Wow. I'm not sure if I can review this book. I'm not even sure if I liked it or disliked it. Unlike some other reviewers, however, I am sure of what happened. I became aware of what was going on pretty quickly, which is unusual for me.
I know I liked the prose. It was poetic prose, very lyrical and filled with metaphors. It was hallucinatory, almost as if the narrator were feeling the effects of a drug or suffering a feverish dream. If that's something you dislike, you probably should stay away from this book. I love it. (One of my favorite books is Robert Jones Jr.s' THE PROPHETS.) I didn't mind the phrases, the ambiguity, the lack of quotation marks, the jumble of thoughts. I thought they added to the overall effect, since our narrator, a female named July, was like a phrase herself, only half-present, a jumble of thoughts and not all of them her own.
The structure of the book was fine, but I thought, in some ways, the narrative could have been better. It didn't build as much as it could have; it telegraphed its ending far too close to its beginning. It's a dark and depressing book, and I wanted to feel it building toward that shattering climax, that final showdown, that rending of one sister from the other, but I felt a stasis, instead. That didn't ruin the book for me, but if the build, the suspense, had been there, the book would have been so much better. I also wasn't too fond of the setting, or, I should say, descriptions of the setting. I just didn't get a clear picture of the North Yorkshire coast, which I have visited many times. For me, this book could have taken place anywhere: Canada, the Northern US, the coast of Norway, Northwest France, etc. Any place where it's crumbling and, at times, dreary, would have worked, and I wanted a clear picture of the North Yorkshire coast and the crumbling house, which, for me, didn't rise to the level of a character as it did for many other readers. But that's okay; the place didn't really matter. The book is definitely a character study. It's not a plot-driven novel at all, and the failings I felt may have been my own rather than the author's.
The cover art is perfect, because this is the story of two sisters, September and July, named for the months in which they were born. September, the oldest by ten months, is the dominant sister in every way. July is the sister who goes along with everything September suggests, whether she approves of it or not, and it is July who is our narrator. (The only other character of any importance is Sheela, their East Indian mother, but she's little more than a ghostly presence in the book. Like a few high school girls, and a group of young people on the beach, these characters are there only because they need to be there.) It is July and September whose lives are so intertwined that we barely know where one girl's thoughts end and the other's begin, though the girls do have their differences. September is fair and blue-eyed, like her long dead Danish father, while July is dark and olive-skinned, like her Indian mother. Despite the difference in the girls' looks and in their personalities, neither can live without the other. They are always together. They don't act in tandem so much as they act as one. They have no friends other than each other; they do not socialize, even at school; they are not part of the world outside of themselves.
Two people cannot live forever as September and July live; hence problems do arise, one huge problem in particular that threatens the girls' very existence. September and July and Sheela find themselves fleeing Oxford, their home, to the beach cottage of Sheela's sister-in-law on the North Yorkshire coast. Or do they? That's one of the book's biggest questions. I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I keep thinking about the book anyway, trying to work out exactly when the huge problem, the threat, the rending, the move to Yorkshire from Oxford took place. Johnson plays very fair with her readers; the clues are on the first or second page. The reader has only to put them together.
There is one thing I'm absolutely sure of: Daisy Johnson is an enormous talent. Absolutely enormous. She's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. In fact, I think more people will dislike her book than like it. But that doesn't mean it isn't superlative. And other readers felt quite differently than I. Many other readers felt that the house did rise to the level of a character, and many other readers did feel the build of suspense. Neither Ms. Johnson, nor any other author, can please all of the people all of the time, with every little detail, which is why I awarded this book five stars rather than four, even though I felt a few things were missing, at least for me.
If you decide to read this book, be warned: It is dark and it only gets darker. Ms. Johnson seems to want to remind us that sometimes there is no redemption. Sometimes there is no hope. Sometimes we live our lives in the midst of darkness, of annihilation, and the light is forever extinguished. I like books like these, but others will feel put off. The sense of unease this book engenders will be more than they want to bear.
I will read Ms. Johnson's previous novel, EVERYTHING UNDER, which made her the youngest person ever shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and I'm sure, deservedly so. If you choose to read SISTERS, I hope you like it, but know it will get under your skin, and it will change your life forever. So, please don't say you haven't been warned. You have.
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Reviews with images
Darkly Gorgeous, Intriguing...but what happened?!
A taut, twisty, mind-bending read that is so superbly written, so lyrical and tragic.Something unspeakable and unbearable happened between sisters July and September. What presents as not-quite a thriller, not quite-a novel, not-quite horror or prose poetry, it is but all of those things, and that's what makes SISTERS (Riverhead, August 2020) such a slippery one to pin down. Reading this story is strange and fantastical, a bit like a folktale with dark vibes, a fever dream.If you are looking for something more conventional, SISTERS, probably isn't it. If you're hoping for an intriguing, highly troubling characterization of two teenaged sisters being raised by a despondent mother--likely suffering from at least depression--you're in for a treat.Desperate for a fresh start, July and September's mother, Sheela, moves the family from Oxford to the coast (North York moors), to an old home that has been in the family for years. Already, I'm hooked. The house has it's share of problems, and a dark, looming history that immediately lends to a great feeling of unease.Here, these sisters are caught in a taut web of lies, envy, love, dark impulses, and more. . But it also speaks to dysfunction and perception. Are all relationships cyclical? Are they constantly chasing one another? Are we part of each other, or our own separate beings?There were so many darn good lines in this slim novel; ones about the house completely gutted me:''This the year we are houses, lights on in every window, doors that won't quite shut.''''The house is going to float away and take my darling girls with it.''The house becomes a character, a significant, misty presence looming over the small family. No one in the family is 'quite right.' Depression looms, so too does death (the father died before the last sister was born). The house seems alive, full of sounds and shadows, memories and lurking threats. The rain doesn't stop, the birds are menacing, the ants are crawling inside the walls, whispers and cracks.''The Settle House is load-bearing. Here is what it bears: Mum's endless sadness, September's frightful wrath, my quiet failures to ever do quite what anyone needs me to do, the seasons, the death of small animals in the scrublands around it, every word that we say in love or anger to one another.''Everyone here is a little fragile, a bit unbalanced. What has happened to this house? What has happened to this family? The twist--the answer--may surprise you. In fact, I'm still chewing on 'just-what-happened,' myself.SISTERS is a mind-bending read that will have you either in awe, or perhaps scratching your head, maybe both. I have theories, but don't want to spoil it. Let me know your thoughts if you read it.I was reminded, in part, for various reasons, of: THE NEED (Helen Phillips) meets well, FEVER DREAM (Samanta Schweblin) along with Shirley Jackson's THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE and touches of Alice Hoffman's BLACKBIRD HOUSE. You might also want to look at the work of Karen Russell, particularly her collection ORANGE WORLD. But also! Laird Hunt's IN THE HOUSE IN THE DARK OF THE WOODS.L.Lindsay|Always with a Book
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2021
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2021
Something unspeakable and unbearable happened between sisters July and September. What presents as not-quite a thriller, not quite-a novel, not-quite horror or prose poetry, it is but all of those things, and that's what makes SISTERS (Riverhead, August 2020) such a slippery one to pin down. Reading this story is strange and fantastical, a bit like a folktale with dark vibes, a fever dream.
If you are looking for something more conventional, SISTERS, probably isn't it. If you're hoping for an intriguing, highly troubling characterization of two teenaged sisters being raised by a despondent mother--likely suffering from at least depression--you're in for a treat.
Desperate for a fresh start, July and September's mother, Sheela, moves the family from Oxford to the coast (North York moors), to an old home that has been in the family for years. Already, I'm hooked. The house has it's share of problems, and a dark, looming history that immediately lends to a great feeling of unease.
Here, these sisters are caught in a taut web of lies, envy, love, dark impulses, and more. . But it also speaks to dysfunction and perception. Are all relationships cyclical? Are they constantly chasing one another? Are we part of each other, or our own separate beings?
There were so many darn good lines in this slim novel; ones about the house completely gutted me:
''This the year we are houses, lights on in every window, doors that won't quite shut.''
''The house is going to float away and take my darling girls with it.''
The house becomes a character, a significant, misty presence looming over the small family. No one in the family is 'quite right.' Depression looms, so too does death (the father died before the last sister was born). The house seems alive, full of sounds and shadows, memories and lurking threats. The rain doesn't stop, the birds are menacing, the ants are crawling inside the walls, whispers and cracks.
''The Settle House is load-bearing. Here is what it bears: Mum's endless sadness, September's frightful wrath, my quiet failures to ever do quite what anyone needs me to do, the seasons, the death of small animals in the scrublands around it, every word that we say in love or anger to one another.''
Everyone here is a little fragile, a bit unbalanced. What has happened to this house? What has happened to this family? The twist--the answer--may surprise you. In fact, I'm still chewing on 'just-what-happened,' myself.
SISTERS is a mind-bending read that will have you either in awe, or perhaps scratching your head, maybe both. I have theories, but don't want to spoil it. Let me know your thoughts if you read it.
I was reminded, in part, for various reasons, of: THE NEED (Helen Phillips) meets well, FEVER DREAM (Samanta Schweblin) along with Shirley Jackson's THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE and touches of Alice Hoffman's BLACKBIRD HOUSE. You might also want to look at the work of Karen Russell, particularly her collection ORANGE WORLD. But also! Laird Hunt's IN THE HOUSE IN THE DARK OF THE WOODS.
L.Lindsay|Always with a Book
Darkly Gorgeous, Intriguing...but what happened?!
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2021
A taut, twisty, mind-bending read that is so superbly written, so lyrical and tragic.Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2021
Something unspeakable and unbearable happened between sisters July and September. What presents as not-quite a thriller, not quite-a novel, not-quite horror or prose poetry, it is but all of those things, and that's what makes SISTERS (Riverhead, August 2020) such a slippery one to pin down. Reading this story is strange and fantastical, a bit like a folktale with dark vibes, a fever dream.
If you are looking for something more conventional, SISTERS, probably isn't it. If you're hoping for an intriguing, highly troubling characterization of two teenaged sisters being raised by a despondent mother--likely suffering from at least depression--you're in for a treat.
Desperate for a fresh start, July and September's mother, Sheela, moves the family from Oxford to the coast (North York moors), to an old home that has been in the family for years. Already, I'm hooked. The house has it's share of problems, and a dark, looming history that immediately lends to a great feeling of unease.
Here, these sisters are caught in a taut web of lies, envy, love, dark impulses, and more. . But it also speaks to dysfunction and perception. Are all relationships cyclical? Are they constantly chasing one another? Are we part of each other, or our own separate beings?
There were so many darn good lines in this slim novel; ones about the house completely gutted me:
''This the year we are houses, lights on in every window, doors that won't quite shut.''
''The house is going to float away and take my darling girls with it.''
The house becomes a character, a significant, misty presence looming over the small family. No one in the family is 'quite right.' Depression looms, so too does death (the father died before the last sister was born). The house seems alive, full of sounds and shadows, memories and lurking threats. The rain doesn't stop, the birds are menacing, the ants are crawling inside the walls, whispers and cracks.
''The Settle House is load-bearing. Here is what it bears: Mum's endless sadness, September's frightful wrath, my quiet failures to ever do quite what anyone needs me to do, the seasons, the death of small animals in the scrublands around it, every word that we say in love or anger to one another.''
Everyone here is a little fragile, a bit unbalanced. What has happened to this house? What has happened to this family? The twist--the answer--may surprise you. In fact, I'm still chewing on 'just-what-happened,' myself.
SISTERS is a mind-bending read that will have you either in awe, or perhaps scratching your head, maybe both. I have theories, but don't want to spoil it. Let me know your thoughts if you read it.
I was reminded, in part, for various reasons, of: THE NEED (Helen Phillips) meets well, FEVER DREAM (Samanta Schweblin) along with Shirley Jackson's THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE and touches of Alice Hoffman's BLACKBIRD HOUSE. You might also want to look at the work of Karen Russell, particularly her collection ORANGE WORLD. But also! Laird Hunt's IN THE HOUSE IN THE DARK OF THE WOODS.
L.Lindsay|Always with a Book
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Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2020
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2021
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