The Special Power of Restoring Lost Things

This is a sad, depressing story about people who allowed their lives to get hopelessly screwed up, and then suffer the consequences. The main issues didn't seem to get resolved (or if they did, I didn't understand it).

This book was interesting and I found myself trying to deeper understand the characters. I like a happy ending and I didn't get one. I felt there was a start in the direction but too much left unresolved.

Somehow despite their tragedy, the characters were totally unlikeable and didn't generate any sympathy. The ending was so uprupt that it seems like the last couple of chapters were left out of the book

Great read! Couldn't put it down. Effortlessly moved between the various characters and I felt connected to them all. However, the ending was so disappointing! I was dying to know what the mom really did (no spoiler here) but the author doesn't say. If you also don't enjoy an ending with no end, you'll be frustrated. Other than that last page, the book was fantastic. Full of suspense. A page turner.

This is an almost stream of consciousness account of how one family deals with tragic loss of their daughter. While the structure and topic are interesting. I found parts laborious. I read on, hoping for a reward by the end, but found none. Perhaps that was the point...there is no reward in death.

This novel is an interesting look at how a family copes with the disappearance of one of its members. I liked how the author wrote about the "limbo" that a family can be mired in. How can you walk the fine line of not giving up hope, yet being realistic? A father who continues to work to support the family yet keeps a small book where he "talks" to his daughter. A mother who has emotionally collapsed: not eating, house in disarray, yet is adamant that her daughter is still out there and that luck is on their side since all the other bodies have never been her. Finally, a young brother who is now obsessed with preparing to survive a cataclysm, as if he can prepare for that he'll never be hurt again. A good portion of this novel deals with the last few hours a family has before finally knowing whether or not a body found is that of Jennifer.

What I disliked what was the falling action and the resolution of this book. It seemed almost too hurried and stitched loosely together. Also some of the character arcs are never fulfilled. However, these aspects don't too badly diminish the story. (in my opinion).

I really identified with the author as I have lost a child. Elizabeth Mauk must have as well or she could not understand the grief a person goes through and what that does to the family. But the book was very readable and interesting due to the various twists and turns, interesting characters and a totally surprise ending. I would read other works by her.

I enjoyed the writing, and the perspective of the story. It did keep me wondering throughout the whole book. What could happen next? I felt a bit of a connection with the characters but not as I would have liked. The ending seemed to come out of nowhere for me. I would recommend that you check it out.