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ARC Book Review: The Ghosts of Heaven – Marcus Sedgwick


theghostsofheavenThe Ghosts of Heaven
Author: Marcus Sedgwick
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy, Retelling
Release Date: January 6, 2015
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Goodreads | Amazon | TBD

Summary:

The spiral dance. The spinning top in her brother’s hands. The waterwheel. The carving under the water. The rope at her neck.
Timeless, beautiful, and haunting, spirals connect the four episodes of this mesmerizing novel from Printz Award winner Marcus Sedgwick. They are there in prehistory, when a girl picks up a charred stick and makes the first written signs; there tens of centuries later, hiding in the treacherous waters of Golden Beck that take Anna, who people call a witch; there in the halls of a Long Island hospital at the beginning of the twentieth century, where a mad poet watches the oceans and knows the horrors it hides; and there in the far future, as an astronaut faces his destiny on the first spaceship sent from earth to colonize another world. Each of the characters in these mysterious linked stories embarks on a journey of discovery and survival; carried forward through the spiral of time, none will return to the same place.

 
First Sentence: Generations of stars lived and died.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

My Review:

I knew I was going to request The Ghosts of Heaven the moment I saw its beautiful cover. I never thought that that particular shade of blue, orange, and pink purple would go so well together, but the cover surprised me. I also love the spiral staircase on the ocean, giving the cover a mysterious what-on-Earth-is-this feel. However, once I had The Ghosts of Heaven in my hands, I slowly started regretting it because what happens if it isn’t my type of book? I’ve never read any books by Marcus Sedgwick before and just judging The Ghosts of Heaven by the summary alone, I also knew that The Ghosts of Heaven is not the usual kind of book I like to read.

She is the one who goes on,
when others remain behind.
The one who walks into darkness,
when others cling to the light. (ARC 7)

The Ghosts of Heaven contains four stories focused around spirals. In the introduction, Marcus Sedgwick says that the stories can be read in any order, but I strongly recommend you guys to actually read the stories in the order it appears in the book because then, you can easily see how the stories connect with one another. I also feel like I should give you guys a warning: There is a lot of death in the book. I mean, duh Kelly, why didn’t you realize that there were a lot of death in the book, with the words “ghosts” and “heaven” in the title?

The first story focuses on a Native American women. It’s written in a poetry format, but can be read as if it is any other book. When I finished the first half of the story, I was a bit confused. I had a sense that the story was trying to tell me something, but at the same time, I didn’t know what the story was trying to teach me. By the end of the story, I was still confused about the moral of the story, but I was also sad at what had happened at the end. Did things have to end up that way?

For now, she held the silent boy tighter still, and wondered when she’d ever stop crying. (ARC 164)

I enjoyed the second story a lot more than the first one, but I suspected it wouldn’t end happily because of what the summary hinted at. As it turns out, I was right. All I have to say about the second story is this: Why are boys such jerks? Also, boys suck. Like seriously. The second story made me the angriest out all of all the other three stories – not anger at the story itself, but anger at the characters themselves.

The third and forth story was also pretty good and amazed me at with its depth. I don’t think I got the message of the third story, but I really enjoyed reading it nevertheless. It was the same case with the fourth story – I didn’t get the message of the story, especially the last three pages (although I have a theory about two of those three pages), but I enjoyed reading it nevertheless.

Overall, I definitely do recommend The Ghosts of Heaven; it’s definitely a book that will give you all different kinds of feels, ranging from happiness to why does this have to happen?! I would also definitely be checking out all his other books in the future.

four

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-Kelly

Posted by Kelly on 1-06-15 · 27 Comments
Categories: 2015 book, book review Tagged: 4 star

« Like I Promised, This Is A MASSIVE Giveaway
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Speak Your Mind

  1. Lisa Loves Literature says

    1-06-15 at 9:15 AM

    Love the part of your review about how boys suck. They do, and the 2nd story definitely shows it. I also enjoyed the 3rd story the most. The 4th was okay. Overall I was left kind of eh for the whole book, but it is one I would definitely recommend. Great review!
    Lisa Loves Literature recently posted…New Year’s COYER Read-a-thon Wrap-UpMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Christina R. says

    1-06-15 at 9:17 AM

    It’s awesome when an author attempts a new format for a novel and it works out so well!

    Love how you connected with characters even in a short story and how you had emotional reactions and felt like you wanted to root for a happy ending.

    Love how the characters are unconventional !

    Lovely review :)

    Reply
  3. Danielle D says

    1-06-15 at 9:22 AM

    I’ve read various reviews for this book, and reading the synopsis made me think of Cloud Atlas, since that’s short stories that are tied together. I’ve never read anything by this author before, but I’m willing to check this one out.

    Reply
  4. Kelly @ Dancing Through the Pages says

    1-06-15 at 10:06 AM

    I’ve heard mixed reviews about this one I’ve had a bunch of different experiences 30th Marcus Sedgwick’s books. But your review makes me hope that I’ll enjoy it when I read it! I’m interested in seeing how the stories connect though. Especially since they have to do with a Native American woman and a presumably crappy boy.
    Kelly @ Dancing Through the Pages recently posted…[Review] Vicious – V.E. SchwabMy Profile

    Reply
  5. kayla keefer says

    1-06-15 at 10:48 AM

    This book looks so interesting!

    Reply
  6. Stefani @ Caught Read Handed says

    1-06-15 at 12:00 PM

    I love the cover of this one too! I’m glad it seems to live up to the cover. I didn’t know it was four connected stories though – that’s cool! Looking forward to checking this one out.
    Stefani @ Caught Read Handed recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated 2015 Debut NovelsMy Profile

    Reply
  7. Karen Elizabath Bainbridge says

    1-06-15 at 4:25 PM

    Thank you for your concise review I have been waiting for The Ghosts of Heaven to come out and am looking forward to reading it. Thanks for your review it was great.

    Reply
  8. Laila BC says

    1-06-15 at 8:05 PM

    finally your review of this book…i remember you featured this one in your Nov 2014 posts or was that Dec? because of the cover hehehe…anyways i have read a book before that were written in poetry format…it took sometime to getting used to but yeah you can read it like any other book.
    well it’s not yet available in my local bookstore…so i might just get the ebook copy first. Thanks for this review :)

    Reply
  9. Elaine says

    1-06-15 at 9:41 PM

    Wow, this sounds really interesting. And can I just be totally superficial and say that I would love to get it based on the cover itself? The cover is FLAWLESS, ugh.
    Elaine recently posted…timefliesifuthrowyouralarmclock:

    Harry Potter CompilationMy Profile

    Reply
  10. Jaime Lester says

    1-06-15 at 10:34 PM

    I have read and enjoyed a couple of this authors books, and enjoyed them. When I first heard about this one though, I was a little thrown because it seems so different than his normal ones. But, I was intrigued by it, if a little leery. Yours is the second review that I have read for it, and both of y’all thoroughly enjoyed the story. So I think that maybe, just maybe I might give this one a shot when I get the chance. And hope that I enjoy it as much as you did!
    Jaime Lester recently posted…Tear You ApartMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Hillary R. says

    1-06-15 at 11:38 PM

    The Ghosts of Heaven feels like a book that’s really not super out there right now. Every now and then do I see some reviews for it pop out, but not everyone is talking about it. Which is weird because if it actually got four out five from you, it has to be a good story to read, right? Either way, I’m really considering about reading The Ghosts of Heaven. It sounds really interesting and the cover is unique. I also found it intriguing how there’s actually four, FOUR stories in this one book. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around that info since that never happens unless you’re reading an anthology. And I’m pretty sure this isn’t an anthology. I really want to know why those four stories tie-in at the end and what they’re about! :)

    Reply
  12. Stephanie @ Bookfever says

    1-07-15 at 9:55 AM

    Whoa! That cover is breathtaking and I also like the sound of the book. I might have to get this book! Great review! :D
    Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Waiting On Wednesday: Ruin & Rule by Pepper WintersMy Profile

    Reply
  13. Erin @ The Hardcover Lover says

    1-07-15 at 11:29 AM

    Oh! I keep seeing ads for this on Goodreads, but I hadn’t seen any reviews for it on my feed yet.

    I’ve never read Marcus Sedgwick, but I might have to get this one. I like the idea of there being four different stories that all eventually connect. I love books like that.

    Oh, and I agree with you… that cover is one of the most beautiful covers I’ve seen in a while.
    Erin @ The Hardcover Lover recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday (11)My Profile

    Reply
  14. Bruna says

    1-07-15 at 2:35 PM

    I’m definitely even more interested in this book now.
    The whole premise is so intriguing and your review makes it sound like a great read.
    It seems to be filled with complex layers of meaning to the stories and overall arc (if there is one?) and that’s something I look for in books.
    Bruna recently posted…“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the…My Profile

    Reply
  15. Helena D. says

    1-07-15 at 4:59 PM

    My goodness, It sounds so interesting.
    I think i’m going to pick this one up as soon as possible!

    Reply
  16. Reeka says

    1-07-15 at 9:14 PM

    I have YET to read a Marcus Sedgwick book. I have heard NOTHING but good things, and even better things about GHOSTS OF HEAVEN. Your review was slightly reminiscent of how I feel about Mitch Albom’s books, in the sense that you don’t always get what he’s trying to ‘teach you,’ until very near the end.

    You have definitely peaked my interest. I believe I requested this one as well! Will have to move it up on my TBR pile.

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!
    Reeka recently posted…BLOG TOUR: The Girl With a Clock for a Heart by Peter SwansonMy Profile

    Reply
  17. Lucy says

    1-08-15 at 1:59 PM

    Your review actually made me want to read this book. Before I read this review I have only heard one person talk about it and not giving me any reason really to maybe pick it up once it’s published. Your review gave me a mysterious what-on-Earth-is-this feel just like you got when you looked at the cover. And I have to agree with you on the cover part. It is really mysterious and beautiful and it makes you want to pick up this book. But coming back to what I was saying in the beginning of this post is that normally a spoiler free review sometimes can be a bit too plain for me and it won’t give me any feeling toward whether I would want to read this book but your review actually did do this to me! Now I’m definitely going to keep my eyes out for this book!

    Reply
  18. Jacklin Updegraft says

    1-09-15 at 12:52 AM

    I love covers like this! I hate it when I don’t like a book with a beautiful cover because I want to keep it but I know I’ll never read it again. So I want to pass it on to someone who might like it more than I did! I’ve seen good things about this book so I’m excited! Great review! Can’t wait to read it!

    Reply
  19. Ula @ Blog of Erised says

    1-10-15 at 5:42 AM

    I haven’t even heard about this novel before now! That’s so odd. Sounds like a lovely book! I’ll definitely be adding it to my TBR and reading it soon I hope!

    Reply
  20. Anette Fabre says

    1-12-15 at 3:31 AM

    Thank you for this nice review, Kelly! Definitely gonna add this on my list!
    Anette Fabre recently posted…Wicked Review: Attachments by Rainbow RowellMy Profile

    Reply
  21. Raffy Perez says

    1-12-15 at 4:30 AM

    Nice review!!! I’m definitely going to pick this up, simply because of its Cloud Atlas feel. I haven’t read that either, but I’ve watched the film, and it was spectacular. Thanks for this!! :)
    Raffy Perez recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday: We All Looked UpMy Profile

    Reply
  22. Cassidie Jhones says

    1-12-15 at 11:54 AM

    The cover truly is gorgeous, but more importantly; this is one of the most unique concepts I have ever seen. I concluded form your review that the execution wasn’t lacking either. I think I’ll give it a chance in the near future.
    Cassidie Jhones recently posted…Blog Tour: Shadow of Loss by Josefina GutierrezMy Profile

    Reply
  23. Stefanía B. says

    1-13-15 at 4:57 PM

    This book looks really interesting! I fell in love with its cover ♥. I love this kind of stories.
    I hope not to be so sad because of the death parts when I read this book :)

    Reply
  24. Olivia says

    1-22-15 at 4:02 AM

    I have seen a couple of reviews on this book and haven’t be sure as to whether or not I should be reading it yet for a while. I get the sense that I would be confused in certain places. I am also trying to understand where I have seen this authors name before because I know I have…
    Olivia recently posted…Editing Your Story (Guest Post)My Profile

    Reply
  25. Jen K says

    1-24-15 at 1:21 AM

    Wow, sounds like an intense read. I haven’t heard of this one, but I think I might need to check it out. Yes, it will be brutal, but sometimes those are the best books to read sometimes. Great review.
    Jen K recently posted…Review: All the Bright PlacesMy Profile

    Reply
  26. Molly Mortensen says

    2-26-15 at 10:29 AM

    I’ve heard good things about this book but I don’t think its for me, too dark. I wouldn’t have made the connection between ghosts and heaven and it being a book on death either.
    Molly Mortensen recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Book Related Problems I HaveMy Profile

    Reply
  27. bn100 says

    3-02-15 at 9:26 PM

    interesting there are four stories in the book

    Reply

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