Peeking Between the Pages

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Book Review: The Promised World by Lisa Tucker

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The Promised World by Lisa Tucker is a very deep novel that is moving, sad, and yet hopeful. Despite all the craziness of my world the last few weeks, when I sat down with this novel I could just feel myself able to get away for a while and lose myself in Lisa Tucker’s story of Lila and her twin brother Billy. There are many issues tackled in this novel ranging from child abuse and its effects to memory loss and its effects. It’s a novel that I found quite good.

Lila, a professor, is sitting in her office at the university when she learns that her twin brother has committed ‘suicide by police’. In other words he put himself in a situation where the police would have no option but to kill him. For Lila, this is the end of life as she has known it. She is completely devastated to the point where she can no longer function. She and Billy shared a special bond that went even beyond the bond of twins. They experienced a childhood that left them with each other and only each other to rely on.

Lila’s husband Patrick is at a loss as to what he can do for her. Unfortunately Lila and Patrick, although married for many years, have never really shared anything from their past lives. In truth, he knows nothing about his wife except the small things she has told him. When Lila ends up in the hospital and Patrick is being questioned about his wife’s past he realizes that he never really made an effort to know anything. He had liked that neither he or Lila dragged their past lives into their marriage. However, now he realizes how important it was that he should have tried to learn more about her and Billy as he had often thought that they had a strange relationship even for twins.

Before his suicide Billy had already been spiraling downwards. He believed there was a curse on their family which also extended to his own family of his wife and three kids. Billy was a very troubled individual, so troubled that he went as far as to try to teach his son things that actually put him in harm’s way although really in his mind he was trying to protect him. His kids were his world. When they were taken away from him, his life ceased to exist.

The story builds piece by piece to the end when we finally learn what had happened to Lila and Billy in their mother’s house. Their mother was an evil woman who should never have had children. She took young and impressionable children and essentially ruined their lives. Or did she? Yes and no because they did eventually get away although the road to escape was a wild one and they both built lives beyond what had occurred. However, can you ever really get away from a troubled childhood? Most people can’t and it has both a lasting and huge impact on their lives.

Both Lila and Billy are characters that will stick with you. Although Billy dies early in the novel he is still such a huge part of it. I was drawn into their world, their fears, and their deep and painful hurts. Later with Lila learning in bits and pieces of her past life your heart just yearns to comfort her. You will find it hard to put this book down as the desire to know what happened to these kids and how it will all turn out is much too great. The Promised World – for Lila and Billy – is a place to feel safe and be safe – a secret world of their own making.

I read The Promised World for Lisa Tucker’s blog tour with TLC Book Tours so many thanks to Lisa for my copy of the book and having me participate. You can visit Lisa Tucker’s website here and check out the rest of her tour stops here.

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  4. I think this one might be a bit hard for me to read, having twin girls. I would find it a bit upsetting. Fabulous review though and I hope things are a little easier with your father.

  5. I don't mind a book that makes me emotional. I prefer this much more than one that I feel nothing! Death and sadness seem to be my M.O. lately, having read about Columbine and WWII, just as an example! I think I need some Stephanie Plum to pick me up!

  7. An emotional ivestment but worth it — definitely the type of book that stirs a response in me.

    As always, thanks for the fine review Dar.

  9. I just read as Lisa Tucker Book! Called "Once Upon A Day" It was really good.

    I will have to look this one up.

  12. I just finished a book in which one twin died and it profoundly affected the other. It seems like such a powerful relationship that most of us can never experience! Thanks for the review!

  13. Great review! I think this one may be too much for me right now. Have to be in the proper frame of mind to read this one…but it does sound very good!

    Thanks for a great review!

    Have a Happy Labor Day Weekend!

  14. I will go and read this book, if only because Lila is my Polish nickname for Liliana which I had been called all my childhood, adolescence and early twenties before I came to the US and it suddenly changed into Lilly. I actually miss being called that.

  16. Sounds like an indepth kind of book. Your review made me think of that couple in The Castaways. The twin sister and how she fell apart for years without her brother.

    Have a good weekend and happy reading. I hope your Dad is feeling better.

  17. This sounds like an intense book about a twin relationship. I'm a twin but my sister and I are fraternal. I've always been interested in the relationship shared by many identical twins. Almost like they have ESP, they can feel each other's emotions. It's no wonder this is so hard on Lila.
    I don't mind books that are sad, or have characters that are suffering, have pain. I think that's part of life. And it's what you do with that pain and sadness, do you buckle under or go on despite it?

    I loved your review, Dar, thank you. I'm definitely going to read this book.

    ~ A

  19. Dar,
    I'm glad this book brought you some comfort after your past weeks of anxiety. I loved reading this review so much and I've already put a hold on this from my library!!

    Take care Sweetie! (((hugs)))

  20. Fantastic review…I just finished it about an hour ago. The words New Grandma now strike fear in my heart.

  21. This is coming up in my TBR pile. I'm a little afraid of the sadness aspect, but I'm taking on the Middle Grade Reading Challenge as an antidote to these sort of novels. It's good to know there is a hopefullness to this story to help pull me through.

  22. What a great review, Dar! I enjoyed this one quite a bit too. There was so much to it! As I read, I couldn't help but think that things just had to get better, and yet they kept getting worse. The characters were all so well drawn.

  27. You piqued my interest w/'suicide by police'.

    Will definitely pick this up.

    Terric review as always.

  29. Sounds like a hard one to read, but I do like books that draw me in and feel what the characters are feeling.

  31. Hello Dar, First of all, hope your Dad recovering Fast! Hope you are feeling better now!

    The book sounds like a strong/ emotional read! Something that;s for me! Thank you for the great review!

    Take good care!

  32. I really liked this book too. Lila's mom was so uber horrible, and I loved how the characters changed as we learned more about them. Billy's wife seemed like such a trashy low class woman and then, the author let us see what she was like under it all and she became so much more likable.

    Great review!

  35. Well, you really don't need an award from lil ole me, but in the spirit of giving credit where it's due, I have nominated you for a Superior Scribbling award as I truly enjoy stopping by your blog for an enjoyable review…stop by my blog for details. Write on…

  37. The book isn't too sad or emotional to read – the suicide is over before the book starts – the book is really about Lila trying to figure everything out – its suspenseful and beautiful but its not too intense or too sad for someone to enjoy and love.

    This is a rich, wonderful novel.

    Please don't avoid this book because you are afraid of its emotional depth.

    It is emotional but not in the way that should make you afraid of it.

  40. Great review, Dar…I just reviewed this book this week for TLC and I agree with your assessment. A disturbing novel, but so well written.