Coastliners: A Novel [Paperback]

Although she doesn't expect a welcoming parade, she is disappointed to find that few islanders even recognize her and those who do mark her return with little more than acknowledgement. Her father, GrosJean, has never answered any of her letters and is unresponsive at her return.

In an effort to take her mind off of her own troubles and to try and become part of the community, Mado becomes involved with the dilemmas of the island and tries to lend a helping hand. However, one misstep leads to another and she finds she is making things worse for herself and those around her.

Only a new acquaintance, a young handyman named Flynn who has been staying on her fathers land, helps her turn the tide for herself and the island. But other forces work secretly to undermine Mado's plans and the lives of the people of Les Salant.

Then, just as Mado begins to feel at home once again with the island and her father, her sister and husband return with their sons to steal the attention and GrosJean's heart. A series of alliances pit neighbor against neighbor and village against village in the struggle for survival. Nothing is as it seems and no one is prepared when the truth is finally revealed.

Although "Coastliners" primarily revolves around Mado, a young woman who has returned to the island and village of her youth after a long absence, the story is just as much about the island and its quirky inhabitants. The reader, immersed in the dynamics of LeDevin, its culture and the idiosyncrasies of the islanders who have made it their home for generations, emerges from the tale as if from another world. A final twist at the end adds an extra element of intrigue.

I didn't think you would. So why would you even consider buying Coastliners? It's one of the most boring and pointless novels I have ever read.

I'm not saying Joanne Harris can't write. She writes well, especially her dreamy descriptions of the natural world on this sleepy little island. But character development? Insight? Plot? Forget it. She has no concept.

Harris has nothing to say, either. Unless the slogan "everything returns" has some deep meaning that escapes me.

Does a racy little surprise at the end make up for all those deficiencies? I don't think so. Spare yourself.

The story itself was very entertaining. The main character, Mado, returns to her island home after a ten year absense. She finds that some things have changed, but much remains the same; namely the feud/rivalry between the families on the island. Mado wants to help her family and friends to build up their side of the island, but she encounters hostility and many unforeseen obstacles in the process.

In _Coastliners_, Harris constructs a captivating story with interesting plot twists. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.