Tragically beautiful novel about love, friendship and coming of age.
The Moment Collector summary (from Goodreads)
Girls started vanishing in the fall, and now winter’s come to lay a white sheet over the horror. Door County, it seems, is swallowing the young right into its very dirt From beneath the house on Water Street, I’ve watched the danger swell.
The residents know me as the noises in the house at night, the creaking on the stairs. I’m the reflection behind them in the glass, the feeling of fear in the cellar. I’m tied – it seems – to this house, this street, this town.
I’m tied to Maggie and Pauline, though I don’t know why. I think it’s because death is coming for one of them, or both.
All I know is that the present and the past are piling up, and I am here to dig. I am looking for the things that are buried.
My Thoughts
The Moment Collector (or The Vanishing Season as it seems to be called in some countries) is not at all what I expected. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
After reading the summary above, you’re probably expecting a ghost story/murder mystery right? Wrong.
Yes, there are elements of both, but overall this book is actually a story about love, friendship and coming of age. It’s ALL about the characters, and thankfully those characters are just incredible.
Our three main characters are Maggie, Pauline and Liam. Their relationship is probably one of the most fascinating and captivating relationships I’ve ever read about. Within the reasonably short space between the first and last pages of this book, I managed to both love and hate (perhaps hate is a little strong) each of them at various stages of the story.
One thing I must say is that this book has almost no actual plot. When I think about it, nothing really happens until the very end. And I’d suggest that it’s an ending that you won’t see coming and probably won’t be too happy about.
But that doesn’t matter. It’s the journey that matters, and the subtle way that Jodi Lynn Anderson has managed to capture the huge impact that two new friends make on Maggie’s life with minimal drama and action. It’s almost poetic.
Some people really won’t like this book, but others will fall in love with it.
I haven’t read any of Jodi Lynn Anderson’s previous novels, but I’m sure it won’t be long before I get my hands on one, and I’m certainly looking forward to it.
I’d love to know your thoughts on The Moment Collector if you’ve read it.
My Rating
**** 4/5 stars
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This sounds very interesting and intriguing, shall be added to the TBR list. Great review! 😀