“By late morning, a mother and fathers faith that their child will turn up any moment has given way to terror.”
While on vacation on Saint X, the body of young Alison is found dead. Several years later living in New York, her younger sister Claire is determined to find out what really happened to her sister Alison that night on Saint X.
The first 36 pages are truly hard to get through because of the lush descriptions. These pages focus on what the island was like during the family’s vacation on Saint X, and it was a tedious 36 pages that felt like 360 pages. But, if you can get through that…it gets better and the story takes off, though it does still contain countless descriptions and stories within stories throughout the novel. I started to get into the night Alison was killed, and continued reading. I was invested regardless of the wordy paragraphs and side-stories. I had to know what happened to Alison, how all the stories being revealed were connected, and find out the truth.
“She was what all the dead are: whatever the living make them.”
The characters are what boosted this rating above a 3 star for me. If you decide to read this, I encourage you not to skim…though you might be tempted because of the extraneous elements. The insights and voices of the characters are worthwhile and perceptive. Most of the characters were not likable, yet their observations were penetrating, intuitive, and emotionally charged.
“Are the things out the van window poverty, or just people living their lives?”
Overall, I’m glad I stuck with it. I enjoyed the book and think the ending has a good thematic message. I read this with a group, and it created great discussion. I recommend reading this with a book club or buddy!
Saint X is Alexis Schaitkin’s debut novel. Visit her website to read more about her book.
Saint X is a top 20 most anticipated book pick for Good Morning America.
Read Entertainment Weekly’s interview with Alexis Schaitkin about writing Saint X.
Follow author Alexis Schaitkin on Twitter.
Thank you to Celadon books for sending me an advance read paperback copy. Opinions are my own.