"The Woodrow family is at the circus to celebrate Greta's seventh birthday. When a clown asks for a volunteer from the audience, the parents are shocked when James, their extremely shy five-year-old, raises his hand and is led onstage, James thrives in the spotlight, and as the clown leads him through the routine, cheers from the audience turn into thundering applause. The act culminates in spectacular fashion, with James vanishing before their very eyes. The trouble is that James really does vanish-poof-into thin air. How each member of the family attempts to conjure James is a the heart of this novel about the perils of loving, the specter of loss, and the magic in everyday life."
Judith said
It is an interesting story and well told from the viewpoints of all of the principals. I still found the typical American female writer’s portrayal of American females, as being somehow so agonisingly aware of their frailty, very irritating. It is a common trait. The story was slightly “off” for me, simply because I can’t “be having” with mysticism! That aside it was well written. At first, whilst reading the book, I thought “disapparation” was a clever play on words-disappear/apparition but, when I got to the closing chapters I decided it was a made-up word almost as if Anne Ursu actually believed there is such a word. Again, another book I may not have found by myself but, if I had, I possibly would have chosen to read it. But I won’t be seeking out her other works.I’d give it 6/10.
Liz said
I thought this book was rubbish. Not well written-had no idea where she was going with it.If you want to read a good book about losing a child try "The Child in Time" by Ian McEwen.
Was Anne Ursu trying to create a Harry Potter type scenaario with hope of a follow up story?
Joyce said
The book The Disapparation of James in my opinion was at first frustrating, as I couldn’t make sense of it. I read and re-read the first couple of chapters, and then understood that James disappearance was not a physical disappearance but that he went into himself as a result of the trauma caused by being on the stage. James being Autistic was never stated but eluded to what was the cause of his trauma
Once I realized this the book made sense, and the parent’s grieving was not for the physical loss but the loss to Autism. I found the concept of the way it was written as very clever.
Once I realized this the book made sense, and the parent’s grieving was not for the physical loss but the loss to Autism. I found the concept of the way it was written as very clever.
It is an interesting story and well told from the viewpoints of all of the principals. I still found the typical American female writer’s portrayal of American females, as being somehow so agonisingly aware of their frailty, very irritating. It is a common trait. The story was slightly “off” for me, simply because I can’t “be having” with mysticism! That aside it was well written. At first, whilst reading the book, I thought “disapparation” was a clever play on words-disappear/apparition but, when I got to the closing chapters I decided it was a made-up word almost as if Anne Ursu actually believed there is such a word. Again, another book I may not have found by myself but, if I had, I possibly would have chosen to read it. But I won’t be seeking out her other works.
ReplyDeleteI’d give it 6/10.
Judith Thursday Morning Book Club