I am so utterly blown away by this book, it is hard for me to know where to begin.
When I started reading Missing Isaac, I was excited for a well-written story about interracial friendships and interactions in a certain time period in the south. I am very interested in that time period, and the mentality of all people, in all time periods, who feel that a degree of separation between people is "necessary." After reading an excerpt of the story, I knew that this was bound to be a gripping story and I was so excited to get my hands on it.
Once I started reading, I quite literally did not stop until I finished the book. I adore Pete's character. He is such a sweet and good and gentle soul. He is everything that I would love to my little boy to grow up and be, honestly. He felt very real, but also ideal. Which is a difficult balance to reach as an author. I think that Ms. Luesse did an phenomenal job of finding that perfect balance. But it was Dovey that clinched the entire story for me. Her character is so insightful and straightforward. There was one particular scene that made me laugh out loud (startling the wits out of my poor, unsuspecting family, as I am typically a silent reader). When Pete takes Dovey to a church event and the preppiest white boy around tries to "lure" her away from Pete by bowling her over with the sight of his car and - what? What he presumes is animal magnetism, I suppose. And Dovey's response is to deadpan at him (at least it sounded like deadpan in my own head), "But who are you?" I loved it SO much! Straightforward, no-nonsense, insightful. She is an utter delight to read.
SPOILERS!!!!!!!
DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK!!!!!
SERIOUSLY, HERE THERE BE SPOILERS!
The journey of Pete and Dovey down the path from friendship to romance to marriage saved this book from completely breaking my heart. I don't know that I could have handled it otherwise, because all along I wanted so desperately to believe that Isaac would be found alive. I wanted that happy ending with all of my heart. Even as the pages turned and the dates ticked off months and years without him being found, I still hoped. Maybe he would have fallen in the woods, and is in a coma in a hospital somewhere? Maybe he was kidnapped and is being held hostage? Maybe he got mauled by an animal, suffered from infection while lost, and lost his mind? Maybe he decided to take a sudden opportunity to run off and get a sailboat? That last one seemed least likely, but I was hoping for any ending where Isaac got to come home and be Pete's best man at his wedding. Because you know he would have been.
When I read that Isaac was found the way he was, I broke down crying. What a tragic, awful, horrific event for the whole town. And what disgusts me most is the sheer reality of it. People do horrible things all the time, just like what happened to Isaac, and they fully expect to get away with it. Why? Because they often DO. It sickens me.
This is such a beautifully written and compelling book. I feel it is a call to action, to change attitudes and take things like justice much more seriously. I loved this book, and highly, highly recommend it to every single person who enjoys reading.
When I started reading Missing Isaac, I was excited for a well-written story about interracial friendships and interactions in a certain time period in the south. I am very interested in that time period, and the mentality of all people, in all time periods, who feel that a degree of separation between people is "necessary." After reading an excerpt of the story, I knew that this was bound to be a gripping story and I was so excited to get my hands on it.
Once I started reading, I quite literally did not stop until I finished the book. I adore Pete's character. He is such a sweet and good and gentle soul. He is everything that I would love to my little boy to grow up and be, honestly. He felt very real, but also ideal. Which is a difficult balance to reach as an author. I think that Ms. Luesse did an phenomenal job of finding that perfect balance. But it was Dovey that clinched the entire story for me. Her character is so insightful and straightforward. There was one particular scene that made me laugh out loud (startling the wits out of my poor, unsuspecting family, as I am typically a silent reader). When Pete takes Dovey to a church event and the preppiest white boy around tries to "lure" her away from Pete by bowling her over with the sight of his car and - what? What he presumes is animal magnetism, I suppose. And Dovey's response is to deadpan at him (at least it sounded like deadpan in my own head), "But who are you?" I loved it SO much! Straightforward, no-nonsense, insightful. She is an utter delight to read.
SPOILERS!!!!!!!
DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK!!!!!
SERIOUSLY, HERE THERE BE SPOILERS!
The journey of Pete and Dovey down the path from friendship to romance to marriage saved this book from completely breaking my heart. I don't know that I could have handled it otherwise, because all along I wanted so desperately to believe that Isaac would be found alive. I wanted that happy ending with all of my heart. Even as the pages turned and the dates ticked off months and years without him being found, I still hoped. Maybe he would have fallen in the woods, and is in a coma in a hospital somewhere? Maybe he was kidnapped and is being held hostage? Maybe he got mauled by an animal, suffered from infection while lost, and lost his mind? Maybe he decided to take a sudden opportunity to run off and get a sailboat? That last one seemed least likely, but I was hoping for any ending where Isaac got to come home and be Pete's best man at his wedding. Because you know he would have been.
When I read that Isaac was found the way he was, I broke down crying. What a tragic, awful, horrific event for the whole town. And what disgusts me most is the sheer reality of it. People do horrible things all the time, just like what happened to Isaac, and they fully expect to get away with it. Why? Because they often DO. It sickens me.
This is such a beautifully written and compelling book. I feel it is a call to action, to change attitudes and take things like justice much more seriously. I loved this book, and highly, highly recommend it to every single person who enjoys reading.