The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

"There she weaves by night and day, a magic web of colors gay. A curse upon her if she stays. The Lady of Shalott." - Alfred Lord Tennyson, Lady of Shalott

QUICK SYNOPSIS

Zachary Ezra Rawlins finds something strange one day at his university library. A book about him. A book that discusses things he has never shared with others, and things he barely understands himself. Zachary Ezra Rawlins attempts to discover who wrote it and for what purpose. From the moment of meeting a woman named "Max" his adventure begins, and it is not at all what he was expecting. Dragged down into a place underground there is a "magical" labyrinthine of stories, worlds, and characters real and imagined.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

These first impressions are from a year ago, and things that I have been pondering over. I know I missed details during my first reading because it took me a moment to figure out what was going on due to lack of sleep from just giving birth to my second kiddo and feeding schedules.

Erin Morgenstern, the author, has written this book just like a labyrinth. We, as the reader, soon discover with the main character Zachary Ezra Rawlins that everything is connected somehow. The story twists and turns, only revealing little bits at a time. At times this is infuriating because the story doesn't seem to have an ending or a direction. You're hoping for one thing, only to be led down a completely different path. It was, in the beginning, a little disorienting...however, once I understood (or thought I did) where this story was going I was hooked. Obviously, I liked it so much that I bought it and reread it again only to discover more literary gems.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHILE READING

This is a complicated and complex tale of different (I'll call them) universes, people, characters and time periods. It might not be a bad idea to keep a little notebook while reading. That being said you don't have to completely following all the twists and turns to enjoy the book. But DO take note of the chapter headings because this is what tripped me up the first time when I read it with half of my brain. Erin Morgenstern wants you to understand the book, and discover the story in a way that her main character Zachary Ezra Rawlins does as well. She's not trying to trick you, but it is imperative that you pay attention to the headings to know if you're reading something that is happening now, part of a story, and from which character you're reading it through.

The name choices are important. Sometimes they are funny (in a nerdy bookworm kind of way), and sometimes they are thoughtful. Definitely look up the meaning of names as you discover them because it will further enlighten your journey through this world with Zachary Ezra Rawlins.

Lastly, pay attention to how the chapter begins beyond titles. Morgenstern uses an interesting writing technique that, if you are paying attention, will again help you dive deeper into the characters and the ultimate story.

RECOMMEND?

Yes! Even with all the twists and turns of this story I think it is brilliant, interesting, and something that I want to keep reading. I read Night Circus many years ago and loved it (read that first if it's your first time experiencing Erin Morgenstern's writing). That book is much easier to follow and comprehend. It has layers, jumps times and characters but the thread is much more straight forward. In The Starless Sea you really need to pay attention. Just as Zachary Ezra Rawlins finds he cannot be a side watcher in his story, neither can you as the reader. You must participate.

I love Erin Morgenstern, and I truly hope she continues to write more stories. I highly recommend this, and if you like it check out Susanna Clarke's Piranesi. It's similar, darker, and just different enough that it's also brilliant. Fun fact: there is a moment when a character talks about one of Susanna Clarke's books in The Starless Sea, but you have to have read Clarke's book to get the off hand reference. See what other gems jump out at you as you read The Starless Sea.