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    Binding: A Lamb and Lavagnino Mystery
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    Binding: A Lamb and Lavagnino Mystery
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    Binding: A Lamb and Lavagnino Mystery
    Ebook494 pages8 hours

    Binding: A Lamb and Lavagnino Mystery

    By E. Z. Rinsky

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Fans of Marisha Pessl and Christopher Moore will be captivated by the twists and turns of E.Z. Rinsky's second chilling noir mystery

    When a U.S. Senator offers to have private investigator Frank Lamb’s criminal record wiped clean in return for retrieving a set of old books, he jumps at the opportunity. In the five years since his last paying job he’s been an international fugitive, separated from his daughter Sadie. He’s willing to do anything to return to normal life.

    But once Frank and his old partner, Courtney Lavagnino, get to work, it becomes clear that the job is far more treacherous than they’d assumed. The books were written in prison by Oliver Vicks, a self-proclaimed prophet with a trail of grisly murders behind him. Frank and Courtney are soon piecing together a horrifying puzzle, devised by a prisoner who seems more god than man. 

    In this riveting follow-up to the award-nominated Palindrome, Frank and Courtney find themselves mired in a tangle of desperation, cult-like fervor, and deception that will lead them to uncover an evil of biblical proportions.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJul 4, 2017
    ISBN9780062495464
    Unavailable
    Binding: A Lamb and Lavagnino Mystery
    Author

    E. Z. Rinsky

    E.Z. Rinsky has worked as a statistics professor, copywriter and--for one misguided year--a street musician. He is the author of Palindrome, and currently lives in Tel Aviv. More at ezrinsky.com

    Read more from E. Z. Rinsky

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    Reviews for Binding

    3.5/5

    402 ratings47 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I definitely took my time with this one, the perk of not overscheduling my reading obligations at the moment, and I'm really glad I did because it was...unusual. I can't say it was love at first page turn, but I was certainly intrigued. So many questions arose after each passage was read! Now don't get me wrong, I had a feeling about some things as things progressed, but wow...the moment you think you just about have them figured out, they just turned all sorts of topsy turvy. The whole BINDING concept went from an act of kindness to a twisted self indulgence in a heartbeat. I mean how could something be so bad that you want it locked away for all time? What of the lessons learned from it? What of the new beginnings opened by it? Although perhaps some things are just too much for a heart to bare.

      As for the writing, the author was able to draw you into the past and back to the present with such fluidity, were it not for the change in tone or character voicing the chapters, you'd never realize the journey you've actually taken. The characters she created were STRIKING and MEMORABLE, even when they were suppose to fade into nothingness. The power of the written word is definitely on full display here, as are the consequences that go along with hiding away our true selves, or even giving our truths over to someone else fully without baring the weight of any of the lessons learned from them.

      All in all, I gotta say this was definitely an INTENSE, UNUSUAL, UNEXPECTED, and CURIOUS read. It's a story that certainly makes you think twice about what you put down on paper, and reconsider the memories we choose to hold on to versus release and vice versa...as well as the WHY. My only real complaint with the book was that ONE SCENE...and I mean it was enough to make we second guess if I would have read the book knowing it was in it. What can I say, I'm an animal lover and it just didn't sit right with me. (That scene was more of a reason for having a binding done than any other!) Otherwise, I was good...thoroughly surprised since it wasn't anything like what I thought it would be, but still good. So, do I recommend it? Yes...just go in being warned about that one scene, so you can either bulldoze through it, or skip the page.


      **ARC received for review; opinions are my own
    • 3/5
      I didn't borrow this book from the library on the strength of the cover reviews, but 'spellbinding', 'breathtaking' and 'pure magic' are somewhat far-fetched. The story also fails to deliver on the blurb, in my opinion. Part one was intriguing, set in a vaguely alternate Victorian timeline where Christmas is called the Turning and books are sinful, sort of a mash-up of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Picture of Dorian Gray. But then, as warned in readers' reviews, the second part slid downhill into an anachronistic reworking of Call Me By Your Name. The last part was the same, but randomly from another character's perspective, not that I could really tell from the narration.In fact, the first person narrative deserves a paragraph of its own - if authors can't write in a convincing 'voice', they should just stick to good old third person, otherwise all the reader gets is 'I-I-I-me-me-me', particularly when dealing with a teenage narrator. It's painful! Here, Emmett the farmer's son was indistinguishable from Lucian the wealthy playboy, with both of them using awkwardly formal but modern language, full of broken sentences (another bugbear) and copious swearing (I assume to prove that this is the author's first 'adult' novel).The plot felt like two stories glued together - Emmett being taken on as a binder's apprentice after his 'illness', before falling in love with the Willoughby/Wickham type cad who rescues his sister. The binder, Seredith, was suitably spooky in her little cottage full of books and secrets, and I really wanted to read more about her trade. But no. Exit Seredith, enter an actual moustache-twirling villain only interested in money and blackmail. Nuance was already sorely lacking, but I completely gave up on the characters when de Havilland the eeeeeevil binder and Lucian's father were introduced. I can imagine Bridget Collins being torn between typical YA fodder, two young men in love but kept apart by prejudice and childhood trauma, etc, and a gothic tale of stolen memories - then writing both and slapping them together.The worst reviews are a bit exaggerated, this is readable - even if I did start skimming towards the end - but very repetitive ('Don't call me Lucian!') and more like a penny dreadful upcycled for modern readers.
    • 5/5
      A fantastic read for those who loved Strange the Dreamer.
      Imagine being able to remove those memories that haunt you, to basically erase a period of time from your mind. That is what binders do...they "bind" memories you want to forget into books and in this world all books are bindings. But what happens when memories are bound for the wrong reason? Or a book that should be kept secret is put into the wrong hands?
      This book is filled with ethical questions as well as fun twists that will keep you turning those pages.
      Thanks to the publisher and edelweiss for this DRC! I believe every library who serves teens and adults who read YA fiction should have this title on their shelves!
    • 3/5
      Emmett is drawn to books despite his father's warnings to stay far away. Books are not what we think them to be, they hold secrets, pain, and the power to change a person's life forever. They are magic. Bookbinders, as they are called, are able to lock away a person's memories, some are artists and others use their ability for evil. Though he's desperate to deny his calling, Emmett is a book binder and while he is trained to respect the task and those that leave part of themselves behind, nothing prepares him for the binders willing to trade a story for a penny. As he embarks on his binding journey he discovers along the way that the pages within a book can change the course of one's life completely.

      Readers are taken on a journey by Bridget Collins as young Emmett embraces his new role as a binder. We learn the intricate nature of binding, the power and care that goes into the task, and the abuse of that same power that others use for profit. We are taken into the past, shown glimpses of a now unknown to himself Emmett, and treated to an in depth description of the true nature of binding. It's a dark story, a story of old rules and beliefs, of romance and heartache, of people's desperation to hide their hurt even from themselves.

      I wanted to love The Binding, the plot is such a unique idea and I really found Emmett to be intriguing. Unfortunately, the story falls flat as readers are given just barely enough information to go on. Much like a literary novel, The Binding is filled with superfluous descriptions, and while it's a treat to picture the world Emmett lives in it bogs down the quite simple story. A story about magic and forbidden romance is covered up with several separate subplots and an excess of new settings and characters to get to know. While I liked Emmett, I was unable to connect with him or the other characters, nor was I able to really get to know the world they live in, because I found myself so confused. Even worse, as the book progressed I found myself hurting for all characters, unsatisfied with the bleak turn of events that each act in the novel presents us with.

      While The Binding features a type of magic I would love to see explored further, I don't think I would turn the pages of this book again.


      ARC provided.
    • 4/5
      Young love. There is nothing like it, is there. So much light, breathlessness and, well, confusion. This is the story of Emmet, a Binder. He was born into a farming family, but his life purpose is Binding. "Helping" people to forget things they would rather not know about themselves. It's quite a journey for him. Happy at home with his parents and sister, meeting Lucien, and watching his sister falls in love. But then things change. The binding is calling him. He is called away from home to learn the trade. He encounters so much good, so much evil and even hate. His life changes over and over again and he too finds love. Surprising twists
    • 4/5
      The Binding is a book presented by the publisher as a magical realism novel. This aspect plays the largest role in the first part of the book; Emmett Farmer finds himself apprenticed to Seredith, a "binder" with the ability to remove memories and store them in books. There are some interesting ideas presented here, such as binding memories to deal with trauma, and abusers forcing their victims to bind their memories.This unfortunately also leads to some weakness in the story's world building. Books exist largely as memory repositories and are treated with superstition in this world. Even school books are memories rather than ordinary reference books. Did no one in this world think of simply writing out information? Literacy is clearly a thing, as even rural farmers like Emmett can read and write. Yet, novels are viewed as a completely new thing. The setting otherwise appears to be a Victorian/Dickensian England, and unfortunately doesn't reflect much difference from our own world.The second part of the story takes a sharp turn, as the idea of bound memories then serves as merely a plot device for a romance story. It is nice to see more queer representation in mainstream fiction, and there's some good social class drama, but this dragged for me as I usually don't go for plain romance stories.This leads to The Binding's biggest problem in my opinion, in that it tries to be too many different things. There's a magical realist story with some interesting ideas about memory, a romance that defies societal expectations, and the story of a serial abuser who takes the memories of his victims. The writing can be lovely at times, but I really wish these three plot threads wove together a little more strongly. As it is, The Binding just wasn't for me.A review copy was provided through the Librarything Early Reviewers Program
    • 4/5
      This book was not what I expected. About mid way through, the story took a turn that I wasn’t expecting and I wasn’t sure I wanted to finish reading at that point. Eventually, I did finish the book and was surprised with how much the characters got under my skin in spite of myself. The concept was totally original and the story was told in such a way that I couldn’t help but appreciate the craftiness of the author.
    • 1/5
      I tried so hard to like this book but I could not finish it. It was very slow and had lots of difficult moments.
    • 5/5
      Oh, this wonderful, wonderful book. Where to begin. If I'm completely honest, I wasn't sure what to expect or whether it was going to be a book that was my thing or not. But the whole bookbinding element was most definitely enough to tempt me into trying it and I was bowled over by the complexity and the cleverness of this story.The Binding begins with us following Emmett Farmer as he becomes the apprentice to a very old bookbinder called Seredith. She lives in the marshes, well away from the farm where Emmett's parents and sister, Alta, live and where Emmett works the land. These are no ordinary books though. These are people's memories, sucked out of them so they can no longer remember. Ultimately, the idea is to take away the bad memories and the guilt but it can be misused, memories stolen for titillation, for the amusement of others. There are even fake books called novels. However, those with a true vocation, like Emmett, do it right, not for profit. The catalyst for parts two and three of the book is when Emmett finds a book with his own name on. From there we remember Emmett's past along with him and I must admit that I found that section the most beguiling.The whole of The Binding is most beautifully written. The prose is perfect and I was thoroughly absorbed by it. I loved Emmett as he's such a kind and strong person, struggling with his feelings at first. All of the characterisations are fabulous. I hated the people I was meant to hate and loved the ones I was meant to love. All are so well-drawn, so perfectly formed.And that story. It's so incredibly clever. I am in awe of Bridget Collins and the story that her mind has conjured up. It has a slight hint of fantasy (obviously, people can't really take your memories and bind them up into books) but it has such plausibility, such possibility. It's a little bit frightening too - imagine your deepest, darkest secrets getting into the wrong hands.The most powerful part of this book is a love story though and it's stunning in every way. I experienced it all along with the characters: the realisation, the denial, the highs and lows, the intensity, the loss, the joy.The Binding is something special, a book that will stay with me. If I didn't have masses of other books to read I would be tempted to go back to the beginning and read it again. It's going to be huge in 2019.
    • 4/5
      I received this book as part of the LT early reviewer program. While this may not be the book for everyone, I found it to be written in such a lovely way, that it was hard to put down. The author is able to weave a wonderful fresh story. It is the story of what happens if you are given the power to wipe your worst memories clean by placing them in a book. Told in 3 parts, form different perspectives, it keeps a good pace and has a unique view of magic, love and the power of both over us. I recommend giving it a go.
    • 4/5
      In an indeterminate time, in a place called Castleford, England, books were feared because they could be used to remove memories, and essentially, a piece of a life. For some, memory removal was voluntary, as it was meant to be. Disturbing memories that could no longer be tolerated were removed and bound into books bearing their name. Memories that haunted them disappeared. For some, however, the memories were removed so that they could be abused over and over again by disreputable people. Others sold their memories for enough money to purchase the bare necessities of their lives, simply to survive. Although it was forbidden to sell the stories of people still living, to prevent their pain or shame from getting out into the light of day, a black market had developed by unscrupulous book dealers for those very books. Like voyeurs, there were those who enjoyed reading about the suffering of others or of causing suffering which they could then wipe from the memory of their victims and subsequently abuse them again and again. Victims were often needy and coerced to be bound by their betters. As more and more memories were removed, they became empty vessels. However, there were certain people who were entertained by reading about the lives of those less fortunate and their rather sordid experiences. There existed a great divide between the common folk and those who were well-to-do, in both class and education.Although, books were feared and forbidden in some families, bookbinding was considered to be an art by the more scrupulous book dealers. They were covered in beautiful fabrics with carefully hand-drawn, artistic designs. However, the cheaper versions were less well made and were mass produced for those able to afford to purchase them. The stories of the dead who had been bound could be more widely circulated. Emmett Farmer and his sister Alta, lived happily on their farm with their parents until the day that Lucian Darnay became their neighbor. Darnay was a young lad of considerable charm, and both Farmer children were smitten by him, although Emmett’s feelings about Darnay confused him and caused him considerable angst. His sister Alta immediately fell head over heels in love. Darnay came from wealth, and he could even be her ticket out of poverty, if he loved her and married her. It was rare, but sometimes the wealthy did cross class lines and marry someone “beneath” their stature in life. The wealthy had all the power and they wielded it mercilessly. Soon, Darnay’s presence in the lives of the Farmer family created chaos and upheaval, causing great suffering. Emmett, forced to become a bookbinder, is sent away, probably to never see his family again. It is a task to which he is said to have been born. He had already been bound himself, suffering great torment in the process.The author handles the difficult and delicate subject of homosexuality beautifully. This novel becomes a love story, above all else. It never descends into coarseness or obscenity, and rather, it lifts the subject to a higher plane, removing the stigma and highlighting the devotion and the sacrifices that those who love each other are willing to make.The story held my attention, but it often seemed to wander off in unknown directions. When reading books of this genre, the reader is led to wonder if this could ever happen in the real world; could this fantasy ever become reality? Sometimes, the narrative lacked that credibility. Overall, though, the book is a good science fiction read.Speaking of bindings, I loved the way this book is bound. The cover can act as a book mark, on either end, and the detail on the cover conveys the artful workmanship and value that bookbinders placed on the books they legitimately produced. In addition, the font and page weight is comfortable and inviting, making the book an easy read.
    • 3/5
      It started out as some type of high fantasy novel, and ended up as The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue. I'm not sure how I feel about that. At first it seemed a little cliched, with a boy being sent as apprentice to the wise old woman with all the secrets he isn't ready to learn - shades of the beginning of The Black Cauldron, or any number of young master and apprentice stories. But something momentous happens in the book, and the boy is sent to the big city, launching the Gentleman's Guide portion. I was a little confused about what historical period we seemed to be in. I mean, it was clearly not set in our actual world, but it was kind of Victorian fantasy with medieval witchcraft. I liked the basic concept of binding, but hesitate to say more, since the main character's lack of knowledge about what binding entails drives the plot, particularly in the beginning. So, if you can imagine some sort of Prydain/Gentleman's Guide/Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore hybrid, you've got the idea. Pretty enjoyable.
    • 5/5
      What if books were not meant to be read for pleasure but were instead a place to hide (and forget) your secrets?Emmett Farmer is apprenticed to an elderly lady to train as a binder, a person who is both destined and trained to capture people’s secrets and hide them away in a book. Emmett - and the reader - slowly discover that there is much more to his story than a simple apprenticeship. He also has secrets and there are powerful people who are very invested in keeping those secrets locked away forever. The Binding is a story about choices and consequences and, unexpectedly, love. It is a mesmerizing book, beautifully written and brilliantly executed. One of my Top Ten in 2018, I recommend it wholeheartedly to those who enjoy speculative fiction and/or historical fiction.
    • 4/5
      The Binding is set in what I think is late 18th/early 19th century Britain, but in an alternate version of the world where books are mainly made by a binder sucking out certain memories from another person and somehow, magically, turning them into written text.The story revolves around Emmett, who is sent to train to be a binder in somewhat mysterious circumstances. It's not really possible to say too much more without spoiling the plot!I really wanted to love this novel, but I couldn't. The writing is beautiful, but the pace is a little slow, the plot is predictable and there isn't a lot of world-building, keeping the settings fairly vague (but perhaps this is intentional). I would also have liked to learn a bit more about the process of binding - that too is kept vague.Most importantly, I felt there was something lacking in Emmett as a character throughout the book - almost like trying to grasp air (and perhaps almost like I'd been bound myself!). I wanted to really get to know him as a person, but there wasn't enough substance to enable this, even when the perspective shifts to another character. This was still a very enjoyable read, but it's not quite a 4-star book for me.
    • 2/5
      I had such high hopes for this one and my dreams fell through by Part 2, which was about a third of the way in. This book has been advertised as historical fiction, literary fiction, and magical realism. The blurb on the inside cover gave me all those musty bookshop vibes, and I expected to be entirely wrapped up in the magical aspects of hiding people's memories away in these bound books. And then, after Part 1, it took a turn and led me deep into what I would call a YA romance that I was entirely not expecting nor really wanted. It was all the angsty teen romance that had me rolling my eyes, and it got so far away from its original blurb that I'm surprised I even finished the book. So, all-in-all, a bit disappointed to say the least.
    • 3/5
      The Binding by Bridget Collins was an okay book, but it could have been better. In its defense, I confess I probably would have enjoyed this a lot more if my patience threshold hadn’t been so low when I started this; I’ve had a recent run of bad to mediocre reads lately which has made me extremely finicky, and unfortunately, there are many things about this one that make it a very mood-dependent book.But first, I did love the novel’s concept. I’ve always had a thing for “books about books”, and I thought The Binding deserves points for tackling the idea quite a bit differently. That’s because books in this world are nothing like the way we think of them, neither for knowledge or for pleasure. Instead, they are magical devices handcrafted by specially trained artisans called Bookbinders, who use books as vessels to take away and store a person’s worst memories. All the secrets and the pain and hurt and guilt that one can’t bear to live with, a Bookbinder has the mysterious power to erase and lock away, which has resulted in much fear and mistrust around the profession, and not surprisingly, books themselves are anathema and forbidden.This was a lesson protagonist Emmett Farmer learned early on, when he was a young boy punished by his father for bringing home a book from the Wakening Fair, not understanding the gravity of what he’d done. But for as long as he can remember, Emmett has always been drawn to books, and soon enough, we get to learn why. What he’s always thought of as a debilitating condition which has prevented him from working efficiently in his family’s fields actually turns out to be a sign of his potential to become a Bookbinder. Before long, a letter arrives from an elderly Bookbinder named Seredith with a demand for his apprenticeship, and despite his reluctance to leave the farm, Emmett knows deep in his heart that he has no choice.Under Seredith’s tutelage, Emmett learns the delicate art of binding. He also discovers the truth behind the books she creates, watching as customers arrive at her doorstep, beseeching the old Bookbinder to take away their memories and lock them up. But not everything is as they seem either. Soon, we get to see that the business of bookbinding is rife for abuse, with some engaging in the illegal trading of books while others misuse the services for their own nefarious purposes. Which brings us to Lucian, a wealthy young patron who visits Seredith’s shop one day. We won’t find out how until much later, but Emmett and Lucian’s lives are connected in some way, and in time we learn how a great disservice has been done to both of them.I have to say, The Binding was a deeply layered book. Again, I suspect that I would have enjoyed it a lot more had I had been in a better mood for a story like this, but there was also plenty about its execution I found aggravating. For one thing, the book is told in three parts, with some accompanying perspective and time shifts that I didn’t feel were written all that effectively. I liked the first part well enough, mostly due to Collins’ amazing characterization of both Emmett and Seredith, as well as the development of their master-apprentice relationship. This section also introduced a world of mystery that I found very enticing, making it hard to resist reading more. But then came the second act, told via a flashback. Emotionally, I found it challenging to connect with this section—very unfortunate, considering how so much of what was covered here would play directly into the crux of the novel, revealed in the third and final act. My enthusiasm already dampened at this point, my apathy only increased as we shift POVs for this concluding section, which felt a world away from the magic and allure of the first act. Instead, we mostly got a lot of drama and anguish. I don’t want to spoil things too much, even though many of the reviews have already mentioned the queer romance and the tale of star-crossed lovers (though honestly, it’s quite obvious that the book was setting up for it), but essentially, I felt this last act failed to deliver the emotional intensity such crucial dissemination of events required, or it’s possible I just felt too disconnected from the POV to feel much of it.My final verdict? I really thought I would love The Binding, given its fantastic premise. However, I struggled miserably with the shifts between the novel’s three parts, and as such, things did not go as smoothly as I would have liked. On a better day, I might have felt a little more magnanimous, but lately I’ve been burned by too many books that show early promise only to fizzle out by the end, and I was disappointed when this one followed the same trend. In all fairness, this wasn’t a bad book, but I do wish it had been more emotionally satisfying.
    • 4/5
      The Binding is a beautifully written novel but it is a slow burn. It took me a while to get into the book and even after that the story line was fairly slow. If you keep reading though, you won’t be disappointed. The only complaint is that there could have been more about binding. What if you could remove memories from the mind? Memories such as grief, pain, sadness, horrifying events, and even dark secrets. In The Binding, that is exactly what people known as binders can do. Emmett Farmer works at his family’s farm but has always been drawn to books, even though they are forbidden. One day his family receives a letter requesting to have Emmett become a bookbinder’s apprentice. Emmett goes to live with Seredith, an older woman who will teach him her ways. Seredith is an artisan, a binder who takes great pride in her work but there are other binders that use their skill for dark purposes. Emmett will discover those types of binders and will uncover a secret about himself.Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      In a world where memories can be bound in books by binders, Emmett Farmer becomes an apprentice to Seredith, who is feared by locals as a witch. As he learns the skills of his profession, the reader is introduced to what a binding entails, and why someone may want to choose it. One day Emmett discovers that there's a book with his name on it, meaning he's undergone a binding himself.While I think the book isn't entirely successful, I loved the initial premise of the novel: in Emmett's world, bound memories are kept usually safe in vaults, never to see the light of day again, while some unscrupulous binders flog them to willing readers and so-called collectors who get their thrills from reading someone else's stolen life, whereas novels are dismissed as fake memories. There's something terribly poignant about people so desperate that they're willing to sell their most cherished memories for a few shillings. Of course the practice is also abused by those in power, with the victims subjected to yearly bindings so the abuse can continue, and the resultant books providing illicit entertainment for the abusers.I really wanted to learn more about this world, but it turned out that the initial premise is secondary to a forbidden love affair. While this is well done and compelling enough so that I had know how the story ended, I felt I had somehow been lured to read the book with false promises. I enjoyed the story, and the notion of binding one's memories provides plenty of food for thought about ethics and about what makes a life worth living, but in the end I feel it's not a book worth keeping or rereading.
    • 4/5
      This one really goes in some fascinating, creative directions. A great concept, set in an alternate world where unwanted memories can be removed and bound up into books. I don't want to say too much about the plot, but will say that the pacing and suspense work quite well and I very much wanted to keep reading right until the end.
    • 5/5
      Emmett Farmer is a young man who is recovering from an illness. For reasons he is not quite clear on, he is sent by his family to be an apprentice to a bookbinder, an old woman who many refer to as a witch. He soon realizes that the craft of bookbinding is more involved than just binding some pieces of paper between two covers. A true bookbinder binds people's unpleasant memories into a book, leaving them with no memory of the secrets that they've had bound. But one day, Emmett discovers that there is a bound book with his name on it.I was lucky to receive an Advanced Reader's copy of this book, and I was intrigued for three reasons: (1) the beautiful cover (I'm a sucker yet again), (2) a book about secrets, and (3) well, a book about books. Right up my wheelhouse. In all honesty, the story started out slowly and I wasn't immediately drawn in as I'd hoped. The setting is a bit vague, but it appears to be circa 1800's England. It's told in three parts, and by the time I'd reached the end of part one, I was sucked in. I'm not going to go anymore into plot at the risk of giving too much away, but part two of the story acted as a bridge between parts one and three. I enjoyed this book mostly for its uniqueness. It's a mix of history, romance, and fantasy. At its heart it's not telling a story that hasn't been told before, but it tells it in a way that really sticks with the reader. I finished this several days ago and I find myself still thinking about it a lot. It's due to be released in April 2019, and I suspect it will get lots of hype.
    • 4/5
      The Binding by Bridget Collins is a beautifully told tale of forbidden love; and it comes with a nice twist. The idea that memory can be erased or re-written is not new, but Collins takes it and makes it her own. We meet Emmet Farmer, the son of a farmer, when he is very sick. And if that's not enough, he's packed off to apprentice with the local witch! His ignorance of books and binding (the "witchcraft" of choice here) is not only because he is a farmer; his parents have kept these things form their children, because books and binding are considered immoral. So Emmet ends up with the witch, who binds people's unwanted memories into books, leaving them ignorant of those particular memories. He has no clue why he's there, but he feels drawn to books. Everything seems to go OK, until his mistress the witch falls ill. From the beginning, it is not hard to guess that Emmet is ill because a binding. It's not obvious why the would be or what a farmer boy would need a binding for, but it is well hinted that there was some sort of attempt to bind him and he got ill because of it. This, I found, was done well, giving enough to make me feel smart for getting it, but keeping enough to make we want to keep reading to find out just what horrible thing could have made Emmet (or his family) get a binding.The one thing that did bother me in the plot was the extreme convenience of the very small world these characters lived in. How Emmet and Lucian come to meet is not such a stretch, but that Emmet later would end up being sent over to the Darnays is just a bit contrived. We're to accept the small world, the little village, the small town, the handful of moneyed lords who would have anything to do with books, and hence a binder inevitably ending up in one of their houses... The love affair between Emmet and Lucian has all the hallmarks of a hate-love relationship. Poor boy meets rich boy. It's sweet and tragic. The young men, despite the changes in their lives, seem to hold their character, their decisions and thoughts often well in range of how they would react in their station at the time. Perhaps another little problem was that all the rich and lordly men were depicted as evil. Perhaps this is not untrue in a sense, as we're learning from the #MeToo movement, that when someone has a lot of power, they will most likely abuse it. Still, Lord Darnay and a few of the other older men are just so extremely predatory without, it seems, any qualms, that it becomes a little unbelievable. In contrast, Emmet's father, a hard-working good farmer is pious and moral and, well, poor. So poor people are good, rich people are bad? It ends up being a bit like that, maybe a bit simplistic. Thankfully, Lucian Darnay manages to break this mold, showing a full range of internal and external conflict both morally and ethically, so rich people can also be good. Phew!Overall, The Binding is a captivating story. Collins takes her time to build the world, details the farm work and nature as well as the people and their everyday lives. The story moves at a slow, languid pace, savoring each moment, whether it be snow falling to cover a path or an afternoon of secret fucking in the attic.Recommended for those who like puppies, private libraries, vaults, bone folds, end papers, and waxing binding string (so it does not catch on the paper as blocks are sawn together).Thanks to LibraryThing and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my review. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
    • 4/5
      The concept behind The Binding is brilliant, a way to erase your memories while preserving them at the same time. Your memories, either of sadness, hurt, your misdeeds and crimes or anything else you would be better off not knowing are bound into books through the services of a binder. I won't give too much away, but the questions are asked, are you better off knowing, or not knowing? What happens when your memories come flooding back? What happens if they don't? The story lured me in very slowly, very seductively but by the halfway point I couldn't put it down. The writing is lush and sets the tone of the story perfectly. Its's both a love story and a bit of a thriller at the same time, both magical and moody.
    • 5/5
      Received a free ARC from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.Wow. What a whirlwind. I have to say that I wasn't expecting some of those twists and turns and the two different versions of Emmett had thrown me for a loop. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and wish it was longer--I felt like the ending was perfect, but that it could have gone on, regardless. Maybe that's just me being wishful and wanting more.The author is adept at spinning the story and keeping the reader hooked. Moreover, I loved the relationships in this book, even if I hated the backward thinking that was demonstrated. Sadly, people still think that way. I whole-heartedly recommend this book.
    • 3/5
      The Binding by Bridget Collins is a very original book that also unfortunately telegraphs its big reveal early on. The story is set in an alternative universe resembling 1800’s England, where there are people with a gift of being able to Bind other people’s memories into a book. Thereby relieving them of painful or unwanted memories. The Binders are looked on with fear from the rural populace and with a certain novelty from the wealthier class that use unscrupulous Binders to their advantage.The story follows a young man who is given over by his family to an old Binder to learn the craft after a long sickness. She is a traditional Binder who believes in the sanctity of the craft and that she only removes memories from people at a last resort. Eventually he makes his way to the larger city and comes across other Binders who use their talents in more corrupt ways. We follow his relationships with his family and the son of a wealthy land owner.Collins has crafted a wonderful world, and the book moves quickly along. I would have enjoyed it much more though had I not been able to deduce the plots main storyline fairly early on. But even so, I was entertained and enjoyed the read. I recommend it, but again with a caveat surrounding the ending.
    • 4/5
      "[H]istorical fiction with a touch of magic...." is how Harper-Collins marketing director Tavia Kowalchuk describes it. "The Binding reveals its secrets with a languid fluidity that builds a suspense rarely encountered in literary fiction."Um, "historical" fiction this ain't (it's straight-out fantasy rather realistically told), and the back-cover blurb comparing The Binding to the novels of Sarah Waters is definitely overstatement. And as to "suspense," I found the twists utterly predictable. I'm reluctant to say more, though, for fear of SPOILER if there are any readers out there who actually might be surprised by this rather predictable romantic plot.Still, having your memories erased and bound in a book is a clever concept and The Binding's a well-written and enjoyable read, so 3½***.
    • 3/5
      I want to tell you I loved this book. I really wish I could. The writing has a beautiful literary quality. I did love the rhythm of the sentences. And the concept is fascinating, sparking an internal debate during which I considered all the pros and cons of wiping out a segment of my memory. But the story itself fell short of the writing quality and story premise. The book is separated into three parts. Part one follows the present timeline, which is an unnamed past year in an unnamed place, and is written from Emmett's perspective. Part two, also from Emmett's perspective, goes into his earlier childhood, showing us the events leading up to the present. And part three is written from Lucian's perspective, back in the present. All three parts are written in first person.Most of the story has a strong YA feel, with teenage characters and the angst of youth, but the content is far too graphic for most kids under 18. There are some detailed scenes containing rape and abuse. So we have a tangle of adult content, with YA characters and overall story tone.The pace, particularly through the first two parts, is extremely slow. Between the book's description and the author's note at the opening, we already know the premise of the story. Yet Emmett, the lead character, has no idea what's going on, and we spend a whole lot of pages with him sitting back, observing, learning how to bind a book, obsessing about teenage issues, but not getting involved or even understanding what's going on. I felt it took way too long for the story to get started, particularly since we readers are well aware of what to expect from the onset.Part three picks up in pace, and here it becomes a story of forbidden love. This is also where we finally take a hard look at the issue of wiping memories, with its surrounding controversy and life-altering effects. Overall, the story dragged too much for me, and I felt too immersed in the YA world. But, as I mentioned, the writing quality is beautiful. If you like literary fiction that leans into fantasy, you might love this book.*I received an advance copy from the publisher.*
    • 4/5
      A friend recommended this to me so I had no idea what to expect when I opened the first page (always the best way to read a book I think). I was instantly intrigued by the characters Collins shows us and the world they live in. The story beautifully marries magical realism into a world that feel like we already know it.
    • 4/5
      Not quite a review: I picked this book up because I thought it might be about the Akedah and read it anyway because it seemed to be about books. As it turns out, it's about books that hold memories removed from people, as opposed to books in this world that instill memories in people. It feels like it takes place in an alternate 19th century England.
    • 4/5
      Really enjoyed part 1, part 2 nearly had me dnf’ing this book but I am so glad I stuck it through - I went through every emotion in part 3. Changed my mind about the characters all the way through
    • 5/5
      A beautiful book. I loved it. what imagination, what pictures, and what a wonderful love story.

      Add to this, that it was absolutely beautifully narrated, and you have a book that can be recommended to anyone.

      A perfect escape from today's world into a wholly different world.