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Caraliza
A seventy-five year old secret waits in a lovely old portrait studio, at the end of a street in New York City's Lower East Side. It is a secret, that drove to madness, a renowned photographer, 'Papa' Menashe Reisman, and left him to waste and die in his own studio, but haunted by every photograph he tries to take. When his great-grand daughter, Shelly, begs to have the old building, for a new renovation, she awakens more than any secret that Papa kept. She also awakens something darker, more evil, across the street, under the stoop, down a foul stair; where Caraliza was kept prisoner for two years; until the horrid events of that summer, in 1919.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2010
17 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
7 books41 followersJoel lives with his lovely wife and two boys in Southwest Colorado. His first four published novels are: Harmony's Passing, Caraliza, Breathing into Stone, and Shared
His most recent work When America Slew Her King is a troubling look at America's own History, from use of the most incredible lie that can be told about it.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 4, 2011
The cover of this book is what first drew me. Caraliza, the cover, is haunting, stark and beautiful. I soon found out that Caraliza, the book, is as well. This is a story of brutality, survival, deceit, revenge, and enduring love. Kirkpatrick opens with a brilliant piece of historical fiction. He then effortlessly transitions to the current day, yet we don't lose the characters we've grown to love. They haunt us, as they haunt the pages of the book.
This isn't a fast-paced thriller, nor is it meant to be. Kirkpatrick takes his time, allowing the story to unfold at its own pace. Suspense, intrigue, despair, mystery, romance, terror, love, tragedy and hope fill these pages. By the end, I felt like I'd come to know the characters as friends. And I was sad to see them go.
This isn't a fast-paced thriller, nor is it meant to be. Kirkpatrick takes his time, allowing the story to unfold at its own pace. Suspense, intrigue, despair, mystery, romance, terror, love, tragedy and hope fill these pages. By the end, I felt like I'd come to know the characters as friends. And I was sad to see them go.
June 13, 2011
"The brilliant glow of his soul in their mouths as Caraliza prevented its escape into the air."
Caraliza is a gripping but also lovely, potent novel that is about human endurance, connection, and our capacity for love despite distance and time. What makes the book so incredible is the fact that it constantly surprises. Like any good book, there's a dynamic here that is difficult to recreate in summary if I want to do the story justice, but I'll try: Caraliza is about the endurance of genuine romance, the beauty of hope, the ability to imagine and remember love so vividly that it becomes immune to death. This book is part mystery, part fantastical, part dark realism, and yet it is the baffling and remarkable nature of love that drives each plot shift, injects each gritty scene with beauty and softness, and clearly defines each character's role. Caraliza is a beautifully written and utterly unique work that, like love, is sure to endure.
Caraliza is a gripping but also lovely, potent novel that is about human endurance, connection, and our capacity for love despite distance and time. What makes the book so incredible is the fact that it constantly surprises. Like any good book, there's a dynamic here that is difficult to recreate in summary if I want to do the story justice, but I'll try: Caraliza is about the endurance of genuine romance, the beauty of hope, the ability to imagine and remember love so vividly that it becomes immune to death. This book is part mystery, part fantastical, part dark realism, and yet it is the baffling and remarkable nature of love that drives each plot shift, injects each gritty scene with beauty and softness, and clearly defines each character's role. Caraliza is a beautifully written and utterly unique work that, like love, is sure to endure.
April 12, 2011
I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. It's so much more than a paranormal romantic mystery. The living breathe life into the dead. The dead have a message, a story they need told to the living. A menacing ghost terrorizes a family. In this book, the love is so tangible it made me sigh with envy. The author's words and style are beautiful. I found myself transported right into the scene, right into each era. I was totally immersed in the story. I enjoyed my time in the naughty closet.
I haven't read anything this moving or beautiful in longer than I can remember. The book made me want to cry. I gasped at the unexpected twist at the end. I loved Shelly and Evan as much as I did Caraliza and Yousep. This is the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish reading it.
I haven't read anything this moving or beautiful in longer than I can remember. The book made me want to cry. I gasped at the unexpected twist at the end. I loved Shelly and Evan as much as I did Caraliza and Yousep. This is the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish reading it.
April 26, 2012
This is not a novel, it's not a work of fiction, it's about real people, real ghosts. But that's just it... it's not. It is fiction -- at least that what you have to keep telling yourself. When Kirkpatrick writes a novel, he creates such vivid, realistic characters, that the reader would be forgiven for believing the story is real. That's where the elegant twist in this tale lies; Kirkpatrick has written it in such a way as to suggest it actually happened so much so that part of the storyline involves one of the characters writing a book about the events that were told in these pages. Caraliza's haunting photograph graces the cover of the book. This accentuates the idea that she is real. Kirkpatrick once said that he puts angels in his books. Caraliza is one such angel. She appears as a ghost, but her presence is intoxicating. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It demands your attention, but it is a book to be digested slowly. It is not written in a fast paced style. The language almost harks back to the classics. I am once again blown away by Kirkpatrick's talent as a master storyteller. I have read another of his books Breathing into Stone, and I fell in love with the characters in that book too. To understand what I mean about Kirkpatrick's writing, you have to experience it. So, do yourself a favour and try one of his books today. You won't regret it. Caraliza is a stunning story about a 75 year old secret, about ghosts that won't go away until their story is told, about love and the power it has to survive over space and time. This is part mystery, part romance, and part ghost story. It is hauntingly beautiful. The ending is perfect. A must read.
September 29, 2011
This beautiful story, as richly told by author Kirkpatrick, was unlike anything I’d ever read. The story begins in 1917, when Yousep Kogen, a shop boy who works for Menashe “Papa” Reisman, falls in love with a frail young Dutch girl, Caraliza, who is being held captive across the street by a brute who routinely abuses her. The author realistically and stunningly describes Yousep’s quick assimilation into manhood and Caraliza’s intense need for love.
After tragic events make their mark on the year 1919, the story resumes in present day, when Papa Reisman’s granddaughter, Shelly, is desperately trying to uncover the past, in the same building where the tragedies occurred. Kirkpatrick’s delicate storytelling and descriptions of present-day hauntings are captivating; his characterizations are clear and believable.
I have often read books of this nature only to be disappointed by the ending, but that was not so with Caraliza. I won’t give it away, but the satisfying ending only enriched my enjoyment of this tender, often funny, sad, and very real story.
After tragic events make their mark on the year 1919, the story resumes in present day, when Papa Reisman’s granddaughter, Shelly, is desperately trying to uncover the past, in the same building where the tragedies occurred. Kirkpatrick’s delicate storytelling and descriptions of present-day hauntings are captivating; his characterizations are clear and believable.
I have often read books of this nature only to be disappointed by the ending, but that was not so with Caraliza. I won’t give it away, but the satisfying ending only enriched my enjoyment of this tender, often funny, sad, and very real story.
May 30, 2011
Author Joel Kirkpatrick pulls us in emotionally from the very first pages of this sad tale of a teenaged Dutch girl sold into servitude and near starvation in an early 20th century New York slum, and the young man who is doomed to save her from her oppressor, and at any cost. Their story spans almost an entire century, full of rich, well-developed characters and paranormal twists that will keep you guessing until the complete mosaic of their life together is revealed in the very last pages. A story that is sad, chilling, and uplifting.
September 28, 2010
Gems: Caraliza is a story possessed by stark hauntings that will grip your nerves from the first page and drag you into a grisly nightmare that will both seduce and frighten the reader. Much like the photo of Caraliza, it is impossible to turn your eyes away from the macabre on the page and within them, a person will see both beauty and horrible abuse. However, the ghastliness is not achieved through simple shock value, but by displaying an imaginary realness and believable richness of history. It is also amplified by the love that creates a harmonious balance and chilling sensuality that is genuinely romantic. The intimacy between characters will bring a tingle to your skin and a sigh to your heart. Caraliza is a great achievement in pairing the paranormal with romance. It's stunningly grounded and had me holding my breath at parts in the story. The plot is not obviously predictable, although readers might think themselves clever by assuming they've figured out what will come. However, the twist isn't so extreme that it implodes. Clues are dropped along the way like breads crumbs and with each sorrow comes a morsel of joy. It is as if one can not be achieved without the other. I absolutely adored the line, “I’ll not wait to die to haunt him.” This story will haunt me for some time, but much like Shelly, I welcome the sensations and fright. It too made me feel alive and perhaps, a bit spooky for loving it so much. It is a rarity for me to read a book twice, but I will revisit this story again. As far as I'm concerned, Caraliza is an absolute MUST read and one I will return to. So no, I will not share my copy.
Flaws: The book has left me speechless in this department. A terrible shame that I did not write it, but I applaud the author who did.
Flaws: The book has left me speechless in this department. A terrible shame that I did not write it, but I applaud the author who did.
July 14, 2012
Never before have I been hooked by a book as much as I was with Caraliza. And this isn't even the genre I like to read!
At my dad's recommendation, I read his copy of Caraliza. I'm not a night owl. I go to bed early. I stayed up until midnight- every night for 3 nights- reading Caraliza.
"Hauntingly beautiful" is the best way I can describe this book. And I don't use the term because it's a ghost story. This story will follow you around until you finish it, and even then it will linger in the back of your mind. The strength of emotions are so well described that you are quickly swept up into the world of the characters. You care about what happens to them.
There were some things that put me off slightly, but the book left such an impression on me that I couldn't bear to remove a star.
> People have mentioned the presence of spelling/ grammar errors. There weren't enough of them to frustrate me.
> I found the transition between past and present to be a little jarring. The writing style even changed (though it started to match the style of the beginning of the book as the ghosts played a bigger part).
> The ending was certainly unexpected. Maybe it's just me, but I felt like maybe the author changed his mind at the last minute about how he'd end the book. There was so much detail in the lead up, and then the ending happened almost in summary, and took a totally different turn to what might have been expected.
Usually quirks like these might lead to a 3 or 4 star rating. But I feel that anything less than a 5 star would be a shame. This story is beautiful, and the characters will stay with you. I would be surprised if this book doesn't develop a cult following. This book has convinced me to venture out of my favourite genre more often.
At my dad's recommendation, I read his copy of Caraliza. I'm not a night owl. I go to bed early. I stayed up until midnight- every night for 3 nights- reading Caraliza.
"Hauntingly beautiful" is the best way I can describe this book. And I don't use the term because it's a ghost story. This story will follow you around until you finish it, and even then it will linger in the back of your mind. The strength of emotions are so well described that you are quickly swept up into the world of the characters. You care about what happens to them.
There were some things that put me off slightly, but the book left such an impression on me that I couldn't bear to remove a star.
> People have mentioned the presence of spelling/ grammar errors. There weren't enough of them to frustrate me.
> I found the transition between past and present to be a little jarring. The writing style even changed (though it started to match the style of the beginning of the book as the ghosts played a bigger part).
> The ending was certainly unexpected. Maybe it's just me, but I felt like maybe the author changed his mind at the last minute about how he'd end the book. There was so much detail in the lead up, and then the ending happened almost in summary, and took a totally different turn to what might have been expected.
Usually quirks like these might lead to a 3 or 4 star rating. But I feel that anything less than a 5 star would be a shame. This story is beautiful, and the characters will stay with you. I would be surprised if this book doesn't develop a cult following. This book has convinced me to venture out of my favourite genre more often.
March 30, 2012
This is a very strange and haunting story with much to recommend it. It is a ghost/love story with considerable charm and starts off really well but then wanders around a bit before getting back on track. I liked the story very much but found the narrative style to be annoying after while. Also, the book is in serious need of editing. There are a lot of misused words (it is "past", not "passed" - a mistake made repeatedly - and the author needs to learn the difference between "effect" and "affect".) I try not to be overly critical of proofing errors but some of these were repeated so often they were not proofing errors, they were misuse of language. The author has a good story to tell but he needs someone to give it a good, thorough proofing/editing.
October 8, 2011
I received the free download of this book, "Caraliza" by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick through smashwords.Author Joel Kirkpatrick pulls us in emotionally from the very first pages of this sad tale of a teenaged Dutch girl sold into servitude and near starvation in an early 20th century New York slum, and the young man who is doomed to save her from her oppressor, and at any cost. Their story spans almost an entire century, full of rich, well-developed characters and paranormal twists that will keep you guessing until the complete mosaic of their life together is revealed in the very last pages. A story that is sad, chilling, and uplifting.
May 7, 2012
This year i'm only reading books that are getting 5 stars and/or at the top of must read lists and as you can imagine it has taken me on several crazy rides. This book was one of those 5stars and a very crazy ride. I enjoyed the ride after I was done with the book.lol yes I'm a chicken. It's a free book and very worth your time. I might start reading more murder/mystery books now after this one.
April 9, 2011
I just finished this book and the only words that I can use to describe it right now are that it was absolutely, positively one of the most amazing books that I have ever read! Just read it!!!!!
April 19, 2012
This book started out slow but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. Loved the ending!!!
May 10, 2012
A tale woven thru time. I enjoyed the writting style and the story was marvelous!
January 25, 2014
Pretty odd...
September 1, 2016
This book started out with so much promise, but then progressively went downhill in some ways for me. It is set in the past and present and is a paranormal mystery/ romance (emphasis on the romance). I am not a fan typically of romance type novels and this book reminded me why. The ghost story part of this book is simply fantastic and I truly enjoyed when the novel reverted to the story of the young lovers of 1919. The history, the mystery, and the sense of dark foreshadowing were very well written. The modern day segment and its romantic elements, however I enjoyed way less. I strongly disliked the personality of Shelly (the main character of the present story), which made it difficult to enjoy those parts of the story. She was annoying and almost disturbing how she acted about “the closet”. Also the relationship she develops in the story moves so fast and has such dramatic incidents repeatedly occur I find it hard to believe it would have played out as it did and seems hokey. I also found the activities within the developing closet quite odd (I am not a prude; it just does not seem likely that most humans would be ok with this). Another issue I had with this novel was the grammar and sentence structure. Words were used incorrectly, mispelled, or in improper order so I would have to re-read the sentence several times before it made sense. I think with a great editor and fine tuning of the modern story segment it could take this from a good novel to a great one. It had such an intriguing story line and truly was captivating at times, which made it even more of a bummer whenever Shelly came into the picture to ruin that.
July 19, 2011
This is a love/ghost story spanning 3 generations. In the first part of the book, we learn the story of a tragic relationship between two poor young people and than we jump forward and enter the lives of a family that is affected by that tragic love 75 years later. I guess the theme might be that actions may have consequences for a long time and that love can overcome adversity.
First of all, let me say that I am not much of a fan of romance novels. The romance was much more emphasized than the mystery here, so for me the mystery developed rather slowly.
Secondly, I find the third person narrative stilted and the grammar/language struck me as from the early 20th century. I accepted that in the first part set in 1919, but when the story was set in 1994 and the language remained the same, it didn't fit. ("Shelly loved the old building dearly. Her favorite outings would be those which took her and her kin to the shop,...") At one point, I thought the book was a bad translation from, perhaps, the Dutch that was sprinkled throughout the book. To me, third person keeps me an arms length away from the characters.
Thirdly, there are any number of misspellings in the book that were distracting.
And lastly, I could not feel anything except annoyance at Shelly, and I couldn't see what Evan saw in her!
I do rate a book on how it engages my emotions, or challenges my thinking with a good puzzle, and having admitted I am not a great romantic, this book did not grab me all that much. For romantics who like a little ghostly mystery, this might be more your cup of tea.
First of all, let me say that I am not much of a fan of romance novels. The romance was much more emphasized than the mystery here, so for me the mystery developed rather slowly.
Secondly, I find the third person narrative stilted and the grammar/language struck me as from the early 20th century. I accepted that in the first part set in 1919, but when the story was set in 1994 and the language remained the same, it didn't fit. ("Shelly loved the old building dearly. Her favorite outings would be those which took her and her kin to the shop,...") At one point, I thought the book was a bad translation from, perhaps, the Dutch that was sprinkled throughout the book. To me, third person keeps me an arms length away from the characters.
Thirdly, there are any number of misspellings in the book that were distracting.
And lastly, I could not feel anything except annoyance at Shelly, and I couldn't see what Evan saw in her!
I do rate a book on how it engages my emotions, or challenges my thinking with a good puzzle, and having admitted I am not a great romantic, this book did not grab me all that much. For romantics who like a little ghostly mystery, this might be more your cup of tea.
December 7, 2012
Caraliza (Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick)
Psychological/Suspense/Paranormal
Shelly Reiesman wants to renovate the family portrait studio, a seventy-five year old building. This building has been shut down since 1919. Reluctantly the family agrees to her request. She knows of her great grandfather 'Papa' Menashe Reisman and his madness leading up to his death. But what she does not know is what caused him to lose his sanity.
As she beings renovations she soon finds she is not alone in the old building, there are secrets hidden within these walls. Secrets so horrid that she becomes obsessed with the building and the ghosts that dwell within.
The ghosts of a young girl Caraliza and young man Yousep, two young innocents trying to flee from evil. Their love for each other is heart warming. Shelly soon finds that Caraliza was held captive by a brute of a man, beaten and left hungry with no food, and little shelter. As young Yousef desperately tries to save the live of the young girl he loves, Shelly is being pulled into their nightmare and must right the wrongs that have been committed so many years ago.
Well written page turner that kept me up way past my bedtime. Mr. Kirkpatrick writes with such detail that I felt as if I was there, I could feel the emotion of each character. As each shocking secret was revealed I longed to find out more. A very emotional story that had me hooked from the first page.
I look forward to more work by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
Psychological/Suspense/Paranormal
Shelly Reiesman wants to renovate the family portrait studio, a seventy-five year old building. This building has been shut down since 1919. Reluctantly the family agrees to her request. She knows of her great grandfather 'Papa' Menashe Reisman and his madness leading up to his death. But what she does not know is what caused him to lose his sanity.
As she beings renovations she soon finds she is not alone in the old building, there are secrets hidden within these walls. Secrets so horrid that she becomes obsessed with the building and the ghosts that dwell within.
The ghosts of a young girl Caraliza and young man Yousep, two young innocents trying to flee from evil. Their love for each other is heart warming. Shelly soon finds that Caraliza was held captive by a brute of a man, beaten and left hungry with no food, and little shelter. As young Yousef desperately tries to save the live of the young girl he loves, Shelly is being pulled into their nightmare and must right the wrongs that have been committed so many years ago.
Well written page turner that kept me up way past my bedtime. Mr. Kirkpatrick writes with such detail that I felt as if I was there, I could feel the emotion of each character. As each shocking secret was revealed I longed to find out more. A very emotional story that had me hooked from the first page.
I look forward to more work by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
December 5, 2012
I loved the love story; that will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was so beautiful and heartbreaking and damn near perfect. Unfortunately, the majority of the book is dominated by this paranormal tale about a girl opening a restaurant with ghosts. I wanted the story to end when Yousep and Caraliza are confronted by Toby, l didn't really care about the rest of it. I didn't really like Shelly all that much and had no idea why Evan was so in love with her. I wish the rest of the book was as good as the first 1/3, but its just not.
May 29, 2013
This book is so haunting yet beautiful!! I must give it 5 stars, it deserves nothing less. The story of Caraliza gave me chills and I was so absorbed in the characters, I just couldnt put it down for a second. I absolutely loved the love between the characters it was like I could reach out and touch it! I LOVED THIS BOOK , Def a story to stay with me long after I finish reading it.
August 13, 2012
Unusual ghost story. (Although I generally don't read ghost stories so it may not be all that unusual.) I found it to be a very enjoyable mystery sort of story. I never felt that I really knew the present day characters but characters from the early part of the century felt very real.
May 6, 2015
Wow... this was an amazing read. I think I'm going to read it again just to make sure of a few things. A little wordy in the middle and Shelly was just a weirdo but it all adds up to an unforgettable read.
August 22, 2012
I really enjoyed this story. It was quite unique, kept me guessing until the end. Wonderfully written and transported me back in time.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews