RIP III Conclusion

So... my RIP Challenge is about as official as it can get..

I did Perils the First: Read 4 books.....

1- The House at Riverton by Kate Morton (not as good as expected)

2- The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (re-read) (Excellent again!)

3- Dracula by Braum Stoker (disappointed.. boring)

4- The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (very enjoyable)

....Then I did Perils the Second: Read 2 books...

1- The Ghost Writer by John Harwood (enjoyable)

2- Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (excellent)

... Then I did Perils the Third: Read 1 book...

Madapple by Christina Meldrum

Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books (May 13, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0375851763

Jacet art by: Jonathan Barkat (I must say, the cover art had much to do with the selection of this book!)

Product Description
THE SECRETS OF the past meet the shocks of the present.
Aslaug is an unusual young woman. Her mother has brought her up in near isolation, teaching her about plants and nature and language—but not about life. Especially not how she came to have her own life, and who her father might be.

When Aslaug’s mother dies unexpectedly, everything changes. For Aslaug is a suspect in her mother’s death. And the more her story unravels, the more questions unfold. About the nature of Aslaug’s birth. About what she should do next.

About whether divine miracles have truly happened. And whether, when all other explanations are impossible, they might still happen this very day.

Addictive, thought-provoking, and shocking, Madapple is a page-turning exploration of human nature and divine intervention—and of the darkest corners of the human soul.

When I began this book I wasn't sure I'd like it. Here was a mother with her 15 yr old daughter searching in the fields for plants for eating, and for medical reasons.. it seemed strange. But it did have the one thing that will have me keep reading "just a little more" to see if it gets better... it had very short chapters!

I was slightly confused at first, every other chapter had our protagonist, Aslaug, on trial. First it was because it was thought she might have had something to do with her mothers death, and then, because she was a lone survivor of a fire in which relatives died, she was thought to have poisoned them and set the fire.

The book alternates chapters between Aslaugh's story and the trial. The trial generally was only 2 pages or so but continued to set the stage for the next chapter.

It was different.. and it was captivating because you wanted to understand what this child had been through and you want to see how the trial turns out, and those very short chapters makes it possible to read, "just one more chapter" every time.

This book would not be for everyone. Much of the book is surrounded in religion and religious beliefs (and non religious beliefs) and may put some people off to reading it.

I did found it quite a strange book. It held my interest enough to read the entire book, but it will not be one that I will want to read again one day. I don't use the star system to say how much I like or dislike a book but in this case I guess I would give it 3 out of 5 stars.

This concludes all Three Perils that Carl has set for the RIP III Challenge for this year!! I was never one to read aboutvampires and werewolves and such (and I'm still not) but thanks to Carl's Challenge I have discovered that I do enjoy Gothic Mystery's (is there such a thing??) Books like The Thirteenth Tale and even some light comedy books like Gil's All Fright Diner. This year found me enjoying The Historian and Rebecca... sometimes I surprise even myself!!

Thanks again Carl for putting together a great challenge!! (I may even sneak one more book in!.. maybe.. )