Ruth Emmie Lang

Lang's novel is the sort of fairy tale esque novel that brings back those moments of childlike wonder. Reading it is both foreign and familiar, and somewhat spectacular. As a reader I loved how easy it was to consume; characters are well thought out and complete, the story line is tended too and blossoms brightly, and at the end of it you somehow feel as though you're a little more hopeful. By far this is one of the weirdest books I've read, but also one of the most beautiful. One aspect to show more the story that I found refreshing was that Weylyn isn't a character you meet through his own eyes. You meet him through everyone else, somewhat like the Little Prince, most of those you meet along the way are for brief moments, yet they leave lasting impressions. On a more personal level I found this book to be a beautiful reprieve from my real life. The magical and lyrical nature to the story made it one that stuck with me; and one that I will carry with me for quite some time. Ruth Emmie Lang has truly crafted a work of art, and it begs the question will you allow yourself to believe in both magic and possibilities? show less

This book tore me apart on so many levels. It was harsh but tender, sarcastic but sweet, full of love and loss. Equal parts diametrically opposed. A mother goes missing, sisters are torn apart, Zadie, the older was of majority when Nora disappeared and has had to navigate so many difficult situations, not the least of which is losing her sister Finn to a foster home. She is not a warm and fuzzy character, not immediately likable. Despite Finn being in a loving environment all she can think show more about is Nora. And Nora, well we are not sure what has become of her. Each of the three women have a special gift even if at times it seems to be an unbearable burden. Each of the women love the other and each other beyond measure and that is why it is inexplicable and so fundamentally wrong when Nora walks down the driveway and out of her daughters’ lives. We are left to wonder why and finding that answer becomes everything.

I can’t even imagine the fear of realizing that you are losing yourself, trying to hold on to the minute knowing there is something so important that you must not forget, hold on, hold on and then succumbing to the fog and mist swirling in your brain. Zadie and Finn each have specific, special powers which may be able to help them locate Nora. A very interesting road trip is going to lead them in conflicting directions physically, mentally and spiritually. Zadie is not sure she ever wants to see and be hurt by her mother again. All Finn can think about is finding her mother. All Zadie wants is to help and be with her sister. We are not given the opportunity of seeing or understanding what Nora wants or is thinking. As the sisters travel, looking for their mother, they are forced to revisit flawed misconceptions and face some long hidden damaging truths.

The story is described as magical realism - Zadie’s suppression of her psychic abilities in large part due to her guilt about the day Nora left and Finn’s embracing her “echoes” of the memories of strangers which may lead her back to her mother leaves the door open for the possibility that having a sixth sense might not be magical just very special.

I am so glad I was gifted a copy of this well written and thought provoking book. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy. show less

We are often told that our world needs to slow down, get outside, and enjoy nature more. Many of us seem to have lost our connection with the natural world and it shows in the increase in so many of our ills: obesity, depression, and stress, to name a few. Although the outdoors cannot cure these things, experts tell us that it would certainly mitigate them at the very least. And for anyone who has spent time outside communing with nature and wildlife, there is definitely something a little show more bit magical about the untamed world. There is more than a little of this magic in Ruth Emmie Lang's slightly magical, charming debut novel, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance.

Weylyn Grey has always been special. Born in June, it snowed as soon as he breathed for the first time. He is orphaned young in a freak storm that he feels responsible for causing and ends up being raised by wolves. He can communicate with animals, he can make plants grow riotously out of control, and he can stop (and start) storms. He is sweetly innocent and as he moves through the world, he touches all he comes into contact with. He never stays with anyone very long, his closest long term companion being Merlin, a talking pig. His adventures are fantastical and wonderful and though his time in each place is brief, he leaves an indelible mark behind himself.

Told in the first person by the people whose lives Weylyn moves through, this is a whimsical story with a clear fairy tale quality. Weylyn as a character is both revealed by the narrators and remains just out of reach, quietly elusive. He is a gentle soul with a strong but ungovernable connection to the natural world, as if he was not human born but truly a child of the forest. He is uncomfortable with most people but when he loves, he loves with his whole heart. The writing is slow and measured and the novel feels like quiet mysticism. There is a yearning for home and understanding as Weylyn moves around meeting others who sometimes embrace him and sometimes misunderstand his power. There are adventures within each encounter he has but the plot is less important that the ultimate journey. The second half of the novel slows down a bit and the ending is purposely ambiguous. At its core, this is a fairy tale of a story about difference, love, and acceptance and it will leave the reader feeling contented and at peace, just like a ramble through the woods might. show less

Weylyn Grey was born in a freak snowstorm and orphaned in another. He spent most of his childhood living with wolves. The weather appears to respond to his emotions, plants grow unnaturally fast around him, and he has a rapport with animals of all kinds. He's a weird, funny, lonely guy.

Stories about people with special, mystical powers aren't anything new, but there's something about this one, maybe the way it's written in the voices of the people whose lives he wanders in and out of, that show more makes it feel fairly fresh. Certainly Weylyn's an interesting character, and the way we see him in different moments in his life through others' eyes makes him feel a little more mysterious and intriguing. He's also quite likeable, and the novel is, too, with a sense of magical possibilities and a sweet low-key love story.

It's not perfect; it's a debut novel and I think that does show. There's a slightly off turn of phrase here and there, a (non-magical) plot point or two that that's not quite convincing. There's also an annoying moment where it goes very briefly into "science is awful because it ruins wonder, and it's a virtue to believe in magic without proof!" territory, something I take strong exception to. Fortunately, that doesn't remotely dominate the story, though and mostly it's just a very pleasant read. show less