Monday, January 20, 2014

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

Standalone
304p.
Available 1/21/14
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Source: ARC from publisher for review
From the New York Times bestselling author of Garden Spells comes a novel about heartbroken people finding hope at a magical place in Georgia called Lost Lake. 
Suley, Georgia, is home to Lost Lake Cottages and not much else. Which is why it's the perfect place for newly-widowed Kate and her eccentric eight-year-old daughter Devin to heal. Kate spent one memorable childhood summer at Lost Lake, had her first almost-kiss at Lost Lake, and met a boy named Wes at Lost Lake. It was a place for dreaming. But Kate doesn't believe in dreams anymore, and her Aunt Eby, Lost Lake's owner, wants to sell the place and move on. Lost Lake's magic is gone. As Kate discovers that time has a way of standing still at Lost Lake can she bring the cottages—and her heart—back to life? Because sometimes the things you love have a funny way of turning up again. And sometimes you never even know they were lost... until they are found.
My thoughts:
This is a contemporary magical realism book by the well known Sarah Addison Allen. I enjoy her tales of magical realism and couldn't wait to dive into this book. This is a story about people who have lost themselves, usually through a death of a loved one. Some find themselves again and others never look. It's also about fighting for who you are and the ending you wish to create for your life. A life with several endings and beginnings. The author's notes indicate she had a huge scare with breast cancer, so it doesn't surprise me that the book is about loss and new beginnings. Although in the book the loss is the loss of a loved one and not health, it still speaks universally to all of us. It is a journey we will all have to take when we love someone.

The magic in the book is a bit hidden at times in this book and sometimes it is up front. There is no pattern to the magic other than the ability for those listening to move along on their journey. The magic also takes many forms and it doesn't always seem to come from one source like her Garden Spells book. Still, like her other book, it was a journey trying to figure out if it was real or imagined magic.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. If you like magical realism, I do think you should try this book.

22 comments:

  1. I love magical realism every once in a while. In fact, I'm reading Isabel Allende right now, and no one writes magical realism better than her. These gentle stories that deal with loss can be fabulous at times, but I do have to be in the right mood.
    Lovely review!

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    1. I do like Allende but hers can be much darker than Allen's stories. Her's tend to go very light. So it depends on how dark or light I want to go. :)

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  2. Aw, this sounds sweet! I do like a nice magical realism story every once in a while.

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  3. Hmm, sounds interested, I don't know that I've read magical realism

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    1. You probably have, but didn't realize it. Some of these genre's are newish (new name, not subject matter).

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  4. I have seen other bloggers read this book and now I want to read this book. LOL!

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  5. What a beautiful cover on this book! Love it, and it seems to fit the magical realism aspect of the book so perfectly. I don't know if I've read a book that would be classified as magical realism, so that alone has me curious. Plus, it got 4.5 stars from you, which means I need to read it!

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    1. I bet you have and I would suggest Allen's books to start. I think you would enjoy the lightness she gives her characters.

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  6. I absolutely LOVE Sarah Addison Allen, so I'm thrilled her latest is just as wonderful as always. Plus, the magical realism in her books are just to die for so I'm definitely looking forward to picking this up when my copy arrives. Great review, Melissa!(:

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    1. I was really in the mood for one of her books. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

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  7. I read one of her books YEARS ago and enjoyed it. I do like magical realism. I have at least one other of hers I need to read soon!

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    1. Oh I hope you get this one and enjoy it! There is at least one book of hers I haven't read yet. :)

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  8. Oh I love the cover! It sounds like something different and I confess I'm curious. thank you.

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  9. *dances* Yes! I love this author and have read all of her books. I think my favorite was Garden Spell but I cannot wait to crack this open after reading your review..woot!

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  10. I am itching to read thsi book. I love her stuff. I think Sugar Queen is my fav, but I am hopeful this one will be the best to date.

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  11. This is not my usually kind of read. I'm not a fan of magic in general, but this does sound very good.

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  12. I haven't read magical realism in a long time, but I do love it, and I've been wanting to read Sarah's work for a long time. Sounds like this would be a great place to start. So glad to hear you enjoyed it!

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  13. I have no clue what magic realism is. And not a big fan of grief to overcome in a novel, really. Still, there is something about it ...

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  14. Oh she's coming to Asheville this week, but the weather is supposed to be bad so I'm bailing on traveling there for a signing. I don't do snow. But Heidi has convinced me to try some of her work. She loves her books. I'm glad you enjoyed this one!

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