Rating: 
Summary: Mesmerizing .... disturbing ... not a favorite book
Review: This book was a mesmerizing read. In fact, I stayed up last night far past my usual bedtime to finish it, biting my nails the whole time. This is the story of a family that uncovers an old fireplace in the old house they live in. When the chimney sweep comes to clean, he comes upon a hidden diary. The main character, Maggie, starts to read it and becomes fascinated by the herbal remedies in it. As she explores further, it turns out that this is in fact the ancient diary of a witch who died long ago. Maggie goes further and actually begins to practice some magic. An evil spirit is awakened after the diary is unearthed as well. As the story unfolds, Maggie's tinkering in the diary, and tinkering with magic, begins to disrupt and endanger her entire family. I can't say much more because I will reveal too much of the plot if I do so. Graham Joyce wrote this story well, but left a few things unexplained ... even poorly explained. Though I did find the story mesmerizing, it's not one of the best books I have ever read. I am not tempted to read any more of this author's works. I got the book from the library and am glad I didn't spend the money buying it. It isn't a book you would read more than once -- not a treasured keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Mesmerizing .... disturbing ... not a favorite book
Review: This book was a mesmerizing read. In fact, I stayed up last night far past my usual bedtime to finish it, biting my nails the whole time. This is the story of a family that uncovers an old fireplace in the old house they live in. When the chimney sweep comes to clean, he comes upon a hidden diary. The main character, Maggie, starts to read it and becomes fascinated by the herbal remedies in it. As she explores further, it turns out that this is in fact the ancient diary of a witch who died long ago. Maggie goes further and actually begins to practice some magic. An evil spirit is awakened after the diary is unearthed as well. As the story unfolds, Maggie's tinkering in the diary, and tinkering with magic, begins to disrupt and endanger her entire family. I can't say much more because I will reveal too much of the plot if I do so. Graham Joyce wrote this story well, but left a few things unexplained ... even poorly explained. Though I did find the story mesmerizing, it's not one of the best books I have ever read. I am not tempted to read any more of this author's works. I got the book from the library and am glad I didn't spend the money buying it. It isn't a book you would read more than once -- not a treasured keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Completely engrossing with dark twists.
Review: This is a book meant to be read in one sitting, preferably on a dark dreary night while the wind is howling through all of the cracks & crevices of old windows. Though I have the old, drafty windows, unfortunately, I no longer have the luxury of reading anything in one sitting and was forced to settle for half hour reading spurts whenever I could steal away from the various noises (kids fighting, husband yapping, tv blaring) residing in my home. Despite the pick-up and put-down method of my reading I was able to fall into the book all over again each time I began anew. This really says something about the story considering I'm unable to get through 3 out of 4 books I read lately. Like the previous Graham Joyce book I read "The Tooth Fairy", the characters in Dark Sister are realistic, imperfect people with many flaws. No one is perfect through and through. Maggie is an engrossing character caught in a stifling marriage. She's a stay-at-home mom who longs for a little more than keeping house (and getting criticized by husband Alex when things are not up to his standards). Alex, an insecure turd, is the type who would lock her in a tower and throw away the key if he could get away with it and refuses to allow her to return to school. When the not-so-happy couple discover an old journal filled with herbal lore Maggie becomes a little obsessed with learning its secrets. As Maggie delves deeper into the world of magic and makes two new friends (a lonely herbalist and an eccentric, crusty old lady) who become part of her journey, her marriage continues to go down the tubes. I found Maggie's magical discoveries quite interesting but it's the increasing destruction of her family life that adds an emotionally grueling level to the story. Maggie is a much more sympathetic character than Alex the a-hole but she also has her share of faults as well (but, hmmm, are they all her fault?). In anger, she says a few well deserved horribly awful things to Alex but I cringed because her young children were listening (and she knew it). She also forgets her responsibilities (i.e., her children) one time too many when her other world begins to consume her and she doesn't seem overly bothered by the fact. These missteps added to the realism of her character. I'm so sick of flawless characters and these people, even when unlikable, were a smack of reality and a nice change of pace. Another thing I liked was the depiction of Maggie's youngest son. He looks like a cherubic angel but acts like a real kid. He's a genuine, tantrum throwing brat who reacts to the increasing turmoil within his family with fear and fits. I found this very sad and yet another eloquently written layer of the story. As the story progresses and Maggie's dabbling with magic has some eye-opening results (love the revenge on Alex) but also awakens her "dark sister" and the story becomes even more intense. Another highly recommended book from beginning to end.
Rating:
Summary: A New Fan
Review: This is the first book by Graham Joyce that I have read. It was an intriguing premise, well-executed. Nice to see that you can't always predict the ending!!
Rating: 
Summary: Enthralling Story from Start to Finish
Review: When I finished reading Graham Joyce's "Dreamside", I was so disappointed I vowed never to read another of his books. As luck would have it, I noticed a hardcover copy of "Dark Sister" on a sale rack in my local bookseller and due to its extremely low price, and my inability to resist a bargain, I picked it up. I finished the story within the span of a day, so enthralling was it; I literally could not put it down!
The story has a quick pace which gets right to the point on page one. Once Maggie, Alex and their children find an old diary wedged within a hole in their fireplace, their lives change radically. Due to the content of the book, Maggie becomes increasingly involved in herblore. As she finds that her simple charms and ointments are effective, she careens into a further unbounded study into the Wiccan craft involving a local herb dealer and a strange old woman. Maggie discovers a surprising power within herself but is unaware that simultaneously, she is unleashing a malevolent force that threatens her own children. Underlying this main plot is the psychological unraveling of Maggie and Alex's relationship, reflected expertly through the mirror of their son Sam's deteriorating behavior. Joyce's skillful alloying of science, psychology and the occult hallmarks the story with a good solid satisfying climax that resolves the characters' plights, and yet manages to leave the reader still tingling with the magical and supernatural implications which linger in the air like a crackle of static energy and imprint on the mind with a flash of color like the aurora bourealis long after the book has been closed and placed on the shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Enthralling Story from Start to Finish
Review: When I finished reading Graham Joyce's "Dreamside", I was so disappointed I vowed never to read another of his books. As luck would have it, I noticed a hardcover copy of "Dark Sister" on a sale rack in my local bookseller and due to its extremely low price, and my inability to resist a bargain, I picked it up. I finished the story within the span of a day, so enthralling was it; I literally could not put it down!
The story has a quick pace which gets right to the point on page one. Once Maggie, Alex and their children find an old diary wedged within a hole in their fireplace, their lives change radically. Due to the content of the book, Maggie becomes increasingly involved in herblore. As she finds that her simple charms and ointments are effective, she careens into a further unbounded study into the Wiccan craft involving a local herb dealer and a strange old woman. Maggie discovers a surprising power within herself but is unaware that simultaneously, she is unleashing a malevolent force that threatens her own children. Underlying this main plot is the psychological unraveling of Maggie and Alex's relationship, reflected expertly through the mirror of their son Sam's deteriorating behavior. Joyce's skillful alloying of science, psychology and the occult hallmarks the story with a good solid satisfying climax that resolves the characters' plights, and yet manages to leave the reader still tingling with the magical and supernatural implications which linger in the air like a crackle of static energy and imprint on the mind with a flash of color like the aurora bourealis long after the book has been closed and placed on the shelf.
Rating:
Summary: Enthralling Story from Start to Finish
Review: When I finished reading Graham Joyce's "Dreamside", I was so disappointed I vowed never to read another of his books. As luck would have it, I noticed a hardcover copy of "Dark Sister" on a sale rack in my local bookseller and due to its extremely low price, and my inability to resist a bargain, I picked it up. I finished the story within the span of a day, so enthralling was it; I literally could not put it down!
The story has a quick pace which gets right to the point on page one. Once Maggie, Alex and their children find an old diary wedged within a hole in their fireplace, their lives change radically. Due to the content of the book, Maggie becomes increasingly involved in herblore. As she finds that her simple charms and ointments are effective, she careens into a further unbounded study into the Wiccan craft involving a local herb dealer and a strange old woman. Maggie discovers a surprising power within herself but is unaware that simultaneously, she is unleashing a malevolent force that threatens her own children. Underlying this main plot is the psychological unraveling of Maggie and Alex's relationship, reflected expertly through the mirror of their son Sam's deteriorating behavior. Joyce's skillful alloying of science, psychology and the occult hallmarks the story with a good solid satisfying climax that resolves the characters' plights, and yet manages to leave the reader still tingling with the magical and supernatural implications which linger in the air like a crackle of static energy and imprint on the mind with a flash of color like the aurora bourealis long after the book has been closed and placed on the shelf.
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