Friday, July 10, 2009

Feeling dorkily serious about the Deeper experience

Great moments from last night’s reading
Book: Deeper by Megan Hart
Page: I’m currently halfway through
Spoiler level: Oh so low

Every night this week I've been reading a few chapters of Deeper before bed. And then I turn out the light and just lay there in the dark with this strange, lovely, bittersweet feeling about life and love and the passage of time.

It’s been so long since a book hit me like that. Not to get all dorky, but what the hell, that’s what a good book is supposed to do, right?

Don’t be fooled
Don’t be fooled by the contemplative state I seem to have been thrown into: Deeper actually happens to be quite the sexy and riveting page turner.

Plot, in a nutshell:
Deeper takes place in two time periods: then (about 20 years ago) and now (present). Then Bess spent the summer at Bethany Beach and fell for townie bad boy Nick. Now Bess is older, with two sons and a crumbling marriage to a philandering lawyer. She goes to spend time alone at the family beach house.

And Nick inexplicably appears. Nick hasn’t aged for 20 years, and he doesn’t eat or sleep or have a heartbeat, but he can still have sex (and no, he’s not a vampire!) Even Bess doesn’t seem clear on what happened to him after she left Bethany Beach all those years ago, though it seems clear he died. Neither of them want to delve into all that, or how/why he’s reappeared—they are so into being together that they don’t want to question it, though Bess sometimes wonders if she’s going crazy. In the then storyline, we get the teen romance, presumably leading up to what happened to Nick.

This whole mystery
What exactly is Nick? What will happen when Bess’ two boys join her at the beach home? Her oldest is nearly Nick’s age. Will they buy that he’s a boarder? What will happen when/if the other townspeople see Nick? Will they remember him from 20 years ago? Can Bess and Nick even have a real-life relationship? And what happened back then?

Sometimes when you have books that alternate time periods, one time period is more fun and interesting to read about than the other, but in Deeper, both time periods are hugely compelling.

And of course, the hotness
Nobody does a sex scene like Hart. There’s something about the details she chooses—everyday, mundane clothing or choreography details that create this hyper realism, this fresh, frank sensuality.

How in the world will this thing end?
Obviously I haven’t hit the endgame yet. Really, a million different things are possible: some heartbreaking, some juicy, some exciting. And of course, this is an Erotic Novel, not a romance, so you aren’t guaranteed a HEA. That said, I have complete trust in Megan Hart: she’ll give me a HEA or something better.

This has been one of my best reading experiences of the year. It will have to go really wrong for it not to end in my top five. I may or may not report in about it. I might be verklempt!

20 comments:

orannia said...

I love books that hit you right in the heart, that make you think about them...and about how you're responding to them :) Enjoy!

FYI - I have Broken on my TBR list and am looking forward to reading it!

Chris said...

Oh no! A spoiler! There's sex in this book! *gasp* ;)

I felt like that while I was reading The Butterfly Tattoo (and crying).

Leslie said...

Thanks for sharing this CJ. I think the words "strange" (in a good way), "lovely" and "bittersweet" can all describe Hart's writing.

She's one of my favorites because I know I'll get a wonderful story from her. It may not have a HEA but I'll still enjoy it.

I don't have Deeper yet but hope to get to Borders this weekend.

orannia - I absolutely loved Broken.

Mandi said...

Wow, one of the best of the year? I think I have Dirty ordered..I haven't read Megan Hart and I keep hearing the best things about her.

Amy C said...

I really need to read some more Megan Hart!

Carolyn Crane said...

Orannia: Broken is the only one I haven't read yet.

Chris: Oh, right, I heard that about Butterfly Tattoo!

Leslie: One of my faves, too. Glad you loved Broken--must get!

Mandi: I think Dirty is the best one to start with.

Amy C: Me too!

Lea said...

CJ:

Wonderful post... I have "Stranger" on the shelf and haven't gotten to it yet, but from what I've read about Ms. Hart's writing she has a gift for a narrative that provokes a wide range of emotion from readers.

This book sounds particularly emotional. My kind of book...

Thanks CJ..
L

Renee said...

Great reflection on your reading experience, CJ!

I've been a little hesitant about the premise of this book, but it sounds like one that has made a big impression on you. Might have to reconsider it . . .

orannia said...

Mandi: I think Dirty is the best one to start with.

I also have Dirty on my TBR list - was having a number of blank moments last week *grin* so I'll start with that :) Thank you!

Jill D. said...

Hurry up and finish it so we can talk about it!!

Leslie said...

FYI ~ Megan Hart posted a contest for Deeper on her blog. Prize is a $50 gc.

You should go for it CJ!

Serena said...

This sounds captivating...wow...thanks for this review...I'm popping this on the TBR list...I want to find out what Nick is!

Joanna Chambers said...

Nice use of the word verklempt. I award you ten points.

Your mission, should you to choose to accept it, is to get 'schadenfreude' and 'ersatz' into your next two posts.

Tracy said...

I had no idea what Deeper was about and now I want to go buy it immediately to find out what's up with Nick. You've ensnared me, my friend!

Ok - I guess I'll wait to buy it until after I get home. :)

Taja said...

Oh wow, this novel sounds very interesting! I really like Megan Hart's novels so I knew I would get this one some day. Thanks to you this day now comes sooner than I thought. *g*

VampFanGirl said...

Oooo you've provided some awesome teasers here. yay! I love Megan Hart!

I have 'Deeper' in the TBR but I'm waiting until I can really appreciate it. Right now I'm reading some light contemporary romance that mirrors my carefree mood. When I'm ready for something deep (ha ha) then I'll be pulling out 'Deeper'.

So happy to read that you're lovin' it.

;) VFG

woolydaisy said...

just ordered deeper- thanks looks intriguing. been so blah-ed out by reading these days!

Carolyn Crane said...

Lea: Stranger is fabulous! I'll be interested in what you think.

Orannia: Aha, a TBR discovery.

Jill: I'm on the fly, but now I have to go back and see what you said when I get home!!

Leslie: thanks for the tip.

Serena: I think of the many books I review here, you'd probably really like this one.

Tracy: you have entered my snare!

Taja: of course, reading twin!

VFG: I was hesitant about this plot, too, but it so works. Thanks for visiting!

WoolyD: Hey! What a nice surprise! Hope you like it. If this blahs you out, well, I will send the paramedics. Thanks for stopping by.

The Bookworm said...

oh wow, i'm adding this to my TBR!
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

Jill said...

I hadn't heard of this one, but it sounds intriguing. It's fun hearing your reaction as you read through the book! I'll have to check it out.

I like your "recent fave reads" on the sidebar. I think I'll have to copy you! :-) Santa Olivia's going to be on there, that's for sure!