One snowy night, a small girl named Norah appears outside Margaret Quinn’s door. Margaret’s daughter Erica ran away ten years ago to join a cult with her boyfriend, and in the meantime Margaret has lost her husband to illness and now lives alone. Unwilling to lose the girl that God seems to have given to her in response to her prayers, Margaret decides to pass Norah off as her granddaughter. A mysterious and magical child, Norah tells people that she is an angel, and that her mission is about to begin.
Angels of Destruction is not a book that is immediately appealing. The first third or so focuses on Norah, who is very difficult to tack down and label. The following third goes back in time to witness Erica’s viewpoint when she left her parents, and the end constitutes an interweaving of these two narratives, seemingly brought about by Norah’s actions. This is a book that could epitomize winter; whenever I think of it I imagine that cold snowy night when Norah entered Margaret’s life, and the grief that pervades the book easily adds to its slightly melancholy feel.
While I enjoyed the way the book was plotted and I liked its final message of hope, I have to conclude that this isn’t really a book for me. It’s woven through with this concept of angels and faith, but it’s hard to tell whether or not Norah actually is one, or if she’s just a crazy little girl. I’d like to think that it was a message of faith, but I wish the author had been a little more concrete with what she was, rather than having her just up and vanish. I feel like it could have been more powerful that way, if the knowledge was there rather than just the wondering. As it was, however, I was left wanting.
Overall, I’d have to say that Angels of Destruction was mostly fine. I enjoyed reading it, particularly the section about Erica, I wanted to find out what happened at the end, and I was occasionally touched by its beautiful prose and family connections. I was left with questions, though, and I never felt that I really was loving it or was compelled to go back to it. It’s hard to describe why I feel so lukewarm about this book, but unfortunately the fact remains.
I am an Amazon Associate. I received this book for free from the publisher for review.
Premise of the book looks interesting .Too bad to know that even with beautiful prose it wasn’t a memorable book.
.-= Shweta´s last blog ..Movie Review -Anne Of Green Gables =-.
Sometimes that just happens with a book. You want to really like it but it just doesn’t do it for you. I had this on my list to read because it looked really interesting but it doesn’t sound like I need to rush out for it now.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Booking Through Thursday on Friday =-.
Sounds like an interesting concept that wasn’t executed as well as it could have been. Too bad.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Review: Roses =-.
I heard a lot about this author’s first book, The Stolen Child. I haven’t read it yet, but I want to. This one doesn’t seem as interesting to me.
.-= Aarti´s last blog ..Review: The Blade Itself =-.
I have The Stolen Child in my TBR collection to read but am not familiar with this one. It definitely sounds like an interesting premise. Even though it didn’t quite work as well as you might have wanted, you’ve certainly go me curious. Thanks for the review, Meghan!
.-= Literary Feline´s last blog ..Christmas Came Early This Year =-.
I don’t know, sounds like a strange concept to me. I love themes about faith, but it doesn’t sound like the author took full opportunity to explore that with this story.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..The History of the West Wing =-.
Although you didn’t love it, it does sound interesting, I may see if my library has it.
I’m so bummed that you were only lukewarm. I’m so looking forward to it.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Review: Sweeping up Glass by Carolyn Wall =-.
Hmm…this is the first lukewarm review of this book I’ve read! I’m still planning on reading it, but I’m glad you’ve tempered my expectations a bit.
.-= S. Krishna´s last blog ..The Girl Next Door – Elizabeth Noble =-.
I liked this well enough when I read it this past spring, but it’s since mostly fallen out of my head – guess it didn’t make too deep of an impression! I do remember that you are absolutely right when you say that it could epitomize winter – I read it in May, and it left me feeling so cold and gray that after I finished I had to go lay in the sunshine for a little while to clear my head.
.-= Fyrefly´s last blog ..Happy Holidays 2009! =-.
I started this one on vacation this summer and never made it very far. It just didn’t catch my attention…
.-= Melissa – Shhh I’m Reading´s last blog ..Booking Through Thursday…2009 In Review =-.
Just finished reading it yesterday…feel the same way. Left me feeling lukewarm. I kept waiting to find out who 9 year old Norah was and why she was magical. There were too many storylines within storylines. First there’s Norah and a lonely old woman then cut to Una and her old grandmother. Cut then to Erica and her boyfriend on the run storyline. Then Sean the 3rd grader next door who’s father abandoned him. Then Diane the aunt comes into the picture half way through. All the while Norah has magical powers? or does she? Nothing has anything to do with the other.Stick to one storline! I was left puzzled… Why!!!??? The answer I was looking for never came. Maybe someone else who read it can enlighten me cuz….I DON’T GET IT.