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Loading... The Boy Who Could See Demons (original 2012; edition 2012)by Carolyn Jess-Cooke
Work InformationThe Boy Who Could See Demons: A Novel by Carolyn Jess-Cooke (2012)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. what ( ) So I thought this book had been recommended to me (weird mix-up), so I came into this very excited. It's dark! It's weird! It's twisty! ...And then I started reading it and I was incredibly let down. I was honestly upset I went to all the trouble of requesting it through interlibrary loan (trust me, a process) only to be so let down. It's so cliché - from the "innocent troubled little boy" to the "adult with a troubled past who sees a chance for a do-over" to that RIDICULOUS Initially I was let down about Alex's possession as well - it seemed very clear to me (which I think was Jess-Cooke's intention - she spells everything out for the reader and makes the connections between his traumas and his demons apparent [which doesn't seem like good psychiatry to me but what do I know](I also have issues with the theory that the parent's/nation/s trauma passes itself down to their children, but I know that's a legitimate theory and incurs debate everywhere, so.)). But, to my happy surprise, I found myself question this "obvious" conclusion near the end when 3.75 stars. In retrospect, this book had a sort of Rod Serling creepiness. A poor 10-year old boy has been minding his suicidal mother since his father's disappearance and seeing a demon, in various manifestations, since he was five. Anya, a woman psychiatrist is called in by the social worker to help treat the boy. She is battling her own demons, the accidental death of her own daughter, who suffered from schizophrenia. Mysteries abound in Belfast, great ending. I received this book from NetGalley and holy guacamole Batman, what a book! I love a good psych thriller and this book did not disappoint. Set in Ireland, this book follows a child psychiatrist as she deals with one of the most difficult cases of her career while dealing with an important event from her personal life. I appreciated that the book touched on child onset schizophrenia and the difficulties mental health professionals experience while attempting to diagnose and treat their patient. I devoured this book in one day and highly recommend others pick it up. I am not quite sure about this book. To me, the premise of a troubled 10 year old, with quite a traumatic life, who is able to see “demons” painted such a good picture. I was going in with the idea that the demons were figurative and that it would be a case of mental health, be it schizophrenia or whatever; but from the beginning I could see that it wasn’t quite that. The author created this actual demonic presence with actions and knowledge that could not be proved otherwise than with conceding that Ruen was an actual demon. Then, somewhere towards the very rushed, and not quite tidily finished ending, the author tries to chuck it all to mental health and figurative demons, leaving quite a lot of unfinished threads hanging loose. That, to me, was quite disappointing. Really put me off. The whole build up was amazing; but the last part of the book was very meh and anticlimactic. But hey, that is just me. If you want to read a heartbreaking story of a 10 year old scarred and marked in life by the reckless and selfish actions of his parents, then by all means go ahead and grab this one. Just know that there is a demon there and we can’t quite explain what it is, what it does, how it knows certain things and how it can manifest to more than one person. Enjoy the strange ride! no reviews | add a review
Belongs to Publisher Series
Fiction.
Mystery.
Suspense.
Thriller.
HTML:Bestselling author Carolyn Jess-Cooke has written a brilliant novel of suspense that delves into the recesses of the human mind and soul??perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn and Lisa Unger. The Boy Who Could See Demons follows a child psychologist who comes up against a career-defining case??one that threatens to unravel her own painful past and jeopardizes the life of a boy who can see the impossible. Dr. Anya Molokova, a child psychiatrist, is called in to work at MacNeice House, an adolescent mental health treatment center. There she is told to observe and assess Alex Connolly, a keenly intelligent, sensitive ten-year-old coping with his mother??s latest suicide attempt. Alex is in need of serious counseling: He has been harming himself and others, often during blackouts. At the root of his destructive behavior, Alex claims, is his imaginary ??friend? Ruen, a cunning demon who urges Alex to bend to his often violent will. But Anya has seen this kind of behavior before??with her own daughter, Poppy, who suffered from early-onset schizophrenia. Determined to help Alex out of his darkness, Anya begins to treat the child. But soon strange and alarming coincidences compel Anya to wonder: Is Alex??s condition a cruel trick of the mind? Or is Ruen not so make-believe after all? The reality, it turns out, is more terrifying than anything she has ever encountered. A rich and deeply moving page-turner, The Boy Who Could See Demons sets out to challenge the imagination and capture the way life takes unexpected turns. In the best storytelling tradition, it leaves the reader changed. Praise for The Boy Who Could See Demons ??A well written, engaging read filled with compassion for those suffering the whims of an untamed mental illness . . . A poignant read, The Boy Who Could See Demons is a suspenseful novel that probes the issues surrounding the devastating effects of mental illness. The author delves into the psychological issues of schizophrenia and mental disorders with such dexterity it leaves the reader stirred and affected, questioning throughout the story what is real and what is not. . . . As the conclusion draws near, the story takes unexpected turns, making it even more dramatic and compelling.???New York Journal of Books ??Impressive . . . Jess-Cooke is every bit as skillful in her vivid portrayals of unworldly beings . . . as in illustrating the dreadful toll taken by mental illness.???Booklist ??A searing novel of suspense.???Publishers Weekly ??A psychologically complex thriller, told with compassion in a marvelously suspenseful narrative that keeps you engaged from the first page to the last . . . This book has it all: a dark and dangerous setting, characters full of depth, rich emotions, and a clever plot. You??ll fall in love with Alex??and his demons.???Chevy Stevens, author of Still Missing ??Top-notch psychological suspense . . . Beware what you think you know. It might be only the demons talking.???Lisa Gardner, author of Touch & Go ??Brilliant! Rich with fully formed characters, this heart-gripping novel will keep you riveted from first page to last.???Jeffery Deaver, author of XO ??Utterly captivating, this is a book I adored and savored fro No library descriptions found. |
LibraryThing Early Reviewers AlumCarolyn Jess-Cooke's book The Boy Who Could See Demons was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.92Literature English & Old English literatures English fiction Modern Period 2000-LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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