The Sister

A truly exceptional book and very well written, though I suspect women might enjoy it more than men. I don't usually care much anymore for books described as "dark" and "mysterious", and I have long since done all my essential reading of Edgar Allan Poe. However, in this case, the description on the back cover is misleading: The Behaviour of Moths it is primarily a beautifully crafted story, set in just a few days, and with a (fair) bit of suspense thrown in as an added bonus. And even if you don't much care for moths (you might find you actually do after reading this book) you will enjoy the read! As for the ending: well, I found the unexpected twist very satisfying. Far from being poor or unfinished, I enjoyed the change of focus ... and location. No more said - read it for yourself!

Arthur: How can you tell a cannibal? Vivi: Well, they're the only ones left, silly. Arthur: No, before they've eaten the others. Vivi: Oh, that. They've just got a look about them. I will definitely be reading more of Poppy Adams' work when it comes out. The Sister is her first novel. Originally titled The Time of Emergence, and called The Behaviour of Moths in the UK, The Sister is a book where, after reaching the end, the reader may be left with more questions unanswered than answered. There are multiple interpretations that could be made about several different occurrences in the book. For me, that's what makes this story so fascinating. I know that may be more of a frustration to some, though. Vivien (Vivi) and Virginia (Ginny) are two sisters who grew up in a countryside mansion with lepidopterist ancestors. Their maternal grandfather and father were both lepidopterists, and Ginny becomes a lepidopterist. What is a lepidopterist? It's a person who studies moths and butterflies. There is much discussion of the behavior of moths in this book, but it is an essential aspect of the story. While reading and after finishing the book, I realized many parallels between the behavior of moths and the behavior of the characters in the novel. This is a book I'll probably re-read at some point to catch all the connections between the two. Vivi and Ginny have been separated for decades, and the reasons why become apparent as the story unfolds. Very different from each other, Vivi is outgoing and leaves home for London at a young age, while Ginny is an introvert and a homebody. In fact, as the novel opens, we get the sense that Ginny hasn't left her home for many, many years. Vivien decides to come back to the house, stating to Ginny that as sisters, they should spend their old age together. The entire novel only takes place over a few days, but as each day unfolds, we are also given glimpses from the past and why they have been separated for so long. All of this is told from Ginny's perspective, though, and as Ginny and Vivi discuss their history together, they both realize that they saw their childhood in distinctly different ways. These differences are crucial to figuring out what is going on in the story. What is going on in the story? I don't want to tell you much, because it has a really good, creepy, gothic, Hitchcock feel to it that is better left to finding out by reading the story. If you don't mind not having everything wrapped up in the end, and if you like having multiple interpretations of a storyline, you'll love this book. I really enjoyed it, and the more I think about it, the more I love it.

Reading Adams' Behaviour of Moths for a second time, I am more impressed than ever. Few writers can have so adroitly given a gentle introduction to a biological area with a, much more important, gripping human story. INVICTUS

The Sister earns a spot as one of the best books I've read this year. Those readers who enjoy suspense will love The Sister. It is a top shelf psychological thriller that will have you reading long into the night. The plot was excellent. Two sisters share a storied past that hopelessly intertwines their fate. While the elder sister stays behind to carry on the family career of lepidopterology (the study of moths) and to care for their mother and father, Vivien moves on to bigger and (she thinks) better things in London. Numerous tragedies plague the sisters throughout their lives: a terrible fall that Vivien narrowly survives and the decline of their parents, among others. In old age, Vivien decides to return to her childhood home to be with Ginny. The ghosts of their past stand between them, forcing a catastrophic conclusion. I can't believe that this is a debut novel! It is written so superbly, shifting effortlessly from past to present. The plot is as much about what isn't said as what is said. I never thought that reading about moths could be very interesting but the author intertwines Ginny's career perfectly with the story and makes it fascinating. I can't wait to read Adam's next work. I have already passed The Sister on to my mother who I'm sure will love the story despite her being a very picky reader.

I had no trouble "getting into" this book- I admit to skimming some of the explanations about the moths, but as I got farther into the book, I began to see the reason for the style. This book would be wonderful to discuss at a book club, particularly in "Great Book" discussion-style. I found myself making mental notes to go back to certain parts, and looked forward to re-reading it before I had even finished it. I will not go into the plot, as many readers already have; one question might be, is the narrator a little "barmy" (her words), or are the other characters, who are, in her view, more illogical and less reasoning than she? If you enjoy this book, you might like The Birth of Venus, or possibly even the French Lieutenant's Woman.