Book Review: The Missing Pages
Title: The Missing Pages
Author: Alyson Richman
Length: 352 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Plot Summary: Grieving the tragic loss of her boyfriend, Violet takes a job as a page at Harvard’s Widener Library — a grand monument built in memory of Harry Widener, a young book collector who perished on the Titanic. When unexplained, supernatural events begin happening in the stacks, Violet comes to believe that Harry’s ghost is reaching out to her from beyond. Through lingering signs and mysterious occurrences, Harry reveals a long-buried secret from 1912… Set against the world of book collecting, literary legacies, and grief, the dual narrative follows Violet as she uncovers the forgotten truth behind Harry’s final days.
Review: I love books, but reading about someone else’s love for books felt uneventful. At first. As the pages turn, however, I allow myself to become more immersed in the story. When my brother passed away, I spent the immediate weeks that followed dreaming of feeling his presence. I imagined his rebirth. I’ve always acknowledged that we are made up of energy, and energy cannot be destroyed. While I don’t know what happens to that energy upon death, I wanted so desperately to sense my brother’s. So, while I don’t believe in psychics or medium readings, I didn’t write off Violet’s experiences with Harry’s ghost or the story he wished to relay.
I did find it a bit odd, though, that the author emphasized the mother-son bond in her author’s note, when The Missing Pages is ultimately far more about Harry’s connection to Ada than maternal love. In that respect, I wish Ada had been portrayed more vividly. Her introduction was merely defined by her love for books and the written word, giving us very little reason beyond that shared passion as to why she and Harry fell so fast and furiously in love. (Then again, I fell in love with my husband through his written words before we even met in person. The only difference being that we dated for eight years, not two weeks. :P)
On another note, I would absolutely love to be a rare book collector. There’s something truly special about building a library as a legacy and passing down beloved books for future generations to enjoy. Overall, I enjoyed this novel more for the concepts and reflections it inspired than for the plot itself, which was quite predictable and fell short of the poignant execution I had hoped for.
Rating: 3/5
