The Almost Moon: Amazon.co.uk: Alice Sebold: Books

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Product Description

Review
'a quality piece of writing, especially striking for the author's ability to put flesh on the bones of her characters' --The Bookbag

Review
`A gripping, disturbing, authentic tale, this is one that will keep you reading until late into the night'

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Customer Reviews

36 Reviews

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(14)

Average Customer Review

2.6 out of 5 stars (36 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a light read, 15 Jan 2009

By	F. Henderson (Shropshire) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I borrowed this from the library, thankfully, and was glad to see i wasn't the only person that was dissapointed with this book! Having read and enjoyed the lovely bones, i thought i too would enjoy this.

It wasn't the subject matter i had a problem with, it was indeed a thought provoking insight into the effects of mental illness and the impacts it has on relationships, but that was about it. I thought with such a hook at the start it would be an intense and thrilling read, unfortunatly it was too uneventfull, the jumping back and forward seemed irrelavent at times and having forced myself through the book expecting something to finally happen at the end...nothing did.

It has to be understood that Sebolds writing is threaded with complex issues, and is not intended to be a light-hearted read, i maybe would have enjoyed it more if there had been more to keep it moving.

I don't think it deserves the amount of low ratings it's got, but doesn't deserve a high rating either. Don't read it if you're bored easily, this is a book for people who like to analyse the deeper meanings of thier books and really think about the weaving of complex issues.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Well written but lacking, 5 May 2009

By	Suzie (Scotland, UK) - See all my reviews

An opening line that refers to killing one's mother does not presage a light-hearted feel good story, so if you're not interested in the why and wherefore of human behaviour this book is not for you. Even then, I defy anyone to actually enjoy reading it - interesting it may be, but enjoyable it is not.

The two chapters that follow the initial revelation and a short lead-in to the dastardly deed seem particularly morbid and depressing. The novel then becomes a series of flashbacks which go some way towards providing an explanation. Brought up in what sounds like a depressingly run down small American town amid an atmosphere of mental instability, deprived of natural affection, and subsequently feeling responsible for her mother, it is not surprising that Helen's own marriage failed and her relationship with her children was less than satisfactory. The problem is that I can't imagine anyone actually liking Helen, the main protagonist, and she doesn't become any more likeable as the story proceeds. Because I never warmed to her I had difficulty feeling sympathy for her, even though I could see how it was her past that shaped her present actions, rather than any innate evil in her character.

The book is generally well written although it occasionally loses pace. It's a thoughtful exploration of the effects of mental illness on those who have to cope with sufferers. And the ending is sufficiently ambiguous to leave a question mark over what might happen next. One of three obvious possibilities seems to be ruled out in the last couple of pages, which still leaves two plausible outcomes - to say more would spoil the ending for anyone still tempted, despite the reviews, to read the book. But....

While I like novels that explore the psychology of people's actions and reactions, there are others that tackle the subject more engagingly - The Other Side of You, by Salley Vickers, for example. The Almost Moon is certainly not a book I'll ever want to read again, or even to keep. That isn't just because it's a dark story - Helen Dunmore's A Spell of Winter is dark too, but I've read that three times, as much for the poetry of the writing as for the story itself. Alice Sebold's second novel just lacks sensitivity, which is a pity after the excellent reviews for The Lovely Bones. She's a talented writer so hopefully I'll be able to give more stars for her next effort.

If you haven't already read The Almost Moon I'm inclined to say, don't bother. There are plenty of more enjoyable though still thought provoking novels on the market.

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20 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I loved "Lovely Bones" but this book is a disappointment...., 19 Oct 2008

By	Joe Grundig "Analyst" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I loved "The Lovely Bones" and know a lot of its success was due to people misinterpreting the books message--at heart Sebold is a writer from the dark side. A lot of folks will not like this book because of its dark subject matter, that I can handle, what bothers me is that the book has no soul, no redeeming features. The last book I felt this way about was "The Ruins."

The opening line is quite a hook as Helen Knightly tells the reader she has killed her mother. Mom is in her 80's and Helen almost has you believe she deserves to die. Helen however is too self centered, and the story declines from here into almost a comic book parody. The book is filled with flashbacks that I found somewhat confusing. Speaking of books that look into the dark side of humane existence, I highly recommend Misfits Country

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Sebold classic
I don't think this book deserves some of the poor reviews it has received here. Yes, its true this book isn't packed throughout with action and suspense - but why buy an Alice... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Mel

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing read
i thought this book was fantastic. At some parts i did get slightly confused but i'm a teenager so that can be expected :). Read more

Published 2 months ago by B. Elliott

1.0 out of 5 stars Not Nice
I hated this book - the subject matter was distastful and disturbing. It is not a clever book. It had none of the warmth & insight of Lucky Bones which I loved and with... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Suzanne Hussein

3.0 out of 5 stars The Almost Moon
It would have been helpful to realise that this book was a "second" ie. due to the faded (but still legible) type. Still excellent value at �2.51 including postage.

Published 2 months ago by J. Henderson

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing despite flashes of excellence
Like many of the reviewers here I found this an 'odd' book .
I was initially repulsed by the topic once I started to read it, and then intrugued and felt that I wanted to... Read more

Published 3 months ago by BusyReader

5.0 out of 5 stars Astonishing
Ouch! A heroine you will no doubt dislike tremendously in a situation that will make your blood run cold. Read more

Published 3 months ago by M. E. Martin

4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping
Reading dark stuff is new for me. I tend to read funny, girly books and Harry Potter type stuff. I read Lovely Bones after seeing a very positive review for it. Read more

Published 3 months ago by R. Whitaker

4.0 out of 5 stars Be Warned-This book is not the Lovely Bones
Alice Sebold touches subject matters that are quite difficult to write about. This time dementia/ mental illness and the consequences for the family are explored. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Ally Bally G

4.0 out of 5 stars I loved it
I can't understand some of the reviews on here, I didn't find this slow-moving or boring. Rather the opposite in fact. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Ms. K. Tomlinson

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad read
I agree with some of the other reviews that this book was not Alice Sebold's best and after reading the 'lovely bones' this book does not compare although it was still an... Read more

Published 4 months ago by Nadia

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	51% buy the item featured on this page: The Almost Moon 2.6 out of 5 stars (36) �4.15
	17% buy The Lovely Bones 4.1 out of 5 stars (294) �4.94
	14% buy Lucky 4.6 out of 5 stars (69) �5.99
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