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Cathryn Conroy
A Gothic Mystery, Thriller, and Coming-of-Age Novel That Is Both a Page-Turner and a Slog
The best way to describe this unusual novel by Elisabeth Thomas is: Peculiar. It's strange, odd, and weird. It's also creepy and eerie.
This Gothic mystery, thriller, coming-of-age novel is both a page-turner and a slog. How can it be both? The twisted, mysterious, and very dark plot makes it tempting to binge-read the book, but the novel just drags on and on and on.
It takes the first 60 pages to set up the story, so if you're the kind of reader who gives a book 50 pages and then calls it quits if it's not enticing enough, don't bother with this one. Then it takes the next 60 pages for something to really happen.
…more Eventually, it picks up quite a bit, but it can still get bogged down in parts and then crawl to a sloooooow read before picking up again. Where was the publisher's editor in all this?
The twisted, mysterious, and dark plot: Catherine House is an elite college nestled in the woods of a small town in Pennsylvania. Students study there for three years, including the summers. Every student is given a full ride with absolutely no expenses. Sound good? There are also the creepy requirements and rules that all students must obey: The college is walled in by a fence. No one may leave. Students are totally isolated from the outside world—no news, no music, no phone calls. They may not have any contact whatsoever with family or friends until after graduation. They can't even wear their own clothing; the college provides everything they will need from jeans and white T-shirts to shampoo. But this is no convent or monastery. The college encourages students to drink LOTS of wine (all provided free) and to have rampant casual sex and out-of-control parties. An initiation and weekly "sessions" make this very much a cult-like experience. The academic work is rigorous in all disciplines, but this is especially so in the "new materials" concentration, where faculty and students are experimenting with a substance called plasm. This mysterious material can heal physical wounds and psychic disorders. But something nefarious, sinister, and top secret is going on in those labs. The main character is Ines Murillo, a mediocre, lazy student concentrating in art history. After the unexplained death of her roommate and other weird things she notices, Ines tries to crack the mystery of the plasm labs.
With more astute editing to create a more succinct storyline, this novel could have been far better. It's a shame it's not. (less)This is the first Bookbrowse First Impressions that I just couldn't get into. Maybe it's because of the world situation at the present moment, but I couldn't get past the first 50 pages. the writing was quite good, but the subject held no appeal for me. Sorry Bookbrowse, but this was the first book that totally missed the mark for me.
Nanette S.
Catherine House
This is a debut novel and it felt that way. I felt like I was reading snippets of a story not the whole story, it didn't flow smoothly. I didn't get a real feel for any of the characters, they seemed shallow, and with the school being considered its own character, it fell flat. The school years are rushed and seem a bit repetitive with nothing new being learned about any of the characters. The story didn't actually move until the last quarter of the book and then it ended. My expectations were high before starting, and unfortunately with this feeling like a young person's book, it didn't meet that expectation.
…more With this being in development for television I will give the show a chance, it could improve my opinion of this book. (less)Catherine House is a supposedly elite college that only accepts brilliant students who have gone on to change the world in amazing ways. But there is something creepy about this school. Once you're in, there's no leaving the grounds until graduation three years later and you cannot bring anything with you. No pictures of family, no music, not even your own clothes. Everything is provided: fine food and wine (lots of wine). The main character is a student named Ines who we follow through her three years.
The only thing "gothic" about this book to me is the description of setting: old buildings that are falling
…more down, rooms filled with boxes of old stuff stowed away by someone from a different time. Except for the prism lab. There, everything is shiny and new and only the brightest students are allowed to know what it is.
The book's premise interested me and much of the writing was beautiful. It kept me reading. Ultimately, though, it left me with too many questions that were not answered by the end. (less)This was a very different book. Post high school instead of college you might want to try Catherine House. It's elite and hard to get into but produces captains of industry. For 3 years you are committed. You do not leave. Why? Hmmmm.... Strange things are happening at Catherine House but then you don't ever want to leave. Strange indeed.
Roberta W. (Los Ranchos, NM)
Slow Paced and Unsatisfying
This book was touted as a "seductive, gothic-infused debut of literary suspense." I do not agree. I guess you could call it a slow burn when the real mystery part doesn't unfold until you are 30 pages from the end. Every time I thought there was a bit of suspense building up, it would vanish by the next sentence. I can't begin to count the number of times I was left up in the air thinking about abandoning the book.
The main character arrives at an isolated boarding school and from then on, I wondered if it was because she was a zombie. I couldn't tell if she had feelings or didn't have feelings. I think the book
…more would have been improved greatly had the author created a more likable character.
There is something mysterious going on in the school, but we never find out completely what it is. It has something to do with mind control, I guess. The main character sleepwalks through daily life and that's about all the narrative deals with. Every now and then something potentially dramatic happens, but there is no follow through.
And what is a plasm pin anyway?
I think the author has talent and perhaps her next book will be better. (less)This is a very dark and hazy tale laden with sex, food, and drink. More specifically, it is a story about a rigorous and innovative college experience that promises personal improvement. Applicants to this school, Catherine House, undergo extensive evaluations and must meet very specific standards. Once in, however, they are connected for life.
I do not read horror novels routinely, for real life pretty much has immunized me to their effect, but I could not resist one set in my home state. Even though it did not exude a lot of Pennsylvanian flavor, it was a very creative debut novel. I especially loved the
…more interplay of arts and sciences. The result sent shivers down my spine, especially when considering advancements in medicinal nanotechnology. Psychological applications, if not already in existence, would be truly amazing/nightmarish.
If I had to add my two cents, then I would suggest not sacrificing storyline for atmosphere, developing ancillary characters for definition, and adding more scrapple. Otherwise, I think that this soul-spinning yarn will appeal to many. (less)In general I am a sucker for a novel with quirky characters, or even better, a thriller with a quickly moving plot that ultimately ties up its loose ends. Unfortunately, Catherine House disappointed me.
Initially it felt more like a young adult novel to me; the plot, setting, and characters seemed to speak to a younger audience. I currently work part time in an independent school's middle/upper school library, so I've read more than my share of ya books. I thought the plot line would really appeal to our students, however, the character development fell short, and the plot dragged.
At the end of the book I felt
…more cheated. The narratives were inconsistent; most did not really add to the flow of the book. I could not identify with any of the characters or even feel sympathetic toward any of them. That was probably what made the book "average" instead of "good" for me.
I suppose if you were captivated by the students tangled up in the plot, you might be able to overlook the weaknesses of the book, but it was not really for me. (less)
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