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Solitary Tales #1
Solitary
His Loneliness Will Soon Turn to Fear…. When Chris Buckley moves to Solitary, North Carolina, he faces the reality of his parents’ divorce, a school full of nameless faces—and Jocelyn Evans. Jocelyn is beautiful and mysterious enough to leave Chris speechless. But the more Jocelyn resists him, the more the two are drawn together. Chris soon learns that Jocelyn has secrets as deep as the town itself. Secrets more terrifying than the bullies he faces in the locker room or his mother’s unexplained nightmares. He slowly begins to understand the horrific answers. The question is whether he can save Jocelyn in time. This first book in the Solitary Tales series will take you from the cold halls of high school to the dark rooms of an abandoned cabin—and remind you what it means to believe in what you cannot see.
400 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2010
235 people are currently reading
2151 people want to read
About the author
Travis Thrasher
82 books418 followersNew York Times bestselling author Travis Thrasher has written over 75 books, from fiction in a variety of genres to memoirs and children’s books. He has collaborated with filmmakers, musicians, athletes, comedians and pastors. Travis lives with his wife and three daughters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
October 15, 2010
My first thoughts of wanting to read this book were correct. I went on an amazing ride during this one. Travis Thrasher seems to channel Stephen King, Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti and other great authors, yet he keeps his novels true to him. I hate comparing authors to other authors because it sounds like they don’t have their own voice. This is not what I mean when I do this with Travis Thrasher. I think I do it more to share that if you like certain authors you might like his books. But if you don’t like those authors, don’t let that turn you off either. As I said, Travis Thrasher has his own voice and a way with storytelling that bridges the gap between adult fiction and young adult fiction.
Most of Mr. Thrasher’s books have a supernatural bend to them. A good vs. evil plotline and Solitary takes this plot and makes it so much more. He writes what I consider the new “Christian” fiction. It takes a story and doesn’t beat you over the head with Christianity but lets you make the decisions for yourself and lets you see real people trying to do the right thing, not perfect people. Solitary takes this, adds in some teenage angst, some cliques, a new boy at school, an aloof beauty and a town where nothing seems right but no one dares speak about it. I must say go ahead and mark out a block of time and sit down with this one because you won’t want to put it down once you pick it up.
With quotes like the following it can appeal to multiple generations like my own generation which will understand this fully:
I'm listening to the Foo Fighters and wish I could've been sixteen back when Dave Grohl was in his first band. Foo Fighters are great, but Nirvana was epic."
And here a gem that will appeal to today’s generation:
I laugh and let out a curse of disbelief. "What is going on here? I mean--where in the world is this place? Isn't this America? Things like this don't happen. Can't someone put out a rumor on the Web? Tweet about it?"
With Solitary, Travis Thrasher proves he has a great grasp on what it’s like to be a teenager and writes the book with genuine feeling that I think any teenager can relate with. While getting the teenage aspect right, I also feel he does a masterful job weaving a story that grabs you on the first page and keeps you hanging right up until the last page and then has you eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.
Come check out the town of Solitary, meet Chris and Jocelyn, fall in love with them, be scared of the town and some of it’s inhabitants and find a book and an author that you won’t want to put down.
Most of Mr. Thrasher’s books have a supernatural bend to them. A good vs. evil plotline and Solitary takes this plot and makes it so much more. He writes what I consider the new “Christian” fiction. It takes a story and doesn’t beat you over the head with Christianity but lets you make the decisions for yourself and lets you see real people trying to do the right thing, not perfect people. Solitary takes this, adds in some teenage angst, some cliques, a new boy at school, an aloof beauty and a town where nothing seems right but no one dares speak about it. I must say go ahead and mark out a block of time and sit down with this one because you won’t want to put it down once you pick it up.
With quotes like the following it can appeal to multiple generations like my own generation which will understand this fully:
I'm listening to the Foo Fighters and wish I could've been sixteen back when Dave Grohl was in his first band. Foo Fighters are great, but Nirvana was epic."
And here a gem that will appeal to today’s generation:
I laugh and let out a curse of disbelief. "What is going on here? I mean--where in the world is this place? Isn't this America? Things like this don't happen. Can't someone put out a rumor on the Web? Tweet about it?"
With Solitary, Travis Thrasher proves he has a great grasp on what it’s like to be a teenager and writes the book with genuine feeling that I think any teenager can relate with. While getting the teenage aspect right, I also feel he does a masterful job weaving a story that grabs you on the first page and keeps you hanging right up until the last page and then has you eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.
Come check out the town of Solitary, meet Chris and Jocelyn, fall in love with them, be scared of the town and some of it’s inhabitants and find a book and an author that you won’t want to put down.
July 2, 2011
Have you ever put WAY too many tasks on your "to-do list", that halfway through, you are so overwhelmed? You decide to abandon the list completely, and hope that what you were able to accomplish, will at least pass as a nice try, or decent effort? That's how I felt after reading Solitary.
The story started out okay. But somewhere in the middle, I felt like the author was just trying to do damage control for inserting too many subplots into the storyline.
Solitary is definitely shaping up to be a dark and twisted small town with supposedly, alot of secrets (this seems to be the underlying theme--SECRETS). The people from this town are private and reclusive. They especially hate outsiders. And to add to the intrigue, people have been disappearing one by one. What becomes of them, no one knows...
So when Chris and his newly divorced mother move to Solitary, there is no question they do not fit in. And pretty soon, they will be the object of this town's wrath. Then of course, there is Jocelyn. Chris' love interest, who is pretty much the forbidden fruit. She has this annoying habit of hating Chris, then loving him, then hating him, then finally loving him again. Meanwhile he chases after her like a wounded puppy, and gets himself into several predicaments because he can't stay away from her.
Throw in a cult, a secret society, a wealthy family with alot of influence, a missing uncle, an abandoned cabin in the woods, a mystery dog with almost deamon-like qualities, and an alcoholic mother, and there you have it...a story that is ALL OVER the place, you wonder how, or if, the author will be able to unravel all the mysteries of this place.
Well, it doesn't happen (although, I just found out this is a series. So maybe the next book will answer some questions). There are many times the suspense builds, but is never resolved (which is not only frustrating, but SUPER annoying). You are introduced to a plethera of characters and random events. Never finding out how any of them are even connected, or what their purpose to the story even is.
Solitary is a mysterious town, and its citizens have lots of secrets. And apparently, even the reader isn't allowed to know what those secrets are.
The story started out okay. But somewhere in the middle, I felt like the author was just trying to do damage control for inserting too many subplots into the storyline.
Solitary is definitely shaping up to be a dark and twisted small town with supposedly, alot of secrets (this seems to be the underlying theme--SECRETS). The people from this town are private and reclusive. They especially hate outsiders. And to add to the intrigue, people have been disappearing one by one. What becomes of them, no one knows...
So when Chris and his newly divorced mother move to Solitary, there is no question they do not fit in. And pretty soon, they will be the object of this town's wrath. Then of course, there is Jocelyn. Chris' love interest, who is pretty much the forbidden fruit. She has this annoying habit of hating Chris, then loving him, then hating him, then finally loving him again. Meanwhile he chases after her like a wounded puppy, and gets himself into several predicaments because he can't stay away from her.
Throw in a cult, a secret society, a wealthy family with alot of influence, a missing uncle, an abandoned cabin in the woods, a mystery dog with almost deamon-like qualities, and an alcoholic mother, and there you have it...a story that is ALL OVER the place, you wonder how, or if, the author will be able to unravel all the mysteries of this place.
Well, it doesn't happen (although, I just found out this is a series. So maybe the next book will answer some questions). There are many times the suspense builds, but is never resolved (which is not only frustrating, but SUPER annoying). You are introduced to a plethera of characters and random events. Never finding out how any of them are even connected, or what their purpose to the story even is.
Solitary is a mysterious town, and its citizens have lots of secrets. And apparently, even the reader isn't allowed to know what those secrets are.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2011
I picked this up as either a Kindle freebie or a cheapie. It looked interesting and I like young adult novels as much as anything else.
BUT.
This one wasn't for me. The story follows Chris Buckley and his mother, who move back to her hometown of Solitary, North Carolina, after Chris' parents divorce. He falls in love with a girl at school who has secrets, and comes to understand nearly everyone in town has secrets - and most of them are dark.
Sounds good, right?
But there were a few issues. The editor of this book (maybe the author?) inserted entirely too many paragraph breaks. The formatting and the font on my kindle nearly drove me nuts. It was hard to read, and the book is twice as long as it needs to be because of the weird spacing.
Second, is this book listed as Christian fiction? It really should be. And that's fine - but nothing in this description let me know that...and suddenly I'm reading about God and Jesus and good and evil. I'd like to know that bit up front, mmkai?
Finally - and yes, I know there's at least a second book in the series, and perhaps Travis is writing more - but waaaayyyyy too many storylines were started in the book and I feel like NONE of them were resolved. We never really found out much about the main female character's "secrets" - let alone the other townsfolk who appear in the book. And the ending? Disappointing and rushed.
BUT.
This one wasn't for me. The story follows Chris Buckley and his mother, who move back to her hometown of Solitary, North Carolina, after Chris' parents divorce. He falls in love with a girl at school who has secrets, and comes to understand nearly everyone in town has secrets - and most of them are dark.
Sounds good, right?
But there were a few issues. The editor of this book (maybe the author?) inserted entirely too many paragraph breaks. The formatting and the font on my kindle nearly drove me nuts. It was hard to read, and the book is twice as long as it needs to be because of the weird spacing.
Second, is this book listed as Christian fiction? It really should be. And that's fine - but nothing in this description let me know that...and suddenly I'm reading about God and Jesus and good and evil. I'd like to know that bit up front, mmkai?
Finally - and yes, I know there's at least a second book in the series, and perhaps Travis is writing more - but waaaayyyyy too many storylines were started in the book and I feel like NONE of them were resolved. We never really found out much about the main female character's "secrets" - let alone the other townsfolk who appear in the book. And the ending? Disappointing and rushed.
October 17, 2012
SOLITARY is basically a Christian horror story, except it isn't. The scariest aspect of this novel lies in its lack of fantasy. Huge contrast to most horror stories, in which the villain has superhuman strength and eighty-seven lives, but the "heroes" could still maybe survive if they used a fleck of common sense. In SOLITARY, the villain is ... a town? A religion? A group of people following that religion? The group leader? Demons themselves? All of the above, apparently (at the end, the reader still isn't sure). And the hero, Chris Buckley, is an achingly average seventeen-year-old (with above average courage, though he doesn't know it) who wants what everybody wants in high school: an identity.
I really don't know what Travis Thrasher is doing here. The conclusion of this book is utterly unsatisfying; in fact, I kind of want to give it three stars. But I can't, because it's unsatisfying in all the right ways. Answers? None. I mentally skimmed through my list of questions compiled while reading, and I still have all of them. All. A lot of readers won't accept this and might even shrug the rest of the series off. I'm not sure it was a wise author choice, and it certainly wasn't a safe author (or publisher) choice, and the latter is why I have to applaud it. This is disturbing, unsafe, Christian (not spiritual, Christian) fiction. I wish more of it got written today.
As for literary merit, the book could be tighter. Repetition could have been cut. And oy, the one-sentence paragraphs.
Everywhere.
Constantly.
Until they lost their punch.
Early in, I thought maybe this was an attempt at a free verse style.
Now, I think it was just an overzealous attempt to emphasize too many things.
We also have here yet another trend-embracing first person POV written in present tense. I will never be a fan of present tense, but this author makes it work. The voice isn't overwritten and feels like a high-schooler's head, yet Chris is a kid who appreciates music, is self-aware and thoughtful, and this characterization makes for some appropriately poetic sentences.
And here is the reason I just ordered GRAVESTONE (Solitary Tales, Book 2). The author leaves Chris on a perilous ledge. We don't get a resolution here; instead, we get a turning point. No going back. Everything must change, including our trapped, powerless, confused and broken hero. I want to see the change happen. I want to see Chris grow. I want justice. I want answers.
Good thing I used two-day shipping.
I really don't know what Travis Thrasher is doing here. The conclusion of this book is utterly unsatisfying; in fact, I kind of want to give it three stars. But I can't, because it's unsatisfying in all the right ways. Answers? None. I mentally skimmed through my list of questions compiled while reading, and I still have all of them. All. A lot of readers won't accept this and might even shrug the rest of the series off. I'm not sure it was a wise author choice, and it certainly wasn't a safe author (or publisher) choice, and the latter is why I have to applaud it. This is disturbing, unsafe, Christian (not spiritual, Christian) fiction. I wish more of it got written today.
As for literary merit, the book could be tighter. Repetition could have been cut. And oy, the one-sentence paragraphs.
Everywhere.
Constantly.
Until they lost their punch.
Early in, I thought maybe this was an attempt at a free verse style.
Now, I think it was just an overzealous attempt to emphasize too many things.
We also have here yet another trend-embracing first person POV written in present tense. I will never be a fan of present tense, but this author makes it work. The voice isn't overwritten and feels like a high-schooler's head, yet Chris is a kid who appreciates music, is self-aware and thoughtful, and this characterization makes for some appropriately poetic sentences.
And here is the reason I just ordered GRAVESTONE (Solitary Tales, Book 2). The author leaves Chris on a perilous ledge. We don't get a resolution here; instead, we get a turning point. No going back. Everything must change, including our trapped, powerless, confused and broken hero. I want to see the change happen. I want to see Chris grow. I want justice. I want answers.
Good thing I used two-day shipping.
November 21, 2010
Review by Jill Williamson
Chris Buckley moves to Solitary, North Carolina. His mom has divorced his dad and they are on their own, living in a tiny cabin in the woods. That’s a little weird for Chris, having lived in the suburbs of Chicago, but worse is having to make new friends at a school where no one seems to look at anyone. What’s with this crazy town, anyway?
Then Chris meets Jocelyn and everything changes. He makes it his life goal to get to know her better, but she’s mysterious as well and has secrets she doesn’t want to share. Slowly he learn more about the town of Solitary. About missing kids. Bizarre nightmares. Unexplained deaths. Something horrific is going on in this town, and Chris vows not to let anything happen to Jocelyn.
Wow…I don’t know what to say about this book! It was creepy and intriguing and sucked me in. I couldn’t put this thing down. It’s written in a strong first person point of view from Chris, our teen hero. Thrasher gets deep into Chris’ mind and life and we know what it feels like to be him. We are completely wrapped up in his world… in Jocelyn.
It’s genius writing, in my opinion. Just…don’t expect the super-mega happy ending. If you like warm fuzzies at the end of your books, you might avoid this one, because, well, it’s heavy—at 392 pages—and might cause some damage when thrown against the wall. LOL
All that to say, creepy, cool, dark story. I believe it’s the first book in a series that takes place in the town of Solitary, so we’ll have to see where Mr. Thrasher goes next. God is in this book. It was just a little depressing for me. As a writer, I like to torture my characters too, but I just can’t leave them there! Maybe it’s the mom in me…who knows. I’m excited that this book is out there though. It’s very cool.
Chris Buckley moves to Solitary, North Carolina. His mom has divorced his dad and they are on their own, living in a tiny cabin in the woods. That’s a little weird for Chris, having lived in the suburbs of Chicago, but worse is having to make new friends at a school where no one seems to look at anyone. What’s with this crazy town, anyway?
Then Chris meets Jocelyn and everything changes. He makes it his life goal to get to know her better, but she’s mysterious as well and has secrets she doesn’t want to share. Slowly he learn more about the town of Solitary. About missing kids. Bizarre nightmares. Unexplained deaths. Something horrific is going on in this town, and Chris vows not to let anything happen to Jocelyn.
Wow…I don’t know what to say about this book! It was creepy and intriguing and sucked me in. I couldn’t put this thing down. It’s written in a strong first person point of view from Chris, our teen hero. Thrasher gets deep into Chris’ mind and life and we know what it feels like to be him. We are completely wrapped up in his world… in Jocelyn.
It’s genius writing, in my opinion. Just…don’t expect the super-mega happy ending. If you like warm fuzzies at the end of your books, you might avoid this one, because, well, it’s heavy—at 392 pages—and might cause some damage when thrown against the wall. LOL
All that to say, creepy, cool, dark story. I believe it’s the first book in a series that takes place in the town of Solitary, so we’ll have to see where Mr. Thrasher goes next. God is in this book. It was just a little depressing for me. As a writer, I like to torture my characters too, but I just can’t leave them there! Maybe it’s the mom in me…who knows. I’m excited that this book is out there though. It’s very cool.
January 7, 2013
Did I just get saved?
The book, overall, was good. It was engrossing and fast-paced, and I managed to finish it in one day. But the end was frustrating and a little confusing. (spoliers)
1) So many little subplots were left unanswered. I know it's a series, but I don't even know if I want to bother. This book wound up leaving me unsatisfied. I can't imagine investing another few hundred pages.
2) Somewhere along the line,this took a religious turn. I know it's slightly hypocritical that a book on a Satanic cult is a fun, scary thriller, but adding it's logical counterpart of Jesus and God makes it Christian fiction being shoved down your throat. I can't help how I perceived it, I just did. Regardless, I felt like after a while I shouldn't be reading it.
3) She freakin' dies? After all of that?
4) He comes crashing into their sacrificial ceremony, throws himself in front of her body, and the thirty hooded men let him go? With the instructions not to say anything. I find it hard to believe our protagonist should have even lived to see a second book.
I do feel badly for not giving this a higher rating. most of it was entertaining and i enjoyed the writing style. but the end just felt odd.
The book, overall, was good. It was engrossing and fast-paced, and I managed to finish it in one day. But the end was frustrating and a little confusing. (spoliers)
1) So many little subplots were left unanswered. I know it's a series, but I don't even know if I want to bother. This book wound up leaving me unsatisfied. I can't imagine investing another few hundred pages.
2) Somewhere along the line,this took a religious turn. I know it's slightly hypocritical that a book on a Satanic cult is a fun, scary thriller, but adding it's logical counterpart of Jesus and God makes it Christian fiction being shoved down your throat. I can't help how I perceived it, I just did. Regardless, I felt like after a while I shouldn't be reading it.
3) She freakin' dies? After all of that?
4) He comes crashing into their sacrificial ceremony, throws himself in front of her body, and the thirty hooded men let him go? With the instructions not to say anything. I find it hard to believe our protagonist should have even lived to see a second book.
I do feel badly for not giving this a higher rating. most of it was entertaining and i enjoyed the writing style. but the end just felt odd.
June 15, 2011
Kindle freebie. Many people like this book a lot. After the ending, it just made me mad. Chris and his mom mover to her home town after his parents divorce. It quickly becomes apparent that something is wrong with this town of Solitary and Chris quickly falls for Jocelyn. Chris is bullied and warned to get out of town, stay away from Jocelyn, etc. etc. Weird spooky things happen to him, the town is full of secrets. And the book does not end well. Its supposed to be christian fiction and there is a lot of references to God and the bible, but I didn't feel God was a part of the story and the main character is an atheist. There are glimmers of hope, help for Chris, but they all end up being useless and powerless. Good does not overcome, so what's the point?!
July 20, 2017
First reading: June 2013
Second reading (audio book): July 2017
I remember loving this the first time! Listening to it on audio was a different experience, though still quite good. I think I prefer it in print, just because I tend to fly through 1st person books, and you can't exactly speed-read when you're listening. ;)
It was cool to come back to it now that I know how the series ends.
And I'd add more thoughts about the plot and characters, but I'm too lazy at the moment. Comment or send me a message if you like! :)
Second reading (audio book): July 2017
I remember loving this the first time! Listening to it on audio was a different experience, though still quite good. I think I prefer it in print, just because I tend to fly through 1st person books, and you can't exactly speed-read when you're listening. ;)
It was cool to come back to it now that I know how the series ends.
And I'd add more thoughts about the plot and characters, but I'm too lazy at the moment. Comment or send me a message if you like! :)
September 23, 2010
Sixteen year old Chris Buckley moves to a new town after the divorce of his parents. While he struggles with the disintegration of his family, he must now adjust to a new school with new classmates, new teachers and expectations from all that he blend in and not cause a stir. Add to this the fact that his mother is not handling the divorce very well and has taken to drinking herself into a stupor on quite a few occasions. But there is something weird and creepy about the whole town, everyone seems to be hiding something and they are extremely hostile to him for reasons Chris cannot fathom. His one bright spot are his new friends Jocelyn, Poe and Rachel who seem different from everyone at school. As Chris tries to navigate his new environs, avoid the local bully and keep his mother sane, he begins to ask questions that make many uneasy. There seem to be several mysteries going on all at once and all seem to be tied together. Why is everyone in town so afraid of Gus the bully and his influential father? Also why is no one talking about or investigating the disappearances of teens that seem to always occur around the Christmas season?
I am not entirely sure what to make of this book. On the one hand I was absolutely riveted and could not put it down because I was intrigued to know what would happen next, on the other hand, I was very frustrated by the lack of answers. Like Chris, I was left many times unsure of what was going on and who was doing what. I do not mean this in the way that great mysteries are able to leave you guessing, this was more in a way that meandered and never got to the point. Chris's friends blew hot and cold, one moment they were sweet, helpful and amiable, the next they would barely speak to him and snap at him at the simplest question. It was all so confusing and many times left me more annoyed by these so called friends than the sinister forces that lurked in the background. The worst offender in this respect was Jocelyn, Chris's love interest. She is described as beautiful beyond words and Chris is almost inexplicably in love with her and for this devotion he is rewarded with sweetness one day and totally being shunned the next day, for no reason whatsoever. While I understand that the high schoolers can be hormonal and angry, her behavior was unpardonable most of the time. The first time she shows real concern and emotion toward Chris is when he ignores her and refuses contact with her after his life is threatened over his relationship with her. Also Jocelyn's status in the town seems to be one of obsession or threat. Her beauty is much discussed and most the boys seem to want her while considering her aloof and unapproachable. For much of the book Chris is warned off associating with her and we are not clear why until much, much later. But even when you do find out the cause of these warnings, it seems hollow and lacking especially after the huge buildup.
I will say that the end of the book had me truly shocked as I cannot remember the last time I read a YA that concluded in such a manner. I flipped back to the previous page and reread it cause I was really surprised by the turn of events. All in all, I liked rather than loved this book. Its kept me intrigued from start to finish as I furiously turned pages thirsting to know how things would turn out. But the book's constant angst and melodramatic leanings left me unable to truly fall in love with it.
*Review copy received from Amazon.com's Vine Program.
I am not entirely sure what to make of this book. On the one hand I was absolutely riveted and could not put it down because I was intrigued to know what would happen next, on the other hand, I was very frustrated by the lack of answers. Like Chris, I was left many times unsure of what was going on and who was doing what. I do not mean this in the way that great mysteries are able to leave you guessing, this was more in a way that meandered and never got to the point. Chris's friends blew hot and cold, one moment they were sweet, helpful and amiable, the next they would barely speak to him and snap at him at the simplest question. It was all so confusing and many times left me more annoyed by these so called friends than the sinister forces that lurked in the background. The worst offender in this respect was Jocelyn, Chris's love interest. She is described as beautiful beyond words and Chris is almost inexplicably in love with her and for this devotion he is rewarded with sweetness one day and totally being shunned the next day, for no reason whatsoever. While I understand that the high schoolers can be hormonal and angry, her behavior was unpardonable most of the time. The first time she shows real concern and emotion toward Chris is when he ignores her and refuses contact with her after his life is threatened over his relationship with her. Also Jocelyn's status in the town seems to be one of obsession or threat. Her beauty is much discussed and most the boys seem to want her while considering her aloof and unapproachable. For much of the book Chris is warned off associating with her and we are not clear why until much, much later. But even when you do find out the cause of these warnings, it seems hollow and lacking especially after the huge buildup.
I will say that the end of the book had me truly shocked as I cannot remember the last time I read a YA that concluded in such a manner. I flipped back to the previous page and reread it cause I was really surprised by the turn of events. All in all, I liked rather than loved this book. Its kept me intrigued from start to finish as I furiously turned pages thirsting to know how things would turn out. But the book's constant angst and melodramatic leanings left me unable to truly fall in love with it.
*Review copy received from Amazon.com's Vine Program.
November 16, 2012
It's been a while since I read a Travis Thrasher novel (that being Isolation nearly three years ago do the day). Honestly I downloaded this one to my kindle because it was a free download of the day sort of thing. It's been sitting on my beloved e reader for a few months as I've been reading books by favorite authors, new authors, favorite series, etc.
Being in a horror mood and having just finished a Scott Nicholson novel (Liquid Fear..you should read his books..seriously)I found this sitting in my menu so I started it up. And I couldn't put it down. I know the phrase 'page turner' gets tossed around a lot, I use it sometimes myself try as I may to avoid being cliche but that's the best way I can describe this novel. It's addictive. Very addictive.
It's also frustrating. In a good way. Chris is the new kid in school. After his parents split and he ends up staying with his mother, she thinks moving back to her childhood home of Solitary would be good for them. It's bad enough being a new kid. Worse yet is being a new kid in high school. Probably even worse than THAT is being a new kid in a small town, especially when you're originally from the hustle and bustle of Chicago. Perhaps the worst however is being the new kid in THIS small town. A small town with a lot of dark secrets.
That's where the novel gets really interesting. Chris is befriended by three girls in the school one of which he's instantly smitten with, Jocelyn. Jocelyn remains a complete mystery to Chris however (I'm sure most guys can relate..hee hee). One moment she seems to be friendly, the next she is aloof. Chris is completely off balance for the brunt of the novel because of her behavior. Thrasher makes sure the reader is too.
As he finds out more about Jocelyn, either from her friends or other outcast students he talks to in school, he finds out more about the town. Let me warn you though, Thrasher doesn't give away much at all in this novel. In that way it's almost frustrating. Between Jocelyn's behavior through the major part of the book and what's actually revealed about the town in a slow, torturous manner, I found myself being torn between saying what's going on here and I really need to see what happens in the next chapter. It's frustrating in a GOOD way. A really good way because it will make you compulsively turn the pages to see how the book pans out.
Luckily there's a second chapter to this series and I can't wait to download it to my kindle and read it into the wee hours.
Fantastic novel with great pacing, excellent characterization and a looming creepy small town feeling that makes it feel like a blanket of unease is covering the whole thing. Loved it.
Being in a horror mood and having just finished a Scott Nicholson novel (Liquid Fear..you should read his books..seriously)I found this sitting in my menu so I started it up. And I couldn't put it down. I know the phrase 'page turner' gets tossed around a lot, I use it sometimes myself try as I may to avoid being cliche but that's the best way I can describe this novel. It's addictive. Very addictive.
It's also frustrating. In a good way. Chris is the new kid in school. After his parents split and he ends up staying with his mother, she thinks moving back to her childhood home of Solitary would be good for them. It's bad enough being a new kid. Worse yet is being a new kid in high school. Probably even worse than THAT is being a new kid in a small town, especially when you're originally from the hustle and bustle of Chicago. Perhaps the worst however is being the new kid in THIS small town. A small town with a lot of dark secrets.
That's where the novel gets really interesting. Chris is befriended by three girls in the school one of which he's instantly smitten with, Jocelyn. Jocelyn remains a complete mystery to Chris however (I'm sure most guys can relate..hee hee). One moment she seems to be friendly, the next she is aloof. Chris is completely off balance for the brunt of the novel because of her behavior. Thrasher makes sure the reader is too.
As he finds out more about Jocelyn, either from her friends or other outcast students he talks to in school, he finds out more about the town. Let me warn you though, Thrasher doesn't give away much at all in this novel. In that way it's almost frustrating. Between Jocelyn's behavior through the major part of the book and what's actually revealed about the town in a slow, torturous manner, I found myself being torn between saying what's going on here and I really need to see what happens in the next chapter. It's frustrating in a GOOD way. A really good way because it will make you compulsively turn the pages to see how the book pans out.
Luckily there's a second chapter to this series and I can't wait to download it to my kindle and read it into the wee hours.
Fantastic novel with great pacing, excellent characterization and a looming creepy small town feeling that makes it feel like a blanket of unease is covering the whole thing. Loved it.
February 23, 2012
I received this book to review from Netgalley. I loved every sentence of it, every word, every letter. It took me on a journey full of grotesque secrets, unbelievable mysteries and fear that cannot be described properly with words. It showed me that nothing is accomplished easily in life, not the bad, and certainly not the good. It taught me that even if evil does win a battle, love is always there to shine through it; that even in the darkest of times, hope comes around for those who have faith in God.
"Solitary" is the story of a small town in the middle of nowhere, South Carolina. The people are kind of friendly, but once you start asking questions or looking at them with more than curiosity, they take the offensive. They watch you and wait for you to make a mistake. They warn you to stay away from them, because if you don't - people you love would get hurt. And they do.
Because Solitary isn't just a regular small town. It's a small town with evil energy and dark secrets. A town where people disappear never to be found again. A town where you can get marked and that would mean the end of you.
If you're a 16 year old teenager, who just happens to fall in love with a marked girl, what do you do? Do you try to save her? Or do you back away, wishing you'd never stumbled upon her at all? Do you put at stake your family - or at least what's left of it - for the sake of a girl who might not survive past Christmas?
I never believed that a Christian-themed horror/thriller/mystery book would interest me so much, but I take my words back. Not only was I interested, I would've read it in one breath if it were humanly possible. 400 pages blew past me like nothing at all. And I"m hungry and thirsty for more. Because the story isn't over. Indeed, it has just begun.
The story was developed on many levels. Firstly, there was the journey toward knowing oneself. You go through a bunch of obstacles just to learn who you really are, what you're capable of. To learn that you can be brave, and stupid, and impatient. To learn that to protect sometimes means to hurt; that to trust sometimes means to doubt.
Then there was the emotional journey, where you figure out that beating machine that lives inside your rib cage can bring you lots of trouble. That is, it could make you fall in love. So hard, so deep that there's no getting out of it. You look silly, you sound dumb but there's nothing you can do about it.
And last, there was the spiritual journey that stretched from not believing in God, to being indifferent, to asking Him why He's doing what He's doing. The most frightening and most comforting thing is realizing He's a;ways there to watch over us. That he sees both the good and the bad. That He will let us suffer so we get to grow up and learn to trust him.
I felt like every time there was cursive font, it wasn't Chris's thoughts I was reading, but the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. It fit so well, and felt so reassuring.
The characters:
*Chris, the main character is just an ordinary 16 year old boy, nothing special about him. But he's the new kid in town and the bad news is that the towns folk don't like outsiders. Especially when the outsiders try to mess up plans crafted ahead of time. But he's stubborn and besides, love can do miracles to a person. It could transform the careless boy to a brave man. I felt his pain over the divorce of his parents, over the lack of life, over the God who never seemed to be there. At times I laughed with him, then I wanted to strangle him for being an idiot. But truly, I liked him.
*Jocelyn.. all her secrets are overbearing. Like they could swallow you whole, and you'd never see a bright day again. She's difficult to decipher, to understand, to know, but not to love. She's a tormented soul, as Chris calls her. But she's also found the hope to believe, that life would somehow get better. If not here, then after it's all over.
The other characters that intrigued me were Newt - the geek boy who always got picked on, and was also the only one willing to talk to Chris about the weirdness happening around Solitary; Oli - was he a bully or an ally? Poe - because what was her deal? And for some reason I kept on thinking that Chris should've talked to his dad about everything. And oh yeah that flash drive he never checked out...what was on it???
"Solitary" is the story of a small town in the middle of nowhere, South Carolina. The people are kind of friendly, but once you start asking questions or looking at them with more than curiosity, they take the offensive. They watch you and wait for you to make a mistake. They warn you to stay away from them, because if you don't - people you love would get hurt. And they do.
Because Solitary isn't just a regular small town. It's a small town with evil energy and dark secrets. A town where people disappear never to be found again. A town where you can get marked and that would mean the end of you.
If you're a 16 year old teenager, who just happens to fall in love with a marked girl, what do you do? Do you try to save her? Or do you back away, wishing you'd never stumbled upon her at all? Do you put at stake your family - or at least what's left of it - for the sake of a girl who might not survive past Christmas?
I never believed that a Christian-themed horror/thriller/mystery book would interest me so much, but I take my words back. Not only was I interested, I would've read it in one breath if it were humanly possible. 400 pages blew past me like nothing at all. And I"m hungry and thirsty for more. Because the story isn't over. Indeed, it has just begun.
The story was developed on many levels. Firstly, there was the journey toward knowing oneself. You go through a bunch of obstacles just to learn who you really are, what you're capable of. To learn that you can be brave, and stupid, and impatient. To learn that to protect sometimes means to hurt; that to trust sometimes means to doubt.
Then there was the emotional journey, where you figure out that beating machine that lives inside your rib cage can bring you lots of trouble. That is, it could make you fall in love. So hard, so deep that there's no getting out of it. You look silly, you sound dumb but there's nothing you can do about it.
And last, there was the spiritual journey that stretched from not believing in God, to being indifferent, to asking Him why He's doing what He's doing. The most frightening and most comforting thing is realizing He's a;ways there to watch over us. That he sees both the good and the bad. That He will let us suffer so we get to grow up and learn to trust him.
I felt like every time there was cursive font, it wasn't Chris's thoughts I was reading, but the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. It fit so well, and felt so reassuring.
The characters:
*Chris, the main character is just an ordinary 16 year old boy, nothing special about him. But he's the new kid in town and the bad news is that the towns folk don't like outsiders. Especially when the outsiders try to mess up plans crafted ahead of time. But he's stubborn and besides, love can do miracles to a person. It could transform the careless boy to a brave man. I felt his pain over the divorce of his parents, over the lack of life, over the God who never seemed to be there. At times I laughed with him, then I wanted to strangle him for being an idiot. But truly, I liked him.
*Jocelyn.. all her secrets are overbearing. Like they could swallow you whole, and you'd never see a bright day again. She's difficult to decipher, to understand, to know, but not to love. She's a tormented soul, as Chris calls her. But she's also found the hope to believe, that life would somehow get better. If not here, then after it's all over.
The other characters that intrigued me were Newt - the geek boy who always got picked on, and was also the only one willing to talk to Chris about the weirdness happening around Solitary; Oli - was he a bully or an ally? Poe - because what was her deal? And for some reason I kept on thinking that Chris should've talked to his dad about everything. And oh yeah that flash drive he never checked out...what was on it???
August 26, 2017
I. Hate. This. Book. I have never hated a book as much as I hate this one. Okay, maybe hate is a strong word, but don't even bother with this book. You will be left very disappointed. I mean, what kind of ending is that?! This book was just confusing and creepy. If you're looking for a good book, don't bother with this one. This book was not worth my time. I don't know if I can handle trying the rest of the series. I may at some point, but after the huge let-down of this book, I don't know. I don't understand why people were talking so greatly about this book. It doesn't make any sense. But anyway, don't bother with this book. Try something else like Angel Eyes or Anomaly.
Clean rating: Lots of violence, darkness, the stuff nightmares are made of. Especially towards the end of the books.
UPDATE: I was rereading this review, and realized I didn't go into a lot of details. One major problem is that this book is "Christian" but the main character is basically an atheist. (Forgive me if my statements are incorrect, I read this nearly two years ago, but they're close enough for you to get the point.) His dad is a pastor, and he thinks of his dad as crazy and I believe he even called him something along the lines of a "religious nut". There are very very creepy very dark rituals that occur. It was very violent, and overall just extremely dark. Sadly, I'll probably have to reread it to put everything that was in there in this review. Also, someone (I won't say who in case you still want to read it after this, which I HIGHLY recommend you don't do) was kidnapped and killed by some hooded figures in a dark, creepy, ritualistic way. It included fire, a pole, a slit throat, etc. IT WAS AWFUL! Do. Not. Read. This. Book. In my opinion it should be banned. It wouldn't be quite as bad if it weren't labeled "Christian", but it's still too dark for my tastes. There was so much more in this book, but I honestly have probably blocked most of it from my memory. I do remember feeling like the whole town was possessed or something. Anyway, I hope this review is better. (Update from 8/25/17)
Clean rating: Lots of violence, darkness, the stuff nightmares are made of. Especially towards the end of the books.
UPDATE: I was rereading this review, and realized I didn't go into a lot of details. One major problem is that this book is "Christian" but the main character is basically an atheist. (Forgive me if my statements are incorrect, I read this nearly two years ago, but they're close enough for you to get the point.) His dad is a pastor, and he thinks of his dad as crazy and I believe he even called him something along the lines of a "religious nut". There are very very creepy very dark rituals that occur. It was very violent, and overall just extremely dark. Sadly, I'll probably have to reread it to put everything that was in there in this review. Also, someone (I won't say who in case you still want to read it after this, which I HIGHLY recommend you don't do) was kidnapped and killed by some hooded figures in a dark, creepy, ritualistic way. It included fire, a pole, a slit throat, etc. IT WAS AWFUL! Do. Not. Read. This. Book. In my opinion it should be banned. It wouldn't be quite as bad if it weren't labeled "Christian", but it's still too dark for my tastes. There was so much more in this book, but I honestly have probably blocked most of it from my memory. I do remember feeling like the whole town was possessed or something. Anyway, I hope this review is better. (Update from 8/25/17)
September 19, 2018
Okay, well this book was one on my list of books to never recommend to anyone. It's like that moment you are so hungry and your Mom tells you their is a couple cookies in the cookie jar you can eat. So your hope builds as you walk over thinking of how delicious such will be and you open the lid expecting a great finale of delicious cookies! But woe, you open to lid to find only a few miniscule crumbles and dissapointment and anger builds within your very being. This is the story of this book. The writing was emaculant, vibrant, beautiful- this sucked me in and I was in utter movement worrying and fretting throughout the book. My hope grew and then I was left with a sick feeling. A feeling of disgust, that I needed a bath and never to read this book again. So dissapointing that it ended as such, it had such potential! Along with that it is modestly clean however has several innuendoes that I wouldn't recommend to a child. Along with Satanic illistrations. This book was labeled as Christian however I'm not sure that would be where it should be classified. A story of good and evil- and in this book evil tromped. A sad fate.
Read
May 5, 2011This book is difficult to rate. First of all, I don't like creepy books or movies so I didn't want to finish this book. The thing is I couldn't put it down either. I hated this so much at the end but I couldn't say that it was horrible. The book left me depressed and anger and any book that can do that is super good. So this rating is definitely going to be hard to do. So the solution is I'm going to leave it un-stared............. Harsh I know but what can I do..... mixed feelings here.
March 26, 2018
Chris just moved to Solitary, North Carolina with his mom, and quickly he discovers a girl and a mystery. Jocelyn flashes hot and cold, but Chris suspects this has something to do with her step-uncle and perhaps a cult. When Chris begins to receive threatening messages telling him to leave Jocelyn alone, he decides he needs to find out what exactly is going on in Solitary.
This audiobook dragged for me. It took so long for any weirdness to show up, and even longer for Chris to take it seriously. Nothing felt like it was overly urgent until the very end. At first I thought it'd be a cool reversal to have a girl being the typical paranormal romance "bad boy," but Jocelyn just seemed wishy-washy. I wish the pace of the story had moved a little faster, because the ending had a lot of punch. Chris keeps finding himself trapped and doesn't react with any fear after that, just keeps plugging along. I didn't really understand what was going on with the cult, either, and what the purpose of their final action was.
This audiobook dragged for me. It took so long for any weirdness to show up, and even longer for Chris to take it seriously. Nothing felt like it was overly urgent until the very end. At first I thought it'd be a cool reversal to have a girl being the typical paranormal romance "bad boy," but Jocelyn just seemed wishy-washy. I wish the pace of the story had moved a little faster, because the ending had a lot of punch. Chris keeps finding himself trapped and doesn't react with any fear after that, just keeps plugging along. I didn't really understand what was going on with the cult, either, and what the purpose of their final action was.
February 29, 2012
A thrilling story of a teenage boy and his coming of age with all the bumps and bruises that go with it.
After his parents get divorced Chris Buckley moves to Solitary North Carolina with his mom, where she lived as a child and far away from his dad. They stay in Chris's missing uncles cabin that just might be haunted and his mom has problems with hitting the bottles. Chris finds some strange things in his uncle's cabin that might point to his sudden disappearance. At first school seems to be alright and Chris makes friends with three girls, one of them is named Jocelyn and he has the hots for her, but the friendship becomes complicated and she becomes distant and rude. Somebody plants a gun in Chris's locker and he has a little run in with the law. Chris is being warned to stay away from Jocelyn by some classmates ,"a Friend", bullies, a Pastor, and even by Jocelyn herself. After a few run ins with bullies and taking a couple of hits Chris still can't get Jocelyn out of his head. One of his friends Rachel tries to play matchmaker behind Jocelyn's back but after some drama Chris and Jocelyn end up going to a school dance and party together. Chris ends up making a smart choice but ruins the night and now she is mad at him. Things are distant for awhile until Chris writes her a letter of apology and devotion, she ends up seeing Chris as the angel she has been asking for. Things start going better between them and they end up getting really close, but there is something dark and sinister going on in Solitary behind the scenes. Chris's mom gets atacked and Chris keeps receiving emails from someone warning him to stay away from Jocelyn and this is his last warning. Jocelyn reviels that last Christmas one of her friends went missing but she believes he was murdered as a sacrifice for a cult rital and based on the evidence she is next. Jocelyn is struggling with faith and needs answers. Everything seems to be spiraling out of control and when it looks like evil is going to take her from him, Chris makes a choice to take matters into his own hands and brings a gun he found in his uncles closet. Will he save Jocelyn in time? Will she find peace with God? Will she be taken away from Chris forever? Find out in the final pages..... To be contiued in Gravstone.
After his parents get divorced Chris Buckley moves to Solitary North Carolina with his mom, where she lived as a child and far away from his dad. They stay in Chris's missing uncles cabin that just might be haunted and his mom has problems with hitting the bottles. Chris finds some strange things in his uncle's cabin that might point to his sudden disappearance. At first school seems to be alright and Chris makes friends with three girls, one of them is named Jocelyn and he has the hots for her, but the friendship becomes complicated and she becomes distant and rude. Somebody plants a gun in Chris's locker and he has a little run in with the law. Chris is being warned to stay away from Jocelyn by some classmates ,"a Friend", bullies, a Pastor, and even by Jocelyn herself. After a few run ins with bullies and taking a couple of hits Chris still can't get Jocelyn out of his head. One of his friends Rachel tries to play matchmaker behind Jocelyn's back but after some drama Chris and Jocelyn end up going to a school dance and party together. Chris ends up making a smart choice but ruins the night and now she is mad at him. Things are distant for awhile until Chris writes her a letter of apology and devotion, she ends up seeing Chris as the angel she has been asking for. Things start going better between them and they end up getting really close, but there is something dark and sinister going on in Solitary behind the scenes. Chris's mom gets atacked and Chris keeps receiving emails from someone warning him to stay away from Jocelyn and this is his last warning. Jocelyn reviels that last Christmas one of her friends went missing but she believes he was murdered as a sacrifice for a cult rital and based on the evidence she is next. Jocelyn is struggling with faith and needs answers. Everything seems to be spiraling out of control and when it looks like evil is going to take her from him, Chris makes a choice to take matters into his own hands and brings a gun he found in his uncles closet. Will he save Jocelyn in time? Will she find peace with God? Will she be taken away from Chris forever? Find out in the final pages..... To be contiued in Gravstone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2010
I have to admit that when I first heard about Solitary, the only reason I wanted to read it was because it takes place in North Carolina. I know that sounds silly, but I love to read books set in my home state. Now, whenever I am getting ready to start a new book I have this little ritual I do. I read what the book is about and I also like to go online and read some of the reviews, so I know what to expect. I was a little surprised by how the reviews made this book sound really scary. I don’t scare easily, but I was still a bit hesitant going into this book.
What I found however, is that this book did not scare me as much as I was expecting. What it did do though, was mess with my head, which I find much more entertaining. The author allowed this story to develop slowly, and by slowly I don’t mean boring, I mean he was very deliberate, only giving readers small glimpse of the strangeness of Solitary. That heightened the suspense and made the experience of reading this book quite the experience. There were so many times in the story I found myself asking, “What is with these people and this place?” Not once did this book fail to hold my attention. Travis Thrasher’s writing style is superb. I was truly blown away by this story and I am more than eager to read the next book in this series.
I would have to say that Solitary is one of the best books I have ever read, and I don’t say that often. I want to go back and catch up on some of Travis’s earlier books now. And, just a little side note, I loved his Behind the Book: Some Kind of Wonderful at the end of the book. I too have been a huge fan of John Hughes movies and grew up watching them. I can definitely relate.
What I found however, is that this book did not scare me as much as I was expecting. What it did do though, was mess with my head, which I find much more entertaining. The author allowed this story to develop slowly, and by slowly I don’t mean boring, I mean he was very deliberate, only giving readers small glimpse of the strangeness of Solitary. That heightened the suspense and made the experience of reading this book quite the experience. There were so many times in the story I found myself asking, “What is with these people and this place?” Not once did this book fail to hold my attention. Travis Thrasher’s writing style is superb. I was truly blown away by this story and I am more than eager to read the next book in this series.
I would have to say that Solitary is one of the best books I have ever read, and I don’t say that often. I want to go back and catch up on some of Travis’s earlier books now. And, just a little side note, I loved his Behind the Book: Some Kind of Wonderful at the end of the book. I too have been a huge fan of John Hughes movies and grew up watching them. I can definitely relate.
October 25, 2012
I don't know what to think about this one. I liked it more during the beginning but now I just don't know. It's big on mystery but nothing gets explained. I realize this is the first in a series but if a series starts off leaving readers in the dark, why would they want to continue? I'm not entirely curious about what's to come next. I liked the protagonist, Chris. He seems like a good kid wanting to do what he can to help those in need. He's funny, smart but also a little naive. His love interest Jocelyn is just plain mysterious. She likes him, she doesn't like him, she likes him. The back and forth was confusing. The way just about every adult in this book kept telling Chris to "watch his back" or be careful was ominous. I still don't know exactly why most of the things that happen in this book are able to happen. A lone town is essentially "evil" and people get away with things in this town because the townsfolk keep to themselves and one man is in charge of everything. We don't meet this man in charge, Staunch, or know why everyone is so afraid to go against him. There's hooded, robed people a la the KKK, a ritualistic sacrifice, a hole in the ground which houses a creepy whispering voice, and a huge demon dog that's never explained.
Nothing is ever explained.
So again, I don't know how I feel about this book. Maybe I'm a little pissed because I'm not satisfied with the way things turned out or the lack of resolution. You can't throw tons of creepy at us without there being a reason for the creepy. Give us something in the first book to make readers want to read the next book. I honestly don't want to continue this series because I think I'll be pulled along on another wild goose chase. It's a "read at your own risk" for me.
Nothing is ever explained.
So again, I don't know how I feel about this book. Maybe I'm a little pissed because I'm not satisfied with the way things turned out or the lack of resolution. You can't throw tons of creepy at us without there being a reason for the creepy. Give us something in the first book to make readers want to read the next book. I honestly don't want to continue this series because I think I'll be pulled along on another wild goose chase. It's a "read at your own risk" for me.
August 18, 2010
Solitary by Travis Thrasher is the first in the Solitary Tales series. Chris Buckley's life has been turned upside down by his parents' divorce. Forced to leave his friends behind in his hometown of Chicago, he moves to Solitary, North Carolina with his mother where they live in the cabin his uncle disappeared from several months ago. In school and town, Chris is made to feel like an outsider when people glare at him and he is threatened by the school bullies. He thinks that he may have found a reason to enjoy his stay in Jocelyn Evans, but every time he gets hear her, someone threatens his life, and even she keeps pushing him away. As he explores the woods around his cabin, he stumbles upon frightening creatures, scary voices, and nothing that makes any sense at all. If only he can hold on to Jocelyn, he knows that somehow things will be all right. Thrasher just keeps getting better and better with his novels, and I think that's he's truly hit his stride with this haunting series. He takes every teenager's worst nightmare of moving to a new town and feeling ostracized and ramps it up dangerously. Chris is completely believable as the average American teen: disaffected, using music to define himself and his life, cocky, and searching for love. I couldn't put this book down once I started. It's fast-paced and heart-breaking, frightening and sweet, all in a perfect mixture for both young adults and their parents. I can't wait to read the sequel!
February 11, 2012
Thriller. Suspense. Page-Turner. Any one of these can be used to describe the book, Solitary.
When Chris moves to Solitary, North Carolina with his mom to start a new life after a nasty divorce, he learns quickly that everything around him is not quite right. He falls almost immediately in love with a girl at school named Jocelyn. Everyone in town warns him to stay away from her, but no one will tell him exactly why.
The town bully won’t leave Chris alone, and a kid named Ray invites him to church, but even things at church seem creepy. Chris knows he is being watched every moment, but he isn’t sure who is watching.
Rebellious and anxious to know what is going on, Chris fights for Jocelyn and learns that something truly evil is after her. He attempts to save her, but doesn’t even know exactly what he is up against.
The characters in Solitary are believable and any sixteen year-old could relate to Chris and his high school experience. The spiritual issues he faces are not the norm, but the insecurities and relationships are definitely real. Solitary is promoted as Young Adult fiction, but readers of any age will enjoy the fast pace and intrigue on every page.
Solitary is the first book in a series. I honestly hope the next few books come quickly. I can hardly wait to keep reading.
When Chris moves to Solitary, North Carolina with his mom to start a new life after a nasty divorce, he learns quickly that everything around him is not quite right. He falls almost immediately in love with a girl at school named Jocelyn. Everyone in town warns him to stay away from her, but no one will tell him exactly why.
The town bully won’t leave Chris alone, and a kid named Ray invites him to church, but even things at church seem creepy. Chris knows he is being watched every moment, but he isn’t sure who is watching.
Rebellious and anxious to know what is going on, Chris fights for Jocelyn and learns that something truly evil is after her. He attempts to save her, but doesn’t even know exactly what he is up against.
The characters in Solitary are believable and any sixteen year-old could relate to Chris and his high school experience. The spiritual issues he faces are not the norm, but the insecurities and relationships are definitely real. Solitary is promoted as Young Adult fiction, but readers of any age will enjoy the fast pace and intrigue on every page.
Solitary is the first book in a series. I honestly hope the next few books come quickly. I can hardly wait to keep reading.
January 30, 2012
This book was a bit different than many of the young adult ones out there. Sometimes this was for the better, while other times, it wasn’t quite so lucky.
The best part of the novel is the tension that flows throughout the pages. There is a real sense of pacing that keeps the reader turning the pages. There are also many truly frightening moments, which are not as easy to write as people think. Many times I found myself looking around my room as I read at night, wondering if I really was alone. That, to me, is a very positive reaction to a scary story. The weak points relate mainly to characterization. The protagonists, Chris and Jocelyn, are rather dull. There is no real meat to their personalities, which makes following them through their struggles, a bit of…well…a struggle. They are cookie-cutter versions of real people and I do wish they had been written with a bit more care. However, the plot is interesting, and it’s not hard to recommend, especially to those of you that are like me and love a good scare.
I will be picking up the next two books in the series to see how all of this turns out.
The best part of the novel is the tension that flows throughout the pages. There is a real sense of pacing that keeps the reader turning the pages. There are also many truly frightening moments, which are not as easy to write as people think. Many times I found myself looking around my room as I read at night, wondering if I really was alone. That, to me, is a very positive reaction to a scary story. The weak points relate mainly to characterization. The protagonists, Chris and Jocelyn, are rather dull. There is no real meat to their personalities, which makes following them through their struggles, a bit of…well…a struggle. They are cookie-cutter versions of real people and I do wish they had been written with a bit more care. However, the plot is interesting, and it’s not hard to recommend, especially to those of you that are like me and love a good scare.
I will be picking up the next two books in the series to see how all of this turns out.
April 22, 2012
Scary, Thriller, Rebellious
When Chris Buckley’s parents split, he sides with his mother, and they move to Solitary to live in his uncle’s cabin. In the cabin, it appears that Chris’s uncle walked out of his life without taking any of his possessions. At school, as the new kid, Chris attracts attention of girls and the resident bully, while strange things go on all over town. When he meets Jocelyn he looses his heart, but she suggests that things are not what they seem.
This book is written from the point of view of a teen-aged boy, making it seem as if the reader falls into his life and thoughts. Chris is full of anger at his mother for her constant drinking and his father for his method of pushing his faith. Chris is definitely not someone who follows others easily. The gloom of the town hangs over the whole book, as Chris tries to find answers and save the girl. Interesting read, but definitely the first step in a series. There is no resolution of what Chris believes. This would be good choice for those who enjoyed Twilight, as the feeling is similar, but with a Christian bent.
Received Galley from NetGalley.com
When Chris Buckley’s parents split, he sides with his mother, and they move to Solitary to live in his uncle’s cabin. In the cabin, it appears that Chris’s uncle walked out of his life without taking any of his possessions. At school, as the new kid, Chris attracts attention of girls and the resident bully, while strange things go on all over town. When he meets Jocelyn he looses his heart, but she suggests that things are not what they seem.
This book is written from the point of view of a teen-aged boy, making it seem as if the reader falls into his life and thoughts. Chris is full of anger at his mother for her constant drinking and his father for his method of pushing his faith. Chris is definitely not someone who follows others easily. The gloom of the town hangs over the whole book, as Chris tries to find answers and save the girl. Interesting read, but definitely the first step in a series. There is no resolution of what Chris believes. This would be good choice for those who enjoyed Twilight, as the feeling is similar, but with a Christian bent.
Received Galley from NetGalley.com
December 27, 2010
If you’re a Peretti or Dekker fan, here’s another author to add to your favorites list. Creepy. Intriguing. Sometimes downright chilling. Solitary is a solid scare-your-pants-off kind of book.
And I loved it.
Thrasher’s portrayal of high school angst is totally believable, right down to the dialogue between teens. In fact, so believable that I recommended it to my tenth grader. She read the book in two days, which is quite the thumbs-up from her.
I particularly liked how the hero, Chris, was skeptical about the entire situation at first. This made him all the more real of a character, because as a reader, I was skeptical myself.
Without giving anything away, my biggest grump was the ending. Just gotta say, I didn’t personally like it. I’m hoping, though, that the second book will redeem what happened. I have high hopes that it will.
And I loved it.
Thrasher’s portrayal of high school angst is totally believable, right down to the dialogue between teens. In fact, so believable that I recommended it to my tenth grader. She read the book in two days, which is quite the thumbs-up from her.
I particularly liked how the hero, Chris, was skeptical about the entire situation at first. This made him all the more real of a character, because as a reader, I was skeptical myself.
Without giving anything away, my biggest grump was the ending. Just gotta say, I didn’t personally like it. I’m hoping, though, that the second book will redeem what happened. I have high hopes that it will.
August 1, 2016
This series of books was actually mostly written for the teen audience. These are beautiful tales showing the coming to and journey to redemption. Classics of Good and Evil. I am way past teenage, but I really loved Solitary. I am looking forward to finding what happens in the final 3 volumes. Some might find these books on the creepy side, but they were tame to me compared to some other reviews. I think this would depend on your mindset. I really loved Chris's Character in resisting temptation and his reasoning for it. I think these books are a great example for teens. Depending on the maturity of the teen though. Younger teens and preteens might need to pass for a couple years. Only for the eerie moments; the book is wonderful with no cussing or sensual trash.
June 29, 2011
SPOILER ALERT
I was as confused as the main character the whole time as to what was going on in this little NC town. And it was never really clear except for a few sightings of rituals and people in cloaks. Just a lot of 'you had better be careful' kind of warnings all throughout the book. Then in the end, this character comes out of nowhere and tells him that he can save the girl, only to find out that he didn't. It seems that the author got bored in the end and killed the girl, then ended the story. I was mad at all of the build up only to have it cut off with a flimsy effort at giving the main character hope, because she left him a bible. Oh, and a sick puppy.
I was as confused as the main character the whole time as to what was going on in this little NC town. And it was never really clear except for a few sightings of rituals and people in cloaks. Just a lot of 'you had better be careful' kind of warnings all throughout the book. Then in the end, this character comes out of nowhere and tells him that he can save the girl, only to find out that he didn't. It seems that the author got bored in the end and killed the girl, then ended the story. I was mad at all of the build up only to have it cut off with a flimsy effort at giving the main character hope, because she left him a bible. Oh, and a sick puppy.
March 2, 2013
A very mysterious read. The story is about Chris a young 16 year old moving into the town of Solitary with him mom after their recent divorce. Chris does not get to a very good start. He is not wanted in this town and when he becomes interested in Jocelyn, he gets warned to stay away from her. What makes this book so good is all the mystery behind what is happening and the secrets that are kept. Who do you trust. This is a christian book, however, Chris is not a christian and he is indifferent to who God is. You are left hanging in the end and I am sure it is to read the next one in the series which I will be doing. Great book!
August 26, 2016
This book has been, by far, one of my favorite ones EVER! I absolutely recommend this book for people who like mystery, horror and comedy. I read this book in a week, and some nights I would go to sleep at midnight or even later because I couldnt put it down. Travis has this way of making every single thing real, as if you are part of the story and I think is amazing because not every book does that. Also, this book just got me, like GOT ME. Thrasher is so deep when writing that is just so, wow, words cant explain. I love this book so much, but so much. Everyone should read it and I promise you will love it.
June 18, 2011
Summary:
Chris is the new kid in town in a place called Solitary. The town is appropriately named, because Chris feels extremely isolated and alone. Things change when Chris becomes mesmerized with beautiful Jocelyn. Then, he has everyone's attention,l but it is not the kind he wants.
This story was too dark for my tastes and seemed to step over the line a bit on what is an appropriate book for a Christian teen audience.
Chris is the new kid in town in a place called Solitary. The town is appropriately named, because Chris feels extremely isolated and alone. Things change when Chris becomes mesmerized with beautiful Jocelyn. Then, he has everyone's attention,l but it is not the kind he wants.
This story was too dark for my tastes and seemed to step over the line a bit on what is an appropriate book for a Christian teen audience.
May 30, 2015
This was an intense read for me & like nothing I've read before. This was my 1st thriller novel. I like that God was brought into the story in a way that was real & not pushy. The ending was an abrupt shock that I wasn't sure I was happy with, but I think it will work in conjunction with the 3 other novels in this series. The one downside that tended to bring me out of the story was some omissions of words/grammatical errors throughout the book.
September 2, 2015
I've been spoiled so I knew the ending, but STILL I definitely wasn't prepared for that!!
I couldn't help myself to compare this book with The Books of Marvella but they are totally different. Solitary is darker and creepier, but also deep and meaningful. I'm really curious to see how this is going to resolve.
I couldn't help myself to compare this book with The Books of Marvella but they are totally different. Solitary is darker and creepier, but also deep and meaningful. I'm really curious to see how this is going to resolve.
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