“Jacob was time out of sync, time more perfect than it had been. He was life the way it was supposed to be all those years ago. That’s what all the Returned were.”
Harold and Lucille Hargrave’s lives have been both joyful and sorrowful in the decades since their only son, Jacob, died tragically at his eighth birthday party in 1966. In their old age they’ve settled comfortably into life without him, their wounds tempered through the grace of time…. Until one day Jacob mysteriously appears on their doorstep—flesh and blood, their sweet, precocious child, still eight years old.
All over the world people’s loved ones are returning from beyond. No one knows how or why this is happening, whether it’s a miracle or a sign of the end. Not even Harold and Lucille can agree on whether the boy is real or a wondrous imitation, but one thing they know for sure: he’s their son. As chaos erupts around the globe, the newly reunited Hargrave family finds itself at the center of a community on the brink of collapse, forced to navigate a mysterious new reality and a conflict that threatens to unravel the very meaning of what it is to be human.
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| Jason Mott |
With spare, elegant prose and searing emotional depth, award-winning poet Jason Mott explores timeless questions of faith and morality, love and responsibility. A spellbinding and stunning debut, The Returned is an unforgettable story that marks the arrival of an important new voice in contemporary fiction.
My Thoughts:
Before I’d read a word of this book I was excited by the premise. People returning from the dead? Crazy, right? Now, zombies and such aren’t my usual bookish milieu, to put it mildly. But this? This was a whole different kind of tale.
I thought this was such a beautifully sad story. It broke and warmed my heart in equal measure. There were times I was angry. There were times I wanted to weep.
Most importantly, this book made me think. I couldn’t help but wonder about what the world would be like if these events actually happened. On a personal level I couldn’t stop thinking about who I would want to come back, if only for one more day. I’ve been chewing on these questions ever since.
Jason Mott shows just how marvelously complicated and fragile human beings really are. The Returned isn’t a book I’ll soon forget.
For more thoughts (and a different opinion) on The Returned please see this review from Monika at A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall.
The Relentless Reader 
Luckily my sister got the Dutch version of this book, so she could review it on her blog, so I think I might read it too. Sounds like a great story!
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I ended up a little lukewarm on this one, but I totally agree that the premise is fascinating and I think it would be an awesome bookclub book because there is plenty to talk about!
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I hope you'll have a chance to read it 🙂
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Good point, there would be tons of things to discuss! I think the premise and the EMOTIONS are what made me really like this. 😀
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Aghh this is my next read, and I can't wait! Your review has made me all the more eager; I want to feel all those feels!
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LOL! You'll be feeling all of those feels very soon! 😀
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I can't wait to read it! I already have it.
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I like that it made you think but I'm not sure about people coming back from the dead.
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People I know have been going crazy for the TV show The Returned recently and I was sure it was an adaptation of this book, the premise sounds so very similar, but I just discovered the two are unrelated and ABC have their own televisation of this book coming out soon! I wonder how it will compare. I quite fancy reading this, though, it sounds like such an interesting if spooky premise.
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Sounds like an amazing read, Jen. I've been looking forward to your review, or any review of this book, because I see it on so many \”what are you reading\” posts…
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I definitely want to read this one. Maybe for the next #diversiverse!
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Ooooh creepy! Sounds like a good one!
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I really want to read this one! I liked The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta about the people who were left behind after some type of rapture event, and this one seems to have a similar vibe.
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I feel like the concept of seeing someone you love again has the potential to be so poignant because it is both so specific and so universal. I'm off to request this book from the library!
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Definitely agree there'd be lots to talk about with this title! (thanks for the link, too btw)
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Great! I hope you like it!
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That's one of the issues that had my mind spinning 😉
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All of the shows/books/trailers for this book and similar shows have me all confused, lol. The premise is incredible isn't it??
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It's been all over the place lately hasn't it??
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Ah yes, it'd be perfect for something like that!
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It was crazy and good and definitely creepy!
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Oh yea, I liked The Leftovers too Laurie. This was like that..but almost opposite 😉 People coming back…not disappearing!
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Yes, yes! Those thoughts were keeping my up at night while I was reading this. What I wouldn't give to see a few people one more time :*)
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Wow, The Returned sounds like a must read. What an interesting premise.
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The buzz for this book is certainly swelling 😉 I think it's going to make a big splash.
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A great idea for a story and it sounds like it moved you. I keep seeing some great reviews of it around the book blogosphere. I must try and read it!
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Just starting this one today. I was hoping it wasn't going to be sad.
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Definitely sounds like an awesome book! I haven't heard of this before so I'm going to look for it.
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Yes, definitely a very moving story. It gave me a lot to think about!
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I'll look forward to hearing what your final thoughts are Leslie. Sad…yes, for me at least.
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It was a lot different than anything I've read before. And that's a good thing 😀 I've been stepping out of my box lately and I'm loving it!
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I really need to read this! I have a copy on the way in the mail for a tour and I'm really looking forward to it. The author went to UNCW (which is where I went for undergrad), so I feel like I should show some support.
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Oh good, glad you'll be reading this! Can't wait to hear what you think of it 🙂
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Wow, this does have an interesting premise! I also really love the cover. I'm not sure I'll try it though, as I actually don't like books that make me sad or angry. Funny, I'm just realizing that a lot of bloggers describe really great books as the ones that give them all of the feels and I don't think that's really what I look for in a book 🙂
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I'm definitely one of those bloggers. I don't know what what it is but I love a book to punch me in the gut 😉
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Yeah! And on people's currently reading shelves. I wish I grabbed it on Netgalley, but hey I am on a self-imposed ban!
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This sounds wonderful, Jennifer. I like books that make me think and draw out my emotions. I will definitely be adding this one to my wish list.
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Amen, me too! Like Shannon mentioned above this would be great for a book club. So much to discuss and argue about 😀
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