Kitty Thomas's Reviews > Blackthorn

WTF did I just read? So on the one-star reviews some people thought the book went off the rails at about the 80% mark into something totally crazy, but I felt like the whole book was building up to strange things. I also feel like some of the people who 1-starred didn't actually finish the book. They stopped at the first explanation, got mad, and stopped. I think if they had read all the way through they would have an answer. Though it's still open-ended. I will say there are two possible explanations of what happens in this book, within the ending itself (not giving it away, don't worry)...one is a supernatural explanation that makes this book a supernatural story. And one is a naturalistic explanation. I think most will lean toward the naturalistic explanation, but I'm leaning toward the supernatural, only because, while the naturalistic explanation is clever and realistic... it doesn't make sense that only Maven would have been affected since the aunts lived in that house all the time.

If you don't like open-ended endings that could "go either way" on an explanation where you have to decide what the book means to you and what YOU think it is, then you probably won't like this book, (as reflected by the one-stars.)

About halfway through I got so frustrated not knowing what was going on that I read the one stars hoping someone would spoil it so I could at least know SOMETHING about something... but even the spoiler reviews weren't clear about WTF was going on. So I buckled back in and kept reading.

I wasn't sure if I was going to like what was at the end of the road, but the story was definitely compelling me to keep reading to find out. Having written a lot of somewhat open endings myself, I can't turn around and then be angry about it. I think it's experimental and risky, but at least from my perspective, the risk paid off.

I loved this book and it's going to be taking up real estate in my mind for days. I'll probably do a re-listen soon to see if I can get more solid on whether or not I believe the "official" naturalistic explanation, or the supernatural.

Either way, it's a thrilling story for spooky season. Just go in open minded and ready for an ending that makes you think and work for it.

SECOND READING: Yes, I think the supernatural explanation makes the most sense. Too many loose story threads otherwise and the supernatural version is the most satisfying. Otherwise it feels like a bait and switch. Plus there are too many factual problems with the naturalistic explanation.