Over the river and through the woods....

Or, In the Woods, really but you get the picture....

The one problem I've always had with reading is that I can never just "read" a book....I have to devour it.

I can never just slowly read, digest, and enjoy a book because I'm just always itching to get to that next page and I'll usually finish a book that I had planned to read over the course of several weeks within a couple of days. Obviously, speed reading doesn't sound like a big problem (or a problem at all really) but sometimes, I just wish I had the ability to move slowly through a book and take it in long, deep strides.

That's why, when I read Tana French's In the Woods I was a bit taken a-back by how slowly I was moving through it. The back cover alone had caught my attention and when I started reading, I thought I would blow through it in a day but, somehow, despite how amazing the book was, I took me a few weeks to get through.

The story takes place in Dublin, Ireland where Detective Ryan finds himself working a case involving a young girl found dead in the woods surrounding his childhood home. As a young boy, he had also been lost in the woods with his two best friends, however, out of the three children, Detective Ryan was the only one ever to be found. Now, with the help of his partner, Cassie, Ryan must attempt to solve the mystery of the young girl's death while discretely trying to make sense of his own strange past.

Tana French has a unique style of writing that keeps her readers turning page after page, but still manages to keep a slow and steady pace. Every detail, story line, and description falls perfectly into place and forces you to read carefully, digesting each individual aspect for how amazingly brilliant it really is.

I think In the Woods reminded me of Harry Potter because of this style. There may not have been any elements of fantasy or magic, but when I would read the latest Harry Potter books, I would always get so frustrated with how quickly I would blow through them. Especially with Deathly Hallows, I so desperately wanted to slow myself down and savor every last moment, but somehow, I would still manage to be finished in a time that felt all too short. Whenever I see people, today, reading one of my favorite books for the first time, I find myself feeling so jealous of the awesome experience I know they are having. In this case, however, Tana French's style of writing forced me to slow down in a way that is usually foreign to me and, for that, I feel truly grateful. As a result, I got to prolong the awesome joy of discovering a new favorite book and, hopefully, you all will too!

Of course, In the Woods is not the only book that Tana French has written and if you want to check out her website, you will know that I always recommend doing so :). I have yet to read her other books, The Likeness or The Faithful Place, but I know they have definitely been put on my reading list!



If you've read any of Tana French's books, including In the Woods,  or any books like them, let me know what you think! I'm always open to new suggestions!


Until next time!!! xxx