced their own tragedies. Through interacting with the locals and dealing with a crisis, Elena gains perspective and comes to terms with her past.
The characters are well-developed, especially Tuah, Elena’s resilient grandmother. The scenes involving Elena’s interaction with the two children, who have recently lost their mother, are particularly touching. Themes in this book include fear of failure, learning from mistakes, forgiveness, and redemption. It challenges us to look at the stories we tell ourselves, and how our perceptions influence our realities. While Elena’s personal growth seems to occur too quickly, and it gets rather melodramatic toward the end, this is a promising debut.
The characters are well-developed, especially Tuah, Elena’s resilient grandmother. The scenes involving Elena’s interaction with the two children, who have recently lost their mother, are particularly touching. Themes in this book include fear of failure, learning from mistakes, forgiveness, and redemption. It challenges us to look at the stories we tell ourselves, and how our perceptions influence our realities. While Elena’s personal growth seems to occur too quickly, and it gets rather melodramatic toward the end, this is a promising debut.
February 22, 2017
Margo Catts prefaces her debut novel with a quote from the Iliad: For two jars stand on the floor of Zeus of the gifts which he gives, one of evils and another of blessings. As the story unfolds, it becomes more and more evident that evils and blessings are two sides of a coin, and often, one organically flows from the other.
Elena Alvarez, our narrator, is in her early twenties: a college graduate with no job, living in Leadville, Colorado with her grandmother, and babysitting for free for two young children whose mother died in an accident, overwhelming their father. Worse she is single and pregnant and unable to determine where her life is heading. Early on, we also know one more thing about Elena: when she was a child, she was inadvertently the catalyst for a terrible tragedy that unfolded in her community, and she has never forgiven herself.
This novel takes on one of the strongest of themes: self-forgiveness and redemption. As Elena connects with the children, who badly need healing, and discovers more about her Tuah (grandmother’s) own source of pain, she recognizes that are we all a part of the human experience: lost children, suffering children, children hoped for and adored, children unwanted and unloved and abandoned. Sooner or alter, good will come of whatever we do if we want it to, because “every kind of thing in the world, everything touches something, that touches something, that touches something else. Everything connects.”
This may sound sort of Pollyanna-ish, but the fact is, Margo Catts is a strong writer with a compelling voice. Although the theme is a mite too tied up in a bow – and although I did not totally understand why Elena chose to continue her pregnancy, given facts that were presented -- I believed in the these characters and I rooted for them. I’m also familiar with Leadville, and the sense of place is very well developed. It’s good to welcome another talented voice.
Elena Alvarez, our narrator, is in her early twenties: a college graduate with no job, living in Leadville, Colorado with her grandmother, and babysitting for free for two young children whose mother died in an accident, overwhelming their father. Worse she is single and pregnant and unable to determine where her life is heading. Early on, we also know one more thing about Elena: when she was a child, she was inadvertently the catalyst for a terrible tragedy that unfolded in her community, and she has never forgiven herself.
This novel takes on one of the strongest of themes: self-forgiveness and redemption. As Elena connects with the children, who badly need healing, and discovers more about her Tuah (grandmother’s) own source of pain, she recognizes that are we all a part of the human experience: lost children, suffering children, children hoped for and adored, children unwanted and unloved and abandoned. Sooner or alter, good will come of whatever we do if we want it to, because “every kind of thing in the world, everything touches something, that touches something, that touches something else. Everything connects.”
This may sound sort of Pollyanna-ish, but the fact is, Margo Catts is a strong writer with a compelling voice. Although the theme is a mite too tied up in a bow – and although I did not totally understand why Elena chose to continue her pregnancy, given facts that were presented -- I believed in the these characters and I rooted for them. I’m also familiar with Leadville, and the sense of place is very well developed. It’s good to welcome another talented voice.
May 26, 2017
Elena Alvarez is restless and unhappy, desperate to get out of the latest tricky situation she's created for herself. Graduation is days away, but she knows she doesn't want to continue living with her abusive deadbeat boyfriend--especially after finding out she's pregnant with his baby. When her grandmother writes and asks Elena to consider coming home to Colorado to look after two kids whose mother just died, Elena decides it's a sign from the universe. She heads home fully intending to bunker down temporarily and figure out her next steps.
But of course going home is never so easy as that. Not only does Elena begin uncovering dramatic family secrets, but she also finds herself becoming more and more attached to the kids she's caring for. It seems the more time she spends at home, the more confused Elena becomes about who she is, who she was, and, most importantly, what kind of future she deserves.
Oh. Dear. Lord. I loved, LOVED, Among the Lesser Gods. It's one of the best books I've read all year. The writing is absolutely wonderful. The story is so perfectly balanced with just the right amount of emotion, suspense, insight, and resolution. In all honestly, it did take me some extra time to connect with Elena at first. It wasn't until she arrived in Colorado that I really started to feel for her. But once I reached that point, I was all in with this book. I loved where the story ended up and how it got there--and I so appreciated not being able to predict any (well, most) of it.
What I enjoyed most, though, is the overarching theme of acceptance and redemption. Elena has a troubled past and suffers from a lot of guilt over things she did as a child. But over the course of the story, she learns to see herself in a new light, to see that tragedy and fortune are a package deal. Not only do good and bad exist together, but it's also often difficult to tell them apart, especially over time. As Elena learns, even devastating circumstances can lead to happiness and healing eventually.
This book is so, so good. I was absolutely shocked when I saw this was author Margo Catts's first novel. Wow. Keep 'em coming, Catts. I am now your faithful follower.
ARC provided through Amazon Vine.
See more of my book reviews at www.BugBugBooks.com.
But of course going home is never so easy as that. Not only does Elena begin uncovering dramatic family secrets, but she also finds herself becoming more and more attached to the kids she's caring for. It seems the more time she spends at home, the more confused Elena becomes about who she is, who she was, and, most importantly, what kind of future she deserves.
Oh. Dear. Lord. I loved, LOVED, Among the Lesser Gods. It's one of the best books I've read all year. The writing is absolutely wonderful. The story is so perfectly balanced with just the right amount of emotion, suspense, insight, and resolution. In all honestly, it did take me some extra time to connect with Elena at first. It wasn't until she arrived in Colorado that I really started to feel for her. But once I reached that point, I was all in with this book. I loved where the story ended up and how it got there--and I so appreciated not being able to predict any (well, most) of it.
What I enjoyed most, though, is the overarching theme of acceptance and redemption. Elena has a troubled past and suffers from a lot of guilt over things she did as a child. But over the course of the story, she learns to see herself in a new light, to see that tragedy and fortune are a package deal. Not only do good and bad exist together, but it's also often difficult to tell them apart, especially over time. As Elena learns, even devastating circumstances can lead to happiness and healing eventually.
This book is so, so good. I was absolutely shocked when I saw this was author Margo Catts's first novel. Wow. Keep 'em coming, Catts. I am now your faithful follower.
ARC provided through Amazon Vine.
See more of my book reviews at www.BugBugBooks.com.
April 7, 2017
I’ve sat on this book review for at least 2 months, hesitant to publish it because I have yet to meet a single person that has read this book and not absolutely loved it. I had high expectations when I first saw it on Edelweiss and I was excited when my request for an ARC was accepted. It sounded like such a great book and I was anxious to read (what I expected to be) another great book set in the west. I find myself frequently complaining that there aren’t enough western-style books or books that are set in the western USA that aren’t in a major city like LA, Seattle, or Vegas. Among the Lesser Gods is set in a small mountain town in Colorado and I wanted to love it, but I didn’t.
I struggled to get into it and I struggled to care about Elena even a little bit. I was detached from page 1 and I still can’t sort out why. Elena, as a character, just didn’t appeal to me at all. Her story was compelling (adrift after having just graduated from UCLA, coming to terms with an unwanted pregnancy, and suddenly finding herself caring for two young children that lost their mother) but I never felt invested.
The whole book is well-written and it’s evident that Margo Catts (the author) invested a good amount of time planning and developing the story; it’s just that I never connected. Over and over again it was a book I forgot about or a story I skipped over when I felt like reading. It took me forever to finish it because I kept passing it over for stories that were holding my attention.
The messages of the book were fantastic as it addresses the consequences of our decisions and forgiveness (especially toward ourselves) but I kept feeling “ehhhh” toward it. It’s not that I don’t recommend it as a book to read because it is a well-written story and I am certain that I’m in the minority when it comes to feeling disenchanted by it. In fact, here is what a few others have had to say about it…
“If Anne Tyler turned her attention to the inter-generational intrigue of small town Colorado, it might look something like Margo Catts’s arresting debut. Drenched in lyrical language and blade’s edge observation with a heartbreaking secret at its core, Among the Lesser Gods is an essential American love story for our nomadic, unrooted times.” — Carrie La Seur, author of The Home Place
“Smart, unsettling, and meticulously composed, Margot Catts’s debut novel affirms the power of narrative to redeem . . . The assaults of the past on the present, of badly buried guilt that keeps one from knowing how to live; the ways in which ordinary wisdom proceeds from the shadow of tragedy; the essentiality of family and community to all manner of healing – these are just a handful of the themes weaving through this unforgettable tale of accidental salvation.” — Lynn Stegner, author of For All the Obvious Reasons
It’s a really, really great storyline but it just didn’t connect with me for some reason. I think it’s just going to be one of those books that most people love but that left me feeling meh.
This book is recommended by the publisher for fans of:
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
The Silver Star by Jeanette Walls
I struggled to get into it and I struggled to care about Elena even a little bit. I was detached from page 1 and I still can’t sort out why. Elena, as a character, just didn’t appeal to me at all. Her story was compelling (adrift after having just graduated from UCLA, coming to terms with an unwanted pregnancy, and suddenly finding herself caring for two young children that lost their mother) but I never felt invested.
The whole book is well-written and it’s evident that Margo Catts (the author) invested a good amount of time planning and developing the story; it’s just that I never connected. Over and over again it was a book I forgot about or a story I skipped over when I felt like reading. It took me forever to finish it because I kept passing it over for stories that were holding my attention.
The messages of the book were fantastic as it addresses the consequences of our decisions and forgiveness (especially toward ourselves) but I kept feeling “ehhhh” toward it. It’s not that I don’t recommend it as a book to read because it is a well-written story and I am certain that I’m in the minority when it comes to feeling disenchanted by it. In fact, here is what a few others have had to say about it…
“If Anne Tyler turned her attention to the inter-generational intrigue of small town Colorado, it might look something like Margo Catts’s arresting debut. Drenched in lyrical language and blade’s edge observation with a heartbreaking secret at its core, Among the Lesser Gods is an essential American love story for our nomadic, unrooted times.” — Carrie La Seur, author of The Home Place
“Smart, unsettling, and meticulously composed, Margot Catts’s debut novel affirms the power of narrative to redeem . . . The assaults of the past on the present, of badly buried guilt that keeps one from knowing how to live; the ways in which ordinary wisdom proceeds from the shadow of tragedy; the essentiality of family and community to all manner of healing – these are just a handful of the themes weaving through this unforgettable tale of accidental salvation.” — Lynn Stegner, author of For All the Obvious Reasons
It’s a really, really great storyline but it just didn’t connect with me for some reason. I think it’s just going to be one of those books that most people love but that left me feeling meh.
This book is recommended by the publisher for fans of:
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
The Silver Star by Jeanette Walls
June 10, 2017
Favorite Quotes:
Growing up, grains of family history dissolved into my pool of knowledge without me noticing, the same way salt dissolves in water, the same way you can’t remember anyone ever telling you that school starts in the fall.
Beauty from ashes, right here. Tragedy and blessing. Leave them alone long enough and it gets real hard to tell them apart.
I was kind of a bratty teenager… I know, hard to believe. But when I was sulky my mom used to say that not talking about stuff is like growing mold… Talking airs it out. You still have the stuff, but it keeps it from getting furry and gross.
A jumble of scenes crowded into my head like shoppers shoving through the door for a clearance sale.
I left the house like a refugee from a natural disaster. The torrent of judgments and absolutes had washed the ground out from underneath me. Fragile ground, apparently, because I’d never had a problem like this before.
My Review:
Among the Lesser Gods was a thoughtful and moody tale that sucked me down a 70’s era rabbit hole and kept me there. I was fully engaged and fascinated by this odd collection of peculiar, broken, and difficult characters who were separately struggling with their various problems including a default setting of poor choices, family issues, and new and long-term grief. Each major household was at a crossroads with unspoken histories, vexing issues, and limited options. And each had unique yet topical and relatable tribulations. I was captivated, intrigued, and lured into their mysterious quagmires like a magnet to metal. Their limited awareness and incomplete histories slowly came together to coincidentally shine the light on a long-held family mystery that had spiraled into a local myth. I stumbled along with them as they learned hard and painful lessons and surprised themselves by coming through their most perplexing issues. Ms. Catt’s writing was engrossing, observantly insightful, emotive, and richly textured with colorful and vivid descriptions that painted complete scenes with her words. Despite the tension and angst, I savored her story from beginning to end.
Growing up, grains of family history dissolved into my pool of knowledge without me noticing, the same way salt dissolves in water, the same way you can’t remember anyone ever telling you that school starts in the fall.
Beauty from ashes, right here. Tragedy and blessing. Leave them alone long enough and it gets real hard to tell them apart.
I was kind of a bratty teenager… I know, hard to believe. But when I was sulky my mom used to say that not talking about stuff is like growing mold… Talking airs it out. You still have the stuff, but it keeps it from getting furry and gross.
A jumble of scenes crowded into my head like shoppers shoving through the door for a clearance sale.
I left the house like a refugee from a natural disaster. The torrent of judgments and absolutes had washed the ground out from underneath me. Fragile ground, apparently, because I’d never had a problem like this before.
My Review:
Among the Lesser Gods was a thoughtful and moody tale that sucked me down a 70’s era rabbit hole and kept me there. I was fully engaged and fascinated by this odd collection of peculiar, broken, and difficult characters who were separately struggling with their various problems including a default setting of poor choices, family issues, and new and long-term grief. Each major household was at a crossroads with unspoken histories, vexing issues, and limited options. And each had unique yet topical and relatable tribulations. I was captivated, intrigued, and lured into their mysterious quagmires like a magnet to metal. Their limited awareness and incomplete histories slowly came together to coincidentally shine the light on a long-held family mystery that had spiraled into a local myth. I stumbled along with them as they learned hard and painful lessons and surprised themselves by coming through their most perplexing issues. Ms. Catt’s writing was engrossing, observantly insightful, emotive, and richly textured with colorful and vivid descriptions that painted complete scenes with her words. Despite the tension and angst, I savored her story from beginning to end.
June 14, 2017
Among the Lesser Gods takes place in 1978, set mostly in the mountains of Colorado--although the writing makes it seem rather timeless--except for the absence of cell phones and other small things, it could just as easily be set in current day. The writing is gorgeous--I love when a place comes to life through words, and I found myself almost seeing the town of Leadville and its surrounding beauty as I read Margo Catts's descriptions. The characters are well-drawn--flawed, but easy to root for. Although I wasn't immediately drawn to Elena at the start of the book, as her story unfolded I found myself liking her more and more and enjoying watching her grow as she began to find empathy and understanding for others and even for herself. Her grandmother, Tuah, was my favorite character with her caring and her wise words, like: "Not making a decision is a decision too. And I'm not saying you made a wrong one. But you did make one." We don't get to know the other characters quite as much, but I enjoyed the family Elena cares for and the friends she makes within the town.
I think we all have things that we wish we had done differently and that make us wonder if we had made a different choice or taken another action, would things have been been better for us or for those we may have impacted? Whether those things happened when we were children, or when we were old enough to know better, and regardless of whether they are small or bigger, more tragic actions, I know very few people who don't have regrets or guilt. Among the Lesser Gods is ultimately about finding forgiveness and healing and it connected with me, touched my heart, and made me think. Once I was into the story, I found it hard to put down and I was sorry to see it end--it was a pleasure to read. This is the author's debut novel and I look forward to reading more from her.
You can see my review and a recipe for a (Vegan) Watermelon Milkshake (& enter to win a copy through 6/22/17) on my blog post: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...
Note: A review copy and a giveaway copy of "Among the Lesser Gods" was provided to me by the publisher, Arcade, and TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
I think we all have things that we wish we had done differently and that make us wonder if we had made a different choice or taken another action, would things have been been better for us or for those we may have impacted? Whether those things happened when we were children, or when we were old enough to know better, and regardless of whether they are small or bigger, more tragic actions, I know very few people who don't have regrets or guilt. Among the Lesser Gods is ultimately about finding forgiveness and healing and it connected with me, touched my heart, and made me think. Once I was into the story, I found it hard to put down and I was sorry to see it end--it was a pleasure to read. This is the author's debut novel and I look forward to reading more from her.
You can see my review and a recipe for a (Vegan) Watermelon Milkshake (& enter to win a copy through 6/22/17) on my blog post: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...
Note: A review copy and a giveaway copy of "Among the Lesser Gods" was provided to me by the publisher, Arcade, and TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 24, 2018
Somewhere between 3 and 3.5
An incredibly solid debut novel. Set in 1978, the protagonist, Elena, has just finished university and is pregnant, and decides to go to her grandmother's (and her father's) hometown where an unpaid job childminding two children awaits. The story follows a number of events that transpire over the summer Elena spends in rural Colorado.
The writing was great, and the plot - while a tiny bit slow moving at the start - kept me engaged throughout. My rating has been rounded down instead of up as some of the characters weren't quite as fleshed out as they could've been, particularly Elena herself. Margo Catts touches on a number of themes - grief, self-forgiveness, motherhood - and all are handled well. I'd compare this to novels like Idaho, The Signal Flame and The Last Time We Spoke (although I have to say I enjoyed the first two a little more than this one - everything was resolved a little too tidily here).
An incredibly solid debut novel. Set in 1978, the protagonist, Elena, has just finished university and is pregnant, and decides to go to her grandmother's (and her father's) hometown where an unpaid job childminding two children awaits. The story follows a number of events that transpire over the summer Elena spends in rural Colorado.
The writing was great, and the plot - while a tiny bit slow moving at the start - kept me engaged throughout. My rating has been rounded down instead of up as some of the characters weren't quite as fleshed out as they could've been, particularly Elena herself. Margo Catts touches on a number of themes - grief, self-forgiveness, motherhood - and all are handled well. I'd compare this to novels like Idaho, The Signal Flame and The Last Time We Spoke (although I have to say I enjoyed the first two a little more than this one - everything was resolved a little too tidily here).
October 12, 2017
It’s hard not to be captivated by Catt’s prose and the rhythm of her passages, all delighting me with authentic atmosphere, locale, and the challenges of coming-of-age. A secular sense of the divine is approached in the first sentence, and throughout the book, through science, mythology, and the struggles of family, the author deftly sprinkles the sense that blessings and curses are mixed up together rather than categorized separately. It is that theme that glows the brightest to we lesser gods, and reminded me that faith in humanity has a power that transcends any one doctrine or devotion.
Elena Alvarez is 21, a newly minted 1978 UCLA college graduate in physics with no future prospects. She is pregnant by an abusive young man she hooked up with, apparently another in a long line of self-sabotages. Elena’s self-immolation leads back to a horrific tragedy in childhood that overwhelms her with guilt, one that is revealed to readers organically. When her grandmother (Tuah) writes to her from Leadville, Colorado, asking her to quasi-live-in babysit for a recently widowed father with two small children, she accepts it, because she loves her Gran and she doesn’t know what else to do, despite the fact that Elena has no experience with small children.
What follows is Elena’s challenges to maturity, which include learning family secrets that both shock and surprise her. She is an only child of a mother who abandoned the family and a father who was often away working, so Elena was primarily raised by Tuah, who still keeps a rustic cabin in Hat Creek as well as a more convenient place in Leadville. The house in Hat Creek, Elena suspects, is a place where her Tuah goes to be alone.
When Elena asks Tuah why she keeps this ancient cabin in Hat Creek in the middle of a ghost town that is falling apart, the place where her grandmother grew up, she gets an unexpected answer: “I don’t go to the cabin to be by myself. I’m not going to get away from people. I’m going because of people…a house holds memories, keeps them safe for anyone who wants to come back.”
As Tuah recounts stories of her mysterious sister, Elena’s aunt, she also entrusts Elena with the truth, another stepping stone to her maturity. Revelations lead to more challenges, and Elena starts to understand her father’s remoteness and her grandmother’s burdens. As the children she cares for becomes more attached to Elena, she develops a more nuanced understanding of family losses. “It seems a person is never finished learning about sorrow…”
Despite the periodic twee contrivances of plot and story—Elena becomes Super Sitter in no time at all, and quickly becomes the best decision maker and healer of a grieving family; in the midst of crisis, Elena becomes a hero; this small town accepts her at face value, with no small-town pettiness to shoulder; and a young, educated, and handsome man is immediately attracted to her, accepting her pregnancy without nary a blink—despite these eye-rolling moments, I was fond of the story from start to finish. Catt’s language and her protagonist’s reflective internal conflicts, (despite the ease of Elena’s external environment and acceptance) were thoughtful, and her metaphysical inclusions give the reader a lot to chew on.
Much of the story is a feel-good formula, but the author provides numerous visceral and spiritual moments to reflect on grief, loss, family, love, and acceptance. The missteps were largely eclipsed by the writing itself, and I look forward to Margo Catt’s next novel. 3.75 rounded up
Elena Alvarez is 21, a newly minted 1978 UCLA college graduate in physics with no future prospects. She is pregnant by an abusive young man she hooked up with, apparently another in a long line of self-sabotages. Elena’s self-immolation leads back to a horrific tragedy in childhood that overwhelms her with guilt, one that is revealed to readers organically. When her grandmother (Tuah) writes to her from Leadville, Colorado, asking her to quasi-live-in babysit for a recently widowed father with two small children, she accepts it, because she loves her Gran and she doesn’t know what else to do, despite the fact that Elena has no experience with small children.
What follows is Elena’s challenges to maturity, which include learning family secrets that both shock and surprise her. She is an only child of a mother who abandoned the family and a father who was often away working, so Elena was primarily raised by Tuah, who still keeps a rustic cabin in Hat Creek as well as a more convenient place in Leadville. The house in Hat Creek, Elena suspects, is a place where her Tuah goes to be alone.
When Elena asks Tuah why she keeps this ancient cabin in Hat Creek in the middle of a ghost town that is falling apart, the place where her grandmother grew up, she gets an unexpected answer: “I don’t go to the cabin to be by myself. I’m not going to get away from people. I’m going because of people…a house holds memories, keeps them safe for anyone who wants to come back.”
As Tuah recounts stories of her mysterious sister, Elena’s aunt, she also entrusts Elena with the truth, another stepping stone to her maturity. Revelations lead to more challenges, and Elena starts to understand her father’s remoteness and her grandmother’s burdens. As the children she cares for becomes more attached to Elena, she develops a more nuanced understanding of family losses. “It seems a person is never finished learning about sorrow…”
Despite the periodic twee contrivances of plot and story—Elena becomes Super Sitter in no time at all, and quickly becomes the best decision maker and healer of a grieving family; in the midst of crisis, Elena becomes a hero; this small town accepts her at face value, with no small-town pettiness to shoulder; and a young, educated, and handsome man is immediately attracted to her, accepting her pregnancy without nary a blink—despite these eye-rolling moments, I was fond of the story from start to finish. Catt’s language and her protagonist’s reflective internal conflicts, (despite the ease of Elena’s external environment and acceptance) were thoughtful, and her metaphysical inclusions give the reader a lot to chew on.
Much of the story is a feel-good formula, but the author provides numerous visceral and spiritual moments to reflect on grief, loss, family, love, and acceptance. The missteps were largely eclipsed by the writing itself, and I look forward to Margo Catt’s next novel. 3.75 rounded up
November 17, 2018
Thanks to the author, for providing me with a signed copy, just because…..
Elena Alvarez feels cursed. After setting a fire that accidentally killed three people when she was ten, her mother left and her relationship with her father, who was consumed by guilt and heartbreak, was never the same. Now, a recent college grad and pregnant as the result of a one-night stand, Elena feels she is being punished for her actions in life. When her grandmother sends her a letter, inviting her to her hometown, to take up a job as a nanny to two young children, Elena surprises herself and takes on the position. Soon, Elena’s life is altered by the presence of Sarah and Kevin, two children struggling with the death of their mother. When they go missing after playing in a cave, Elena is forced to come to terms with her feelings, her memories and the depth of her losses.
A lyrically written novel of growth, loss and letting go, “Among the Lesser Gods” is Margot Catts’ debut novel.
Elena is a young woman who, although she has made some terrible mistakes, is strong, brave and powerful. She is a relatable character who a reader will instantly root for, and empathize with. As she takes on the almost insurmountable role of caregiver to two young children, it seems at the onset to be a disastrous idea. However, almost as if it were a Lifetime movie of the week (but far more natural and less cheesy) , both the children and Elena grow and learn from each other. The relationship between Elena and the children is at first challenging, than charming, as the natural flow of things would dictate.
This plot point on its own would have been enough to tell one heck of an entertaining tale. However, this novel also tells a secondary story; as the disappearance of Elena’s aunt (daughter of Tuah, Elena’s grandmother who persuaded Elena to return home) from years ago becomes a top news story once again, Elena and her family must now uncover old wounds and unbury old secrets.
The small town setting of this novel was charming and realistic and I easily made a connection with it. As it is with small towns, one story usually leads to another, interconnected story, as was the case in “Lesser Gods”.
I would have liked to know a bit more of Benecia’s (the deceased aunt) life and death, maybe through flashbacks or chapters dedicated to her life, as this was perhaps just as interesting as Elena’s story. Also, there seemed to be many unnecessary characters in this story, which just muddled up things. The interconnected lives in a small town is one thing, but it was not necessary to dictate each family that had ever lived there.
This novel is beautifully written and it is, in fact, hard to believe that it is a debut novel. I can only imagine what Catts future works will look like, and I am eager to find out.
Elena Alvarez feels cursed. After setting a fire that accidentally killed three people when she was ten, her mother left and her relationship with her father, who was consumed by guilt and heartbreak, was never the same. Now, a recent college grad and pregnant as the result of a one-night stand, Elena feels she is being punished for her actions in life. When her grandmother sends her a letter, inviting her to her hometown, to take up a job as a nanny to two young children, Elena surprises herself and takes on the position. Soon, Elena’s life is altered by the presence of Sarah and Kevin, two children struggling with the death of their mother. When they go missing after playing in a cave, Elena is forced to come to terms with her feelings, her memories and the depth of her losses.
A lyrically written novel of growth, loss and letting go, “Among the Lesser Gods” is Margot Catts’ debut novel.
Elena is a young woman who, although she has made some terrible mistakes, is strong, brave and powerful. She is a relatable character who a reader will instantly root for, and empathize with. As she takes on the almost insurmountable role of caregiver to two young children, it seems at the onset to be a disastrous idea. However, almost as if it were a Lifetime movie of the week (but far more natural and less cheesy) , both the children and Elena grow and learn from each other. The relationship between Elena and the children is at first challenging, than charming, as the natural flow of things would dictate.
This plot point on its own would have been enough to tell one heck of an entertaining tale. However, this novel also tells a secondary story; as the disappearance of Elena’s aunt (daughter of Tuah, Elena’s grandmother who persuaded Elena to return home) from years ago becomes a top news story once again, Elena and her family must now uncover old wounds and unbury old secrets.
The small town setting of this novel was charming and realistic and I easily made a connection with it. As it is with small towns, one story usually leads to another, interconnected story, as was the case in “Lesser Gods”.
I would have liked to know a bit more of Benecia’s (the deceased aunt) life and death, maybe through flashbacks or chapters dedicated to her life, as this was perhaps just as interesting as Elena’s story. Also, there seemed to be many unnecessary characters in this story, which just muddled up things. The interconnected lives in a small town is one thing, but it was not necessary to dictate each family that had ever lived there.
This novel is beautifully written and it is, in fact, hard to believe that it is a debut novel. I can only imagine what Catts future works will look like, and I am eager to find out.
May 24, 2017
I have to say I'm surprised at all the stars this book is getting. It felt a lot like a watered down version of The Weight of Blood. I think I would have liked it a lot better if the self proclaimed mess of a 22 year old SOUNDED anything like a mess of a 22 year old. Most of the time she ended up sounding like a much older family therapist.
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February 23, 2021I've read the whole book but decided not to rate this as I feel I wasn't giving this book the my full attention. There is so many high reviews on this and it's obviously something I missed but I feel I couldn't get emersed in the story or connect with the characters. But will give it a reread some other time
March 24, 2017
This is a strong first novel by Margo Catts. This novel has several themes: of self-discovery, of place and home, of making decisions and accepting the consequences. And there are other threads that can be pulled out of this story, it’s a book that can make you consider your own life, the past and decisions made.
One of the things I love about this novel is it’s told only in one voice, in the view point of Elena Alvarez. Seems like fewer novels are told like this anymore.
Elena has just graduated college in Los Angeles and isn’t sure what to do next, except she knows she wants to be alone. Her grandmother tells her she’s needed in the small mining town in Colorado, at least for the summer. Elena takes on caring for two children who recently lost their mother in an accident. Their father is a long-haul driver, away from home more days than not and until he finds local work the community has been taking turns caring for the children. Elena’s help is much needed, even though Elena isn’t’ sure she is up for the job, but figures the time there will help her decide what to do next.
While learning to care for these lost kids Elena learns about herself and her family. The story evolves as you learn more about the people around Elena, and in the end the story is deeply moving. It’s insightful. I will definitely be watching for any future work by Margo Catts.
Thank you to the publisher Arcade Publishing/Skyhorse Publishing for allowing me an advance copy to read.
One of the things I love about this novel is it’s told only in one voice, in the view point of Elena Alvarez. Seems like fewer novels are told like this anymore.
Elena has just graduated college in Los Angeles and isn’t sure what to do next, except she knows she wants to be alone. Her grandmother tells her she’s needed in the small mining town in Colorado, at least for the summer. Elena takes on caring for two children who recently lost their mother in an accident. Their father is a long-haul driver, away from home more days than not and until he finds local work the community has been taking turns caring for the children. Elena’s help is much needed, even though Elena isn’t’ sure she is up for the job, but figures the time there will help her decide what to do next.
While learning to care for these lost kids Elena learns about herself and her family. The story evolves as you learn more about the people around Elena, and in the end the story is deeply moving. It’s insightful. I will definitely be watching for any future work by Margo Catts.
Thank you to the publisher Arcade Publishing/Skyhorse Publishing for allowing me an advance copy to read.
June 11, 2017
Among the Lesser Gods is a beautifully written debut novel by Margo Catts. The characters are so well written that I found myself really invested in their lives. It’s more than a coming of age novel – it’s a novel about a 20ish year old girl who is trying to live her life based on past mistakes instead of trying to figure out the best path for her to follow in her future.
Elena has just graduated from college and has no idea what to do next. Her choices are all being made based on her younger years when she set a deadly fire, when her mother abandoned her and when her father started to distance himself from her. She made a lot of unwise decisions in college and now finds that she is pregnant with no plans for the future. Her grandmother offers her a place to stay in a small town in Colorado where she starts taking care of two young children who have recently lost their mother. Taking care of the children lead her to examine her life and her reasons for the decisions that she’s made and to start making plans for her future.
This book started a little slow but I quickly got pulled into Elena’s life and problems. It’s a beautiful well written novel about forgiving yourself and learning to move on in your life. It’s also a story about love and redemption and family. I look forward to future books from this author.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book through TLC tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Elena has just graduated from college and has no idea what to do next. Her choices are all being made based on her younger years when she set a deadly fire, when her mother abandoned her and when her father started to distance himself from her. She made a lot of unwise decisions in college and now finds that she is pregnant with no plans for the future. Her grandmother offers her a place to stay in a small town in Colorado where she starts taking care of two young children who have recently lost their mother. Taking care of the children lead her to examine her life and her reasons for the decisions that she’s made and to start making plans for her future.
This book started a little slow but I quickly got pulled into Elena’s life and problems. It’s a beautiful well written novel about forgiving yourself and learning to move on in your life. It’s also a story about love and redemption and family. I look forward to future books from this author.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book through TLC tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 25, 2017
A really lovely book about the effects of childhood mistakes on our adult lives, and finding redemption through connecting with others. Clear, vivid writing and interesting characters.
October 17, 2023
Very well written, mostly character driven, family dynamics, etc. Couple of plot surprises. Enjoyed reading this novel.
March 1, 2021
Terrible things happen in Among the Lesser Gods: kidnapping, murder, wildfire, suicide, mental illness, pregnancy out of wedlock, death in childbirth, and more – but also beautiful and healing things. The characters peopling Among the Lesser Gods struggle with explaining and transcending the evil that touches their lives.
Whose fault are the disasters shaping the people of Leadville and Hat Creek? Some characters blame themselves; others believe bad things happen to bad people; still others perceive themselves as being in the wrong place at the wrong time.. Margo Catts argues that it's more complicated (or simple?) than either of those things: “We’re just people, you know? Making our own things happen.” (p. 138)
Simple ways of coping with evil including avoidance or dichotomous thinking about the world – and some of the characters in Among the Lesser Gods rely on one or the other with little success. Elena, the central character, recently graduated with w physics degree. In Chemistry and Physics the left side of the add up, while in the real world, disproportional results can come from tiny and meaningless actions.
Among the Lesser Gods is gritty, yet sweet. Everything does not get tied up with a bow or end up happily ever after, but the central characters do grow and change – often at a suspiciously rapid rate. Despite the speed, the characters and their changes feel real and honest, even as they struggle with very difficult things.
Still, what is difficult? Can we know all of the consequences following from any event? Should we assume they will all be tragic? “Beauty from ashes, right here. Tragedy and blessing. Leave them alone long enough and it gets real hard to tell them apart.” (p. 96)
Whose fault are the disasters shaping the people of Leadville and Hat Creek? Some characters blame themselves; others believe bad things happen to bad people; still others perceive themselves as being in the wrong place at the wrong time.. Margo Catts argues that it's more complicated (or simple?) than either of those things: “We’re just people, you know? Making our own things happen.” (p. 138)
Simple ways of coping with evil including avoidance or dichotomous thinking about the world – and some of the characters in Among the Lesser Gods rely on one or the other with little success. Elena, the central character, recently graduated with w physics degree. In Chemistry and Physics the left side of the add up, while in the real world, disproportional results can come from tiny and meaningless actions.
Among the Lesser Gods is gritty, yet sweet. Everything does not get tied up with a bow or end up happily ever after, but the central characters do grow and change – often at a suspiciously rapid rate. Despite the speed, the characters and their changes feel real and honest, even as they struggle with very difficult things.
Still, what is difficult? Can we know all of the consequences following from any event? Should we assume they will all be tragic? “Beauty from ashes, right here. Tragedy and blessing. Leave them alone long enough and it gets real hard to tell them apart.” (p. 96)
May 10, 2019
I enjoyed reading this book. I am sure I am not a great, insightful critic, but I liked the characters and their development in the plot. I appreciated how the protagonist's life was unfolded in the story, and how her perspective on her past expanded. To me, this was the story of a young woman at the moment she leaves youth behind and becomes an adult.
I recently read another small-town Colorado book, Lions, and these books seemed so very different to me. This story made sense, where Lions seemed contrived. Both set their narratives in small, struggling towns, with modest protagonists, but only one worked for me, this book.
I recently read another small-town Colorado book, Lions, and these books seemed so very different to me. This story made sense, where Lions seemed contrived. Both set their narratives in small, struggling towns, with modest protagonists, but only one worked for me, this book.
December 10, 2019
I really enjoyed this story about truth and forgiveness. The only reason it didn't get five stars was the reader. All of her male voices were the same. Sigh.
February 19, 2017
Elena has had a cursed life, with nothing but problems since she was a child. An accidental murderess at the age of 10, driving her mother to abandon her, fleeing from one spot to the next with a distant father who holds her responsible for her family's disintegration, now pregnant by a deadbeat, deadend boyfriend. Despondent and without hope, she flees to the tiny town of Hat Creek, Colorado, a near-gone mining town populated by the lost and lonely, to babysit for two children with a part-time father and a deceased mother. Elena knows life is meaningless, and her only task is to figure out how to come to terms with that truth. Or is it?
Among the Lesser Gods is the story of one summer in a small mining community in 1978; the story of how one young woman comes to understand the truth of life, in all its curses and blessings. The pace is a bit slow, at times, like life in the small town itself, but the writing is gorgeous and every character is fully realized. There are some nice plot twists to keep the story moving -- Elena realizes as the story begins that a local town legend about the miner's daughter who haunts the town is, in fact, a story from Elena's own past; and as she grows closer to the town's residents, she begins to understand that curses and secrets and blessings are not just hers to bear, but shared burdens that are the cost of life itself.
The details of her life that summer -- how she learns to care for two troubled children and in so doing how to heal herself; how she forms gradual connections with her grandmother, a local rancher, the two kids and their odd father, the larger-than-life next door neighbor -- are all beautifully told. A lovely story, with hope at its core, and a real pleasure to read.
(Read through Amazon Vine)
Among the Lesser Gods is the story of one summer in a small mining community in 1978; the story of how one young woman comes to understand the truth of life, in all its curses and blessings. The pace is a bit slow, at times, like life in the small town itself, but the writing is gorgeous and every character is fully realized. There are some nice plot twists to keep the story moving -- Elena realizes as the story begins that a local town legend about the miner's daughter who haunts the town is, in fact, a story from Elena's own past; and as she grows closer to the town's residents, she begins to understand that curses and secrets and blessings are not just hers to bear, but shared burdens that are the cost of life itself.
The details of her life that summer -- how she learns to care for two troubled children and in so doing how to heal herself; how she forms gradual connections with her grandmother, a local rancher, the two kids and their odd father, the larger-than-life next door neighbor -- are all beautifully told. A lovely story, with hope at its core, and a real pleasure to read.
(Read through Amazon Vine)
June 20, 2019
Never have I read a book so rich and drenched with descriptions. Every page, not necessarily gripping with storyline, but held my attention with every soaked word. I can’t really describe it, but I’ve read A LOT of books and have never been so impressed with the organization of simple words. I loved each and every character with my whole being. I teared up seeing the last page in my horizon and wished I could drive to Leadville just to give these people a hug. Just simply a good book. How curses can turn out to be blessings. I didn’t get this until I read this book. Maybe because this phrase resonated with me in my life right now and I needed to learn this. Thank you Lena for your grand description of how this works!
My town decided to start a book club and this was our first read. I can’t imagine the rest of the books will measure up. I’ll never forget this book and am so thankful to have read such a piece of literature
My town decided to start a book club and this was our first read. I can’t imagine the rest of the books will measure up. I’ll never forget this book and am so thankful to have read such a piece of literature
March 21, 2021
I’ve always wondered about those who do one horrible thing in their lives and it ruins their lives forever. How can one reconcile the guilt, shame, and destruction of one’s self-esteem? Lena is just out of college and trying to figure out her life and returns to her grandmother’s cabin in a ghost town, formerly a bustling silver/gold mine town but now all but abandoned. Lena did a horrible thing when she was a child and this event affected her entire life. Can one resolve a nightmare experience and learn to look at it in a different light? Lena volunteers to babysit two children and also meets others who teach her about life, and how to be kind to herself; there are so many life lessons in this well written novel. An excellent read and a debut novel.
September 23, 2017
This book really took me by surprise. I bought it because it was on sale on Amazon for $1.99, but the only thing I knew about it was that it had a 4.5 star review (and 4.25 on Goodreads!).
An overall running theme for me this year has been perspective, and this book was largely about gaining a new perspective about a life you convinced yourself was one way. It was also a story about grief, heartache, acceptance, and redemption, and the things that hold us all together.
Catts is a lovely author, and I would read anything else she has written or will write. Highly recommend.
An overall running theme for me this year has been perspective, and this book was largely about gaining a new perspective about a life you convinced yourself was one way. It was also a story about grief, heartache, acceptance, and redemption, and the things that hold us all together.
Catts is a lovely author, and I would read anything else she has written or will write. Highly recommend.
February 24, 2017
Among the Lesser Gods is an incredible first novel by Margo Catts. The writing is beautiful, poetic, and deep. This is a novel that looks unflinchingly at the evils of this world and challenges the reader to look for the blessings, big and small.
June 29, 2017
'Among the Lesser Gods' is a beautifully written tale of redemption and life. I was amazed that this is the author's debut novel. It showcases the author's natural storytelling and huge amount of talent right from the beginning. This is a story filled with all of the things - both good and bad - that life consists of: family, tragedy, love, loss, forgiveness, redemption, and so much more. The main character, Elena, is easy to identify with. She's a regular person with both good traits and flaws. We get to see both throughout the story, and I really enjoyed getting to know her as the book unfolds. She's dealing with a lot - both past and present - and we see her work through much of it. One thing I want to talk about it the author's writing style. This is always a huge deal for me and can easily make or break a book. The author wrote the story in the first person - from Elena's perspective. I'm a huge fan of this style because of the deep personal connection it allows between the reader and the narrator. I think it was a great fit for the novel and really lets the reader inside Elena's mind, and brings the story closer to the reader.
Along the with universal topics, the author paints a vivid picture of life in Leadville - a small Colorado town where much of the story takes place. I liked getting to know the different people Elena encounters and learning more about both them and the town. This is a bit of a departure from my usual genres, but I'm glad that I decided to pick it up. It definitely made me pause and think about my own life when I was putting myself in Elena's shoes. Recommended for fans of general fiction, literary fiction, and women's fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Along the with universal topics, the author paints a vivid picture of life in Leadville - a small Colorado town where much of the story takes place. I liked getting to know the different people Elena encounters and learning more about both them and the town. This is a bit of a departure from my usual genres, but I'm glad that I decided to pick it up. It definitely made me pause and think about my own life when I was putting myself in Elena's shoes. Recommended for fans of general fiction, literary fiction, and women's fiction.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2017
A lovely novel about redemption and forgiveness, although it's not religious per se. The heroine has been running from her sense of guilt over a childhood misadventure that cost three lives, but in running from her most recent mess she ends up taking care of two kids whose dead mother had made her own mess. This is not something that would automatically interest me, but Catts does a great job with these children and we get to watch Lena do the maturing she has to do in order to give them what they need -- which also, ultimately, gives her what she needs. Her grandmother is another great character who has her own arc. It also has a wonderful setting in a small town (and nearby ghost town) with a great sense of community -- though not completely safe and warm -- and a hint of romance to keep me interested (I wouldn't have minded a little more). It ends with almost the same line as my first novel, so I am probably feeling more kinship with this author than I should. I know I'm really enjoying a novel when I'm thinking longingly of how much I want to pick it up when I need to be grading homework instead. Today's my day off and the first thing I did was grab a cup of coffee and sit down to finish it.
September 19, 2017
“Tragedy and blessing. Leave them alone long enough and it gets real hard to tell them apart.”
The tagline for this novel captured my attention. Tragedy and blessings are a topic near and dear to my heart, and after finishing this endearing story, I felt it deserved a review and recommendation for you, my readers.
Set in the 1970’s version of Leadville, Colorado, Elena Alvarez finds her life slipping into a dead-end fast. As a pregnant, college graduate with nowhere to go, Elena agrees to help a widowed father upon the request of her grandmother.
Tragedy is carefully woven throughout each of the main characters individual lives. Elena has lived with a burden related to a fire she started as a young girl. Paul Kofford has lost his wife to a tragic accident. Kevin and Sarah are struggling to live without a mother. And, Tuah, Elena’s grandmother, has a lifetime of tragedy that is slowly revealed as the plot develops.
The thing about tragedy is we all have it in our lives. We live with it and try to figure out what to do with it. Hopefully making a blessing out of a curse.
Read full review at https://www.choosingwisdom.org/book-r...
Mild Language
The tagline for this novel captured my attention. Tragedy and blessings are a topic near and dear to my heart, and after finishing this endearing story, I felt it deserved a review and recommendation for you, my readers.
Set in the 1970’s version of Leadville, Colorado, Elena Alvarez finds her life slipping into a dead-end fast. As a pregnant, college graduate with nowhere to go, Elena agrees to help a widowed father upon the request of her grandmother.
Tragedy is carefully woven throughout each of the main characters individual lives. Elena has lived with a burden related to a fire she started as a young girl. Paul Kofford has lost his wife to a tragic accident. Kevin and Sarah are struggling to live without a mother. And, Tuah, Elena’s grandmother, has a lifetime of tragedy that is slowly revealed as the plot develops.
The thing about tragedy is we all have it in our lives. We live with it and try to figure out what to do with it. Hopefully making a blessing out of a curse.
Read full review at https://www.choosingwisdom.org/book-r...
Mild Language
February 2, 2019
Look, I'm going to like anything that takes place in Colorado. Unless it's Pueblo, for obvious reasons to anyone who lives in the state.
Sorry that you suck, Pueblo. Except for your green chile.
I knew I had to keep going when it ended up taking place in Leadville and having the mom die on the way to Midturn. "I lived right near there!" shriek in my apparently teenage fanboy brain. "I just drove that road last year, and it's TERRIBLE!"
What about the story? Oh, that's okay. It definitely isn't my typical read, but my wife has challenged me to reach out more. I do enjoy the character driven story from time to time, and it was sweet to see this woman go from tragedy to tragedy growing through it all rather than crumpling.
Sorry that you suck, Pueblo. Except for your green chile.
I knew I had to keep going when it ended up taking place in Leadville and having the mom die on the way to Midturn. "I lived right near there!" shriek in my apparently teenage fanboy brain. "I just drove that road last year, and it's TERRIBLE!"
What about the story? Oh, that's okay. It definitely isn't my typical read, but my wife has challenged me to reach out more. I do enjoy the character driven story from time to time, and it was sweet to see this woman go from tragedy to tragedy growing through it all rather than crumpling.
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