The Town that Forgot How to Breathe ~ reviewed

Kenneth Harvey
Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (October 1, 2005)
ISBN: 0312342225













Publisher Comments:

"Something strange is happening in the seaside town of Bareneed. Mythical creatures that formally existed only in mariner's dreams, are being pulled from the sea. Perfectly preserved corpses of villagers long ago lost at sea are being washed upon the shore. And residents of the town are suddenly suffering from a mysterious illness that is making them forget how to breathe.

Recent divorcé Joseph Blackwood has returned to his hometown in hopes of reconnecting with his estranged daughter. But when the young girl begins having visions and conversing with the spirit of a neighbor's deceased child, he knows that his daughter is suffering from some supernatural affliction. Now, with the help of some colorful village residents, Joseph must unravel this paranormal mystery to save his only daughter.

Called the literary love child of Stephen King and Annie Proulx, The Town That Forgot How to Breathe is a page-turning gothic tale and a profound exploration of what it really means to live in the modern world."


Reviewed by Gina Holmes

This ABA book is amazingly written. Dark, brooding and intelligent. Harvey writes a wonderful cast of characters and does a fantastic job with dialect, story and setting.

This is one of the books another writer reads and really appreciates the craftsmanship.

My favorite line: Low fat milk was disgusting. Low fat anything was an outright pox on the creamy white epidermis of pleasure.

Gotta love it.

There were some talking ghosts which tripped me up, but I realized that much in this story was metaphorical.

I do have one serious issue with this book. Every other character seemed to be taking the Lord's name in vain. It was uneccesary, distracting and upsetting. The book would have not suffered one iota without this offense. I hope the author in the future might consider not doing this.

I think this author is talented and the writing is exceptional.