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Title: The Book of Speculation

Author: Erika Swyler

Narrator: Johnny Carr

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-02-15

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The Book of Speculation is Erika Swyler's gorgeous and moving debut, a wondrous novel about the power of books, family, and magic.

Simon Watson lives alone on the Long Island Sound in his family home, a house perched on the edge of a cliff that is slowly crumbling into the sea. His parents are long dead, his mother having drowned in the water his house overlooks. His younger sister, Enola, works for a travelling carnival and seldom calls.

On a day in late June, Simon receives a mysterious book from an antiquarian bookseller; it has been sent to him because it is inscribed with the name Verona Bonn, Simon's grandmother. The book tells the story of two doomed lovers who were part of a travelling circus more than 200 years ago. The paper crackles with age as Simon turns the yellowed pages filled with notes and sketches.

He is fascinated, yet as he reads Simon becomes increasingly unnerved. Why do so many women in his family drown on 24th July? And could Enola, who has suddenly turned up at home for the first time in years, risk the same terrible fate?

As 24th July draws ever closer, Simon must unlock the mysteries of the book and decode his family history before it's too late.

Critic Reviews:

"A quirky, raucous and bewitching family saga. I absolutely loved this book." (Sara Gruen)

Members Reviews:

Not my favorite read of the year

This book was okay - it had its interesting parts and did keep me somewhat entertained and engrossed as I was reading it, but I did expect more out of it, especially after reading other reviews. I think the ending was pretty predictable and tidy. There are some questions that I think should have been answered that were not. I probably would not recommend the book and won't be re-reading it in the future (as I do with a lot of my books).

The novel is an easy and quick read

This was a rather predicable novel. Not particularly well drawn characters and none of the characters were likable enough to care what happened to them or to root for them .The novel is an easy and quick read, however, and an okay diversion.

Stunning and otherwise unexpected

The book starts slow, which is oddly good because with each disreputable but strangely loveable character gliding in like dancers slipping into a waltz, you find yourself unable to stop and unable to let them go after.

Loved

This book took awhile for me to get involved. I almost stopped reading, but glad I didn't . If you stick with this book it all comes together to tell a wonderful story of families. I loved Simon and Amos.

Cool Background But Flat Characters

Simon receives a book in the mail. The book leads him down a path of discovery concerning his family history and the tragedy that tends to befall the women within it.

I would give this book a 3.5. I thought the story itself was truly unique and interesting to read about. Carnivals are a fascinating backdrop, but unfortunately I felt that the characters who make up it were a bit two-dimensional. How can an electric man be boring? But somehow he fell flat. And because of that flatness I never developed strong emotions concerning the characters and therefore wasn't that interested in the climax of the story.