The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Before I get into my review of today's book, I just want to talk about how I went to a book signing by the author just a few weeks ago and I took notes on some of what she said about it, so there will be references to Erin Morgenstern throughout this post. She was truly lovely and it was an amazing experience to meet her and now I have signed copies of both of her books! The King's English hosted an amazing event and I was so happy I could be a part of it. Also, if you want to catch up on Erin Morgenstern, check out my review of "The Night Circus", her debut novel, which is also spectacular.

When asked how she would summarize "The Starless Sea" Morgenstern responded with, "Fate, and Time, and Video Games", which is a rather succinct description, but allow me to give you a little more detail. This is the story of Time and Fate finding a way to be together, even after everything has conspired to pull them apart. This is also the story of Zachary Ezra Rawlins, a man who is looking for a door to a place that he doesn't know exists without realizing that he is looking. This is a story within a story within a story within a story within a story held between two covers even as the magnitude of the tale makes it feel like maybe a single book is not a big enough place for it. This is a book about stories, about how Fate gives you doors to go through but you still have to choose which to enter, and about cats.

In short, this is a really hard book to describe. So I guess all you really need to know is that the writing is stunning, the story is beautiful, the characters feel real, and this book puts so much importance to the story of an individual that you half expect the next page to be talking about you.

I didn't think I could love a book as much as I love "The Night Circus" but Erin Morgenstern has proven to me here that it is not just her stories that I love, but the way she tells them. I mourn the loss of reading this book for the first time, but I know that I will only find more about it to love when I read it again in the future. Erin Morgenstern writes stories for the people who love stories, not just books. I hope that someday I can write something that makes someone feel half as much as her stories make me feel.

I could not recommend this book more. There is something in this book for everyone and there is enough in it that you can return again and again and find new things to love. Now go forth and read this book so I have friends who have read it and therefore have someone to talk to about it!

XO, Ellen