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The Thin Place : A Novel by Kathryn Davis
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The Thin Place : A Novel (original 2006; edition 2006)

by Kathryn Davis

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
5992639,172 (3.46)19
The prize-winning author of Versailles tells the story of a small New England village unsettled by a young girl's unearthly gift. In Varennes, a town near the Canadian border, three girls come across the body of a dead man on the local lake's beach. Two of them run to get help, but twelve-year-old Mees Kipp stays with the body and somehow, inexplicably, brings it back to life. Her mysterious gift is at the center of this haunting and transcendent novel. The Thin Place is the story of these girls, their town, and the worldly and otherworldly forces that come into play there over one summer. Writing at the peak of her powers, Kathryn Davis draws on commonplace forms--police blotters, garden almanacs, Sunday sermons, horoscopes, and diaries--to convey the rich rhythms of life in Varennes. From the ladies in the old-folks' home to trappers, lawyers, teachers, ministers, drug addicts--even the dogs and cats, beavers and bears--she peoples this novel with astonishingly vivid beings. The extraordinary comes to visit an ordinary town. "A delightful, surprise-filled narrative: Davis's best yet."--Kirkus Review(starred review) "Cosmic in her vision, provocative and comic in her storytelling, Kathryn Davis draws on sources as diverse as quantum physics and tales of saints and miracles and makes place a key element in her exploratory fiction."--Booklist (starred review) "Never has Davis' prose seemed more effortless...The Thin Place is a bright, shimmering book."--Chicago Sun-Times… (more)
Member:katie.chase
Title:The Thin Place : A Novel
Authors:Kathryn Davis
Info:Little, Brown & Co. (2006), Hardcover
Collections:Your library
Rating:****
Tags:Fantasy, general fiction

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The Thin Place by Kathryn Davis (2006)

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» See also 19 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 26 (next | show all)
began at Greenwood - reminded me of Barbara Comyn's Those Who Left - more subtle and imaginative but similar feeling ( )
  Overgaard | Nov 2, 2022 |
A strange tale of the residents of the small town of Varennes—in Maine, presumably—who include a sixth-grade girl with an extraordinary talent. The daily life and inner thoughts of these mostly ordinary citizens is interspersed with historical, geological, metaphysical, and theological musings. The best parts were those told from the point of view of the animals. An odd book that left me wondering what the point was. I suspect that this would have been better to read than listen to as an audio book. ( )
  Charon07 | Jul 16, 2021 |
British readers will know what I mean when I say that this is a Marmite book. Like the notorious British savoury spread, you either love it or you hate it.

I love this book. (Marmite, too. Not sure if that means anything ...) I love the beautiful prose, and sharp descriptions. I love the omniscient point of view, in which (among others, and in no particular order) people, dogs, beavers, carp, a moose and (memorably) lichen on a stone are given their say. I love the sharp insights into human nature. I love the slow burn. I love the misdirection.

For what it's worth, this is one that I will cheerfully read again, and again and again. Don't know about you. What do you think of Marmite? ( )
  maura853 | Jul 11, 2021 |
An interesting book. Loosely connected vignettes about folks living in a small town combined with meditations on nature or creation. Slow and contemplative reading not plot driven. Had funny and insightful observations. Kind of obtuse would need to read again to get more. ( )
1 vote terrencejerome | Feb 20, 2020 |
Not what I expected, and not difficult. All the pieces of the jigsaw do fit together to make a provocative picture. It's not the picture on the cover, though. One tip, if you do feel intimidated - make notes to keep track of the different characters, and try to read it in big chunks. Also, enjoy it for what it is, a collection of images and ideas, not a plot-driven package. Life is messy and sometimes 'stories' should be, too. Recommended if you're in the mood for something different and, like me, you tend to read genre fiction. ( )
1 vote Cheryl_in_CC_NV | Jun 6, 2016 |
Showing 1-5 of 26 (next | show all)
The Thin Place remains the first book I’ll recommend to adventurous readers interested in checking out Davis’ work.

I can be an impatient reader when I sense a writer is being obscure for obscurity’s sake, but Davis has an oddly humble approach for someone whose work is so ambitious. She only wants you to understand how stupendous creation is, as well as all the works of human ingenuity and passion. I spotted lines from Lucretius’ On the Nature of Things, but there’s probably a lot more I missed. Perhaps if she were more grandiose (or, let’s face it, male) she’d have a large following of fanboys intent on decoding her every allusion and device, like Thomas Pynchon’s. As it is, she has a devout but tiny band of admirers. Join us.
added by elenchus | editSlate.com, Laura Miller (Mar 18, 2019)
 
When was the last time you read something truly lovely? And not only lovely, by which I mean pleasing to the imagination and the mind’s eye, but funny, too? Think about it—funny and exquisitely lovely. Now hold onto those two qualities and add these to the mix: fiercely intelligent, spiritual, and thought-provoking.
 

» Add other authors (1 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Kathryn Davisprimary authorall editionscalculated
Bartlett, BoCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
"Beloved, I am so glad that you are happy to see me. Beloved, I am so glad, so very glad, that you have come." -- Hafiz
Dedication
For Jan Armstrong & for David Hall
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There were three girlfriends and they were walking down a trail that led to a lake.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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The prize-winning author of Versailles tells the story of a small New England village unsettled by a young girl's unearthly gift. In Varennes, a town near the Canadian border, three girls come across the body of a dead man on the local lake's beach. Two of them run to get help, but twelve-year-old Mees Kipp stays with the body and somehow, inexplicably, brings it back to life. Her mysterious gift is at the center of this haunting and transcendent novel. The Thin Place is the story of these girls, their town, and the worldly and otherworldly forces that come into play there over one summer. Writing at the peak of her powers, Kathryn Davis draws on commonplace forms--police blotters, garden almanacs, Sunday sermons, horoscopes, and diaries--to convey the rich rhythms of life in Varennes. From the ladies in the old-folks' home to trappers, lawyers, teachers, ministers, drug addicts--even the dogs and cats, beavers and bears--she peoples this novel with astonishingly vivid beings. The extraordinary comes to visit an ordinary town. "A delightful, surprise-filled narrative: Davis's best yet."--Kirkus Review(starred review) "Cosmic in her vision, provocative and comic in her storytelling, Kathryn Davis draws on sources as diverse as quantum physics and tales of saints and miracles and makes place a key element in her exploratory fiction."--Booklist (starred review) "Never has Davis' prose seemed more effortless...The Thin Place is a bright, shimmering book."--Chicago Sun-Times

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