Have you read Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma? Have you? Hmmm?
This is one of those stories that's difficult to summarize or even place into a genre without giving too much away. Nova Ren Suma classifies it as magical realism and that works for me.
The book is narrated by Chloe and she is the protagonist, but the story isn't so much about her as much as it's about her older sister, Ruby. Actually Chloe's whole life, her whole world, is not so much about Chloe as much as it's about Ruby.
Chloe idolizes Ruby and is convinced Ruby can do anything. And Ruby does. She has the whole town wrapped around her little finger. Chloe loves her for it and Ruby would do anything for her.
This book has a surreal, dream-like quality to it. But much like the reservoir in the small town, danger lurks beneth the calm surface.
Ruby terrifies me. Chloe loves her and trusts her, but Ruby is a little too powerful and too unstable for me to be comfortable. And that's what's so great about this story. We swim along, floating on Suma's beautiful writing, but in the back of our mind we know darkness is closing in.
Imaginary Girls has some of the things I love most in books: an unreliable narrator, a dysfunctional family, and a touch of magic.
It's a great read. Check back tomorrow for a chance to win a copy.
I had a hard time getting into this one. I agree, it was more about Ruby's story than Chloe's, but because of the way it was told I found myself not really caring about either character all that much. As you said, Ruby is just disturbing and Chloe never revealed much about herself. The writing was beautiful, I just wish I'd felt more of a connection with the characters.
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