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The Barter by Siobhan Adcock
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The Barter (edition 2014)

by Siobhan Adcock

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8011332,907 (3)2
" A heart-stopping tale as provocative as is suspenseful, about two conflicted women, separated by one hundred years, and bound by an unthinkable sacrifice. The Barter is a ghost story and a love story, a riveting emotional tale that also explores motherhood and work and feminism. Set in Texas, in present day, and at the turn of the twentieth century, the novel follows two young mothers at the turning point of their lives. Bridget has given up her career as an attorney to raise her daughter, joining a cadre of stay-at-home mothers seeking fulfillment in a quiet suburb. But for Bridget, some crucial part of the exchange is absent: Something she loves and needs. And now a terrifying presence has entered her home; only nobody but Bridget can feel it. On a farm in 1902, a young city bride takes a farmer husband. The marriage bed will become both crucible and anvil as Rebecca first allows, then negates, the powerful erotic connection between them. She turns her back on John to give all her love to their child. Much will occur in this cold house, none of it good. As Siobhan Adcock crosscuts these stories with mounting tension, each woman arrives at a terrible ordeal of her own making, tinged with love and fear and dread. What will they sacrifice to save their families-and themselves? Readers will slow down to enjoy the gorgeous language, then speed up to see what happens next in a plot that thrums with the weight of decision-and its explosive consequences"--… (more)
Member:Lisa_Wojcik49
Title:The Barter
Authors:Siobhan Adcock
Info:Dutton Adult (2014), Hardcover, 320 pages
Collections:Your library
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The Barter by Siobhan Adcock

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Showing 1-5 of 11 (next | show all)
reviewed from uncorrected egalley (thanks to penguin debut authors club, netgalley)
This was a fair spooky ghostie story, but I didn't buy into the connection between the two women that much--the modern woman thinking the same exact thoughts as the dead one seemed a mite forced, plus I would've liked a bit more background on the dark force that wanted to eat them both. ( )
  reader1009 | Jul 3, 2021 |
Thank you Penguin and Goodreads for my copy of this book!

I enjoyed The Barter. And I'm not usually one for ghost stories.

Bridget, one of the main characters, lives in the present day and is dealing with a ghost in her house. Her chapters alternate with those from the point of view of Rebecca, a woman living in the early 1900s. Both of them deal with strains in their marriages and the challenges of new motherhood.

I personally found that Rebecca's chapters were my favourite. I'm not sure if it's because the character was easy for me to connect with, or if I just like the way Adcock writes the more historical elements, but I found myself looking forward more to Rebecca's sections throughout the book.

However, the Barter left me with some lingering questions about the supernatural elements. I wasn't completely clear on the implications of the whole trading-in-an-hour-of-your-life aspect. And I wanted to know more about why Bridget and Rebecca were connected. Why those two women in particular? Because of the parallels in what they were experiencing? Or something else?

That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the supernatural elements. I loved the ghost. The staticky appearance and the earthy smell were so evocative and creepy. There were honestly some scenes that terrified me.

So, overall, I really enjoyed the Barter. I'll be keeping an eye out for more novels by Siobhan Adcock. ( )
  bucketofrhymes | Dec 13, 2017 |
Very, very character driven, so it would make a great book club read. Really did need more ghost story, though. ( )
  bookwyrmm | Oct 19, 2015 |
I do not understand this story - can somebody please explain it to me? The two parallel stories, one taking place in the early 1900s and the other in the present time, are supposed to weave together at the end, but I am simply at a loss to figure out how that happens. The author does have a fertile imagination, I will say that for her. Perplexing, bewildering, unsatisfying . . . . and yet, absorbing enough that I finished it. Very bizarre. ( )
  flourgirl49 | Sep 27, 2015 |
It has that non genre thing where the ghost is just a little too symbolic for my tastes, but it was properly terrifying and I really enjoyed having a novel about two women, neither of whom were very nice. ( )
  jen.e.moore | Mar 5, 2015 |
Showing 1-5 of 11 (next | show all)
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" A heart-stopping tale as provocative as is suspenseful, about two conflicted women, separated by one hundred years, and bound by an unthinkable sacrifice. The Barter is a ghost story and a love story, a riveting emotional tale that also explores motherhood and work and feminism. Set in Texas, in present day, and at the turn of the twentieth century, the novel follows two young mothers at the turning point of their lives. Bridget has given up her career as an attorney to raise her daughter, joining a cadre of stay-at-home mothers seeking fulfillment in a quiet suburb. But for Bridget, some crucial part of the exchange is absent: Something she loves and needs. And now a terrifying presence has entered her home; only nobody but Bridget can feel it. On a farm in 1902, a young city bride takes a farmer husband. The marriage bed will become both crucible and anvil as Rebecca first allows, then negates, the powerful erotic connection between them. She turns her back on John to give all her love to their child. Much will occur in this cold house, none of it good. As Siobhan Adcock crosscuts these stories with mounting tension, each woman arrives at a terrible ordeal of her own making, tinged with love and fear and dread. What will they sacrifice to save their families-and themselves? Readers will slow down to enjoy the gorgeous language, then speed up to see what happens next in a plot that thrums with the weight of decision-and its explosive consequences"--

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