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The Doll Funeral
My name is Ruby. I live with Barbara and Mick. They're not my real parents, but they tell me what to do, and what to say.
But there are things I won't say. I won't tell them I'm going to hunt for my real parents. I don't say a word about Shadow, who sits on the stairs, or the Wasp Lady I saw. Or that I'm a hunter for lost souls.
I'm going to be with my real family. And I won't let anyone stop me.
But there are things I won't say. I won't tell them I'm going to hunt for my real parents. I don't say a word about Shadow, who sits on the stairs, or the Wasp Lady I saw. Or that I'm a hunter for lost souls.
I'm going to be with my real family. And I won't let anyone stop me.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2017
118 people are currently reading
3876 people want to read
About the author
Kate Hamer
12 books419 followersKate Hamer's third novel CRUSHED is published in May 2019 (Faber & Faber). She is the author of THE DOLL FUNERAL (Faber & Faber 2017) which was a Bookseller book of the month and an editor's pick for Radio 4's Open Book. Her first novel THE GIRL IN THE RED COAT has been translated into 18 different languages. It was shortlisted for The Costa First Novel Prize, the British Book Industry Awards Debut Fiction Book of the Year, The John Creasy (New Blood) Dagger and the Wales Book of the Year. It was a Sunday Times bestseller. She grew up in the west country and rural Pembrokeshire and now lives with her husband in Cardiff.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews
September 15, 2017
On Ruby’s thirteenth birthday her parents inform her that she was adopted. For most people this would be devastating news but for Ruby it’s a relief since she has no affection for her parents. Her father Mick is physically and verbally abusive and her mother Barbara turns a blind eye to his transgressions. Neither parent has provided love or emotional support. Armed with new information, Ruby decides to search for her natural parents with hopes of a better place to live. On her journey, we are introduced to an mystical entity named Shadow who provides some needed guidance.
We are then introduced to seventeen year old Anna who is pregnant and unmarried. Anna is planning to give the baby up for adoption. Her boyfriend, Lewis, changes her plans with an offer of marriage after a move to London. Anna becomes lonely in the new country and Lewis pays the bills with criminal activities.
Ruby and Anna’s stories alternate by chapter until they finally converge. Through the development of these characters, the book explores the natural bond formed between a mother and child. This novel by Kate Hamer has a supernatural element which becomes relevant as the stories merge.
We are then introduced to seventeen year old Anna who is pregnant and unmarried. Anna is planning to give the baby up for adoption. Her boyfriend, Lewis, changes her plans with an offer of marriage after a move to London. Anna becomes lonely in the new country and Lewis pays the bills with criminal activities.
Ruby and Anna’s stories alternate by chapter until they finally converge. Through the development of these characters, the book explores the natural bond formed between a mother and child. This novel by Kate Hamer has a supernatural element which becomes relevant as the stories merge.
April 15, 2017
I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Kate Hamer, and the publisher, Faber & Faber, for this opportunity.
I had expected a thriller and instead this split-perspective tale was as bizarre as it was whimsical and otherwordly. Usually meandering tales, with a touch of the peculiar are exactly my type of read. This, however, fell flat for me in the second half.
I think once the reader was given the knowledge behind the curiosities that occur, I found my attention dwindling. The story was interesting and the characters felt very real, but once the initial magic was lost so was my love for this.
I had expected a thriller and instead this split-perspective tale was as bizarre as it was whimsical and otherwordly. Usually meandering tales, with a touch of the peculiar are exactly my type of read. This, however, fell flat for me in the second half.
I think once the reader was given the knowledge behind the curiosities that occur, I found my attention dwindling. The story was interesting and the characters felt very real, but once the initial magic was lost so was my love for this.
March 19, 2019
Δεν έχω διαβάσει το πρώτο βιβλίο της συγγραφέως Το κορίτσι με το κόκκινο παλτό για το οποίο έλαβε πολύ θετικές κριτικές. Η περίληψη στο οπισθόφυλλο είναι αρκετά ιντριγκαδόρικη. Το βιβλίο δεν είναι μυστηρίου, αλλά ούτε και φαντασίας. Η συγγραφέας περιπλέκει την πραγματικότητα με τη φαντασία αλλά το αποτέλεσμα για εμένα δεν είναι ικανοποιητικό. Το εγχείρημα της είναι μεγαλεπήβολο αλλά δυστυχώς όχι σωστά εκτελεσμένο.
February 20, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Weird, meandering, but thoroughly compelling to read.
I haven't read anything by Kate Harmer before, though of course, had heard of her previous book The Girl in the Red Dress, so I had high hopes. However, I wasn't at all prepared for this book. Weird, at times confusing, but thoroughly beautiful in places - man, this woman can write!
I loved the blurring between the world of the dead and the living, and the portrayal of the lonely spirits wandering through this haunting, tree-filled landscape was very evocative. The wasp lady was particularly fabulous, such a powerful description and so freaky! I think that's what Hamer really excels at - these weird, eerie descriptions that feel quite dream-like / nightmarish. Without spoiling too much - the 'chrysalis boy' description was utterly macabre, and likely to stay with me for quite some time!
I would have given this a five star, but the only thing that let it down a tad for me was the confusion of it all. I found myself having to dip back to earlier pages to try to find out what was going on in places, though this became less frequent as the book went on.
Overall, an exceptionally creative, unsettling, atmospheric read - I'd definitely recommend.
Weird, meandering, but thoroughly compelling to read.
I haven't read anything by Kate Harmer before, though of course, had heard of her previous book The Girl in the Red Dress, so I had high hopes. However, I wasn't at all prepared for this book. Weird, at times confusing, but thoroughly beautiful in places - man, this woman can write!
I loved the blurring between the world of the dead and the living, and the portrayal of the lonely spirits wandering through this haunting, tree-filled landscape was very evocative. The wasp lady was particularly fabulous, such a powerful description and so freaky! I think that's what Hamer really excels at - these weird, eerie descriptions that feel quite dream-like / nightmarish. Without spoiling too much - the 'chrysalis boy' description was utterly macabre, and likely to stay with me for quite some time!
I would have given this a five star, but the only thing that let it down a tad for me was the confusion of it all. I found myself having to dip back to earlier pages to try to find out what was going on in places, though this became less frequent as the book went on.
Overall, an exceptionally creative, unsettling, atmospheric read - I'd definitely recommend.
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February 9, 2017DNF @ 28%
I know it probably seems like I haven't given this book much of a chance, but I'm just not getting into it and I'm not interested enough to keep trying. This is clearly a heart felt novel that's supposed to make you feel something but I'm not in that kind of reading mood.
Hamer's writing it still just as beautiful as it was before. It creates gorgeous imagery but it's a little bit airy fairy in this one. I lost my way with some of the scenes because I couldn't get my head around what she was talking about. It also read a little clunky despite the poetic writing.
It's a damn shame, as I loved Hamer's first novel The Girl in the Red Coat, but that was a lot more mysterious, creepy and went at a much faster pace.
Thanks to Netgalley and Faber & Faber for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
I know it probably seems like I haven't given this book much of a chance, but I'm just not getting into it and I'm not interested enough to keep trying. This is clearly a heart felt novel that's supposed to make you feel something but I'm not in that kind of reading mood.
Hamer's writing it still just as beautiful as it was before. It creates gorgeous imagery but it's a little bit airy fairy in this one. I lost my way with some of the scenes because I couldn't get my head around what she was talking about. It also read a little clunky despite the poetic writing.
It's a damn shame, as I loved Hamer's first novel The Girl in the Red Coat, but that was a lot more mysterious, creepy and went at a much faster pace.
Thanks to Netgalley and Faber & Faber for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2016
The Doll Funeral was a novel that attempted to be a great many things, and proceeded to be none of them with great aplomb. It had the potential to be a touchingly deep story about domestic abuse and the difficulties of coping with adoption, both as the adopters and the adoptees, but instead it got bogged down in a swamp of mystical weirdness that did nothing to help the story along.
Kate Hamer’s The Doll Funeral tells the story from the point of view of a teenage girl who lives with her adopted parents in the Forest of Dean. Her adopted father Mick is abusive but she finds solace among the trees and with a shadowy friend who has always been in her life. The narrative follows her search for her real parents, while simultaneously weaving the story of her parents and how she came to live with Mick and Barbara.
The way Kate Hamer writes is beautiful. She weaves her words with talent and imagination. She paints a great picture and really brings the Forest of Dean to life as a character in its own right. The forest plays such an important part in the lives of all its characters that her characterisation of it really made the narrative. The plot is bleak, dark and otherworldly with a cast of quirky characters who were interesting enough to keep me reading. The Doll Funeral wasn’t fast paced, or action packed. It plodded along slowly and steadily and had a decent pace for a relatively serious novel that dealt with some pretty deep issues.
The big problem with The Doll Funeral is the way it chooses to deal with those issues. The paranormal elements of the narrative fell flat and didn’t serve to heighten Ruby’s story in any way. The weird Sixth Sense-esque skills that Ruby possesses simply made so much of the plot feel convenient and off kilter all at the same time. The novel deals with abuse, poverty and mental illness. By adding the supernatural in to the mix it somehow detracted from the gravity of what I feel the novel was trying to achieve.
Ruby herself wasn’t even particularly believable as a character. She is 13 years old at the beginning of The Doll Funeral but her voice doesn’t match her age. Her characterisation is much younger, as are the other ‘child’ characters in the novel. The adults of the novel are largely absent during the narrative which ultimately felt a little too convenient in places, and her supernatural abilities are never really explained in any way. This is a criticism I often level at works of supernatural fiction; your paranormal elements need to have their own internal logic to them. I need to be able to believe that these things exist and the way that they manifest themselves as a reader. In TThe Doll Funeral they simply felt like convenient ways to move the plot along rather than as essential elements in the characterisation of Ruby.
That Kate Hamer can write with talent is not in any doubt. There was a lot to commendThe Doll Funeral for, but ultimately I just felt like it was lacking in some sense. I needed it to be more or less of everything that it was. I either needed no paranormal elements or they needed to be rendered with more depth, or I needed more focus on the very serious subject matter of the novel with characters that were interesting for who they were, and not for some weird powers they either did or didn’t possess. It was a novel with great promise that simply didn’t deliver.
Review also at I Blame Wizards
Kate Hamer’s The Doll Funeral tells the story from the point of view of a teenage girl who lives with her adopted parents in the Forest of Dean. Her adopted father Mick is abusive but she finds solace among the trees and with a shadowy friend who has always been in her life. The narrative follows her search for her real parents, while simultaneously weaving the story of her parents and how she came to live with Mick and Barbara.
The way Kate Hamer writes is beautiful. She weaves her words with talent and imagination. She paints a great picture and really brings the Forest of Dean to life as a character in its own right. The forest plays such an important part in the lives of all its characters that her characterisation of it really made the narrative. The plot is bleak, dark and otherworldly with a cast of quirky characters who were interesting enough to keep me reading. The Doll Funeral wasn’t fast paced, or action packed. It plodded along slowly and steadily and had a decent pace for a relatively serious novel that dealt with some pretty deep issues.
The big problem with The Doll Funeral is the way it chooses to deal with those issues. The paranormal elements of the narrative fell flat and didn’t serve to heighten Ruby’s story in any way. The weird Sixth Sense-esque skills that Ruby possesses simply made so much of the plot feel convenient and off kilter all at the same time. The novel deals with abuse, poverty and mental illness. By adding the supernatural in to the mix it somehow detracted from the gravity of what I feel the novel was trying to achieve.
Ruby herself wasn’t even particularly believable as a character. She is 13 years old at the beginning of The Doll Funeral but her voice doesn’t match her age. Her characterisation is much younger, as are the other ‘child’ characters in the novel. The adults of the novel are largely absent during the narrative which ultimately felt a little too convenient in places, and her supernatural abilities are never really explained in any way. This is a criticism I often level at works of supernatural fiction; your paranormal elements need to have their own internal logic to them. I need to be able to believe that these things exist and the way that they manifest themselves as a reader. In TThe Doll Funeral they simply felt like convenient ways to move the plot along rather than as essential elements in the characterisation of Ruby.
That Kate Hamer can write with talent is not in any doubt. There was a lot to commendThe Doll Funeral for, but ultimately I just felt like it was lacking in some sense. I needed it to be more or less of everything that it was. I either needed no paranormal elements or they needed to be rendered with more depth, or I needed more focus on the very serious subject matter of the novel with characters that were interesting for who they were, and not for some weird powers they either did or didn’t possess. It was a novel with great promise that simply didn’t deliver.
Review also at I Blame Wizards
February 21, 2017
I thought this was a fantastic book. Part coming of age, part adventure but completely beautiful, I was immediately drawn into Ruby's story. When Ruby finds out, on her thirteenth birthday, that her parents aren't her real parents she is thrilled and run out into the garden singing. Having endured a hard, lonely childhood suffering beatings from her dad she is relieved that there is a chance for a happier life. Ruby soon embarks on a journey of discovery to try and find her parents, but also herself, a place to belong and most importantly to find love!
Firstly a lot of people seem to have found this a dark tale and while there are some dark parts to it I thought this was a story, above all, about love and hope. I haven't read a book that has effected me like this for a while. It has really got under my skin and made me think. The emotion it evokes is so real and raw that you feel everything that Ruby is going through and live the events in the book alongside her. I felt truly involved in her journey and really wanted her to succeed and find the love she desperately wanted.
I really liked Ruby! I thought she was incredibly brave and stuck up for what she believed in despite the consequences, I wanted her to find her happy ending so was immediately intrigued by the story and wanted to read more to find out what happens. The telling of Ruby's mother's story alongside Ruby's helps provide tension and adds a lot of emotion to the story as the truth is gradually revealed. The stark contrast between then and now is very poignant and made me tear up in places, especially being a mum. At one point I went upstairs to give my sleeping kids a huge cuddle! Sometimes you discovered something in one timeline which hadn't been revealed in the other and this made you keep keep reading to discover when they find out.
There is a magical/ otherworldly side to this book which really makes it stand out. I loved his the author describes the forest as a living thing that often seems to reflect a characters mood and sometimes seems to help them. The use of ghost that help or hinder Ruby adds more emotion to the book and helps give it an usual edge.
I would recommend this book to everyone as I thought it was a fantastic read that everyone should try. This isn't the first book by the author I have read but in my opinion this one is her best.
Huge thanks to Sophia Portas and Faber & Faber for the advanced proof. If you liked The Lovely Bones I think you'll like this book!
Firstly a lot of people seem to have found this a dark tale and while there are some dark parts to it I thought this was a story, above all, about love and hope. I haven't read a book that has effected me like this for a while. It has really got under my skin and made me think. The emotion it evokes is so real and raw that you feel everything that Ruby is going through and live the events in the book alongside her. I felt truly involved in her journey and really wanted her to succeed and find the love she desperately wanted.
I really liked Ruby! I thought she was incredibly brave and stuck up for what she believed in despite the consequences, I wanted her to find her happy ending so was immediately intrigued by the story and wanted to read more to find out what happens. The telling of Ruby's mother's story alongside Ruby's helps provide tension and adds a lot of emotion to the story as the truth is gradually revealed. The stark contrast between then and now is very poignant and made me tear up in places, especially being a mum. At one point I went upstairs to give my sleeping kids a huge cuddle! Sometimes you discovered something in one timeline which hadn't been revealed in the other and this made you keep keep reading to discover when they find out.
There is a magical/ otherworldly side to this book which really makes it stand out. I loved his the author describes the forest as a living thing that often seems to reflect a characters mood and sometimes seems to help them. The use of ghost that help or hinder Ruby adds more emotion to the book and helps give it an usual edge.
I would recommend this book to everyone as I thought it was a fantastic read that everyone should try. This isn't the first book by the author I have read but in my opinion this one is her best.
Huge thanks to Sophia Portas and Faber & Faber for the advanced proof. If you liked The Lovely Bones I think you'll like this book!
July 24, 2019
Το μυθιστόρημα της Kate Hamer, «Μην το πεις πουθενά», ισορροπεί ανάμεσα στο ρεαλιστικό και το παραμυθικό στοιχείο, στον κόσμο της πραγματικότητας και της φαντασίας, στο μεταίχμιο της ζωής και του θανάτου.
Κεντρική ηρωίδα του βιβλίου είναι η δεκατριάχρονη Ρούμπι, η οποία έχει ένα ιδιαίτερο «χάρισμα»: μπορεί και επικοινωνεί με τους νεκρούς. Η ίδια ονομάζει τον εαυτό της «κυνηγό χαμένων ψυχών». Εξάλλου, ένα είδος χαμένης ψυχής είναι και η ίδια. Ζει σε ένα σπίτι με δύο ανθρώπους που ενίοτε την κακομεταχείζονται – ο ένας χτυπώντας την και η άλλη μένοντας παθητική μπροστά σε αυτή τη συμπεριφορά.
Στα δέκατα τρίτα γενέθλιά της, τον Αύγουστο του 1983, η Ρούμπι μαθαίνει ότι είναι υιοθετημένη. Αυτό θα της δώσει τη δύναμη να αρχίσει να αντιστέκεται στη βαναυσότητα του πατριού της και να ονειρεύεται τη στιγμή που επιτέλους θα βρει τους πραγματικούς της γονείς. Όταν ο πατριός της τη διώχνει τελικά από το σπίτι, εκείνη -αντ�� να πάρει το τρένο για το σπίτι της απαίσιας αδελφής του- αρχίζει να περιπλανιέται πέρα από το δάσος. Κι εκεί γνωρίζεται με την παράξενη οικογένεια του Τομ. Εκείνος ζει σε μια εγκαταλειμμένη φάρμα μαζ�� με τα δύο αδέλφια του, μιας και οι γονείς τους έχουν φύγει για ένα ταξίδι στην Ινδία, και της προσφέρει καταφύγιο.
Μαζί τους, η Ρούμπι θα νιώσει πως έχει βρει μια καινούρια οικογένεια – μια οικογένεια που έχει επιλέξει εκείνη. Έχοντας πάντα στο μυαλό της να ψάξει για τους πραγματικούς της γονείς, το έφηβο κορίτσι θα αναγκαστεί να αντιμετωπίσει και τις δύσκολες στιγμές του κρύου χειμώνα, της φτώχειας, της μοναξιάς, της πείνας, ενίοτε της απελπισίας, αλλά και τις λίγες αχτίδες ελπίδας και χαράς που τρυπώνουν στις χαραμάδες της ζωής της.
Ταυτόχρονα με την ιστορία της Ρούμπι, διαβάζουμε και εκείνη της Άννας· μια ιστορία που διαδραματίζεται κάποια χρόνια νωρίτερα, το 1970. Η Άννα ζει σε μια μικρή, κλειστή κοινωνία, μένει έγκυος εκτός γάμου και, ενώ αρχικά σκεφτόταν να δώσει για υιοθεσία το μωρό της, αποφασίζει τελικά να το μεγαλώσει μαζί με τον πατέρα του παιδιού. Η συμβίωσή τους όμως δεν θα είναι καθόλου εύκολη…
Η αλήθεια είναι πως το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο δεν έχει έντονο κανένα στοιχείο που να το χαρακτηρίζει: ούτε το μεταφυσικό, ούτε το κοινωνικό, ούτε αυτό του ψυχολογικού ή γοτθικού θρίλερ. Διαθέτει ένα απαλό άγγιγμα απ’ όλα, σε τέτοιον όμως βαθμό που δεν σε αφήνει να το κατανοήσεις εις βάθος και να το κατατάξεις σε ένα είδος. Και από άποψη αφήγησης, μάλλον είναι ένα βιβλίο που θα διχάσει τον αναγνώστη για το αν το κατανόησε ή όχι, του άρεσε ή όχι, τον συγκίνησε ή όχι…
Μέσα από τους χαρακτήρες και τις αφηγήσεις των ηρώων της, η συγγραφέας παρουσιάζει μια σειρά διαχρονικών κοινωνικών προβλημάτων: ενδοοικογενειακή βία, αδιαφορία, εγκατάλειψη, απουσία έγνοιας και ενδιαφέροντος από την πλευρά της οικογένειας, των φίλων ή των γνωστών, το πώς νιώθουν τα υιοθετημένα παιδιά… Επίσης, η γενικότερη απώλεια της αθωότητας, ο ισχυρός δεσμός ανάμεσα σε μητέρα και κόρη, οι οικογένειες που έχουμε και εκείνες που επιλέγουμε να αποκτήσουμε, η εύθραυστη ψυχική υγεία και η αντιμετώπιση των κρίσεων που μπορεί να προκαλέσει, η επιθυμία και η δυνατότητα να συμφιλιωθούμε με τα υπαρκτά και μη φαντάσματα του παρελθόντος, είναι θέματα που επίσης βρίσκουν τη θέση τους στην πλοκή και προβληματισμοί που αφορούν πολλούς από εμάς.
Η πρωτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση της Ρούμπι αποτελεί μια ρεαλιστική, παραστατική περιγραφή των όσων νιώθουν και σκέφτονται αυτά τα παιδιά· το πόσο τους στοίχισε το γεγονός ότι οι φυσικοί τους γονείς τα εγκατέλειψαν· την αιώνια κρυφή ελπίδα τους πως κάποια μέρα θα σμίξουν ξανά μαζί τους. Η Ρούμπι μπορεί να είναι ένα παράξενο παιδί, όμως τα λόγια της εκφράζουν όλα τα παιδιά που έχουν βρεθεί σε ανάλογη θέση. Από την άλλη, η τριτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση που αφορά τη ζωή της Άννας δίνει έναν διαφορετικό, ενήλικο ρυθμό στην αφήγηση. Οι δύο αφηγήσεις εναλλάσσονται από κεφάλαιο σε κεφάλαιο, κρατώντας όσο το δυνατόν περισσότερο σε εγρήγορση την πλοκή και προσφέροντας κάθε φορά διαφορετική οπτική, μιας και μιλάμε για δύο εντελώς διαφορετικές περιπτώσεις – αν και υπάρχει και στις δύο το κοινό στοιχείο της θέλησης για φυγή από μια πραγματικότητα που απέχει πολύ από εκείνη που και οι δύο ηρωίδες ονειρεύτηκαν.
Το μυστηριακό και φανταστικό στοιχείο υπάρχει πάντα στο φόντο, για να θυμίζει την «ιδιαιτερότητα» της Ρούμπι, όμως δεν είναι καθόλου έντονο αλλά μάλλον υποτυπώδες. Δεν τρομοκρατεί, δεν συγκλονίζει, δεν προκαλεί ανατριχίλα. Βρίσκεται εκεί για να ενώνει τα φαντάσματα του παρελθόντος με εκείνα του παρόντος. Ακόμα και τα πνεύματα που συναντά η Ρούμπι έχουν μια ιστορία να πουν. Μια ιστορία που μπορεί εν μέρει να έχουν ξεχάσει, όμως η αίσθηση της ζωής που έζησαν κάποτε είναι ακόμα εκεί, κρυφός πόθος πάντοτε και βαριά αλυσίδα ενίοτε.
Με το «Μην το πεις πουθενά», η Kate Hamer έχει δημιουργήσει μια ιστορία αποδοχής της πραγματικότητας, γεμάτη με πικρές αλλά και γλυκές στιγμές και με βήματα που οδηγούν σταθερά προς την ωριμότητα και την (πρόωρη) ενηλικίωση. Μια ιστορία που, μέσα από πολλές δύσκολες στιγμές, γεννά την ελπίδα και ξυπνά τη δύναμη που όλοι κρύβουμε μέσα μας, αλλά πολλές φορές δεν συνειδητοποιούμε πως έχουμε μέχρι να τη χρειαστούμε πραγματικά.
Η κριτική μου για το βιβλίο και στο site "Book City" και τον παρακάτω σύνδεσμο: Μην το πεις πουθενά
Κεντρική ηρωίδα του βιβλίου είναι η δεκατριάχρονη Ρούμπι, η οποία έχει ένα ιδιαίτερο «χάρισμα»: μπορεί και επικοινωνεί με τους νεκρούς. Η ίδια ονομάζει τον εαυτό της «κυνηγό χαμένων ψυχών». Εξάλλου, ένα είδος χαμένης ψυχής είναι και η ίδια. Ζει σε ένα σπίτι με δύο ανθρώπους που ενίοτε την κακομεταχείζονται – ο ένας χτυπώντας την και η άλλη μένοντας παθητική μπροστά σε αυτή τη συμπεριφορά.
Στα δέκατα τρίτα γενέθλιά της, τον Αύγουστο του 1983, η Ρούμπι μαθαίνει ότι είναι υιοθετημένη. Αυτό θα της δώσει τη δύναμη να αρχίσει να αντιστέκεται στη βαναυσότητα του πατριού της και να ονειρεύεται τη στιγμή που επιτέλους θα βρει τους πραγματικούς της γονείς. Όταν ο πατριός της τη διώχνει τελικά από το σπίτι, εκείνη -αντ�� να πάρει το τρένο για το σπίτι της απαίσιας αδελφής του- αρχίζει να περιπλανιέται πέρα από το δάσος. Κι εκεί γνωρίζεται με την παράξενη οικογένεια του Τομ. Εκείνος ζει σε μια εγκαταλειμμένη φάρμα μαζ�� με τα δύο αδέλφια του, μιας και οι γονείς τους έχουν φύγει για ένα ταξίδι στην Ινδία, και της προσφέρει καταφύγιο.
Μαζί τους, η Ρούμπι θα νιώσει πως έχει βρει μια καινούρια οικογένεια – μια οικογένεια που έχει επιλέξει εκείνη. Έχοντας πάντα στο μυαλό της να ψάξει για τους πραγματικούς της γονείς, το έφηβο κορίτσι θα αναγκαστεί να αντιμετωπίσει και τις δύσκολες στιγμές του κρύου χειμώνα, της φτώχειας, της μοναξιάς, της πείνας, ενίοτε της απελπισίας, αλλά και τις λίγες αχτίδες ελπίδας και χαράς που τρυπώνουν στις χαραμάδες της ζωής της.
Ταυτόχρονα με την ιστορία της Ρούμπι, διαβάζουμε και εκείνη της Άννας· μια ιστορία που διαδραματίζεται κάποια χρόνια νωρίτερα, το 1970. Η Άννα ζει σε μια μικρή, κλειστή κοινωνία, μένει έγκυος εκτός γάμου και, ενώ αρχικά σκεφτόταν να δώσει για υιοθεσία το μωρό της, αποφασίζει τελικά να το μεγαλώσει μαζί με τον πατέρα του παιδιού. Η συμβίωσή τους όμως δεν θα είναι καθόλου εύκολη…
Η αλήθεια είναι πως το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο δεν έχει έντονο κανένα στοιχείο που να το χαρακτηρίζει: ούτε το μεταφυσικό, ούτε το κοινωνικό, ούτε αυτό του ψυχολογικού ή γοτθικού θρίλερ. Διαθέτει ένα απαλό άγγιγμα απ’ όλα, σε τέτοιον όμως βαθμό που δεν σε αφήνει να το κατανοήσεις εις βάθος και να το κατατάξεις σε ένα είδος. Και από άποψη αφήγησης, μάλλον είναι ένα βιβλίο που θα διχάσει τον αναγνώστη για το αν το κατανόησε ή όχι, του άρεσε ή όχι, τον συγκίνησε ή όχι…
Μέσα από τους χαρακτήρες και τις αφηγήσεις των ηρώων της, η συγγραφέας παρουσιάζει μια σειρά διαχρονικών κοινωνικών προβλημάτων: ενδοοικογενειακή βία, αδιαφορία, εγκατάλειψη, απουσία έγνοιας και ενδιαφέροντος από την πλευρά της οικογένειας, των φίλων ή των γνωστών, το πώς νιώθουν τα υιοθετημένα παιδιά… Επίσης, η γενικότερη απώλεια της αθωότητας, ο ισχυρός δεσμός ανάμεσα σε μητέρα και κόρη, οι οικογένειες που έχουμε και εκείνες που επιλέγουμε να αποκτήσουμε, η εύθραυστη ψυχική υγεία και η αντιμετώπιση των κρίσεων που μπορεί να προκαλέσει, η επιθυμία και η δυνατότητα να συμφιλιωθούμε με τα υπαρκτά και μη φαντάσματα του παρελθόντος, είναι θέματα που επίσης βρίσκουν τη θέση τους στην πλοκή και προβληματισμοί που αφορούν πολλούς από εμάς.
Η πρωτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση της Ρούμπι αποτελεί μια ρεαλιστική, παραστατική περιγραφή των όσων νιώθουν και σκέφτονται αυτά τα παιδιά· το πόσο τους στοίχισε το γεγονός ότι οι φυσικοί τους γονείς τα εγκατέλειψαν· την αιώνια κρυφή ελπίδα τους πως κάποια μέρα θα σμίξουν ξανά μαζί τους. Η Ρούμπι μπορεί να είναι ένα παράξενο παιδί, όμως τα λόγια της εκφράζουν όλα τα παιδιά που έχουν βρεθεί σε ανάλογη θέση. Από την άλλη, η τριτοπρόσωπη αφήγηση που αφορά τη ζωή της Άννας δίνει έναν διαφορετικό, ενήλικο ρυθμό στην αφήγηση. Οι δύο αφηγήσεις εναλλάσσονται από κεφάλαιο σε κεφάλαιο, κρατώντας όσο το δυνατόν περισσότερο σε εγρήγορση την πλοκή και προσφέροντας κάθε φορά διαφορετική οπτική, μιας και μιλάμε για δύο εντελώς διαφορετικές περιπτώσεις – αν και υπάρχει και στις δύο το κοινό στοιχείο της θέλησης για φυγή από μια πραγματικότητα που απέχει πολύ από εκείνη που και οι δύο ηρωίδες ονειρεύτηκαν.
Το μυστηριακό και φανταστικό στοιχείο υπάρχει πάντα στο φόντο, για να θυμίζει την «ιδιαιτερότητα» της Ρούμπι, όμως δεν είναι καθόλου έντονο αλλά μάλλον υποτυπώδες. Δεν τρομοκρατεί, δεν συγκλονίζει, δεν προκαλεί ανατριχίλα. Βρίσκεται εκεί για να ενώνει τα φαντάσματα του παρελθόντος με εκείνα του παρόντος. Ακόμα και τα πνεύματα που συναντά η Ρούμπι έχουν μια ιστορία να πουν. Μια ιστορία που μπορεί εν μέρει να έχουν ξεχάσει, όμως η αίσθηση της ζωής που έζησαν κάποτε είναι ακόμα εκεί, κρυφός πόθος πάντοτε και βαριά αλυσίδα ενίοτε.
Με το «Μην το πεις πουθενά», η Kate Hamer έχει δημιουργήσει μια ιστορία αποδοχής της πραγματικότητας, γεμάτη με πικρές αλλά και γλυκές στιγμές και με βήματα που οδηγούν σταθερά προς την ωριμότητα και την (πρόωρη) ενηλικίωση. Μια ιστορία που, μέσα από πολλές δύσκολες στιγμές, γεννά την ελπίδα και ξυπνά τη δύναμη που όλοι κρύβουμε μέσα μας, αλλά πολλές φορές δεν συνειδητοποιούμε πως έχουμε μέχρι να τη χρειαστούμε πραγματικά.
Η κριτική μου για το βιβλίο και στο site "Book City" και τον παρακάτω σύνδεσμο: Μην το πεις πουθενά
January 19, 2018
3.5*
It is 1983 and Ruby Flood is told by her parents, Mick and Barbara on her thirteenth birthday that she is not actually their own child but is adopted. Instead of being devastated by this news, Ruby jumps for joy and vows to find her real family who she is sure will love her. You see, her father Mick is a violent man who beats her, and Barbara, although gentler by nature can’t stand up to her husband to protect Ruby. I know it was a different time but Social Services should have been all over this family! After Mick’s attacks, Ruby has to stay away from school until the bruises fade. Ostracised at school by her peers for ‘being different’ (she has a red birthmark on her face), at times my heart broke for poor lonely Ruby. There were times when she got her own back on him and although you know that she would ultimately suffer for her actions, I was silently cheering her on!
Through the pages of this haunting and evocative story, Kate Hamer brings the character of Ruby to life. Ruby has a gift – which is both a blessing and a curse. Like her grandmother before her, she can see those who have departed this earth. They appear so regularly that she gives some of them names, for example, Wasp Lady, and Shadow – described as a young child, who follows her around. Throughout the story and in various place, Ruby sees people who have died. Although at times I did get slightly confused as to who was real or not, this was cleverly done.
Other chapters are told by Anna. The timeline is 1970 and 17 year old Anna discovers that she is pregnant. Unmarried, with an unreliable boyfriend and living with her parents, her options are limited. Anna’s story both captivated and saddened me in equal measures and I looked forward to getting back to her narrative. Besides Ruby, Anna was one of my favourite characters. She was very young and impressionable, but also had an inner determination and the bond she had with her baby was plain to see.
The story is mainly set in the Forest of Dean, which thanks to the atmospheric and sometimes oppressive description becomes a character in its own right. I’ve never been there but having Googled it, the images certainly match the picture of the forest that I had in my mind.
Kate Hamer writes beautifully and through her carefully chosen words, Ruby and the people she meets on her quest to discover her real family leap off the page. The slower pace of the book works perfectly, for this is not a thriller (although there are some surprises), but a story of a young girl trying to find her way and how strong the bond of motherhood can be. There were times when I felt that Ruby seemed to be much older than her years and I kept forgetting that she was only 13, although I suspect perhaps her homelife had this effect on her.
The Doll Funeral tells the often heartrending story of a little girl who just wants to be loved with a nod to fairy tales and magic. The supernatural element of it (and there is a lot) may not appeal to everyone, but if you just accept the story for what it is, then you are in for an emotive and engrossing read
It is 1983 and Ruby Flood is told by her parents, Mick and Barbara on her thirteenth birthday that she is not actually their own child but is adopted. Instead of being devastated by this news, Ruby jumps for joy and vows to find her real family who she is sure will love her. You see, her father Mick is a violent man who beats her, and Barbara, although gentler by nature can’t stand up to her husband to protect Ruby. I know it was a different time but Social Services should have been all over this family! After Mick’s attacks, Ruby has to stay away from school until the bruises fade. Ostracised at school by her peers for ‘being different’ (she has a red birthmark on her face), at times my heart broke for poor lonely Ruby. There were times when she got her own back on him and although you know that she would ultimately suffer for her actions, I was silently cheering her on!
Through the pages of this haunting and evocative story, Kate Hamer brings the character of Ruby to life. Ruby has a gift – which is both a blessing and a curse. Like her grandmother before her, she can see those who have departed this earth. They appear so regularly that she gives some of them names, for example, Wasp Lady, and Shadow – described as a young child, who follows her around. Throughout the story and in various place, Ruby sees people who have died. Although at times I did get slightly confused as to who was real or not, this was cleverly done.
Other chapters are told by Anna. The timeline is 1970 and 17 year old Anna discovers that she is pregnant. Unmarried, with an unreliable boyfriend and living with her parents, her options are limited. Anna’s story both captivated and saddened me in equal measures and I looked forward to getting back to her narrative. Besides Ruby, Anna was one of my favourite characters. She was very young and impressionable, but also had an inner determination and the bond she had with her baby was plain to see.
The story is mainly set in the Forest of Dean, which thanks to the atmospheric and sometimes oppressive description becomes a character in its own right. I’ve never been there but having Googled it, the images certainly match the picture of the forest that I had in my mind.
Kate Hamer writes beautifully and through her carefully chosen words, Ruby and the people she meets on her quest to discover her real family leap off the page. The slower pace of the book works perfectly, for this is not a thriller (although there are some surprises), but a story of a young girl trying to find her way and how strong the bond of motherhood can be. There were times when I felt that Ruby seemed to be much older than her years and I kept forgetting that she was only 13, although I suspect perhaps her homelife had this effect on her.
The Doll Funeral tells the often heartrending story of a little girl who just wants to be loved with a nod to fairy tales and magic. The supernatural element of it (and there is a lot) may not appeal to everyone, but if you just accept the story for what it is, then you are in for an emotive and engrossing read
September 1, 2017
Favorite Quotes:
I’d always been a scavenger of small things. The glittering dust mote I reached up and tried to grab. The layers of shadow in the corner like piled clothes on a chair. Sliding my hands under rugs for what might be living there. Grubbing in the dirt for treasure.
You’re like a Christmas cracker… No, don’t be offended. It’s just like you have a weird toy inside.
Not even her mother warned her properly about this. What was this conspiracy of silence among women when the subject came up? You knew by the way their eyes slid away from you there was something they weren’t telling. Now Anna knows what it is, she’s being initiated.
There were so many pale kids in the house I remembered it as a nest of worms.
My mother came. I tell myself now she might have died because of having me, but that’s not the same as being responsible for her death. It gives me a lightness of feeling knowing that and knowing how she loved me as best she could. After all, she came back for me… She still came for me, even though she was dead.
My Review:
If like me, you read the author’s previous book, The Girl and the Red Coat, and had firmly set your mind to expect something similar with The Doll Funeral, I would advise you to stop that silly thought train right now, or you will be disappointed and miss out on a gem of a tale. They are significantly different books, although both were extremely well-written and suspensefully eerie mysteries. Once I wrapped my head around my foolish misconception and freed myself of my errant assumptions and expectations, I enjoyed and appreciated The Doll Funeral for the exceptionally well-crafted and brilliant story it was. Written from a dual POV with two different timelines, the story was intriguing, heart-squeezing, and an engrossing page-turner. For the longest time, I could not decide if Ruby was gifted or crazy, or if the people she had befriended were alive or dead, or good or bad. The storyline occasionally seemed to toss in a few erratic threads, although those odd little nuggets ingeniously dovetailed back together to weave a surprisingly rich tapestry at the conclusion. Kate Hamer is a cunning and wily wordsmith.
I’d always been a scavenger of small things. The glittering dust mote I reached up and tried to grab. The layers of shadow in the corner like piled clothes on a chair. Sliding my hands under rugs for what might be living there. Grubbing in the dirt for treasure.
You’re like a Christmas cracker… No, don’t be offended. It’s just like you have a weird toy inside.
Not even her mother warned her properly about this. What was this conspiracy of silence among women when the subject came up? You knew by the way their eyes slid away from you there was something they weren’t telling. Now Anna knows what it is, she’s being initiated.
There were so many pale kids in the house I remembered it as a nest of worms.
My mother came. I tell myself now she might have died because of having me, but that’s not the same as being responsible for her death. It gives me a lightness of feeling knowing that and knowing how she loved me as best she could. After all, she came back for me… She still came for me, even though she was dead.
My Review:
If like me, you read the author’s previous book, The Girl and the Red Coat, and had firmly set your mind to expect something similar with The Doll Funeral, I would advise you to stop that silly thought train right now, or you will be disappointed and miss out on a gem of a tale. They are significantly different books, although both were extremely well-written and suspensefully eerie mysteries. Once I wrapped my head around my foolish misconception and freed myself of my errant assumptions and expectations, I enjoyed and appreciated The Doll Funeral for the exceptionally well-crafted and brilliant story it was. Written from a dual POV with two different timelines, the story was intriguing, heart-squeezing, and an engrossing page-turner. For the longest time, I could not decide if Ruby was gifted or crazy, or if the people she had befriended were alive or dead, or good or bad. The storyline occasionally seemed to toss in a few erratic threads, although those odd little nuggets ingeniously dovetailed back together to weave a surprisingly rich tapestry at the conclusion. Kate Hamer is a cunning and wily wordsmith.
February 6, 2017
The author takes us into a strange land at the borders of make-believe and reality. There is something of the nature of a fable about this tale, set in ancestral woods, with quite appalling examples of parenting (like the step-parents out of Grimm), children running wild but not in a Lord of the Flies way. The multiple timelines didn't quite work for me either, but there is no doubting the writing talent of Kate Hamer.
November 4, 2016
The Doll Funeral is a dark tale; it tells the story of 13 year old Ruby (from the 1st person perspective) as she searches for her real parents. Set in 1983, Ruby can often be found in the forest with Shadow, a lost soul, close by, for Ruby is no ordinary little girl, she can see death. The storyline jumps back to the 1970’s occasionally, a narrative that tells us how Ruby came to be in her current situation. The story flows beautifully, the two narratives fit together perfectly.
There’s something so special about the way Hamer writes, you can’t help but adore Ruby, you just want to take her home and care for her. You don’t read this book, you feel it! Less than a 100 pages in and this story had already worked its way into my heart – the pace of this book is fairly slow but you just feel this compulsion to read on, like the fate of Ruby is in your hands – you must keep reading so she will be okay. This is the same feeling, albeit not as strong, that I experienced when reading Hamer’s previous book.
Have you ever heard the phrase ‘there’s so much beauty in pain’? You feel Ruby’s pain, her hopes, her wants; Hamer allows us to feel it all and that’s due to her uniquely beautiful writing style.
The story itself isn’t too complex, it’s a story that may not appeal to everyone, in the sense that the pace is slow and there’s not heaps of ‘action’, the tension builds throughout the book, but the tension is below the surface and that’s what creates the compelling feeling of needing to read on. Hamer’s writing style, however, should appeal to the masses – it’s so dark yet so beautiful, it makes my heart ache.
Without a doubt, Kate Hamer knows how to use the right sentence structure, to put the right words in the right order to give you all the feels. The Doll Funeral is a great follow up novel to The Girl in the Red Coat and has secured Hamer a place as one of my favourite authors!
If you like The Girl in the Red Coat, you'll like this one too. Ah the beautiful writing
*My Thanks to Sophie Portas at Faber & Faber for providing me with a review copy of this book*
There’s something so special about the way Hamer writes, you can’t help but adore Ruby, you just want to take her home and care for her. You don’t read this book, you feel it! Less than a 100 pages in and this story had already worked its way into my heart – the pace of this book is fairly slow but you just feel this compulsion to read on, like the fate of Ruby is in your hands – you must keep reading so she will be okay. This is the same feeling, albeit not as strong, that I experienced when reading Hamer’s previous book.
Have you ever heard the phrase ‘there’s so much beauty in pain’? You feel Ruby’s pain, her hopes, her wants; Hamer allows us to feel it all and that’s due to her uniquely beautiful writing style.
The story itself isn’t too complex, it’s a story that may not appeal to everyone, in the sense that the pace is slow and there’s not heaps of ‘action’, the tension builds throughout the book, but the tension is below the surface and that’s what creates the compelling feeling of needing to read on. Hamer’s writing style, however, should appeal to the masses – it’s so dark yet so beautiful, it makes my heart ache.
Without a doubt, Kate Hamer knows how to use the right sentence structure, to put the right words in the right order to give you all the feels. The Doll Funeral is a great follow up novel to The Girl in the Red Coat and has secured Hamer a place as one of my favourite authors!
If you like The Girl in the Red Coat, you'll like this one too. Ah the beautiful writing
*My Thanks to Sophie Portas at Faber & Faber for providing me with a review copy of this book*
June 7, 2019
«Μην το πεις πουθενά»
Θα σας θέσω ένα ερώτημα που ίσως σας φανεί παράξενο: Έχετε νιώσει ποτε όταν φτάνετε στο τέλος ενός βιβλίου να αλλάζει όλη η άποψη σας στις τελευταίες σελίδες;
Σαν να παίρνει άλλη διάσταση στα μάτια σας;
Κάπως έτσι ένιωσα και Εγω με αυτό το βιβλίο.
Το βιβλίο είναι περίεργο σαν ιστορία και σαν πλοκή.
Έχει πολλά αρνητικά αλλα Εύχομαι να εστιάσετε στα θετικά του που εκεί βγαίνει όλο το συναίσθημα που βγάζει στο τέλος.
Η ιστορία αυτή είναι διαφορετική από θέμα ιστορίας και πλοκής. Ξεκίνα με το θέμα της κακοποίησης και καταλήγει εκεί αν και το περνάει μέσα από συμπληγάδες.
Η κακοποίηση σε αυτό το βιβλίο έχει δυο πρόσωπα το ξυλοδαρμό και την εγκαταλείψη.
Λοιπόν όσο αναφορά το πρώτο σκέλος είναι λίγο χαώδης η κατάσταση.
Η Ρουμπι είναι ένα περίεργο παιδί 13 ετών που αν και μικρή έχει τσαγανό, δυναμισμό και πυγμή, είναι από εκείνα τα παιδιά που δε σηκώνουνε μύγα στο σπαθί τους.
Είναι το παιδί που υπέστη την κακοποίηση. Ως μαμά βρήκα τραγικές και λάθος κάποιες σκηνές.
Ένιωσα ότι δε την ενοχλούσε η κακοποίηση το αντίθετο μάλιστα την προκαλούσε και μου έλειψε το συναίσθημα της οργής και του πόνου που ήταν ανύπαρκτα.
Φανταστείτε ένα παιδί να ξυπνάει και να αναρωτιέται τι θα κάνει για να φάει ξύλο. Ξέρω ακούγεται τραγικό αλλα ετσι μου το Έβγαλε
Στη συνέχεια η ιστορία αλλάζει.
Θυμάστε το παραμύθι: #Η_Αλίκη_στην_χώρα_των_θαυμάτων
Ναι και εγω ενθουσιάστηκα αλλα έμεινα στον ενθουσιασμό.
Στη συνέχεια λοιπόν η πλοκή αλλάζει..
Ξεκινάει ένα παραμύθι σαν της Αλίκης μα και λίγο από Χανς Κρίστιαν Άντερσεν και αν αυτό το συνδυάσεις με αστυνομικό θρίλερ φαντάζει creepy book δε είναι.
Έχει βέβαια τα φαντασματακια του αλλα Είναι σχεδόν ανύπαρκτα και άκακα. Δείχνουν να θέλουν το κακό της Ρουμπι αλλα στο τέλος ούτε και τα ίδια δε ξέρουν τι θέλουν και γιατί μπήκαν στην ιστορία.
Κάπου αρχίζει η ιστορία και κουράζει καθώς γίνεται και υποτονική μέχρι που φτάνω στις 20 σελίδες πριν το τέλος.
Και εκεί κατανοώ όλο το νόημα του βιβλίου.
Καταλαβαίνω το ρόλο του κάθε τι, ( αν και υπήρχαν και κάποια που όσο και αν προσπάθησα, δε).
Η κακοποίηση της εγκατάλειψης μπορεί τελικά να χαράξει θύελλες μέσα μας.
Όταν δε υπάρχει αγάπη η ακόμη και όταν υπάρχει αλλα είναι ασθενική μπορεί να προκαλέσει πολλά προβλήματα στο χαρακτήρα και στο ψυχισμο μας.
Τα θέλω μας όταν είμαστε γονείς υπάρχουν ακόμη και τα όνειρα μας αλλα όχι πια ως μονάδα αλλα ως οικογένεια.
Δε μπορείς να παρατήσεις Ένα παιδί για να κάνεις τη ζωή σου χωρίς να σκεφτείς τις συνέπειες.
Και αυτό είναι το κομμάτι που πραγματεύεται το βιβλιο.
Και μόνο για αυτό αξίζει να το διαβάσετε..
Η εγκαταλείψη δε αλλάζει με την πάροδο του χρόνου αλλα σε αυτό το βιβλιο από ψυχολογική μάτια μπορείτε να δείτε πως επηρεάζει κάθε άνθρωπο, παιδί η' φάντασμα ξεχωριστά.
Γενικά δε βρήκα κάτι άλλο ενδιαφέρον.
Είχε βέβαια δυνατά θεμέλια για να γίνει best αλλα δεν υλοποιηθήκαν.
Ανατροπές σχεδόν καθόλου, μια είχε προς το τέλος και όχι πολύ δυνατή..
Αγωνία σε μικρά ποσοστά έως μηδαμινά..
Πιστεύω ότι η συγγραφέας ήθελε με αυτό το βιβλιο να τονίσει την εγκατάλειψη και τα προβλήματα που φέρνει μαζί της.
Και σε αυτό το κομμάτι για μένα τα κατάφερε.
Θα σας θέσω ένα ερώτημα που ίσως σας φανεί παράξενο: Έχετε νιώσει ποτε όταν φτάνετε στο τέλος ενός βιβλίου να αλλάζει όλη η άποψη σας στις τελευταίες σελίδες;
Σαν να παίρνει άλλη διάσταση στα μάτια σας;
Κάπως έτσι ένιωσα και Εγω με αυτό το βιβλίο.
Το βιβλίο είναι περίεργο σαν ιστορία και σαν πλοκή.
Έχει πολλά αρνητικά αλλα Εύχομαι να εστιάσετε στα θετικά του που εκεί βγαίνει όλο το συναίσθημα που βγάζει στο τέλος.
Η ιστορία αυτή είναι διαφορετική από θέμα ιστορίας και πλοκής. Ξεκίνα με το θέμα της κακοποίησης και καταλήγει εκεί αν και το περνάει μέσα από συμπληγάδες.
Η κακοποίηση σε αυτό το βιβλίο έχει δυο πρόσωπα το ξυλοδαρμό και την εγκαταλείψη.
Λοιπόν όσο αναφορά το πρώτο σκέλος είναι λίγο χαώδης η κατάσταση.
Η Ρουμπι είναι ένα περίεργο παιδί 13 ετών που αν και μικρή έχει τσαγανό, δυναμισμό και πυγμή, είναι από εκείνα τα παιδιά που δε σηκώνουνε μύγα στο σπαθί τους.
Είναι το παιδί που υπέστη την κακοποίηση. Ως μαμά βρήκα τραγικές και λάθος κάποιες σκηνές.
Ένιωσα ότι δε την ενοχλούσε η κακοποίηση το αντίθετο μάλιστα την προκαλούσε και μου έλειψε το συναίσθημα της οργής και του πόνου που ήταν ανύπαρκτα.
Φανταστείτε ένα παιδί να ξυπνάει και να αναρωτιέται τι θα κάνει για να φάει ξύλο. Ξέρω ακούγεται τραγικό αλλα ετσι μου το Έβγαλε
Στη συνέχεια η ιστορία αλλάζει.
Θυμάστε το παραμύθι: #Η_Αλίκη_στην_χώρα_των_θαυμάτων
Ναι και εγω ενθουσιάστηκα αλλα έμεινα στον ενθουσιασμό.
Στη συνέχεια λοιπόν η πλοκή αλλάζει..
Ξεκινάει ένα παραμύθι σαν της Αλίκης μα και λίγο από Χανς Κρίστιαν Άντερσεν και αν αυτό το συνδυάσεις με αστυνομικό θρίλερ φαντάζει creepy book δε είναι.
Έχει βέβαια τα φαντασματακια του αλλα Είναι σχεδόν ανύπαρκτα και άκακα. Δείχνουν να θέλουν το κακό της Ρουμπι αλλα στο τέλος ούτε και τα ίδια δε ξέρουν τι θέλουν και γιατί μπήκαν στην ιστορία.
Κάπου αρχίζει η ιστορία και κουράζει καθώς γίνεται και υποτονική μέχρι που φτάνω στις 20 σελίδες πριν το τέλος.
Και εκεί κατανοώ όλο το νόημα του βιβλίου.
Καταλαβαίνω το ρόλο του κάθε τι, ( αν και υπήρχαν και κάποια που όσο και αν προσπάθησα, δε).
Η κακοποίηση της εγκατάλειψης μπορεί τελικά να χαράξει θύελλες μέσα μας.
Όταν δε υπάρχει αγάπη η ακόμη και όταν υπάρχει αλλα είναι ασθενική μπορεί να προκαλέσει πολλά προβλήματα στο χαρακτήρα και στο ψυχισμο μας.
Τα θέλω μας όταν είμαστε γονείς υπάρχουν ακόμη και τα όνειρα μας αλλα όχι πια ως μονάδα αλλα ως οικογένεια.
Δε μπορείς να παρατήσεις Ένα παιδί για να κάνεις τη ζωή σου χωρίς να σκεφτείς τις συνέπειες.
Και αυτό είναι το κομμάτι που πραγματεύεται το βιβλιο.
Και μόνο για αυτό αξίζει να το διαβάσετε..
Η εγκαταλείψη δε αλλάζει με την πάροδο του χρόνου αλλα σε αυτό το βιβλιο από ψυχολογική μάτια μπορείτε να δείτε πως επηρεάζει κάθε άνθρωπο, παιδί η' φάντασμα ξεχωριστά.
Γενικά δε βρήκα κάτι άλλο ενδιαφέρον.
Είχε βέβαια δυνατά θεμέλια για να γίνει best αλλα δεν υλοποιηθήκαν.
Ανατροπές σχεδόν καθόλου, μια είχε προς το τέλος και όχι πολύ δυνατή..
Αγωνία σε μικρά ποσοστά έως μηδαμινά..
Πιστεύω ότι η συγγραφέας ήθελε με αυτό το βιβλιο να τονίσει την εγκατάλειψη και τα προβλήματα που φέρνει μαζί της.
Και σε αυτό το κομμάτι για μένα τα κατάφερε.
March 26, 2017
https://anaslair.wordpress.com/2017/0...
Phew, I was beginning to wonder if I would ever finish this one.
First of all, to say this blurb is misleading is an understatement. It is objective and succinct, everything the book is not. I could never have imagined this had such a lyrical style of writing based on it. Even Ruby's beatings were almost poetic and I did not appreciate that.
Quite often I wasn't even sure what was going on. And my attention would frequently wander. Also, though the descriptions were amazingly beautiful and vivid, I completely forgot what was important to the story itself.
I felt the book was unnecessarily long. There were entire paragraphs that didn't add anything to the story, maybe even chapters, like the Evil Book one. Sorry, book lover at heart here.
Yes, it all served to convey an atmosphere of how Ruby felt about what surrounded her and how it affected her, and the paranormal aspect was very subtle and approached in a way I had not seen before. However, I kept wanting the book to end or at least for something relevant to happen.
The Doll Funeral was a curious, new experience that I mildly appreciated.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Phew, I was beginning to wonder if I would ever finish this one.
First of all, to say this blurb is misleading is an understatement. It is objective and succinct, everything the book is not. I could never have imagined this had such a lyrical style of writing based on it. Even Ruby's beatings were almost poetic and I did not appreciate that.
Quite often I wasn't even sure what was going on. And my attention would frequently wander. Also, though the descriptions were amazingly beautiful and vivid, I completely forgot what was important to the story itself.
I felt the book was unnecessarily long. There were entire paragraphs that didn't add anything to the story, maybe even chapters, like the Evil Book one. Sorry, book lover at heart here.
Yes, it all served to convey an atmosphere of how Ruby felt about what surrounded her and how it affected her, and the paranormal aspect was very subtle and approached in a way I had not seen before. However, I kept wanting the book to end or at least for something relevant to happen.
The Doll Funeral was a curious, new experience that I mildly appreciated.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 30, 2018
4.5
This was one of those books that I wanted to read in one sitting, though it took me a little longer than that! I struggled to go to sleep last night because I didn't want to leave the last 70 pages unread, but eventually I had to. I found it to be quite a beautiful book, odd and sad yet not depressing.
This is the second book by Kate Hamer that I have read and I really like her style of writing - it kind of weaves around you and is very interesting. I hope she writes more!
This was one of those books that I wanted to read in one sitting, though it took me a little longer than that! I struggled to go to sleep last night because I didn't want to leave the last 70 pages unread, but eventually I had to. I found it to be quite a beautiful book, odd and sad yet not depressing.
This is the second book by Kate Hamer that I have read and I really like her style of writing - it kind of weaves around you and is very interesting. I hope she writes more!
Read
January 2, 2017I need to let this one settle before rating and reviewing it. I had a love/hate relationship with the story.
But Kate Hamer, oh boy what a brilliant brilliant writer. I love the way she uses language to create a picture.
5* for creativity for sure.
Review to follow....
But Kate Hamer, oh boy what a brilliant brilliant writer. I love the way she uses language to create a picture.
5* for creativity for sure.
Review to follow....
May 13, 2019
Well, it's labeled Doll Funeral right on the front, so I don't know why I didn't expect a quirky English ghost story.
Eh, probably there are worse role models than Siouxie Sioux
Circa 1983, thirteen-year-old Ruby "I See Dead People" Flood is unloved and routinely savagely battered by her adoptive father who suspects her of practicing voodoo. She turns goth, then runs away to join three posh-ish teens who fend for themselves in a filthy, rotting Stately Manor, their trust-fund-layabout parents having absconded to India to Find Themselves. Things get a bit grimmer (living off the local rabbit population, power cuts, hospitalizations) before they get a bit better, with a fairly satisfying resolution.
Believe it or not, my summary leaves out about 80% of the book's plot, so don't go thinking I've spoiled it all for you.
Flashbacks to 1970 are handled skillfully. All the adults are convincingly flawed except for batterer Mick, who's painted as such a monster that we resist the few bits of empathy Hamer throws his way.
I shouldn't have enjoyed the kleptomania jokes as much as I did, but there ya go, I'm flawed. Convincingly.
Eh, probably there are worse role models than Siouxie Sioux
Circa 1983, thirteen-year-old Ruby "I See Dead People" Flood is unloved and routinely savagely battered by her adoptive father who suspects her of practicing voodoo. She turns goth, then runs away to join three posh-ish teens who fend for themselves in a filthy, rotting Stately Manor, their trust-fund-layabout parents having absconded to India to Find Themselves. Things get a bit grimmer (living off the local rabbit population, power cuts, hospitalizations) before they get a bit better, with a fairly satisfying resolution.
Believe it or not, my summary leaves out about 80% of the book's plot, so don't go thinking I've spoiled it all for you.
Flashbacks to 1970 are handled skillfully. All the adults are convincingly flawed except for batterer Mick, who's painted as such a monster that we resist the few bits of empathy Hamer throws his way.
I shouldn't have enjoyed the kleptomania jokes as much as I did, but there ya go, I'm flawed. Convincingly.
June 27, 2019
Αυτό το βιβλίο της Kate Hamer ανήκει σε αυτά που θα σε κάνουν να περάσεις όμορφα τον χρόνο σου. Είναι ένα ανάγνωσμα που συνδυάζει το μεταφυσικό στοιχείο με τα κοινωνικά προβλήματα. Η αφήγηση πραγματοποιείται σε δύο χρονικά διαστήματα με διαφορά μια δεκαετία: το 1970 παρουσιάζεται η ιστορία της Άννας όπου μένει έγκυος την Ρούμπι και παρά τις διαφωνίες αποφασίζει να φέρει στο κόσμο την κόρη της. Στο χρόνο αυτό ο αναγνώστης συγκεντρώνει πληροφορίες αναφορικά με την ζωή της Άννας. Το 1983 διαβάζουμε την ιστορία της Ρούμπι από την στιγμή που πληροφορείται ότι οι γονείς της είναι θετοί μέχρι και την εύρεση των βιολογικών της γονιών. Η συγγραφέας έχει προσπαθήσει σε αυτές τις σελίδες να αποτυπώσει τις σκέψεις και τις αντιδράσεις των υιοθετημένων παιδιών. Η κακοποίηση, η αδιαφορία, η απουσία αγάπης είναι αυτά που έχουν στοιχειώσει την καρδιά της Ρούμπι και του κάθε παιδιού που έχει βρεθεί σε ανάλογη θέση.
November 15, 2017
A well-written, though at times bleak novel, about a thirteen year-old girl who can 'see' the dead. She sees many dead people, but the most constant presence is that of 'Shadow', a young boy who has made himself known to her throughout her life.
Ruby lives in The Forest of Dean with her parents Barbara and Mick. Her life is traumatic. Mick is a vicious and violent abuser who thinks nothing of slamming Ruby up against a wall, or making a meal of her face with his fists. Barbara seems to love her, but will not stand up to Mick's violence. Ruby misses a lot of school due to her injuries. Mick is the school caretaker and doesn't want her to show up bruised at his place of work.
On her thirteenth birthday, Barbara and Mick tell Ruby that she is adopted. Rather than being upset by this revelation, she is ecstatic. It explains so much. What a relief! She now devotes herself to finding her 'real' parents.
Ruby has a large red birthmark on one side of her face. She is ostracized at school, partly because she is 'different' and partly because of her home situation. One day, when fear of Mick's violence overcomes her, Ruby bashes him in the head with a plank. Thinking that she has killed him, she runs away to her beloved forest. She spends the night in a hollowed out tree. Upon her return to the house, she is packed off to live with Mick's sister in Coventry - away from the forest. With some guidance from 'Shadow', Ruby runs away again - this time to the home of Tom, a fifteen year-old boy she met near her school.
"We are what our families have made us. But sometimes you can escape that."
As Ruby passes under the arch with the 'Green Man', she enters Hilltops, a large house where the squalor makes the living conditions much worse than the place she left. Tom, his older sister Elizabeth, and his younger brother, Crispin live alone in a large house, which was once a commune. Their neglectful, 'hippie' parents have absconded for pastures new. Now the adolescent children run wild, in increasingly desperate conditions. Malnourished and cold, they resort to killing wildlife for sustenance.
"We're just sad stinking children, I thought. Lost and alone".
The story shifts point of view from Ruby in 1983 back to Ruby's birthmother Anna in 1970. Anna got pregnant at eighteen. She was unmarried, a difficult position for a young girl in 1970. She eventually marries Ruby's criminal father Lewis, but soon after the marriage she suffers from a psychotic episode that the psychiatrists label as postpartum psychosis.
"Family has been one long disappointment".
I love the way that Kate Hamer writes. Her sentences flow easily and she has a way of capturing emotions and scenes that resonate with the reader. That being said, there were times while reading this novel that I thought I was having a psychotic break. Fanciful by turns, I wasn't sure at times what was real and what was purely in Anna's or Ruby's imagination. The classic novel "Alice in Wonderland" was mentioned several times in the book, and there were times that I felt as though I had fallen down a magical rabbit hole while reading it.
I purchased the prequel novella "The world of Shadow" and read it prior to reading "The doll funeral". The novella introduces the reader to 'Shadow', the little dead boy that accompanies Ruby through her life. I was thinking it would help me get a better grip on the book, but now I wish I had read it after the book...
I'm on the fence about recommending this novel. It does contain beautiful prose and has an atmospheric setting. The story is at once heart-breaking and fantastical. I read the author's "Girl in the red coat" previous to this and I enjoyed that book more than this one. Although I went with it at first, I think the supernatural aspect of the story just got to be too much for me. Themes of parental neglect, betrayal, and of course - the spirits of dead family abound. Recommended with some reservations...
The publisher Faber & Faber granted my wish to read this novel via NetGalley. I was only to happy to provide my unbiased review.
Ruby lives in The Forest of Dean with her parents Barbara and Mick. Her life is traumatic. Mick is a vicious and violent abuser who thinks nothing of slamming Ruby up against a wall, or making a meal of her face with his fists. Barbara seems to love her, but will not stand up to Mick's violence. Ruby misses a lot of school due to her injuries. Mick is the school caretaker and doesn't want her to show up bruised at his place of work.
On her thirteenth birthday, Barbara and Mick tell Ruby that she is adopted. Rather than being upset by this revelation, she is ecstatic. It explains so much. What a relief! She now devotes herself to finding her 'real' parents.
Ruby has a large red birthmark on one side of her face. She is ostracized at school, partly because she is 'different' and partly because of her home situation. One day, when fear of Mick's violence overcomes her, Ruby bashes him in the head with a plank. Thinking that she has killed him, she runs away to her beloved forest. She spends the night in a hollowed out tree. Upon her return to the house, she is packed off to live with Mick's sister in Coventry - away from the forest. With some guidance from 'Shadow', Ruby runs away again - this time to the home of Tom, a fifteen year-old boy she met near her school.
"We are what our families have made us. But sometimes you can escape that."
As Ruby passes under the arch with the 'Green Man', she enters Hilltops, a large house where the squalor makes the living conditions much worse than the place she left. Tom, his older sister Elizabeth, and his younger brother, Crispin live alone in a large house, which was once a commune. Their neglectful, 'hippie' parents have absconded for pastures new. Now the adolescent children run wild, in increasingly desperate conditions. Malnourished and cold, they resort to killing wildlife for sustenance.
"We're just sad stinking children, I thought. Lost and alone".
The story shifts point of view from Ruby in 1983 back to Ruby's birthmother Anna in 1970. Anna got pregnant at eighteen. She was unmarried, a difficult position for a young girl in 1970. She eventually marries Ruby's criminal father Lewis, but soon after the marriage she suffers from a psychotic episode that the psychiatrists label as postpartum psychosis.
"Family has been one long disappointment".
I love the way that Kate Hamer writes. Her sentences flow easily and she has a way of capturing emotions and scenes that resonate with the reader. That being said, there were times while reading this novel that I thought I was having a psychotic break. Fanciful by turns, I wasn't sure at times what was real and what was purely in Anna's or Ruby's imagination. The classic novel "Alice in Wonderland" was mentioned several times in the book, and there were times that I felt as though I had fallen down a magical rabbit hole while reading it.
I purchased the prequel novella "The world of Shadow" and read it prior to reading "The doll funeral". The novella introduces the reader to 'Shadow', the little dead boy that accompanies Ruby through her life. I was thinking it would help me get a better grip on the book, but now I wish I had read it after the book...
I'm on the fence about recommending this novel. It does contain beautiful prose and has an atmospheric setting. The story is at once heart-breaking and fantastical. I read the author's "Girl in the red coat" previous to this and I enjoyed that book more than this one. Although I went with it at first, I think the supernatural aspect of the story just got to be too much for me. Themes of parental neglect, betrayal, and of course - the spirits of dead family abound. Recommended with some reservations...
The publisher Faber & Faber granted my wish to read this novel via NetGalley. I was only to happy to provide my unbiased review.
January 16, 2018
I loved The Girl in the Red Coat by this author so was very excited when I realised she had another book out. I have to also mention the fabulous cover. How eye catching is that?
I think to fully appreciate this novel, you have to try and see Ruby’s parts of the story through her eyes.
It’s obvious right from the start that Ruby has had a very unhappy life with who she has always believed to be her parents. At times during the story my heart broke that little bit more as this is a girl that is desperate to be loved. Once she finds out that her parents are not her real parents, Ruby is desperate to discover who is so that she can have the loving relationship she so desperately craves. Isn’t that what every child wants?
Parts of the story are told from Ruby’s real mum’s point of view. This way we get to hear her side of the story into why she gave her daughter up. It would be very hard not to have sympathy for her, or in fact quite a few characters in this novel. Even Ruby’s so called dad at times I was annoyed with myself as he isn’t a very likeable character but yet certain things would cause me to rethink what I was feeling.
I have to admit some parts of the story I felt a little out of my depth with and didn’t quite understand what was going on. This is why I think when heading into it you need to try and see it through a child’s mind. At time’s Ruby felt so grown up and I kept forgetting I was reading about a child and then a certain vulnerability would remind me of just how fragile she was. I didn’t quite get the people that only Ruby could see either which had me feeling a bit lost as to where the story was going.
The Doll Funeral is without a doubt a haunting and emotive read. The author certainly knows how to push certain buttons to get different reactions from her readers and at times my emotions were all over the place. Whilst not a fast paced read by any means, there is something with how this story is told that makes you keep turning those pages. I felt like I owed it to Ruby to tag along to see how her story unfolded and I’m glad I did.
My thanks to Faber & Faber for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
I think to fully appreciate this novel, you have to try and see Ruby’s parts of the story through her eyes.
It’s obvious right from the start that Ruby has had a very unhappy life with who she has always believed to be her parents. At times during the story my heart broke that little bit more as this is a girl that is desperate to be loved. Once she finds out that her parents are not her real parents, Ruby is desperate to discover who is so that she can have the loving relationship she so desperately craves. Isn’t that what every child wants?
Parts of the story are told from Ruby’s real mum’s point of view. This way we get to hear her side of the story into why she gave her daughter up. It would be very hard not to have sympathy for her, or in fact quite a few characters in this novel. Even Ruby’s so called dad at times I was annoyed with myself as he isn’t a very likeable character but yet certain things would cause me to rethink what I was feeling.
I have to admit some parts of the story I felt a little out of my depth with and didn’t quite understand what was going on. This is why I think when heading into it you need to try and see it through a child’s mind. At time’s Ruby felt so grown up and I kept forgetting I was reading about a child and then a certain vulnerability would remind me of just how fragile she was. I didn’t quite get the people that only Ruby could see either which had me feeling a bit lost as to where the story was going.
The Doll Funeral is without a doubt a haunting and emotive read. The author certainly knows how to push certain buttons to get different reactions from her readers and at times my emotions were all over the place. Whilst not a fast paced read by any means, there is something with how this story is told that makes you keep turning those pages. I felt like I owed it to Ruby to tag along to see how her story unfolded and I’m glad I did.
My thanks to Faber & Faber for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
February 27, 2017
Read all my reviews at Clues and Reviews
www.cluesandreviews.wordpress.com
The Doll Funeral, the newest novel by Kate Hamer, was a story that was completely different from any novel I have read lately. Marketed as a mystery thriller, I would have to say this one read more like a contemporary fantasy novel with a twist. Beautiful prose, a strong narrative voice and some mystical elements had me flipping through the pages.
The novel opens with Ruby, on her thirteenth birthday, finding out that her parents are not her birth parents. This tidbit gives Ruby hope, as she has had less than an ideal childhood, suffering abuse at the hands of her stepfather. As she goes on the hunt for her birth family, Hamer introduces us to a mishmash of misfit characters and weaves out their stories.
I loved the narrative voice in The Doll Funeral. The story is told (in majority) through the eyes of Ruby as she goes on the hunt for her birth parents in 1983. Ruby has a special gift. She can see death; mostly in the form of a shadow that she has seen for as long as she can remember. With “Shadow” by her side, she sets off on a journey to find out where she came from. Ruby’s birth mother narrates the other sections of the story, in 1970, as she explains Ruby’s early years and how she ended up with her stepfamily.
The story had a definite magical element to it. Hamer relies on characteristics of classic fairy tales to create a sort of eerie and hypnotising narrative. From the “evil stepfamily” to the enchanted Forest of Dean, I felt like I was in a story by the Brother’s Grimm.
Although I acknowledge the beauty of Hamer’s writing, I did not find that this one read like a true thriller. It was much slower paced and more focused on character development than a plot. I feel this one was not marketed properly.
If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, this will not be it. However, if you enjoy a story with supernatural elements that builds slowly, then you would enjoy this one!
I gave it a 3.5/5 stars.
www.cluesandreviews.wordpress.com
The Doll Funeral, the newest novel by Kate Hamer, was a story that was completely different from any novel I have read lately. Marketed as a mystery thriller, I would have to say this one read more like a contemporary fantasy novel with a twist. Beautiful prose, a strong narrative voice and some mystical elements had me flipping through the pages.
The novel opens with Ruby, on her thirteenth birthday, finding out that her parents are not her birth parents. This tidbit gives Ruby hope, as she has had less than an ideal childhood, suffering abuse at the hands of her stepfather. As she goes on the hunt for her birth family, Hamer introduces us to a mishmash of misfit characters and weaves out their stories.
I loved the narrative voice in The Doll Funeral. The story is told (in majority) through the eyes of Ruby as she goes on the hunt for her birth parents in 1983. Ruby has a special gift. She can see death; mostly in the form of a shadow that she has seen for as long as she can remember. With “Shadow” by her side, she sets off on a journey to find out where she came from. Ruby’s birth mother narrates the other sections of the story, in 1970, as she explains Ruby’s early years and how she ended up with her stepfamily.
The story had a definite magical element to it. Hamer relies on characteristics of classic fairy tales to create a sort of eerie and hypnotising narrative. From the “evil stepfamily” to the enchanted Forest of Dean, I felt like I was in a story by the Brother’s Grimm.
Although I acknowledge the beauty of Hamer’s writing, I did not find that this one read like a true thriller. It was much slower paced and more focused on character development than a plot. I feel this one was not marketed properly.
If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, this will not be it. However, if you enjoy a story with supernatural elements that builds slowly, then you would enjoy this one!
I gave it a 3.5/5 stars.
February 20, 2017
It feels weird classing this as a 'thriller' when it did not thrill me at all... I could hardly be bothered keeping up with the plot because everything about this story was so dull.
April 3, 2019
What a strange book! I was hoping this book will be gripping with mystery and ghostly story but it was more like a survival story, yes there were some ghost story and eerie scene but i actually expected more horor than drama.... the story been told from 2 different perspectives: A 13 years old girl Ruby and a young mother Anna
The writing style was so flowery.. i used to like flowery purple prose writing style but this one... i COULNDT grasp it *sigh* i
Every single adult person here was terrible and make me cringe!!! wooow i want to slap all their faces
The plot was interesting but it was SUPER SLOW 😪😴i grow bored on so many scenes
However this book got great messages esp about child abuse and how people need to be more responsibility to their children!
The writing style was so flowery.. i used to like flowery purple prose writing style but this one... i COULNDT grasp it *sigh* i
Every single adult person here was terrible and make me cringe!!! wooow i want to slap all their faces
The plot was interesting but it was SUPER SLOW 😪😴i grow bored on so many scenes
However this book got great messages esp about child abuse and how people need to be more responsibility to their children!
September 1, 2022
Θα βάλω 1 αστεράκι γιατί έχει πιασάρικη υπόθεση στο οπισθόφυλλο μόνο και ωραίο εξώφυλλο
August 26, 2017
The Doll Funeral is my second book by Kate Hamer and as in The Girl in the Red Coat (see my review of that book here), her writing conjures up misty and menacing forests and countryside in my head with its fantasy and almost fairy tale-like aspects. There is something slightly dark and melancholy in her writing style that makes me want to curl up with her books and a cup of tea--even in the midst of summer. The Doll Funeral is tagged as a psychological thriller and mystery and suspense on Amazon--along with the tags of family life genre fiction, and to me it leans more to the later. Some suspense is built, there are the mystical aspects and a thread of magical realism woven in, but it really reads more about family--chosen and blood, relationships, family secrets, and the journey to adulthood. In thirteen-year-old Ruby's case, that journey is somewhat perilous and fraught with confusion which transfers at times to the reader as it can be difficult to determine what is real and what isn't--just as it is for Ruby. The story is told in the alternating voices of Ruby, her mother Anna, and occasionally by Ruby's friend that only she can see--Shadow Boy. Time alternates too--between 1983, Ruby's time, and 1970 with Anna's perspective. It can be a challenge to keep track of what is going on, but the story and Ruby and Anna as characters were compelling enough that I wanted to find out the secrets and see how it all turned out. With the beautiful prose and strong images Hamer creates, it was well worth the journey.
My guess is that The Doll Funeral is strange enough that it won't be for everyone, but if you love evocative and hauntingly beautiful writing, enjoy modern-day fairy tales and magical realism, and like a unique and slightly strange story, you should enjoy it as I did.
See my review, a recipe inspired by my reading & a giveaway for a copy of your own (U.S. & Canada-through 9/2/17) on my blog post here: https://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2...
Note: A review copy of "The Doll Funeral" was provided to me by the author and the publisher via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
My guess is that The Doll Funeral is strange enough that it won't be for everyone, but if you love evocative and hauntingly beautiful writing, enjoy modern-day fairy tales and magical realism, and like a unique and slightly strange story, you should enjoy it as I did.
See my review, a recipe inspired by my reading & a giveaway for a copy of your own (U.S. & Canada-through 9/2/17) on my blog post here: https://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2...
Note: A review copy of "The Doll Funeral" was provided to me by the author and the publisher via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 9, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
February 19, 2017
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I requested The Doll Funeral because not only is it set in the Forest of Dean, in Gloucestershire, where I grew up, but it also features a thirteen year old girl, named Ruby, in 1983, the year I turned thirteen too – in short the parallels were too similar to not see what The Doll Funeral had to offer.
Ruby finds out she is adopted on the day of her thirteenth birthday up until this time she had no idea. All she learns is that she was a few months old before she was taken in by Barbara and Mick. Living on the very edge of the dense forest, Mick is cruel and bitter following the loss of his daughter at the tender age of three and Barbara is ineffectual against his rages. Ruby is a fairly solitary child, she takes to roaming the forest often accompanied by ‘Shadow’ a young boy who she has seen for as long as she can remember, a boy who never ages. Whether he is real or whether he is a figment of Ruby’s imagination is for you to decide.
Ruby decides to invoke the spirits in the forest to help her find her parents. Part of this is to light fires and chant incantations and of course there is a funeral for a doll. Finding her real parents who will take her away is the only way she can see to escape the ire that she provokes in Mick, especially now her beloved Grandmother has died, she has no refuge at all.
One day she makes friends with an older boy, Tom, and in time visits his home, a house where his parents had decided to live off the land, but they are not there, just his siblings an older sister and a younger brother. Food is often rabbit and vegetables from the land, the money their parents sent regularly at first no longer appearing.
We know who Ruby’s mother is through Anna’s story, set in 1970 and split between life in London and that in the forest. This element of the story was fascinating and spurred me on when the weirdness of Ruby’s story got a little bit too much.
The writing is so evocative, and although I didn’t need too many prompts to picture the house backing onto the deep and dark forest, I think the author did a fantastic job of conjuring up the oppressiveness and remoteness of this area. It also recreated a time not in reality so far in the past, where children were left to their own devices, we certainly were, which went more than some way in explaining why Ruby was able to roam deep into the forest away from any living eyes.
I have made no secret of the fact that I’m not a big fan of ghosts in my reading, or anywhere else for that matter, but there was something incredibly appealing, not least the superb writing, which has made me make an exception to that rule for The Doll Funeral. I’m not going to lie, the things Ruby ‘sees’ form a large part of the book, but, taking into consideration the atmosphere of the forest as described by Kate Hamer, it worked for me. The story revealed is very sad in parts, and the parents of all the children are just too awful for words. Perhaps that’s why Ruby and her first person, present tense narrative stole a small piece of my heart.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to Faber & Faber who answered my pleas for a copy of this book ahead of publication in hardback, 16 February 2017.
Ruby finds out she is adopted on the day of her thirteenth birthday up until this time she had no idea. All she learns is that she was a few months old before she was taken in by Barbara and Mick. Living on the very edge of the dense forest, Mick is cruel and bitter following the loss of his daughter at the tender age of three and Barbara is ineffectual against his rages. Ruby is a fairly solitary child, she takes to roaming the forest often accompanied by ‘Shadow’ a young boy who she has seen for as long as she can remember, a boy who never ages. Whether he is real or whether he is a figment of Ruby’s imagination is for you to decide.
Ruby decides to invoke the spirits in the forest to help her find her parents. Part of this is to light fires and chant incantations and of course there is a funeral for a doll. Finding her real parents who will take her away is the only way she can see to escape the ire that she provokes in Mick, especially now her beloved Grandmother has died, she has no refuge at all.
One day she makes friends with an older boy, Tom, and in time visits his home, a house where his parents had decided to live off the land, but they are not there, just his siblings an older sister and a younger brother. Food is often rabbit and vegetables from the land, the money their parents sent regularly at first no longer appearing.
We know who Ruby’s mother is through Anna’s story, set in 1970 and split between life in London and that in the forest. This element of the story was fascinating and spurred me on when the weirdness of Ruby’s story got a little bit too much.
The writing is so evocative, and although I didn’t need too many prompts to picture the house backing onto the deep and dark forest, I think the author did a fantastic job of conjuring up the oppressiveness and remoteness of this area. It also recreated a time not in reality so far in the past, where children were left to their own devices, we certainly were, which went more than some way in explaining why Ruby was able to roam deep into the forest away from any living eyes.
I have made no secret of the fact that I’m not a big fan of ghosts in my reading, or anywhere else for that matter, but there was something incredibly appealing, not least the superb writing, which has made me make an exception to that rule for The Doll Funeral. I’m not going to lie, the things Ruby ‘sees’ form a large part of the book, but, taking into consideration the atmosphere of the forest as described by Kate Hamer, it worked for me. The story revealed is very sad in parts, and the parents of all the children are just too awful for words. Perhaps that’s why Ruby and her first person, present tense narrative stole a small piece of my heart.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to Faber & Faber who answered my pleas for a copy of this book ahead of publication in hardback, 16 February 2017.
December 23, 2018
Δείτε επίσης και στο Chill and read
Μαζί με τα αστυνομικά του φθινοπώρου, οι Εκδόσεις Μεταίχμιο εξέδωσαν και ένα βιβλίο μυστηρίου που δεν ανήκει στην κατηγορία του αστυνομικού. Πρόκειται για το δεύτερο βιβλίο της Kate Hamer. Το «Μην το πεις πουθενά» είναι ένα σκοτεινό ανάγνωσμα που προβληματίζει.
Η Ρούμπι είναι ένα κορίτσι που μένει με τους γονείς της στις παρυφές του δάσους. Στα δέκατα τρίτα γενέθλιά της μαθαίνει πως στη ουσία, ο Μικ και η Μπάρμπαρα δεν είναι οι πραγματικοί της γονείς. Είναι υιοθετημένη. Η συνειδητοποίηση αυτή εξηγεί πολλά στη ζωή της Ρούμπι. Εξηγεί πως γίνεται ο πατέρας της να την κακομεταχειρίζεται λεκτικά και σωματικά και πως γίνεται επίσης η μητέρα της να μην αντιδρά σε αυτό, αλλά να κάνει σαν να μην συνέβη τίποτα. Εξηγεί επίσης γιατί η ίδια δεν τρέφει βαθιά αισθήματα αγάπης για τους γονείς της. Αποφασίζει λοιπόν να βρει τους αληθινούς γονείς της, χωρίς να έχει καμία ιδέα ποιοι είναι ή ως θα το καταφέρει.
Στην αναζήτησή της αυτή θα έχει παρέα της το φίλο της τον Σκιά. Ο Σκιάς ήταν πάντα εκεί από τότε που μπορεί να θυμηθεί τον εαυτό της, δίπλα της να της κάνει παρέα, να τη βοηθάει και να τη συντροφεύει. Καμιά φορά μάλωναν, αλλά όπως όλοι οι φίλοι, τα έβρισκαν και πάλι αργότερα.
Δεν έχω διαβάσει το πρώτο βιβλίο της Hamer, «Το κορίτσι με τα κόκκινα παπούτσια» οπότε δεν μπορώ να ξέρω αν οι χαρακτήρες που δημιούργησε στο «Μην το πεις πουθενά» είναι της ίδιας ψυχοσύνθεσης ή όχι. Είναι όμως άνθρωποι που θα μπορούσαν να έχουν υπάρξει στη δεκαετία του 80, την εποχή δηλαδή που εκτυλίσσεται η ιστορία του βιβλίου. Η ηρωίδα, η Ρούμπι, είναι ένα κορίτσι που κακοποιείται, σε μια φτωχή συνοικία, από έναν πατέρα με χαμηλό μορφωτικό επίπεδο και μια μητέρα που καθαρίζει σπίτια για να ζήσει και δεν μπορεί να αντισταθεί στα αντικείμενα που την καλούν να τα αφαιρέσει από τα σπίτια αυτά. Θα έλεγε κανείς ότι κάπως έτσι ήταν η ζωή εκείνη την εποχή σε επαρχιακές φτωχές πόλεις. Αυτή την εποχή κάτι τέτοιο θα ήταν αδιανόητο.
Και μάλλον αυτό είναι που θέλει να μας πει συγγραφέας. Ευτυχώ που κάποια πράγματα έχουν αλλάξει. Ευτυχώς που τα παιδιά μας δεν τριγυρνούν με τρύπια ξεφτισμένα ρούχα, μέσα στη λάσπη και χωρίς παπούτσια. Ευτυχώς που δεν υπάρχουν γονείς που κακομεταχειρίζονται τα παιδιά τους, που τα σαπίζουν στο ξύλο κι εκείνα πρέπει να λένε ψέμματα και να κρύβουν τα τραύματά τους. Δυστυχώς, αυτό το «ευτυχώς» δεν είναι αλήθεια. Δυστυχώς όλα αυτά συμβαίνουν και σήμερα.
Πολλά παιδιά έχουν φανταστικούς φίλους, οι οποίοι γεννιούνται από την ανάγκη των παιδιών για συντροφιά. Στη συγκεκριμένη ιστορία, δεν πρόκειται απλά για φανταστικούς φίλους, αλλά περνάει στα όρια του μεταφυσικού. Φαίνεται πως η ηρωίδα, το μικρό αυτό κορίτσι με την τόσο δύσκολη ζωή, έχει ένα χάρισμα που θα μπορούσε να το έχει κληρονομήσει από τη γιαγιά της. Μπορεί όμως και όχι. Η Ρούμπι μπορεί και βλέπει τους νεκρούς. Μπορεί και τους ακούει. Μπορεί και τους μιλάει. Δεν της είναι όμως ξεκάθαρο εξαρχής, ούτε μπορεί πάντα να ξεχωρίσει αν κάποιος είναι ζωντανός ή νεκρός. Θεωρεί ότι όλοι είναι ζωντανοί, μέχρι να καταλάβει το αντίθετο. Δεν την ενοχλεί όμως αυτό, ούτε και την τρομάζει. Για εκείνη, έτσι είναι ο κόσμος της.
Μαζί με τα αστυνομικά του φθινοπώρου, οι Εκδόσεις Μεταίχμιο εξέδωσαν και ένα βιβλίο μυστηρίου που δεν ανήκει στην κατηγορία του αστυνομικού. Πρόκειται για το δεύτερο βιβλίο της Kate Hamer. Το «Μην το πεις πουθενά» είναι ένα σκοτεινό ανάγνωσμα που προβληματίζει.
Η Ρούμπι είναι ένα κορίτσι που μένει με τους γονείς της στις παρυφές του δάσους. Στα δέκατα τρίτα γενέθλιά της μαθαίνει πως στη ουσία, ο Μικ και η Μπάρμπαρα δεν είναι οι πραγματικοί της γονείς. Είναι υιοθετημένη. Η συνειδητοποίηση αυτή εξηγεί πολλά στη ζωή της Ρούμπι. Εξηγεί πως γίνεται ο πατέρας της να την κακομεταχειρίζεται λεκτικά και σωματικά και πως γίνεται επίσης η μητέρα της να μην αντιδρά σε αυτό, αλλά να κάνει σαν να μην συνέβη τίποτα. Εξηγεί επίσης γιατί η ίδια δεν τρέφει βαθιά αισθήματα αγάπης για τους γονείς της. Αποφασίζει λοιπόν να βρει τους αληθινούς γονείς της, χωρίς να έχει καμία ιδέα ποιοι είναι ή ως θα το καταφέρει.
Στην αναζήτησή της αυτή θα έχει παρέα της το φίλο της τον Σκιά. Ο Σκιάς ήταν πάντα εκεί από τότε που μπορεί να θυμηθεί τον εαυτό της, δίπλα της να της κάνει παρέα, να τη βοηθάει και να τη συντροφεύει. Καμιά φορά μάλωναν, αλλά όπως όλοι οι φίλοι, τα έβρισκαν και πάλι αργότερα.
Δεν έχω διαβάσει το πρώτο βιβλίο της Hamer, «Το κορίτσι με τα κόκκινα παπούτσια» οπότε δεν μπορώ να ξέρω αν οι χαρακτήρες που δημιούργησε στο «Μην το πεις πουθενά» είναι της ίδιας ψυχοσύνθεσης ή όχι. Είναι όμως άνθρωποι που θα μπορούσαν να έχουν υπάρξει στη δεκαετία του 80, την εποχή δηλαδή που εκτυλίσσεται η ιστορία του βιβλίου. Η ηρωίδα, η Ρούμπι, είναι ένα κορίτσι που κακοποιείται, σε μια φτωχή συνοικία, από έναν πατέρα με χαμηλό μορφωτικό επίπεδο και μια μητέρα που καθαρίζει σπίτια για να ζήσει και δεν μπορεί να αντισταθεί στα αντικείμενα που την καλούν να τα αφαιρέσει από τα σπίτια αυτά. Θα έλεγε κανείς ότι κάπως έτσι ήταν η ζωή εκείνη την εποχή σε επαρχιακές φτωχές πόλεις. Αυτή την εποχή κάτι τέτοιο θα ήταν αδιανόητο.
Και μάλλον αυτό είναι που θέλει να μας πει συγγραφέας. Ευτυχώ που κάποια πράγματα έχουν αλλάξει. Ευτυχώς που τα παιδιά μας δεν τριγυρνούν με τρύπια ξεφτισμένα ρούχα, μέσα στη λάσπη και χωρίς παπούτσια. Ευτυχώς που δεν υπάρχουν γονείς που κακομεταχειρίζονται τα παιδιά τους, που τα σαπίζουν στο ξύλο κι εκείνα πρέπει να λένε ψέμματα και να κρύβουν τα τραύματά τους. Δυστυχώς, αυτό το «ευτυχώς» δεν είναι αλήθεια. Δυστυχώς όλα αυτά συμβαίνουν και σήμερα.
Πολλά παιδιά έχουν φανταστικούς φίλους, οι οποίοι γεννιούνται από την ανάγκη των παιδιών για συντροφιά. Στη συγκεκριμένη ιστορία, δεν πρόκειται απλά για φανταστικούς φίλους, αλλά περνάει στα όρια του μεταφυσικού. Φαίνεται πως η ηρωίδα, το μικρό αυτό κορίτσι με την τόσο δύσκολη ζωή, έχει ένα χάρισμα που θα μπορούσε να το έχει κληρονομήσει από τη γιαγιά της. Μπορεί όμως και όχι. Η Ρούμπι μπορεί και βλέπει τους νεκρούς. Μπορεί και τους ακούει. Μπορεί και τους μιλάει. Δεν της είναι όμως ξεκάθαρο εξαρχής, ούτε μπορεί πάντα να ξεχωρίσει αν κάποιος είναι ζωντανός ή νεκρός. Θεωρεί ότι όλοι είναι ζωντανοί, μέχρι να καταλάβει το αντίθετο. Δεν την ενοχλεί όμως αυτό, ούτε και την τρομάζει. Για εκείνη, έτσι είναι ο κόσμος της.
January 15, 2018
The Doll Funeral is the second book written by Kate Hamer. Her first, The Girl in the Red Coat, was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Prize in 2015. I had the pleasure of meeting Kate Hamer at the 2017 Wantage (Not Just!) Betjemen Literary Festival in October. Hearing Hamer talk about her characters, her thought processes and how Ruby blossomed into life made me keen to read this beautifully haunting tale.
Ruby is different. Ruby is able to see and communicate with the dead. She has also had a harrowing upbringing. A number of unsightly bruises and marks which need to be hidden away; she has time off school when the bruises get really bad but it's OK, Barbara and Mick tell her what to say. It's never the truth. The truth would cause too many questions, too many problems. On her thirteenth birthday, Barbara and Mick share some news. Ruby is adopted, she's not their 'real' daughter. The confirmation that she doesn't belong fills Ruby with joy and she runs into the garden singing. But this is just the beginning for Ruby. She needs to find out where she belongs. She must find her birth parents as she's sure they want her back.
Ruby's tale is a very emotional one. So many issues that an adult would find it hard to cope with, dropped onto the shoulders of a thirteen-year-old child. I personally struggled at times to see Ruby as a child in my mind's eye. Her wisdom, actions and attitude were more suited to a person in their late teens, a young adult, maybe? Perhaps Ruby is just one of those characters who are old before their time.
I thoroughly enjoyed the flashback sequences where we meet Ruby's parents before her birth. Seeing how her young mother, Anna, coped with the unplanned pregnancy. The decisions that had to be made and the undoing of all of those decisions once the precious bundle of a newborn baby was placed in Anna's arms. Anna's story broke my heart and I will remember it for some time to come. Along with the names of Ruby's adoptive parents, Mick and Barbara, but for completely different reasons.
The author has a knack of writing such beautifully descriptive and atmospheric prose that I was able to forgive some of the more far-fetched supernatural aspects of the story. I want to put this out there so we're all clear; I am a non-believer of ghosts and ghoulies. Always have been and always will be unless someone can show me hard evidence of the spirit world existing. I often struggle with a supernatural element in a book. Sometimes it works for me, other times it doesn't.
Would I recommend this book? I would but it's best to approach this novel thinking of it as a gothic ghost story (it crosses many genres but gothic ghost story prepares you for what lays ahead). It's enchanting, dark and multi-layered. I would very much like to read Hamer's debut now and compare the two works.
Four out of five stars.
The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
Ruby is different. Ruby is able to see and communicate with the dead. She has also had a harrowing upbringing. A number of unsightly bruises and marks which need to be hidden away; she has time off school when the bruises get really bad but it's OK, Barbara and Mick tell her what to say. It's never the truth. The truth would cause too many questions, too many problems. On her thirteenth birthday, Barbara and Mick share some news. Ruby is adopted, she's not their 'real' daughter. The confirmation that she doesn't belong fills Ruby with joy and she runs into the garden singing. But this is just the beginning for Ruby. She needs to find out where she belongs. She must find her birth parents as she's sure they want her back.
Ruby's tale is a very emotional one. So many issues that an adult would find it hard to cope with, dropped onto the shoulders of a thirteen-year-old child. I personally struggled at times to see Ruby as a child in my mind's eye. Her wisdom, actions and attitude were more suited to a person in their late teens, a young adult, maybe? Perhaps Ruby is just one of those characters who are old before their time.
I thoroughly enjoyed the flashback sequences where we meet Ruby's parents before her birth. Seeing how her young mother, Anna, coped with the unplanned pregnancy. The decisions that had to be made and the undoing of all of those decisions once the precious bundle of a newborn baby was placed in Anna's arms. Anna's story broke my heart and I will remember it for some time to come. Along with the names of Ruby's adoptive parents, Mick and Barbara, but for completely different reasons.
The author has a knack of writing such beautifully descriptive and atmospheric prose that I was able to forgive some of the more far-fetched supernatural aspects of the story. I want to put this out there so we're all clear; I am a non-believer of ghosts and ghoulies. Always have been and always will be unless someone can show me hard evidence of the spirit world existing. I often struggle with a supernatural element in a book. Sometimes it works for me, other times it doesn't.
Would I recommend this book? I would but it's best to approach this novel thinking of it as a gothic ghost story (it crosses many genres but gothic ghost story prepares you for what lays ahead). It's enchanting, dark and multi-layered. I would very much like to read Hamer's debut now and compare the two works.
Four out of five stars.
The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
February 3, 2018
A fairytale ghost story mixed with The Sixth Sense is what springs to mind when describing this book. It is not a crime story but more of a beautiful Gothic ghost story which sends shivers up your spine as the truth comes tumbling out of the pages.
Ruby is 13 years old when she finds out Mick and Barbara are not her real parents and she is over the moon with joy! I can't say that I blame her given the trauma that Mick puts her through and the ineffectual parenting of Barbara, who seems to want to cover it all up. I must admit that there were times when I wasn't sure what was real and what was Ruby's reality. However, it is worth waiting for as all is revealed by the end of the book. It is not a fast-paced read and those looking for an action-packed thrill seeker are going to be disappointed. Yet, there is something hauntingly magical and compelling about the novel that keeps you enthralled to the very end.
Beautifully written I think that there was an almost ethereal quality to the writing, a magical journey through forests and the lives of those who inhabit them. It was a sad novel, I got a real sense of loss about Ruby, a real sense of tragedy. The intense narrative that took you inside of the head of Ruby and those around her it was easy to get as lost in the pages as it would have been to get lost in the woods she describes.Kate Hamer's use of language is astounding; she honestly makes the pages come alive, it is as though she has painted every scene rather than just penned the words.
The Doll Funeral is also told from the perspective of Ruby's birth mother, Anna and it was Anna's story that moved me the most; an exploration of loss, grief and the paranormal may sound quite bizarre but it was an emotional rollercoaster. I felt haunted, happy and intensely sad throughout the book, each character's tale having a profound impact on me. From despising some of them to start with when I saw their journey mapped out then it was hard not to find myself sucked into the events that led them to where they were.
I'm not going to lie if I hadn't agreed to take part in the blog tour, this title would have probably kept getting pushed down my TBR pile but I can honestly say that I am glad that I took that step outside of my comfort zone! Yes, it is different to what I normally read, it is not crime fiction, it is not a psychological thriller but it is a beautifully written and intense Ghost story with a difference. Perfect for those who like their fiction haunted or those willing to take a leap outside of their usual comfort zone.
Ruby is 13 years old when she finds out Mick and Barbara are not her real parents and she is over the moon with joy! I can't say that I blame her given the trauma that Mick puts her through and the ineffectual parenting of Barbara, who seems to want to cover it all up. I must admit that there were times when I wasn't sure what was real and what was Ruby's reality. However, it is worth waiting for as all is revealed by the end of the book. It is not a fast-paced read and those looking for an action-packed thrill seeker are going to be disappointed. Yet, there is something hauntingly magical and compelling about the novel that keeps you enthralled to the very end.
Beautifully written I think that there was an almost ethereal quality to the writing, a magical journey through forests and the lives of those who inhabit them. It was a sad novel, I got a real sense of loss about Ruby, a real sense of tragedy. The intense narrative that took you inside of the head of Ruby and those around her it was easy to get as lost in the pages as it would have been to get lost in the woods she describes.Kate Hamer's use of language is astounding; she honestly makes the pages come alive, it is as though she has painted every scene rather than just penned the words.
The Doll Funeral is also told from the perspective of Ruby's birth mother, Anna and it was Anna's story that moved me the most; an exploration of loss, grief and the paranormal may sound quite bizarre but it was an emotional rollercoaster. I felt haunted, happy and intensely sad throughout the book, each character's tale having a profound impact on me. From despising some of them to start with when I saw their journey mapped out then it was hard not to find myself sucked into the events that led them to where they were.
I'm not going to lie if I hadn't agreed to take part in the blog tour, this title would have probably kept getting pushed down my TBR pile but I can honestly say that I am glad that I took that step outside of my comfort zone! Yes, it is different to what I normally read, it is not crime fiction, it is not a psychological thriller but it is a beautifully written and intense Ghost story with a difference. Perfect for those who like their fiction haunted or those willing to take a leap outside of their usual comfort zone.
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