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Bone Gap Audiobook Summary

National Book Award Finalist * Printz Award Winner for Best Young Adult Book of the Year

“Ruby’s novel deserves to be read and reread. It is powerful, beautiful, extraordinary.”–School Library Journal

Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps.

So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren’t surprised. But Finn knows what really happened to Roza. He knows she was kidnapped by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember.

As we follow the stories of Finn, Roza, and the people of Bone Gap, acclaimed author Laura Ruby weaves a tale of the ways in which the face the world sees is never the sum of who we are.

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Bone Gap Audiobook Narrator

Dan Bittner is the narrator of Bone Gap audiobook that was written by Laura Ruby

Laura Ruby is the author of books for adults, teens, and children, including Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All and the Michael L. Printz Medal winner Bone Gap, both National Book Award finalists; the Edgar Award nominee Lily’s Ghosts; and the Book Sense Pick Good Girls as well as the first two books in the York Saga. She is on the faculty of Hamline University’s MFA in writing for children and young adults program and lives in the Chicago area. You can visit her online at www.lauraruby.com.


About the Author(s) of Bone Gap

Laura Ruby is the author of Bone Gap

Bone Gap Full Details

Narrator Dan Bittner
Length 8 hours 21 minutes
Author Laura Ruby
Category
Publisher Balzer + Bray
Release date March 03, 2015
ISBN 9780062368096

Subjects

The publisher of the Bone Gap is Balzer + Bray. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is Fantasy, General, YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Additional info

The publisher of the Bone Gap is Balzer + Bray. The imprint is Balzer + Bray. It is supplied by Balzer + Bray. The ISBN-13 is 9780062368096.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Chantal

December 27, 2016

You can also find this review here! “People look, they don't see.” Just thinking about this incredible book I finished a few days ago brings back all the emotions I felt while reading. Bone Gap is honestly a masterpiece and I don’t say that lightly. It is however, also a very difficult book to review.What kind of book is Bone Gap? The answer is: I don’t know. It's not really magical realism or fantasy, not contemporary, not a thriller or mystery. I have no idea how I would categorize it. It is book that is totally different from anything I’ve read; it bends genre conventions and throws tropes and clichés out the window.The novel reads a lot like a fairy tale and yet I didn’t feel any of the detachment I usually do with these kinds of stories. The book is so compelling and poignant that I couldn’t help but be completely invested. It’s about a lot more than just the plot. Without a doubt, Bone Gap is a character and theme driven story.The story follows two brothers, Sean and Finn O’Sullivan, who live together with a beautiful girl, Roza, in a strange little town called Bone Gap until, one day, Roza mysteriously disappears and the entire town believes it was with her consent. Only Finn knows the truth: Roza didn’t leave, she was kidnapped. Kidnapped by a man whose face Finn cannot remember. And nobody in Bone Gap believes him, not even his own brother.Told through alternating POV’s of Finn and Roza, as well as some of the other inhabitants of Bone Gap, the story slowly unfurls in front of the reader. Occasional flashbacks give the book an unexpected depth. Laura Ruby weaves in fairy tale and mythological elements and the result is a novel that is both a mythological retelling and something else entirely. The references are very subtle; nothing in this book is overt.The characters are phenomenal. I loved every single one; they were all well-drawn and complex, lovable in their own ways.We have Finn, eighteen and the prettiest boy in town. Yet, people don’t know what to make of him. They find him strange. They call him names – Sidetrack, Spaceman, Moonface – because he doesn’t look people in the eye. “What have you got against people?"Finn hated crowds. Thousands of people bumping and churning. "Too many opinions.” Everyone believes Finn is in love with Roza, when in reality he loves Petey. But of course, nobody in Bone Gap can believe that because Petey is considered ugly. What would such a pretty boy want with such an ugly girl? Surely he only pities her. Petey believes that too.Roza’s character could have easily been the victim of stereotyping and maybe, in the hands of a less talented author, she would have been. Instead, she turned out to be a wonderful character. Headstrong and independent, but also scarred. She is so beautiful that every person she meets comments on it, men all want a piece of her. They say they are in love with her without actually getting to know her. Roza hates it; she has long realized being beautiful is not who she is. She wants people to see beyond the surface but that seems impossible. Her character gives us a glimpse of the negative consequences beauty can bring and the author handled it brilliantly. Roza was never annoying or arrogant and she wasn’t a damsel in distress that needed someone to come save her; she could take her of herself. Abruptly, she let go of his wrists and allowed him to push her to her knees. She looked up, waited for his smile. And then she punched him in the nuts. And then we have Petey who I could personally identify with the most. She isn’t beautiful or even pretty and the people in town make that clear on every occasion they get. They say she looks like a giant bee; a bit of an inside joke seeing Petey is a beekeeper. She is so insecure that she can’t believe that Finn could actually find her beautiful. It doesn’t matter that she is smart, independent and competent; the people only see what is on the outside. Maybe worst of all is the fact that Petey used to like the way she looked when she was a little girl, but the harsh words of others have taken all her self-worth.Bone Gap is a book about beauty, about perspective, about the way we view those around us and the way we see ourselves. The story is masterfully crafted and truly shows how our perception of things can impact others. Beauty is not depicted as the source of all evil; rather, the problem is how much value we put on beauty and how we treat people differently according to how much we believe they have. This book has so many layers that I could go on forever. But I’d rather let you discover the rest on your own.Last but not least, this novel is also beautifully written. Some of the metaphors and similes used were perfection. The twitch of her nerves was like the beating of a billion tiny wings, as if messages passed from his breath and his hands through her skin and back again, the way bees stroke one another’s antennae, feeding one another by touch. If you are reader who always needs to know what is going on and doesn’t like to be confused, then this book might not be for you. It is a strange novel that will make you question reality. Otherwise though, I recommend this book to absolutely everyone. It is unique, it is touching and it is empowering.

Charlotte

April 23, 2018

“Because we don’t have your typical gaps around here. Not gaps made of rocks or mountains. We have gaps in the world. In the space of things. So many places to lose yourself, if you believe that they’re there. You can slip into the gap and never find your way out.” Genuinely can’t believe I read this in 1 day! Bone Gap is certainly different, odd even. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before, and elements of the story reminded me of The Raven Cycle, with worlds within our world, disappearances happening and beautiful lyrical writing. Finn and his brother Sean live alone since their mother left them not long after the death of their father. When Roza, a woman close to their heart goes missing the brothers’ relationship is strained. Finn saw Roza’s kidnapper, but none of the information he provides is specific enough, and eventually the case is dropped. Sean doesn’t believe Finn, thinks Roza chose to leave them, as everyone does. It turns out Roza has been taken by some psycho weirdo with magical powers and the ability to see the dead. At times I was lost, I just had to take everything with a pinch of salt and accept the story for what it was. I didn’t need to understand everything to enjoy it though. The characters are wonderful, the gossipy locals, and the strange old next door neighbour. I loved following Finn’s budding new romantic relationship with Petey - the beekeepers daughter. I also loved the reveal regarding Finn and his recognition of faces (facial blindness) - such an interesting concept to get my head around! Overall I enjoyed the town of Bone Gap. Watching Finn unravel the mystery of Roza’s disappearance, and exploring the dusty and secretive place in which they live, a small but unforgettable town in Illinois. “Maybe it didn’t matter how he was crazy, only the fact that he was, the fact that he wanted someone to be crazy with him.”

TheBookSmugglers

March 12, 2015

Once upon a time, a rich, powerful and mysterious man falls in love with a woman and takes her away to a magical realm where all but one of her wishes are commands, everything she needs is available – from amazing rooms and castles to beautiful dresses and servants to give her anything she wants. All that he asks is for her to love him back. A romantic fairytale scenario for a beautiful woman who is desired above all.Except she says no. She says no every step of the way.Re-read that first paragraph knowing this, coming from this new perspective – how does that read now?Like your worst nightmare.+++When beautiful Roza went missing from Bone Gap, no one believed she was gone without her consent. No one believed her friend Finn – the sole witness of her abduction – when he told of her mysterious disappearance especially because he could not describe her kidnapper in detail.Now, months later, her disappearance still haunts Finn. It still troubles him because no one is looking for her, not even his brother Sean, who is supposed to love Roza.Brought down by guilt, worry and fear, Finn carries on until all of those become impossible burdens to carry. He must find Roza and bring her back. A knight in shining armour? He would be, if Roza wasn’t also such a strong narrator and didn’t have such a superb voice and agency within this narrative. She is her own knight in shining armour too. They both are.+++A lot of the narrative is from Finn’s viewpoint but the story goes back and forth between now and then, following Roza’s viewpoint as well as other inhabitants of Bone Gap including Petey, a girl who works with bees and who develops a beautiful if fraught relationship with Finn.The thrust of the story depicts how Roza got to Bone Gap, how she stayed on then disappeared without a trace, how her life impacts the lives of those she left behind. More interesting to me is how the author was able to imagine, create, portray Roza’s impact to everybody’s lives without making her solely a puppet, a subject, a thing with no desires or agency. This is the story of Finn and Petey, of Bone Gap and above all, of Roza.+++Without spoiling: there is a reason for Finn not being able to describe the captor. It makes for a very compelling and unreliable narrative.Without spoiling: this is a Fantasy novel. The fantasy elements are part fairytale retelling part mythological journey into the underworld. I’ve seen this book described as Magical Realism: I strongly disagree.+++Finn loves Roza and is moved by their friendship to go after her. No one believes he is not in love with her because she is so beautiful and surely they must have romantic feelings for each other.He is in love with Petey. But no one can possibly believe that because Petey is so ugly and surely Finn only pities Petey. Even Petey believes that.Finn is a great character. But Roza and Petey are amazing. Well-drawn, complex, diverse girls whose lives have been marred by the cruelty and carelessness of a world that puts a lot of stock on beauty. The different ways this has impacted them, shaped the way they interact with the world and their self-image is portrayed thoughtfully and with great sensibility without turning “beauty” into the source of all evil.Bone Gap is a book about perspective. About the difference between looking and seeing. About fairytales, self-image, the heavy burden that beauty can be and the pernicious ways we look at and treat women. It’s awfully tense and there is this feeling of anxious momentum that runs through this novel. It’s also very romantic where it matters, empowering where it counts and beautiful in its telling. It’s a great companion book to be read alongside September Girls by Bennett Madison, A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas and Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma.A strong contender for a top 10 this year.

Aj the Ravenous Reader

April 19, 2016

"But wasn’t that love? Seeing what no one else could?" I haven’t read a lot of magical-realism books. I don’t even have a bookshelf for that but this absolutely enchanting read made me want to read more in the future. Bone Gap surely lived up to the name of its genre because it’s completely magical and perfectly real at the same time that it didn’t cease to fascinate me from beginning to end. * Describe a book you love in recipe format since the alternative- using only adverbs- was impossible. Lol. * (I really enjoyed the weird essay questions Finn and Petey kept talking about.) 1. In a big pot, boil a unique and complex enough plot. 2. Add two tablespoons of an intriguing introduction. 3. Pour generous cups of wonderful character development. 4. Spice the entire concoction with familiar themes about humanity but tackle them in a way nobody has yet and in a way that will gut the reader to her very core. 5. Make sure you use an exceptional spatula of gripping and timeless style of writing. 6. Constantly stir with adorable humor and inspiration. 7. Don’t forget to safe keep your secret magic ingredient for impressively and deliciously mysterious and magical touch. 8. Include an ingredient that the reader won’t expect, something she will taste for the very first time. 9. A pinch of romance and happy ending will make it more delectable. 10. Serve it with a really appealing book cover. *I didn't talk about the story because it's best if you let it completely surprise you as it had me. Enjoy the book!* This is the perfect book meal for the ravenous reader that I am. I am fully satiated. Thank you to my incredible friend Masooma who wrote this beautiful and impressive review that made me read the book. Here’s Chantal’s lovely review too.^^

Masooma

February 19, 2016

10 glossy stars out of 5Explain a book that you loved written in recipe format.2tbsp of sparkling writing + 4tsp of beautiful and well-drawn characters + a spoonful of honey + a pinch of just- the-right-amount-of romance and a pitcher of heart-wrenching reality. Garnished with a teensy bit of magic.This in short, is Bone Gap, a page turner with an unexampled & touching story.Bone Gap is a small talking town of people who do not listen, they only hear and pass on those whisperings around like wildfire. They hardly ever question or use their wits. Naturally, when Roza disappears into thin air, they don't question it rather accept it as it is. Only saying that she disappeared just as mysteriously as she had appeared at the O'Sullivans. Roza has wormed into the life of Sean and Finn with a warmth they never realized was missing. She completed them and made life all the more bright for the brothers. But her disappearance wrecks the two brothers specially Sean, who since a tender age was buried deep into responsibilities he unquestioningly shouldered. But Finn disagrees. He claims he has witnessed Roza being snatched away from their lives by some man against her will and wishes. Sean doesn't believe him. The people of Bone Gap laugh at him but Finn is adamant to unveil the truth of Roza's kidnapping and bring her home against all odds.The characters are vividly drawn and each one has potential to snake into your heart with all their complexities and beliefs. They feel like people from our own world. The fast-paced plot is a curtain-raiser over several things in the past and the present simultaneously. It unveils the brothers' lives and ambitions, Finn's magical love story brewing with the ugly bee-keeper of Bone Gap, Petey, Roza's plight, peeks into the Roza's past and glimpses of her life with the O' Sullivan brothers. There are lots of bitter truths of our real lives portrayed through the characters such as the ugly face of beauty, the impact of peoples' opinions on our lives, how people prefer to judge others by just surveying the outer shell of skin. Many times I found myself nodding in agreement with the writer. Such as here: A pretty face is just a lucky accident. Pretty can’t feed you. And you’ll never be pretty enough for some people. Funny how you notice how beautiful things are just when you're about to leave them.“What have you got against people?"Finn hated crowds. Thousands of people bumping and churning. "Too many opinions.” The story is very unique and even though the author drops hints still the 'big truth' hits like a lightning bolt. The best thing about this novel is the lucid writing, though. It's undeniably beautiful and mesmerizing. It gives life to everything it describes. ...but that evening- the evening that changed his life and Sean's- was chilly and gray, the lightest rain falling like glitter, the whole sky hanging low enough to drape the cornfields in gauzy gray fog. I wanted to read slowly and devour each word, each phrase and expression (so perfectly chosen and put together). At the same time, I was so caught up in the story that I couldn't put down the book! Bone Gap is a magnet which attracts each bit and piece of your soul. It consumed me whole, therefore, I recommend it to everyone particularly to those who are suckers for good writing.

Elle

May 10, 2019

Funny how you notice how beautiful things are just when you're about to leave them. It is amazing how a novel focusing on only three characters can feel like one of the most human experiences of your recent reading history. Bone Gap is about the burden of the past, and the roles we have to take on to escape that past. Bone Gap is a magical realism retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth, sort of combined with the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, and though at times slow, it is exceptionally worth your time. Trust me. Here are three reasons for why it is worth your time: “Why do you want to see the beast?”“Because he is just as pretty as I feel.” Petey has some of the most interesting character development in the whole novel. She is the town’s ugly girl, liked by one boy, who the rest of the town seems to think is only dating her because she’ll put out. And by the time she figures out what’s really happening with Finn, it is impossible not to sympathize with her insecurity. “What have you got against people?”Finn hated crowds. Thousands of people bumping and churning. “Too many opinions.” Finn is a character who took a little longer to grow on me, but who I eventually fell in love with. His relationship with his brother Sean, and his gentle kindness towards everyone around me, were both so compelling to me, and I loved the direction the author took his arc. This is sort of a spoiler within the text of the book, but I'm not sure it should be, so I'm going to talk about it: (view spoiler)[Finn has facial blindness, which is plot-relevant, and though I generally don't like disability being used as a plot twist, I thought the narrative around difference was really respectful and relevant. (hide spoiler)] “You said you wouldn’t touch me until I wanted this.”“I don’t want this.” “You do.” On another note of amazing women, Roza is such an incredible character, with one of the best-written arcs of the book. The sections of this book dealing with Roza’s kidnapping are genuinely terrifying, playing off the silent fear I think a lot of women and women-aligned people in America face: the fear of an unnamed stranger who wants us and is not bothered by whether we want them back. This is boosted along by a detailed backstory of life with her boyfriend, who physically hurts her (and - it is implied - sexually violates her). Listen, I know I’ve talked a lot about the characters in this book, but they really are the focus. I found this book so, so cathartic. Even with such dark content, it's a fundamentally hopeful book, and I am so so glad I took a chance on it.Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

booksnpenguins (wingspan matters)

August 14, 2022

I have found that people never love the way they say they do. They can't. They are just people. Full of lies and sentiment and fear. This book was everything I've ever wanted in a book and more. Wholesome writing, magical realism worthy of the definition, The Raven Cycle-like vibes, absolutely great and not cringey romance, realistic and heartbreaking family dynamics, amazing main characters (Finn and Sean and Petey and Roza and, frick, even the Rude boys were amazing), He says the scarecrows weren't made to scare the crows, they were made to scare the corn, a horse named Night, a goat named Chew, stunning stunning stunning plot, bees, KITTIES!, thousands 10+ quotes...And did I mention the w r i t i n g??? He was tired of everyone believing they knew everything there was to know about him, as if a person never grew, a person never changed, a person was born a weird and dreamy little kid with too-red lips and stayed that way forever just to keep things simple for everyone else. This book deserves more recognition. If you ever get the chance, please do yourself a favor and read it. I'm talking to you in particular, Maggie Stiefvater's fans, but not fans should totally give it a spin, as well. Heck, everybody should. I adored this book and even if I'll never love another character the way I love Gansey, Finn comes definitely second, and, hear this and please record it, I might even like Bone Gap as much as I like The Raven Boys (more than its sequels for sure). But a pretty face is just a lucky accident. Pretty can't feed you. And you'll never be pretty enough for some people. "Do you have a girl? Where's your girl? Where's your girl?" "She's her own girl," said Finn. GIVE THIS BOOK ALL THE STARS. ALL THE FLIPPING STARSSSSSSS. He said, "I love you." She shook her head. "You can see me, that's all." But wasn't that love? Seeing what no one else could?

Elena

April 07, 2015

This book you guys...this book.While I'm not necessarily sure if it actually is a book that everybody is going to like or even love I have to say it was so much more than I expected. And I loved every bit of it.Bone Gap is a story about a girl named Roza that got kidnapped and a boy named Finn that saw it happen, but couldn't do anything against it. Sad thing is: nobody in their small town believes him.BUT believe me, that is a very VERY short summary, because I don't want to give you too much information. ''The corn was talking to him again.''My favourite part of this book? Definitely the magical realism.Sometimes I LOVE being confused. And this book could be confusing but more importantly magical. There just is no other word to describe it.Fun fact: My favourite setting are fields. No matter what kind of fields, I am going to love them. Corn fields, flower fields, grass fields. I don't care, all of them are magical and beautiful and I'm a sucker for them. So when I found out that they play a role in this book, I immediately knew this will be even better than I already knew it would be.Another thing I freakin' ADORED where the characters. Oh my. I couldn't help but fall in love with them.''Roza woke in the dark of her castle prison, the taste of honey on her lips.''Roza is the girl that got kidnapped and while she always was a big mystery to all of the citizens of Bone Gap, you slowly find out more about her and her past. Reading from her POV was heartbreaking and terrifying but also SO fascinating. I always looked forward to reading her chapters.Finn is the younger brother from Roza's boyfriend, Sean, and he saw her disappear but nobody believed him. Roza was known as a mystery and when Finn couldn't describe the kidnapper's appearance everybody assumed he was lying.His and Petey's, a girl in Bone Gap whose family are beekeepers, growing attraction to each other was so beautiful, especially when everybody else in the town knew Petey as the ''ugly one''. While Roza is known as this beautiful and mysterious girl, Petey is known as this unique but ugly looking girl. I loved how Laura Ruby played with these stereotypes and the underlying topic of ''beauty can be dangerous''. So, while nobody believed Finn he tries to find Roza on his own. One might ask oneself why didn't Roza's boyfriend Sean search for her, but that's something you should read on your own. :DLet's just say it's definitely another thing I freakin' LOVED about this book. It is not a love story between Roza and Finn. Definitely. Don't think you are going to get a clichè like that.Overall this book made me think, it made me cry, it scared the crap out of me and it made me laugh. I couldn't have asked for more.The writing was absolutely beautiful and this definitely won't be the last book by Laura Ruby I am going to read.

Lotte

March 15, 2017

Riding on Night Mares and talking to corn fields. All is possible in the city of Bone Gap.4.25/5 stars.

Justine

October 21, 2022

People look, they don't see.Bone Gap is a story about perception and reality, and how people rarely have the two things aligned when it comes to those around them.Roza is a beautiful woman who appears suddenly in the town of Bone Gap and is taken in by two brothers, Sean and Finn. Sean is the strong and steady older brother who has looked after his younger brother Finn since their mother left town to get remarried. Finn is a beautiful boy who keeps to himself and is thought of by the townspeople as easily distracted, earning him various nicknames such as Sidetrack. So when Roza disappears one day as suddenly as she appeared, no one really takes Finn seriously when he tells them she was kidnapped by a strange man whose face he can't really describe.The story alternates between Finn and Roza, and what unfolds is an impressive piece of storytelling. For all that he doesn't care much for people, Finn does see Priscilla, or Petey as she prefers, and as he draws closer to her, he is able to deal with some of his unhappiness at not being able to do anything to help Roza. Roza meanwhile has a story of her own that begins long before her kidnapping, when her beautiful face became a burden that she could never take off. This is a wonderful example of magical realism done right. This book very much deserves a place on the Andre Norton shortlist for 2016. I haven't finished reading all the shortlisted books yet, but two of the others on the list, Cuckoo Song and Archivist Wasp I read last year and put on my favourites-2015 shelf. I will definitely be putting Bone Gapon my favourites-2016 shelf.

emma

July 11, 2022

if not for the last 80 pages or so, this would have been 2.5 stars.isn't that fun!part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago

lauren ♡

June 10, 2017

Read this review @ my blog Wonderless Reviews I received a copy of this book from Allen and Unwin in exchange for an honest review. If there’s a book that’s impossible to review then guaranteed I’ll love it and have to review it! I’m having A LOT of the same issues with trying to review this book as I did with Strange the Dreamer, but hopefully I can be somewhat coherent.I fell in love with Magical Realism last year because I find the concept so fascinating. I know it’s not for everyone because it’s often very vague, with open endings and not a whole lot of explanation. However, I love the idea that magic can exist within our own world. I love magic. Period. I don’t think fantastical things have to be exclusive to fantastical worlds. I actually find Magical Realism easier to read than Fantasies because more often than not they’re set in our own world and don’t require world building. I totally get that’s a problem a lot of people have though because it’s hard for them justify how these nonsensical things are happening. Whereas, that’s kinda what I love? I don’t know. I just think the idea of magical things happening for the hell of it is so good.I’ve been wanting to read Bone Gap for over a year and I kept hearing wonderful things so I had really high expectations going in. I was not disappointed. It definitely checked off a lot of things that are common in magical realisms so beware of that going in if it’s not your thing. It is quite slow paced, but the build up and journey was so wonderful it was definitely worth it.Bone Gap is a small town, that truly feels like a small town. Coming from a small town myself I definitely related to the almost claustrophobic feel of it. The characters, even if they were side characters, felt really fleshed out and like real people. I really enjoyed Flynn, Roza and Petey as the core characters. I quite enjoyed the family dynamic between Flynn and his older brother Sean too. It was so good not to see a love triangle either when their could have been one. Also, corn fields are so creepy to me? I don’t even know. Funny how you notice how beautiful things are just when you’re about to leave.I specifically want to talk about Roza and Petey. At first glance Roza could seem like a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, but it actually goes a lot deeper than that. What I love the most about Bone Gap is that Laura Ruby really used society’s expectations on women as a driving point. Everyone is in Love with Roza and we’re constantly told how “beautiful” she is. The attention Roza received was everyone else’s expectations of her. Seeing her take claim of herself and her journey was so great. In flashbacks, we see Roza travel from Poland to America and it’s so interesting. I think she’s actually become of my new favourite female characters. Then, on the contrast, Petey is a character who everyone views as “ugly”. At first I felt uncomfortable with the way Petey was constantly refered to as this, but then I realised what Laura Ruby was trying to do. It really shows both sides of the coin with what women have to struggle with on a daily basis. How we feel like we’re forced to take on these roles that are put on us – not feeling like we can use our own agency ect. Finn has a condition called Prosopagnosia – it’s where you can’t recognise faces. Just like another magical realism I read earlier this year, When the Moon was Ours (where it was a case with a character’s identity), it felt like this condition was used as a bit of a plot twist? Sexuality, illnesses, disabilities ect. aren’t spoilers. I did appreciate that Laura Ruby would have given some awareness to the condition though. There is a case of serious absent parents too. Finn and Sean’s mother literally left them on their own, several years prior, to go marry this guy. Which, I know probably happens in real life, but just what the hell? I have no idea how ANYONE could do that to their kids. There’s also a little bit of girl hate in regards to Roza.I really loved the writing style. It’s quite lyrical, but not overbearing. As I mentioned above it does have a bit of a slow pace until about the last third of the book. It is totally worth it though. I definitely found the pieces about Roza the most interesting.I feel like I can say even less about this book than I could about Strange the Dreamer. There’s a thriller/mystery element to in regards to Roza being missing that I literally don’t even want to speak about because it’ll ruin the best part of the story. This book really is a journey that you need to experience for yourself. It’s so wonderful, unique and I absolutely loved it. If you go in suspending your belief and not expecting extremely detailed answers then I think it’ll be a really enjoyable experience! I especially recommend this if you’re a fan of magical realism. Oh, there’s also lots of cute animals. “Because we don’t have your typical gaps around here. Not gaps made of rocks or mountains. We have gaps in the world. In the space of things. So many places to lose yourself, if you believe that they’re there. You can slip into the gap and never find your way out. Or maybe you don’t want to find your way out.”ding me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bonnie

November 10, 2015

‘Because we don’t have your typical gaps around here. Not gaps made of rocks or mountains. We have gaps in the world. In the space of things. So many places to lose yourself, if you believe that they’re there. You can slip into the gap and never find your way out. Or maybe you don’t want to find your way out.’ Finn O’Sullivan was the only witness to the kidnapping of Roza, his brother Sean’s girlfriend. But when he wrestles with his memories trying to recall the face of the man that took her, he also remembers that she didn’t really put up a fight. So maybe she wanted to leave? It only seemed natural, after their mother left Finn and Sean as well so it would make sense for Roza to do the same. No one in the town believes his story, especially since the only way he can describe the man who took her is that he “moves like a cornstalk in the wind.“Bone Gap, at first glance, appears to be your typical small-town in America where everyone knows everyone’s business no matter how private you strive to keep it. There’s the local brothers that go around bullying people, there’s the rumor spreading and gossip mongering, but then there’s an offhand note about the corn that whispers softly to Finn. The basis of this story stems from the abduction of Persephone myth, which when I realized this made it all the more fascinating. It’s quite evident once you realize this even if it’s only loosely inspired. Pomegranates still manage to make an appearance, there’s the subtle reference to the garden that stopped flourishing as soon as she was gone, and the corns presence in the story becomes much less Children of the Corn when you take into account the connection between it and Persephone’s return.There are so many enigmatic facets to this story that I could discuss but it likely wouldn’t make much sense to someone who hadn’t already experienced this story. Because an experience is exactly what this story is. Its world-building is obscure, cryptic, and vague. But it’s also fanciful and unconventional and that’s what I loved most about this. Trying to nail this story down to a single genre is a troublesome endeavor, but just know that it’s part mythology, part romance, with large parts of magical realism that is so relentless it often veers into straight fantasy. One of the most innovative stories I’ve read this year.

☆☽Erica☾☆

August 16, 2016

Wowza. This was splendid.Bone Gap is a beautiful, magical story that has a bit of everything: mystery, romance, life lessons, complex characters, shocking twists, all in a unique and unassuming package. It's a bit dark and could be a tad frightening at times, but it also manages to ride along in a somewhat whimsical way. I was genuinely surprised by some of the events/personality traits of the characters in this book, and I feel like it deals with characters that we don't often see. This is especially in regards to a disability that one of the characters has. It was really enlightening and stunning to read about. The author presents her characters in such a smart and original way that you can't help being wowed by them. In some ways it reminded me of I'll Give You the Sun. ((Also if you are sensitive to situations in which men are making women feel uncomfortable, i.e. kidnapping or themes of assault, I would approach cautiously. There are no explicit rape scenes, but one of the characters is consistently harassed by men)). But most of all, it will make you think.

Frequently asked questions

Listening to audiobooks not only easy, it is also very convenient. You can listen to audiobooks on almost every device. From your laptop to your smart phone or even a smart speaker like Apple HomePod or even Alexa. Here’s how you can get started listening to audiobooks.

  • 1. Download your favorite audiobook app such as Speechify.
  • 2. Sign up for an account.
  • 3. Browse the library for the best audiobooks and select the first one for free
  • 4. Download the audiobook file to your device
  • 5. Open the Speechify audiobook app and select the audiobook you want to listen to.
  • 6. Adjust the playback speed and other settings to your preference.
  • 7. Press play and enjoy!

While you can listen to the bestsellers on almost any device, and preferences may vary, generally smart phones are offer the most convenience factor. You could be working out, grocery shopping, or even watching your dog in the dog park on a Saturday morning.
However, most audiobook apps work across multiple devices so you can pick up that riveting new Stephen King book you started at the dog park, back on your laptop when you get back home.

Speechify is one of the best apps for audiobooks. The pricing structure is the most competitive in the market and the app is easy to use. It features the best sellers and award winning authors. Listen to your favorite books or discover new ones and listen to real voice actors read to you. Getting started is easy, the first book is free.

Research showcasing the brain health benefits of reading on a regular basis is wide-ranging and undeniable. However, research comparing the benefits of reading vs listening is much more sparse. According to professor of psychology and author Dr. Kristen Willeumier, though, there is good reason to believe that the reading experience provided by audiobooks offers many of the same brain benefits as reading a physical book.

Audiobooks are recordings of books that are read aloud by a professional voice actor. The recordings are typically available for purchase and download in digital formats such as MP3, WMA, or AAC. They can also be streamed from online services like Speechify, Audible, AppleBooks, or Spotify.
You simply download the app onto your smart phone, create your account, and in Speechify, you can choose your first book, from our vast library of best-sellers and classics, to read for free.

Audiobooks, like real books can add up over time. Here’s where you can listen to audiobooks for free. Speechify let’s you read your first best seller for free. Apart from that, we have a vast selection of free audiobooks that you can enjoy. Get the same rich experience no matter if the book was free or not.

It depends. Yes, there are free audiobooks and paid audiobooks. Speechify offers a blend of both!

It varies. The easiest way depends on a few things. The app and service you use, which device, and platform. Speechify is the easiest way to listen to audiobooks. Downloading the app is quick. It is not a large app and does not eat up space on your iPhone or Android device.
Listening to audiobooks on your smart phone, with Speechify, is the easiest way to listen to audiobooks.

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