Erin Morgenstern’s newest work, The Starless Sea reads like a love letter for those of us who truly lose ourselves in stories. Zachary Ezra Rawlins, a graduate student, picks up a worn, wine colored book in his university library. The book has no author, no acknowledgements, and no copyright dates. The spine label merely is identified as fiction, unknown author. Intrigued by this mysterious book, Zachary checks it out. Upon reading the first few pages, he is bewildered to discover a story from his childhood is included in the anthology. Back when Zachary was a child, he stumbled upon a painted door in an alleyway. It was adorned with a bee, a key, and a sword and seemed so realistic, he was tempted to reach out to open the door. Instead, young Zachary walked away from it, reasoning it was better to be disappointed not knowing, rather than believing in magic and finding it wasn’t real. When he goes to check on the door the next day, the door, and the opportunity it offered, is gone. Zachary never told a soul about this encounter. He is perplexed and frightened by this unidentifiable book and how his encounter was recorded in it. However, his intrigue about the book’s origin is stronger than his fear. After some research, Zachary discovers the book was donated to the university library several years before his painted door encounter.
Little does Zachary know that this mysterious book will open a whole new world for him. Far beneath the earth is an endless labyrinth of stories. These aren’t found in books though, but rather roam around a massive labyrinth nestled along Starless Sea. The labyrinth is open to those who yearn for more than the humdrum life that reality offers, and for those who find they fit in better in stories they read than our world. Zachary discovers that the door from his childhood is real and through a series of events, is reunited with his door. Not letting this second chance slip by, he dives down the labyrinth to find mystery, romance, and lurking danger in this labyrinth along the Starless Sea.
I first encountered this book at a bookstore over the holidays. I was delighted to find that LPPL had already purchased it in several formats. Although I was first drawn to the ornate keys decorating the front cover, I was soon captivated by Erin Morgenstern’s ability to transport the reader into fantastical worlds. I found myself wanting to live in this story, wishing I could stumble upon a door, much like Zachary Rawlins. Reading The Starless Sea was like watching a puzzle coming together. There’s bits and pieces that don’t seem to fit the narrative and can seem irrelevant, but in the end, everything fits together nicely. The book is told from two viewpoints. The first is excerpts from the book Zachary finds in the university library, and the second is Zachary’s story of finding the book and his adventure thereafter. I usually don’t enjoy stories that bounce in between two viewpoints, but I liked how Erin wove these two stories together. If you enjoy stories that make you feel like you’re a part of the novel, The Starless Sea is worth checking out.
Availability:
- Book - Large Print Book - Playaway - eBook & eAudiobook on CloudLibrary
Rating:
***** Stars (I loved it)
- Katie, Reference Librarian
ARE YOU AND THIS BOOK A GOOD MATCH? DISCOVER MORE WITH NOVELIST APPEALS! The Starless Sea
GENRE: Fantasy Fiction; Multiple Perspectives THEME: Books About Books (These books are saturated with books, storytelling, and writing, celebrating the reading life we all know and love!); Hidden Among Us (There's a whole world within the world -- under the floorboards, down an alley, maybe deep in the woods. Most humans never know they're there.) TONE: Atmospheric; Moving; Mystical; Romantic STORYLINE: Unconventional WRITING STYLE: Compelling; Lush; Lyrical; Richly Detailed
CHARACTER: LGBTQIA Diverse SUBJECT: Books; Graduate Students; Imaginary Places; Interpersonal Attraction; Libraries; Magic; Men; Quests; Secret Societies; Storytelling
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