Things Invisible to See
by Nancy Willard
On This Page
Description
The first novel by Newbery Award-winning author Nancy Willard: A stunning story of magic and miracles, and a testament to the enduring power of faith and love Ben and Willie Harkissian are twin brothers (think Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau) growing up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on the eve of World War II. A baseball launched into the October sky sets in motion a series of events that transforms many lives. Ben leaves for the front and faces death--figuratively as well as literally. Left show more behind is Clare Bishop, who has been paralyzed from the waist down. But in exchange she receives some very special gifts. She can see the future, be at one with animals, and chat with Death. Willie Harkissian remains in Michigan as well, though his relationship with his brother will never be the same. A love story interrupted by war, this is also a novel about discovering the ordinary in the extraordinary and finding the miraculous in everyday life. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
This novel has been hanging about on my bookshelf for lo! these many years, I think I picked it up for free somewhere, maybe? Anyway, I knew Willard had written some children's books and had it in my head I liked them, but when I looked up her books here, I can't quite figure that out. ANYWAY, the novel was pleasant to read but a bit too neat and tidy. The story has a Christian element, but I've never minded that when well done--I'm thinking of Frederick Buechner--and I'm thinking possible Willard had Buechner in mind. It's not quite as well done, but it is still a good read because Willard writes well but somehow I couldn't quite get on board (which is a pun on one event in the book) or stay on board with it all the time. *** 1/2
Wish I could remember what made me ask my library to track down a copy of this for me. It turns out to be an awful lot like [b:If Wishes Were Horses|1193634|If Wishes Were Horses|W.P. Kinsella|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1181778117s/1193634.jpg|1181687] (and probably the other two related books by [a:W.P. Kinsella|32549|W.P. Kinsella|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1212093640p2/32549.jpg]) with its baseball as a *L*iterary metaphor (or whatever) and the surrealism and some bit of a love story or two, too. Just didn't do anything special for me.
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Recommend the 20 best books you've read in the last five years
2,168 works; 606 members
Author Information
72+ Works 5,422 Members
Nancy Willard was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on June 26, 1936. She received a bachelor's degree in 1958 and a Ph.D in 1963 from the University of Michigan and a master's degree from Stanford University. She taught at Vassar College in the English department from 1965 until 2012. She published more than 70 books during her lifetime including show more collections of poetry, children's books, collections of short stories, novels, essays, and criticism. In 1982, she received the Newbery Medal for A Visit to William Blake's Inn. She died from natural causes on February 19, 2017 at the age of 80. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Awards
Distinctions
Notable Lists
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1984
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 124
- Popularity
- 262,159
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.84)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 11
- ASINs
- 3
