Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Review: CHARM & STRANGE by Stephanie Kuehn

Title: Charm & Strange
Author: Stephanie Kuehn (@stephkuehn)
Published: June 2013
Series: N/A
Genre: YA contemporary
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
POV: 1st person
Pages: 216
Format: Hardcover
Source: Publicist
Rating: The Royal Library, Top Shelf

When you’ve been kept caged in the dark, it’s impossible to see the forest for the trees. It’s impossible to see anything, really. Not without bars . . .

Andrew Winston Winters is at war with himself.

He’s part Win, the lonely teenager exiled to a remote Vermont boarding school in the wake of a family tragedy. The guy who shuts all his classmates out, no matter the cost.


He’s part Drew, the angry young boy with violent impulses that control him. The boy who spent a fateful, long-ago summer with his brother and teenage cousins, only to endure a secret so monstrous it led three children to do the unthinkable.


Over the course of one night, while stuck at a party deep in the New England woods, Andrew battles both the pain of his past and the isolation of his present.

Before the sun rises, he’ll either surrender his sanity to the wild darkness inside his mind or make peace with the most elemental of truths—that choosing to live can mean so much more than not dying.

It took me a bit more time to read Charm & Strange than a novel usually requires, which is strange when considering the limited number of pages. I didn't keep setting it aside because I hated it. I didn't set it aside because it was boring. I repeatedly set it aside because Kuehn's debut is intense, and it was emotionally a bit difficult to experience the first person narration. Even once I finished the novel, I found myself struggling to write my thoughts down. This is a story that dares you look into the darkness that resides inside one young man, and it's a sight that is challenging to observe.

"Forget summer's heat. I was on fire." 1 

With chapters alternating between past (titled antimatter, when Win was a child) and present (titled matter), Charm & Strange tugs readers back and forth with teasing glimpses of who he was/is and what is currently haunting him as Win's secrets come to light. I knew to expect some serious matters, but the truths that are revealed are even more heartbreaking and intense than I initially imagined. This novel initially blends genres as you tiptoe through the story, uncertain of what is true or false within Win's narration. With each page, I was simultaneously eager and hesitant to know more. If you're interested in a story that will fascinate you, horrify you, and generally make you feel, this book will give you all of that and more.

"I'm split. I'm torn.
I am both ever evolving and ever decaying." 2
 

Highlights: Emotional, evocative, and imaginative, Charm & Strange deserves any praise that it receives. This book is a challenge to read on an emotional level, and thrill to read on an analytic level. Win, both past and present, has a voice that feels so honest that at times I felt uncomfortable reading his story. His family was nicely developed in the past chapters. Kuehn made Win's character and his struggles feel real, and that's the best compliment I can give an author. I realize I'm being vague regarding the story itself, but it's difficult to mention anything detailed without saying too much.

Lowlights: Any problems I had with the story can be contradicted with a highlight. It's a slower, chaotic story. Maybe it would have been nice to see more of the side characters, but the only character I was truly interested in was Win. 

Note: There are some serious subjects. I don't want to mention them, because I do not want to spoil the novel, but it's not a lighthearted read. This isn't going to be a book for everyone, but I'd suggest giving it a chance. 

Rating: The Royal Library, Top ShelfCharm & Strange lives up to its title, and proves to be a story worth reading. I'd highly recommend it. 

1 Keuhn 89
2 Keuhn 97

22 comments:

  1. I'm glad that you enjoyed this book Lea, I agree it was a bit of an intense read at times, but Kuehn's writing was just gorgeous! Lovely review!

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    1. Kuehn's writing was absolutely stunning. Intense, but worth reading.

      Thanks for stopping by! :)

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  2. Great review sweetie. <3 I'm glad you enjoyed it :D I do enjoy intense and heartbreaking books. Might give it a try sometime ;p Thank you for sharing :)

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    1. It's worth a shot! Completely unlike other books I've read.

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  3. Hmmm. I'm not sure this is the book for me Lea! I like that it's one of those books that really makes an impact, but I tend to struggle with slow and chaotic stories, even if I'm already fascinated by Win. I do love that it's a challenging book in so many ways and that you were so strongly affected by it. Beautiful review!

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    1. It's an emotional book - Win's past is pretty intense. It's not going to be a book for everyone!

      Thank you for dropping by, Jenny!

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  4. The intensity of the book certainly intrigues me, you know me and my love for the emotional.

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    1. You should check it out! Kuehn does a wonderful job really getting into her MC's mind.

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  5. Oh, this sounds fabulous! I have a copy, but never thought to pick it up until now. I love emotional books. Great review, Lea!

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    1. It's a great book! If you pick it up, I hope you end up enjoying it!

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  6. Fantastic review. I felt the same exact way. I didn't want to talk about it too much, because it would spoil it. But wow... so emotional. I had to put it down several times and re-read certain parts because I couldn't just sit and read straight through. It was so amazing. I actually went out and bought a hardcover copy of it when it came out so I can display it in my library. I think it's one of the best books I read last year.

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    1. I kept having to delete sentences from my review while drafting - it's tricky, trying not to spoilt this book! It's hard to describe to people, if only because it takes away from the story.

      I reread some sections too. Incredible story / writing. Definitely a novel I'll be rereading again in the future.

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  7. I am almost always up for a challenging read, one that tests my boundaries and makes me FEEL. I have read a few rave reviews for this one so far, but I'm not sure that I've ever felt such a strong need to read this as I am now after reading your review - so thanks for that! I appreciate you keeping your review spoiler free and I'm super curious to dig into this one sometime.

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    1. I really felt for Win in this book - he's struggling, and it comes across. I'm so glad my review sparked your interest for the story! If you end up checking out the novel, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

      Oh, gosh, I hope I kept it spoiler free. I spent so much time deleting lines and rewriting it so I wouldn't say something and ruin the story!

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  8. I've read mostly good things about this book and I AM SO CURIOUS. Maybe once I shave off my TBR pile, I'll pick this one up immediately xD thanks for the spoiler-free review!

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    1. It's a great emotional read! Worth checking out.

      Oh, the dreaded TBR pile - those are always never-ending ;)

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  9. I haven't heard much about this story in terms of the actual subject matter, but you know how much I love a deep read, Lea. I think I need to get over my hesitation and give it a go! Great review :)

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    1. It's a great, intense novel. If you end up giving a chance, I hope you enjoy it!

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  10. I have heard nothing but good things about Kuehn's books. I am definitely going to check her work out ASAP, especially after reading this rave review!

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    1. Her work is definitely worth checking out! Hope you like it :)

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  11. I haven't heard much about this one but it sounds interesting and very much like a character-driven book. I like that you thought Win's voice sounded authentic. I'll keep this one in mind then for when I'm in the mood for something more intense.

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    1. Win's voice was perfectly written. And he's such a fascinating character!

      Hope you check it out :)

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