Jennifer’s review of A Ladder to the Sky > Likes and Comments

I really liked this one. Curious to her what you think. One of the most despicable characters ever!

I LOVED this, Debbie! Have you read Atwood's Robber Bride? Fun companion pieces, although I'd think one would need breathing space in between.

I loved this novel, too, Jennifer! Now you've got me intrigued about Robber Bride!

Oh, yeah: substitute writing for boyfriends, and you’ve got Robber Bride. It’s fun. I preferred this, I loved it, but the other is fun and worthwhile, maybe lighter in treatment, K. Let me know if you read it!

Great review Jennifer, love JB but haven’t read this one.

This was my first Boyne book and I was sold. So glad you had fun with it too!

I loved this novel.

Oh, Maureen, I think you’d love this! Thank you :)

Bonnie, what a fun first! Mine was House of Special Purpose, which hooked me, and I haven’t been disappointed since.

Jennifer wrote: "Bonnie, what a fun first! Mine was House of Special Purpose, which hooked me, and I haven’t been disappointed since."

Glad I started with this so I could glimpse his sly sense of humor, which often does not show up in other Boyne books.

I always say I must read more Boyne! A fantastic review Jennifer 😘

A complex tale, it seems. Definitely on my short list.

That sound really interesting. On to the TBR it goes, thanks!

So happy to see this was a hit for you, Jennifer! Thank you for the thoughtful review, so far I've only read The Elements by Boyne, which I loved. I'll have to check out Atwood's The Robber Bride as well! 🖤

Thanks, Tina! I’ve loved all I’ve read so far! Hope you enjoy whichever one you choose next 💕

Haha, Holly, yes, you could say that. But not at all hard to follow—my favorite kind!

I missed your review, Jennifer!! I'm late for this one as well - I need to get to it.....soon! Great review and thanks for the nudge!

I’m glad you’re wanting to read this, Berengaria, I think you’ll find it compelling… 💕

Thanks for your comment, Belladonna! If you can only choose one, I’d go for The Heart’s Invisible Furies, which I think is his best. But it’s also one to get lost in over time. This is fast and more fun, although I’d say where Elements escalates in discomfort, I think this begins with the most intimate, uncomfortably close look at the manipulation of someone’s love, and lightens as it escalates.

You certainly make a good case for this one, Jennifer. I’ve read mixed reviews on this site and I’m a bit reluctant to give it a try. Insightful review, as always.

Whose story is it to tell!! Yes, that is a great topic. I battled this quite a bit myself, when I wrote a family blog.

Your last paragraph got me thinking about a non-fiction book I'm reading about "forgiveness," Jennifer. It was written by a clinical psychologist who held workshops for years, helping clients find their way to peace by letting go of what was burdening their systems. I'm moving very slowly through it, but one story, in particular, has really bothered me. A woman shared her story, that from adolescence, well until her twenties, her sister slept with every guy she ever went out with or showed interest in. The sister was super attractive and she would manipulate the men into sleeping with her, even if they had just met her sister or had been dating her for months (or years). The sister wouldn't quit until she'd had sex with all of them. When you wrote "horizontally" in your last paragraph, I thought of this woman and remembered how upsetting that must have been for the other sister. I mean, really, what are you supposed to do with THAT??

Your glowing review brings back great memories: this was my first Boyne, back then, and was I ever so impressed! I think this is a great example of how a protagonist has no need to be likeable to make a book great. (And, like you, Furies still comes first for me. But Ladder is such a close second.)

Given your description, plus the title, this seems irresistible. Adding.

While I had nagging issues with this book, I also found it an incredibly clever and entertaining read, and oh could we use more of that these days! Glad you had so much fun with it.

This is a beautiful review, Jennifer. You distilled its essence perfectly! Loved your opening: “Boyne’s prose feels easy and accessible, letting the depth of what he explores sneak up on his readers.” It does sneak up on you, doesn’t it? As you know, I am a big fan of this book, too. The main character was so despicable, it wasn’t until the second part that I could fully enjoy the book. It ended up being one of my favorites. Thanks for taking me down memory lane. I must read Robber Bride! Weird, I think I might have read it eons ago, but it sounds very unfamiliar. If I read it (again?), the story will be all new to me! I also want to check out House of Special Purpose. Boyne is amazing! Oh, btw, loved Heart’s Invisible Furies but my favorite of his is The Elements.

This is also available as an excellent audiobook, with three great narrators

Bonnie G. wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Bonnie, what a fun first! Mine was House of Special Purpose, which hooked me, and I haven’t been disappointed since."

Glad I started with this so I could glimpse his sly sense of ..."

Yes, this would’ve been hard to take without. I thought House had a lot of humor, too. Funny that’s how we started

Barbara wrote: "I loved this novel."

Oh, yay! I like when we align, :).

Canadian Jen wrote: "I missed your review, Jennifer!! I'm late for this one as well - I need to get to it.....soon! Great review and thanks for the nudge!"

I was late! I had an ARC, lol. Worth the wait, I think you'll enjoy this, Jen. Read Atwood's Robber Bride, too, if it appeals...

Violeta wrote: "You certainly make a good case for this one, Jennifer. I’ve read mixed reviews on this site and I’m a bit reluctant to give it a try. Insightful review, as always."

Thanks, Violeta. I think his newer novella, Water, would work well for you, if you haven't read that. I saw those mixed reviews, too, and did not expect to love this so much. I was given the ARC when I worked at Barnes & Noble, but let it sit for years. Still, I'm not convinced it's a match for you. I don't think I'd be surprised either way.

Julie wrote: "Whose story is it to tell!! Yes, that is a great topic. I battled this quite a bit myself, when I wrote a family blog.

Your last paragraph got me thinking about a non-fiction book I'm reading abo..."

It is a great topic, Julie, one worth exploring in depth. It elicits extreme personal reactions. But regarding this book, I don't want to mislead you: the main character is a story stealer. His journey is from one theft to the next.

As for your story, I wouldn't want to forgive someone for a compulsive behavior that scrambled others up inside so deliberately. Most of us are flawed and hurt people unintentionally or because we're forced to make a choice: what you've described hits me as different. When we were teens, my best friend and I met a guy who was ga-ga about her, but when they went on their first date they ran into his older, more charming, better-looking brother who did to him exactly what you described above. That's a sadistic hunger for power.

Charles wrote: "Your glowing review brings back great memories: this was my first Boyne, back then, and was I ever so impressed! I think this is a great example of how a protagonist has no need to be likeable to m..."

I'm on this bandwagon with you, Charles— Furies is still my favorite, but this new-for-me read is my definite second! I don't even know why it filled me with glee, lol. You fell into a good first, yet I'm wondering if there's a bad one. I thought The House of Special Purpose was the cat's meow, and now it pales in comparison to the others....

Left Coast Justin wrote: "Given your description, plus the title, this seems irresistible. Adding."

Justin, I want to warn you, the main character hurts people terribly. It gets lighter as it goes, but the first manipulation is devastating and I don't know if you'll enjoy following this character after that. Have you read other Boyne?

Gila wrote: "While I had nagging issues with this book, I also found it an incredibly clever and entertaining read, and oh could we use more of that these days! Glad you had so much fun with it."

I completely understand this, Gila, I felt the same with his Earth, and Fire. He really knows how to engage me so it feels effortless and immersive no matter what though. So far, anyway. And I wish I could pinpoint why, but I found this highly entertaining, yes.

Thanks, Jennifer, I don't need to like the character if the writing is well done. But I am forewarned!

And no, I haven't read Boyne before -- I thought this might be a good place to start.

Debbie wrote: "This is a beautiful review, Jennifer. You distilled its essence perfectly! Loved your opening: “Boyne’s prose feels easy and accessible, letting the depth of what he explores sneak up on his reader..."

Respect for your new favorite, Debbie. He's an expert story-teller. And yes, I can see exactly why you'd say you couldn't enjoy this until after that first relationship. I really do hope you have fun with those two titles and that they don't disappoint.

This sounds like a fascinating book (especially for a novelist like me). THank you for your insightful review.
Yup-writing my novels has indeed spurred my empathy far more than I'd expected.

Ken wrote: "This is also available as an excellent audiobook, with three great narrators"

Thanks, Ken! I've reread a couple favorites that way, good idea, thx for the tip.

Left Coast Justin wrote: "Thanks, Jennifer, I don't need to like the character if the writing is well done. But I am forewarned!

And no, I haven't read Boyne before -- I thought this might be a good place to start."

I do think this is a fun place to start, but I could see you enjoying House of Special Purpose as your first, too, if you feel like taking a peek. They are both highly entertaining and readable, but that one is a close-up and personal look at big events in history, whereas this focuses on the community of published writers and the inner workings of psychological manipulation. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts on whichever one you choose, Justin.

So happy to see your 5 stars. We are reading this one for my IRL bookclub for March- my choice. I haven’t read The Robber Bride yet but I’ve got it on my list for this year. Great review, Jennifer.

I really liked Robber Bride! And i have yet to read any of John Boyne's writing but he's been on my radar. Hopefully this year!

Brilliant review, Jennifer! This one is on my list. Your review inspires me to move this one up in my TBR pile.

Fran wrote: "This sounds like a fascinating book (especially for a novelist like me). THank you for your insightful review.
Yup-writing my novels has indeed spurred my empathy far more than I'd expected."

That's interesting, Fran, since I think it's well documented that reading does that. For me, writing is a chance to listen to myself when I normally default to empathy. There must be so much worked out when writing a book, I'm envious that you're disciplined enough to take yourself through the process again and again. I would love to experience it once.

As for this book, I think you would get a lot of value from reading this. Let me know what you think if you pick it up!

Another excellent review, Jennifer. I agree that this book is 5-star worthy.

Great review Jenn - I love this "Boyne-fest" you're in the middle of, love it!!! I must read this one - but I don't want to gobble up all of Boyne's work too soon. Love it 🤗🦘🎈

Antoinette wrote: "So happy to see your 5 stars. We are reading this one for my IRL bookclub for March- my choice. I haven’t read The Robber Bride yet but I’ve got it on my list for this year. Great review, Jennifer."

Oh, good choice, Antoinette❣️ I think your group will have fun, you may even want to read Robber Bride together afterwards to compare? Anyway, I personally am happy that you will be reading both, and I look forward to seeing how you experienced them, Antoinette. 💕

Jsiva wrote: "I really liked Robber Bride! And i have yet to read any of John Boyne's writing but he's been on my radar. Hopefully this year!"

Oh, Jsiva, this would be a PERFECT place for you to start then, if you loved Robber Bride! It's such a good choice for a first of his anyway, and it has that wicked glee. Just to warn you, though, the first relationship we see in this is more serious. I thought it was beautifully done, but definitely no glee.

Jonas wrote: "Brilliant review, Jennifer! This one is on my list. Your review inspires me to move this one up in my TBR pile."

I read this so fast, Jonas. I really do hope you like it!

Jennifer..being such a major fan of Boyne, have you read his departure from the usual called The Echo Chamber? While our tastes differ there's no getting around that he's poking at today's society through creation of a nutty family. I laughed out loud with every chapter and would love to adapt it to a TV series

Laysee wrote: "Another excellent review, Jennifer. I agree that this book is 5-star worthy."

Thank you, Laysee! At some point I'll take a look through your Boyne experiences on here... :)