Clarissa Bourne is stalked by a man with whom she foolishly has what MIGHT be described as a one night stand. The Girl on the Train - pfft! Please try again. I'll draw the line. [being drugged, raped, stalked and threatened. The story takes the form of a journal in which she records the events and this works brilliantly. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. ARGH. Record these details each year up to the age of sixteen, and create a wonderful memento of their childhood to treasure for years to come. But as a disturbingly violent crime unfolds in the courtroom, Clarissa realizes that to survive she must expose Rafe herself. Outside her apartment. At the same time, she is called in for jury duty for the trial of a prostitute who has been gang-raped. It's just about everything else. With Rafe in pursuit, Clarissa's only sanctuary is the courtroom in which she is serving jury duty. Masterfully constructed, filled with exquisite tension and a pervasive sense of menace, The Book of You explores the lines between love and compulsion, fantasy and reality, and offers a heart-stopping portrait of a woman determined to survive. . One woman's terrifying reality is juxtaposed with the events of a trial for which she is a juror. Such a super read! First off: While I have tried to avoid spoilers, this review has more information about the plot of the novel than I usually include. Claire Kendal was born in America and educated in England, where she has spent all her adult life. The Book Of You Lyrics. On the way, she begins to feel ill, too ill to stop Rafe coming into her flat, where she passes out. The Book of You by Claire Kendal About the Book A mesmerizing tale of psychological suspense about a woman who must fight to escape an expert manipulator determined to possess her, Claire Kendal?s debut novel is a sophisticated and disturbing portrait of compulsion, control, I both read and listened to the audio version of The Book of You. This information about The Book of You shown above was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Welcome back. With a variety color options, this book is an ideal baby book for boys and girls. Seeing parallels between the two cases, Clarissa realises how heavy the burden of proof is, while her stalkers actions are. Claire teaches English literature and creative writing, and lives in England’s South West region with her family. What We Promise You. This is by no means an easy read as it features stalking, kidnap, violence and abuse and at times it is truly terrifying- forget to breathe terrifying. Disturbing storyline but I had to finish the book, Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2016. All this is made much worse because she works with Rafe so she can’t totally avoid him. This story is The Book of You.”, “The nice word for you is methodical. Huffpost Books. by Harper. Books are cool again. An Easier, Better Alternative to the Traditional Baby Book. This feels like a thriller, though the pacing was a bit off in the last third and I felt it could have b. Gone are the days of half-filled out baby books collecting dust on the shelves. Such a well written and creepy tale that I was actually disappointed when this thriller ended. Terrible, obsessive, stalking ideas and won't leave Clarissa alone. Regardless, I read it in one sitting and was riveted most of the time. But, the plot really started to drag about a third of the way through and Clarissa's extreme passivity made her really hard for me personally to relate to. He becomes obsessed with her following a terrifying incident in which she was involved with him. Which equals a one night stand and waking up in the morning realising you made a horrible mistake. Each year the child lists all their favourite things - from songs to shoes - and answers series of fun questions about how they see the world like ‘What makes you happy?’ and What can you do really well?’. The story had a riveting beginning, and an interesting and believable premise—a young woman working at a university becomes a victim of stalking by a male colleague. She is desperately trying to gather evidence to be able to take her case to the police. --Joanne Wilkinson, “Kendal’s debut novel is a palpitating tale of obsession and dangerously unrequited love. Your body is made of cells -- but how does a single cell know to become part of your nose, instead of your toes? One woman's terrifying reality is juxtaposed with the events of a trial for which she is a juror. Well, it all began in the back of her car. . Her life starts to dissolve and he is so manipulative, he manages to appear concerned so that her own friends question her mental health. My problem isn't the subject matter, which is universally appalling. These items are shipped from and sold by different sellers. The Book of You follows Clarissa as she tries to avoid, and evade the unwanted attention she is receiving from a work colleague, Rafe. This was an intense psychological thriller. Proof that will reveal the twisted, macabre fairy tale that Rafe has spun around them . And it isn't because she's slow seeking help, or secretive about her situation, or because she's presented a weak, wimpy or possibly timid clothes-knitting mouse, it's because of all the stupidities, and her incessant focus on jerks. This book has become my new obsession. This is because the reasons for my critique are difficult to discuss without going into some detail about the story itself. The Book of You is Clarissa's story of how she is stalked to the point of near breakdown. Following the incident he is continuously texting her, sending her gifts, and appearing out of nowhere. Company Number: 7593392 Her favorite sewing shop. And I found some of the descriptions of abuse just too graphic. I want to take you back in time. There are also pages for your child to draw, or for you to stick their artworks and handprints. I disliked the main character - the victim. This allows information to be presented on how effectively the legal system blames and shames the victim. His messages choke her voice mail; his gifts litter her mailbox. It's about bad choices and what can happen . She is soon on the receiving end of a barrage of text messages and unwanted gifts and is relieved when she is summoned to jury duty, hoping it will give her some respite from his unwanted attentions. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. With the individual’s name embossed on the cover and a special message on the opening page from yours truly, the personalised “Book About You” is designed for the humblest of individuals, to remind them that out of seven billion people in the world, they’ll find out why they’re one in a billion. I wish this story's name could be different, but nothing will change it. Goodreads Members' Most Anticipated Spring Books. At times it is creepy and terrifying and so, so scary and of course, I couldn’t put it down. I SPY Claire teaches English Literature and Creative Writing, and lives in the South West of England with her family. Not for me. Conceiving a plan, she begins collecting the evidence of Rafe’s madness to use against him—a record of terror that will force her to relive every excruciating moment she desperately wants to forget. In most cases, the reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. January 1st 2015 lol. Might be more of a 4 right at this moment but I have a feeling that with time it will end up being a 3, so a 3 it is. The rhythm of the trial allows her a sense of normalcy and the space to make new friends, including Robert, an attractive widower. As Rafe becomes more and more violent and deranged, Clarissa begins to fear for her own life. This item cannot be shipped to your selected delivery location. Yes, the story line does have elements of a thriller, but I personally never felt the tension that the book was trying to create. April 3, 2021 Horological Historian Nick Foulkes Literally Wrote the Book on the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Here, the watch expert discusses the beloved timepiece and his new book about it. But Rafe won't be deterred, and soon his behaviour becomes increasingly threatening and unpleasant. Highly recommended, Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2020, This story has a slow start, building to amazing tension and a culmination for which I almost held my breath as I read the last pages, wanting to finish and heave a sigh of relief, yet not wanting to end the book. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. I keep looking down the street for sight of it because it's scheduled to be here about now. Her first novel, The Book of You, was translated into more than twenty languages. Sold by MYVMBEAUTY and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. A tummy-rubbing, goosebump-inducing personalised gift, oh yes! I think one of the main reasons was the alternating use of first and third person - the third person put me too much outside of what Clarissa was feeling. "No other man can do to you what I can. Not fair or just. Book of You CIC, Birch House Business Centre, Hen Lon Parcwr, Ruthin, LL15 1NA . All this is made much worse because she works with Rafe so she can’t totally avoid him. For tomorrow. Since that one regrettable night, his obsession with her has grown, becoming more consuming with each passing day. Fans of. The book follows Clarissa, a woman who is being stalked by a colleague. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Her building terror and seemingly immobilised inability to stop the man following her, while she collected her evidence, compared to the powerlessness in court of a woman raped by a gang, amidst the injustice of being told she’d been consensual in her own destruction. I enjoyed the book and practically read it in one sitting, but there is too much that's unrealistic about the book. For tomorrow. “Every story has a true name. The problem with that kind of upbringing is...unfortunately living by those rules alone can get in the way of trusting your instincts and keeping yourself safe. At the launch, Rafe seeks her out, plies her with drink and insists on escorting her home. Buy The Book of You: Daily Micro-Actions for a Happier, Healthier You by Rosendahl, Nora, Lähteenmäki, Nelli, Hoffman, Aleksi (ISBN: 9781405924139) from Amazon's Book Store. Clarissa Bourne is stalked by a man with whom she foolishly has what MIGHT be described as a one night stand. The Book of You is psychological suspense at its most powerful—a frighteningly real portrait of a stalker’s impact on his prey. What you tend to find is you bookmark the best stories and let anybody open you up for a short while, replacing the mark when the chapter is finished and taking your book back. A modern, inclusive journal to record the wonderful moments and memories of childhood, from age 1 to 16. Wow. The woman journals her thoughts and collects evidenc. This allows information to be presented on how effectively the legal system blames and shames the victim. Five stars and highly recommended, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 21, 2015. That at least should've been easy, but it wasn't, because, well, the annoying narrative style, as w, This is definitely one of the worst things I've ever read. Flintshire Dementia Care Homes Project. His messages choke her voice mail; his unwanted gifts keep arriving at her door. But her love ran dry and we fell apart. I disliked the narrative style. Edgy, raw and downright terrifying is the best way to describe this mesmerizing story. (For a warning of like import, but to the persecutors, not the persecuted, comp. Beautiful Quality. A beautiful knee-rubbing, soul lifting personalized gift. Since that one regrettable night, his obsession with her has grown, becoming more terrifying with each passing day. As a young girl I was taught to be polite- say please and thank you- be respectful of other people's feelings...and act like a lady. The story had a riveting beginning, and an interesting and believable premise—a young woman working at a university becomes a victim of stalking by a male colleague. Something went wrong. And can Clarissa actually trust Robert either? No other man will love you like I do. Each book is 11.5 x 10.25" and includes 100 pages, with foil stamping on the cover and spine reading, "Here Begins The Story of You." And besides I hate how stalkers think in all the books, these are people to be avoided in real life , and their company doesn't make any easier or pleasant in a book. I understand that stalking victims often gradually feel isolated and like they have no one to turn to, but Clarissa's. Purchase a Gift. I read the blurb that accompanies this book which details how Clarissa is becoming scared of Rafe who doesn’t take no for an answer, wherever she goes he is there. Did he rape her? You take the longest shower and just pass it off as a bad decision. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. Claire Kendal’s extraordinary debut will haunt readers long after it reaches its terrifying, breathtaking conclusion. Clarissa is being stalked by a man named Rafe who also happens to be a co-worker. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2018. He clearly knew me and threatened me in the sanctity of my own home, making me fear every man I knew at that time, in the days (1990s) when a call for help to the police was ineffectual, unless the man actually attacked me. [Verse: Sarah Martin] Everybody's making plans. She was impossibly hard to like, in fact, I never managed to connect with her, let alone care about her, or about what is happening to her. I both read and listened to the audio version of The Book of You. This book was no different, I am glad that I was satisfied by the ending but I think that the story lacks an air of complexity, it made me feel for the main character , but at the same time it didn't make her story believable, being stalked is an experience that I don't think could ever be properly written about . It was a Sunday Times bestseller and a Richard & Judy Book Club pick. There she finds some peace and even makes new friends, including an attractive widower named Robert, whose caring attentions make her feel desired and safe. And as Rafe has made clear, he will never let her go. Do you know what would you be in 2 years? Clarissa’s only escape from this harrowing nightmare is inside a courtroom—where she is a juror on a trial involving a victim whose experiences eerily parallel her own. The Book of You gives you a place to note down everything from your child’s favourite colour, to the naughtiest thing they’ve done all year (and whether they got caught!). I disliked the narrative style. Conversely, Thomas, existed in a time capsule, and is timeless unvarnished, unpretentious truth if read rich metaphorically. We’d love your help. This is definitely one of the worst things I've ever read. Super atmospheric and creepy, but the end was a little lackluster for me. His name is Rafe, and he is everywhere Clarissa turns. At her favorite sewing shop. Create a life story using words, pictures, music and film. Thomas is a book of insightful jokes which ruthlessly reveal truth. She was impossibly hard to like, in fact, I never managed to connect with her, let alone care about her, or about what is happening to her. There was a problem loading your book clubs. This feels like a thriller, though the pacing was a bit off in the last third and I felt it could have been shorter. It is told using both first and third person narrative...an interesting choice that works here. I read this as it was a book club choice. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Rafael invited his co-worker Larissa to his book reading and afterwards a drink becomes one or two I or four. The Book Of You Lyrics. This book should come with a health warning! You is the kind of book you will read whenever you have a spare moment. One of THE best books I've ever read. Gone Girl - pfft! Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Masterfully constructed, filled with exquisite tension and a pervasive sense of menace, The Book of You explores the lines between love and compulsion, fantasy and reality, and offers a heart-stopping portrait of a woman determined to survive. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. Wow! At The Book of Everyone, we put each person at the heart of the personalisation process. Kidding, books were always cool. Clarissa goes on a date with Rafe, a work colleague, and soon realises it was a mistake and just wants to forget the whole thing. But, honestly, I feel like I've been standing on the corner waiting for the bus that never really comes. Alec Benjamin Lyrics. In this gift journal, bestselling husband-wife team David and Kate Marshall—authors of The Book of Us and What I Love About You— offer creative ways to capture your love and gratitude. And all that I could say was. Refresh and try again. The trial only serves to heighten her anxiety when the defendant, a rape victim, is degraded and humiliated by the prosecution. The Lifetime-turned-Netflix series "You" is based on the novel of the same name by Caroline Kepnes. . I really didn't enjoy it. It is to the listener that music either sounds moving or not, no music critic can make you like it. I was so engrossed in this book it took me four hours to read it. I felt her growing distant. When Clarissa is called for jury service she is relieved, could this be a form of sanctuary from Rafe for a cou. Please try your request again later. I understand that stalking victims often gradually feel isolated and like they have no one to turn to, but Clarissa's complete unwillingness to tell anyone anything about the stalker EVER really didn't feel realistic to me. Taking this review down because the point I was trying to make had a lot to do with a theory I've had knocking around my head for a while, that relates to quite a lot of books in the same genre as this one, and it didn't really make much sense in isolation. This is by no means an easy read as it features stalking, kidnap, violence and abuse and at times it is truly terrifying- forget to breathe terrifying. Being the smart woman she is, she starts a journal of every time he follows her, talks to her, calls her, leaves her gifts. You’ll finish it in record time and in one sitting, no matter how slowly you … Kepnes’debut novel is gripping in both substance and style. Book of You CIC 01492 555381 info@bookofyou.co.uk. If you didn’t know the Penn Badgley helmed hit television series, You, was based on a book series by Caroline Kepnes, you’re officially going to have a lot more to catch up on. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published At times it is creepy and terrifying and so, so scary and of course, I couldn’. There is something about stalkers that fascinates me. THIS is the psychological thriller for those to look up to. Latest News. The story takes the form of a journal in which she records the events and this works brilliantly. Inside each book, you’ll find premium quality papers and a four-ring binding. Wow! This was an intense psychological thriller. THE BOOK OF YOU is a tough book to read. But, the plot really started to drag about a third of the way through and Clarissa's extreme passivity made her really hard for me personally to relate to. 2.5 stars. What is the motivation to keep trying to be with someone who doesn’t want to know? An unputdownable story of terror and too close to home for comfort. Did he drug her wine? Rafe...... has other ideas. At the university where she works. It is told using both first and third person narrative...an interesting choice that works here. The train station. [Verse: Sarah Martin] Everybody's making plans. Closer Magazine. The Book of You – Breathtaking & Brilliant The Book of You is the debut thriller from Claire Kendal that grabs you by the throat and does not release you until the book is finished. Rare moments in life will you feel comfortable enough to hand a book to another and show them an unmarked chapter. Outside her apartment. In the book, the characters Paco, Claudia, Annika, and Raj don't exist. I was initially torn between 3 to 3.5 stars, but after some thought, I would have to say that I am between 2.5 to 3 stars. Not everyone is deserving of respect. It's realistically done that is frightening and compelling as realisation dawns that options become increasingly less available. Book of You CIC01492 555381. info@bookofyou.co.uk. My book group found it gripping but Rafe wo n't leave Clarissa alone it... 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