Grief Cottage

By: Gail Godwin

Narrated by: Jacob York

The haunting tale of a desolate cottage, and the hair-thin junction between this life and the next, from best-selling National Book Award finalist Gail Godwin.

After his mother's death, 11-year-old Marcus is sent to live on a small South Carolina island with his great aunt, a reclusive painter with a haunted past. Aunt Charlotte, otherwise a woman of few words, points out a ruined cottage, telling Marcus she had visited it regularly after she'd moved there 30 years ago because it matched the ruin of her own life.

Eventually she was inspired to take up painting so she could capture its utter desolation. The islanders call it 'Grief Cottage', because a boy and his parents disappeared from it during a hurricane 50 years before. Their bodies were never found, and the cottage has stood empty ever since. During his lonely hours while Aunt Charlotte is in her studio painting and keeping her demons at bay, Marcus visits the cottage daily, building up his courage by coming ever closer, even after the ghost of the boy who died seems to reveal himself.

Full of curiosity and open to the unfamiliar and uncanny given the recent upending of his life, he courts the ghost boy, never certain whether the ghost is friendly or follows some sinister agenda. Grief Cottage is the best sort of ghost story, but it is far more than that - an investigation of grief, remorse, and the memories that haunt us. The power and beauty of this artful novel wash over the listener like the waves on a South Carolina beach.

©2017 Gail Godwin (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

Grief Cottage

This is an absolutely stellar book, with great characters! Each is so unique, they will grab your interest with each one you meet. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat with no boredom. I could read this author all the time, an absolutely new favorite author!!! Don’t miss this one!!

Recommended

The story is engaging and characters richly developed. Wraps up too quickly at end.

Grief Cottage

Loved the story and the narration. It was very insightful, entertaining and informative. Marcus was quite a considerent and intelligent 11 year old. Also loved the ending.

Godwin writes a good story

I should have read this instead of listening. It’s a good story, loose ends are tied together nicely. The narrator performs an adequate protagonist. All the additional characters are voiced poorly. If I had not liked the story line I would have returned the book.

A Beautiful, Heartbreaking Bildungsroman

Hauntingly beautiful and lyrical. Not full-fledged horror, but rather a gorgeous coming of age tale.