The Embers

by Hyatt Bass

Book Overview

A People Magazine "Get Set for Summer Pick" One of InStyle Magazine's Top 5 Beach Reads Blessed with beauty, talent, and a loving family, the Aschers seem to have it all. Joe and Laura are the toast... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805089942
• ISBN13: 9780805089943
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 287 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Fantastic first novel

I am unsure of how to begin this review because I am still trying to wrap my head around my feelings about The Embers. The thing is, I liked the book. I REALLY liked the book, even more than I expected to - but I'm not sure why. I can say with absolute certainty that one of the reasons the book spoke to me so much was Bass' beautiful writing. She definitely has an amazing talent at crafting passages and conversations between characters that draw the reader in and really make you think. Another reason I think I enjoyed the book so much was because of my difficulty in parting with it for any length of time. Something about the story and the characters just grabbed me and didn't let go. Here's the weird part: I didn't like any of the characters, and the entire time I was reading this novel I kept thinking to myself, "these people are so annoying. I should be hating this book right now, but I'm not. Why is that?!" The three main characters were all so completely self-absorbed, so unaware of the world around them, and I had a really difficult time with all three of them. I honestly cannot think of another book I've read recently where I so detested the characters but still enjoyed the book, so it's really a tribute to Bass's phenomenal writing and story telling abilities that made me come away with a deep appreciation for this novel. I always have a soft spot in my heart for books that go back and forth between time periods - if it's done well, this effect can really make a huge impact on the reader. The Embers is an example of this - I never felt lost or confused while reading the book, even though it was jumping between time periods and different characters' points of view. I really can't say enough about Hyatt Bass here - she truly has put together a stunning debut, with flawed but (sadly) realistic characters and an interesting, fast-moving plot. There was a lot I loved about the book, even though I'm having a difficult time articulating the specifics right now. :) Just know that I couldn't put it down, and I am anxiously awaiting something new from Ms. Bass!

Breathtakingly complex storytelling

In its beautiful, Rashamon-like construction, Bass's The Embers contains some of the most fully fleshed out, fascinating characters I've ever read. The Ashers are people whose desires and motivations change, as many of ours do, in the slightest unseen moments, and she brilliantly captures their stream of thoughts and emotions. I'd especially point to a section later on in the book when one of the main characters, Joe, has spent the night with a woman he's just met. In the motel room the next morning, we see Joe's feelings for this woman - and thus the possibility of their romance having a future - change from moment to moment in Joe's mind with each slight, seemingly insignificant interaction between the two of them. A book not to be missed.

Wonderful first novel

This book made me really glad I joined the Vine program. A story about a family is usually a winning plot line: either the family is dysfunctional, or seemingly perfect, and then a crisis or tragedy strikes. Either the family pulls together and makes it, or is torn apart. Some of these stories have become classics, like Judith Guest's Ordinary People. In this story, we learn at the very beginning that there has already been tragedy. Thomas, the son, has died, and Joe and Laura, the parents, are now divorced. I don't give spoilers, you can read those in some of the other reviews here. This family had problems even before these major events. Emily, the daughter, was flunking out of school, using drugs, and having an affair with a man 20 years older. Even after she straightens out and goes to law school, she has trouble getting along with her mother, accusing her of meddling, trying to make decisions for her, and putting her down. As a daughter, I often felt the same way, but Laura, the mother doesn't understand. These are not her intentions at all. Emily is engaged and Laura is remarried, both to really nice guys, but they have to get past their pasts to be happy. Joe is an actor and a playwright and his life is seemingly going downhill. This book is good for a reading group, given the questions raised. Is Joe to blame for his son's death? Does Laura think so? Does Emily think so? What are the meanings of the title? Who is Ingrid? Is she a real person? Is she how Joe imagines Emily at a younger age? Does she represent Emily? The book made me think, and analyze the characters and plot. It was never boring. The backstory never got in the way of what was happening in the present. Highly recommended.

A Perfect Title for a Near-Perfect Book

I never seem to tire of reading about perfectly functional families who are torn apart by one tragic event. In this brilliantly written novel a family loses their golden boy son and the impact on the rest of the family causes seemingly irreperable damage. I especially appreciated how the author danced between the the past and the present while giving us various perspectives on the same events. The characters were all interesting and relatable, especially the father, who seemed to have taken the brunt of the familial responsibility (or irresponsibility depending on how you look at it.) He had the greatest depth, and my favorite line in the book is when he compares snow with the human aging process. "Day and night were cyclical--as were seasons. But snow, like human life, built gradually to a certain point, then gradually--or abruptly--melted away." For some reason that line really made a lot of sense to me. The Embers is filled with deep thoughts thoughout and I anticipate a bright future for this new author. I highly recommend The Embers. It's not necessarily a beach book because the subject matter is sometimes grim, but it is definitely a thought-provoking pageturner. I loved it.

Salvaging relationships from the embers of tragedy.

Hyatt Bass has constructed a smart, sharp novel of a troubled family that is as remarkable for what it doesn't say as much as for what it does say. There was a point toward the end of the book where the father, Joe, shows his daughter, Emily, a picture from when she was younger - and this was an "ah" moment for me. With no elaboration, the author explained a large portion of the storyline. I like it that it was assumed that the average reader would be smart enough to extrapolate all that was necessary. Told from both the past and present, the story unfolded in an unhurried manner, and the characters were all drawn realistically, with human and flawed characteristics. There is a poem in the book and Bass describes the words as having "deceptive simplicity." The phrase could be used to describe this book. Yesterday, after reading the last words, I set the book aside and considered the characters, their relationships, and the fitting symbolism of the title. I'm still thinking about it today. The writing was excellent, and I hope to read more from this author in the future.