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Char's Reviews > The Changeling
The Changeling
by
by
Char's review
bookshelves: net-galley, dark-fiction, dark-fantasy
Jun 29, 2017
bookshelves: net-galley, dark-fiction, dark-fantasy
Read 2 times. Last read June 22, 2017 to June 29, 2017.
4.5/5 stars!
Apollo Kagwa grew up without a dad and now that he's a brand new father himself, he is determined to be there for every second of his son's life. Every second, that is, until his wife suddenly, crazily, gets it into her head that their baby is not their baby at all, but something else entirely. Apollo thinks she's out of her mind with lack of sleep and overwhelming responsibility, but is she really? If so, who keeps sending her pictures of their baby on her cell phone? Then again, the pictures keep "disappearing" from her phone after she sees them, so maybe she's out of her mind after all? You'll have to read The Changeling to find out!
Victor LaValle is able to weave together myths and legends, make them believable, (for the most part), and then sets them down in the middle of New York City. It turns out the Big Apple does have some mystery and wilderness left in it, and Victor treats it all like his own personal playground. I felt like the city was a character in this story-with all of its history, hopes, dreams and death-the layers are all there. By the time the end of the story came around, I wished I could reach out and hug it-it had seen so much.
One other thing about the writing that I wanted to mention was the author's ability to reach over and squeeze the life out of the reader's heart. Apollo's grief was so palpable at times, that I had to set aside the book because my chest hurt-my heart hurt. I generally consider my horror loving heart to be quite cold, but The Changeling proved me wrong.
I'm sure at this point, just over halfway through 2017 that this book will be on my "BEST OF" list at the end of the year. If you find yourself looking for a satisfying story that combines myth and legend with the grit of real life in the modern world, I say pick up this book and let yourself fall under Victor LaValle's spell. You won't regret it!
Highly recommended!
You can get your copy here: The Changeling: A Novel
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*
Apollo Kagwa grew up without a dad and now that he's a brand new father himself, he is determined to be there for every second of his son's life. Every second, that is, until his wife suddenly, crazily, gets it into her head that their baby is not their baby at all, but something else entirely. Apollo thinks she's out of her mind with lack of sleep and overwhelming responsibility, but is she really? If so, who keeps sending her pictures of their baby on her cell phone? Then again, the pictures keep "disappearing" from her phone after she sees them, so maybe she's out of her mind after all? You'll have to read The Changeling to find out!
Victor LaValle is able to weave together myths and legends, make them believable, (for the most part), and then sets them down in the middle of New York City. It turns out the Big Apple does have some mystery and wilderness left in it, and Victor treats it all like his own personal playground. I felt like the city was a character in this story-with all of its history, hopes, dreams and death-the layers are all there. By the time the end of the story came around, I wished I could reach out and hug it-it had seen so much.
One other thing about the writing that I wanted to mention was the author's ability to reach over and squeeze the life out of the reader's heart. Apollo's grief was so palpable at times, that I had to set aside the book because my chest hurt-my heart hurt. I generally consider my horror loving heart to be quite cold, but The Changeling proved me wrong.
I'm sure at this point, just over halfway through 2017 that this book will be on my "BEST OF" list at the end of the year. If you find yourself looking for a satisfying story that combines myth and legend with the grit of real life in the modern world, I say pick up this book and let yourself fall under Victor LaValle's spell. You won't regret it!
Highly recommended!
You can get your copy here: The Changeling: A Novel
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
March 13, 2017
– Shelved
March 13, 2017
– Shelved as:
to-read
March 13, 2017
– Shelved as:
net-galley
March 22, 2017
– Shelved as:
dark-fiction
May 16, 2017
– Shelved as:
to-read
June 22, 2017
–
Started Reading
June 22, 2017
– Shelved as:
dark-fantasy
June 22, 2017
–
10.0%
June 25, 2017
–
20.0%
June 26, 2017
–
25.0%
June 28, 2017
–
52.0%
"I am at the point where I just want to sit down with this book and finish it in one sitting. But stupid life is interfering!"
June 28, 2017
–
67.0%
June 29, 2017
–
70.0%
June 29, 2017
–
80.0%
June 29, 2017
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)
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by
Linda
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Jul 07, 2017 05:47PM
Terrific book unlike anything I've read before.
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I googled Apollo Kagwa and there really was an Apolo Kagwa who was an important PM in Uganda. He had 23 children! Do you think that's significant to the story?
I'm sorry that I didn't see this until now. :(That's a good question.
Couldn’t agree more with your third paragraph!
Clara wrote: "Couldn’t agree more with your third paragraph!"Thanks for commenting! I hope you're enjoying the book as much as I did. :)
This is a fantastic book! It’s one that you read again, just because you miss it! Like a friend you haven’t seen for awhile.
Great story! Loved it
I'm only about 1/3rd of the way through the book, but my God, this is an emotional rollercoaster.
Victor LaValle is amazing! This is the book...well, this and The Ballad of Black Tom, that turned me into a fan. I have an ARC of his latest novel, due out next year. It's a struggle for me not to throw my scheduled ARCS under the bus and start this one instead!
The reviews on this book are fascinating. I feel like I am missing something so I chose this comment section to ask. What was the point of Apollos reoccurring dad dreams? I was certain that was going get unpacked and then it just…..wasn’t. Thoughts?
It’s been 6 years since I read this and I don’t remember that he even had dreams. Lol
