I actually finished Speak Softly, She Can Hear, my second RIP Challenge book, a couple weeks back, but life’s been busy and I haven’t had the time (or inclination, if truth be told) to blog about it. I can’t remember how I first learned of this book, but I’d had it on my wishlist, and later my ‘to read’ list, for several months. Carole, a young and sheltered New York teenager in the 1960s, plans an illicit trip with her more cosmopolitan best friend Naomi to a Vermont cabin, where they both plan to lose their virginity to Eddie Lindbaeck, the sleaziest, most depraved villain I’ve come across in quite awhile. What begins as a night of forbidden pleasure ends in a shocking and terrible event that will change the course of Carole’s life. The secret of that night, which she is desperate to keep hidden, forces Carole to lead a life of secrets, burdened by guilt and fear of discovery.
While I read the book, tense and wondering what would happen and when Carole’s past would catch up to her, I questioned some of the actions of the characters. Why did Naomi and Eddie continue to swoop down into Carole’s life, why did Carole not try to look harder into the details of that fateful night? Then again, I can see how guilt and fear can make a person not think rationally, and it would hardly have made such a gripping story if Carole had been left to keep her secrets.
You know, I came across this book too on someone’s blog and read quite good things about it. Maybe it’s the month or the approaching monsoon weather, I’ve been in the mood for murderous, spooky, magical tales. I think I’ll add this book to my ‘to buy’ pile. Thanks!
Well, I wouldn’t call it spooky or magical, but it was definitely a tense read. If you read it, let me know what you think.
It does sound gripping. Another to add to my already mile long TBR list!
Yes, gripping is a good word to describe it. What I found most compelling was the way it captured how a single decision can affect the course of a life.
Huh. That sounds really intriguing. I’m going to be adding it to my TBR list.
I think it’s worth a read, although I wouldn’t have bought a copy if I hadn’t found one in the bargain section of the bookstore.
This sounds really good….I’m adding it to my TBR pile right now! Thanks for the review!
I hope you like it!
I haven’t heard of this one, but it sounds great! Thanks for the review.
Hmmm … I wouldn’t go so far as to say great, but it was entertaining and worth the read.
Interesting & intriguing. I’ll have to take a further peek into this one!
If you end up reading it, let me know what you think.
I’m adding it too – thanks!
You’re quite welcome – I hope you like it!
As if I don’t have enough on my “to be read” shelf, I’ve ordered this from a swap site! Great review, thanks Lesley!!! Can’t wait for tea
Oh, you should have just emailed me – I would have mailed you my copy! I hope they have clotted cream.
I don’t want to be a buzz kill, but I’m going to. We read this for my book group last year. It’s the only book club book in over 3 years that I haven’t finished. I absolutely hated it. It was just too much. I knew people like all the characters, and I didn’t like any of them. Just my two cents’ worth.
You know, I didn’t like any of the characters, either – not even Carole really. I spent a lot of the book questioning the motives and actions of them all, but after finishing it and thinking about it a bit, I thought perhaps it’s actually more authentic than I supposed, in that a lot of what people do, especially because of emotions like fear and shame, are illogical.
I’m glad to hear from someone else who read it and your reaction – maybe this will give a more realist expectation going in for any new readers.
Sounds suitably creepy. I’ll add it to my ridiculous wish list, thanks!
Yes, it was and the first chapter definitely packs a punch.
I’m intrigued by the book. Maybe someday I’ll get to read it. Too late to add it to my R.I.P. Reading Pool (which somehow changes every so often).
That’s how I feel about a lot of books I add to my wishlist from reading other book blogs – my wishlist just keeps growing and growing. I can never stick to the original list I set for myself in challenges either.
I have a copy of this somewhere. The plot sounded interesting, so I’m glad to hear you describe it as gripping.
I’m glad I finally got around to reading it, and having one less book on my TBR list!
I am interested in reading this book after hearing about it here…thanks for sharing… I always feel in books that some characters are unnecessary or that they get too involved in tedious non-sequential activities that do not add any significance to the stories progress. Another wish list add…
Yes, that happens a lot. Thankfully, I don’t really remember much of that in this book.