I began this book completely convinced that I would not like it. I could not have been more wrong. This is an immediate classic, and for anyone who grew up reading The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings ... well you will love this book. It is haunting, and heartbreaking ... yet beautiful!



The story alternates by chapter, telling us the journey of Henry Day, and the changeling that stole him away. The changelings steal children and change their appearance so that they can live the life of the child that they have stolen. All the while, the parents may suspect something is amiss, but cannot figure out what has changed about their child. Henry is now living the life of a changeling. Frozen in time as a child, living with a pack of other wild little changelings. They long to live again as human beings, but must wait their turn... usually a century or so. The changeling that is living Henry's life struggles with the guilt of taking over Henry's life, and the fear of being discovered for who he really is. All changelings were originally little human children who were stolen by the changelings. This is a story of longing, childhood, love, and loss.


I am amazed that this is Keith Donohue's first novel. He writes so eloquently, and the descriptive quality of his writing put me right into the world that he's created. I lost myself completely in this book. In fact I cried, unexpectedly. For anyone unsure if they are able to enjoy a book about changelings, fairies, etc,, don't let that keep you from this simply amazing work of literature.

I literally missed Henry and Clare immediately upon finishing this book. The character developement was incredible ... I felt like I'd known these people my entire life. I was right smack dab in the middle of their relationship. BRILLIANT! It is truly beyond me how Audrey Niffenegger developed the timelines, the plot, and the connectedness between these two people. I mean, a little girl meeting the man she will marry, and falling for him ... without it ever feeling innappropriate? Amazing! The only times I have ever cried this hard after reading a book are when I was 10 and read Where the Red Fern Grows, and last year when I read the Kite Runner. And I read voraciously! Easily the best love story ever written. And I must say this ... I was concerned that it would be sci-fi because of the title. It's NOT science fiction for those of you that aren't sure. A must read.

I could not put this book down, and I constantly had to remind myself that I wasn't reading a work of fiction. My memories of my early childhood are crystal clear, and I think the author's level of intellect allowed her to write a book in which the reader can feel the unconditional love a child feels for her parent, even while being neglected. I could feel the intense bond between the siblings, and worried constantly that one of them might not survive in that environment. I felt her mother to be severely narcissistic, and her father's alcoholism tragic ... although there was no doubt in my mind that he loved his kids. (I thought that giving them stars for Christmas was touching.) The author manages to tell the story of her sad childhood without making you hate her parents ... and I suspect that is difficult to accomplish. I feel that it is her true love for her parents, despite being so neglected, that enables her to do that, Fantastic book!