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Catherine House
A story about a dangerously curious young undergraduate whose rebelliousness leads her to discover a shocking secret involving an exclusive circle of students . . . and the dark truth beneath her school’s promise of prestige.
You are in the house and the house is in the woods.
You are in the house and the house is in you . . .
Catherine House is a school of higher learning like no other. Hidden deep in the woods of rural Pennsylvania, this crucible of reformist liberal arts study with its experimental curriculum, wildly selective admissions policy, and formidable endowment, has produced some of the world’s best minds: prize-winning authors, artists, inventors, Supreme Court justices, presidents. For those lucky few selected, tuition, room, and board are free. But acceptance comes with a price. Students are required to give the House three years—summers included—completely removed from the outside world. Family, friends, television, music, even their clothing must be left behind. In return, the school promises its graduates a future of sublime power and prestige, and that they can become anything or anyone they desire.
Among this year’s incoming class is Ines, who expects to trade blurry nights of parties, pills, cruel friends, and dangerous men for rigorous intellectual discipline—only to discover an environment of sanctioned revelry. The school’s enigmatic director, Viktória, encourages the students to explore, to expand their minds, to find themselves and their place within the formidable black iron gates of Catherine.
For Ines, Catherine is the closest thing to a home she’s ever had, and her serious, timid roommate, Baby, soon becomes an unlikely friend. Yet the House’s strange protocols make this refuge, with its worn velvet and weathered leather, feel increasingly like a gilded prison. And when Baby’s obsessive desire for acceptance ends in tragedy, Ines begins to suspect that the school—in all its shabby splendor, hallowed history, advanced theories, and controlled decadence—might be hiding a dangerous agenda that is connected to a secretive, tightly knit group of students selected to study its most promising and mysterious curriculum.
You are in the house and the house is in the woods.
You are in the house and the house is in you . . .
Catherine House is a school of higher learning like no other. Hidden deep in the woods of rural Pennsylvania, this crucible of reformist liberal arts study with its experimental curriculum, wildly selective admissions policy, and formidable endowment, has produced some of the world’s best minds: prize-winning authors, artists, inventors, Supreme Court justices, presidents. For those lucky few selected, tuition, room, and board are free. But acceptance comes with a price. Students are required to give the House three years—summers included—completely removed from the outside world. Family, friends, television, music, even their clothing must be left behind. In return, the school promises its graduates a future of sublime power and prestige, and that they can become anything or anyone they desire.
Among this year’s incoming class is Ines, who expects to trade blurry nights of parties, pills, cruel friends, and dangerous men for rigorous intellectual discipline—only to discover an environment of sanctioned revelry. The school’s enigmatic director, Viktória, encourages the students to explore, to expand their minds, to find themselves and their place within the formidable black iron gates of Catherine.
For Ines, Catherine is the closest thing to a home she’s ever had, and her serious, timid roommate, Baby, soon becomes an unlikely friend. Yet the House’s strange protocols make this refuge, with its worn velvet and weathered leather, feel increasingly like a gilded prison. And when Baby’s obsessive desire for acceptance ends in tragedy, Ines begins to suspect that the school—in all its shabby splendor, hallowed history, advanced theories, and controlled decadence—might be hiding a dangerous agenda that is connected to a secretive, tightly knit group of students selected to study its most promising and mysterious curriculum.
311 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2020
About the author
Elisabeth Thomas
1 book995 followersElisabeth Thomas grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where she still lives and now writes. She graduated from Yale University and currently works as an archivist for a modern art museum. CATHERINE HOUSE is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,627 reviews
October 25, 2020
eh. i honestly wish that i had any semblance of a strong opinion about this story, especially because it was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, but i'm incredibly neutral about the whole thing. not once was i in danger of dnfing and i wouldn't say i actively disliked the book, but i also didn't love it?? none of the characters grabbed me? the mystery was....???? I feel like this is one of those books that was enjoyable enough while in progress, but will be swiftly forgotten in 3-5 business days.
2.5 stars if we're getting specific (it hurts to write that i SWEAR) dear spooky gods, PLS let me find a winner at some point this month P L E A S E
2.5 stars if we're getting specific (it hurts to write that i SWEAR) dear spooky gods, PLS let me find a winner at some point this month P L E A S E
October 16, 2020
This book would be enjoyed by people who like atmospheric gothic stories and are OK with there not being any plot progressing forward. It doesn’t seek to answer questions or resolve mysteries, but perhaps show the type of lost and empty people vulnerable to cults. The main character experiences a lot of emotional detachment and disassociation, which adds to the eerie atmosphere and a drowsy sense of feeling.
February 8, 2021
School of selected, special, successful, superior students (too many S letters in a sentence seems like special spell. Oh no! Again too many s letters make me feel like stuck in a spell) made me think: Hey, we have some kind gothic, intriguing thriller, more understandable and less brain cell killer version of Ninth House (yes, I was not intelligent enough to enjoy that book.) or some kind of Truly Devious trilogy’s murder mystery with just a little Hogswarts vibes.
I have to emphasize that world building and creepy, eerie, dark atmosphere the author created was splendid. I was always a big fan of dark boarding school mysteries, mind games, the secrets behind closed doors, a murderer walks around the corner and he or she can be anyone sits behind you or your best friend or your boyfriend holds the pillow on your face to choke or appear at your bathroom like his spirit captured by Norman Bates and stabs you with newspaper (I think this was Mel Brooks’ version of Psycho!) So yes wait for the unexpected things occur out of nowhere and be suspicious about everyone kind of tricky story telling always works well for me!
I think the book failed me for two big reasons even though it had a promising, stunning start: I hate the protagonist (I don’t want to call her heroine because she is just creepy, living in her head with so many obsessions, introvert, feeble, indecisive, I didn’t find any good qualities to like her just a little bit!) The other is pacing! The story stopped in the middle of somewhere. I feel like I was trapped in a school car in the snow storm and I cannot open the doors (Well opening the door is not a solution if I will freeze to death) and when I turn my head to the window, I realize the zombies banging on them. They can break and jump inside any second. So my over exaggerated imagination is scarier and more entertaining than this book’s dragged plot!
I think the author is really talented and created a great subplot with full of great ideas and this will be really enjoyable book without too many descriptions or slow burn mystery. If the pace would be a little faster and captivating with more interesting characters, this book could be one of my unputdownable, riveting thrillers that I may really enjoy reading.
So I arranged myself a special place in Switzerland that means I’m in the middle: I didn’t enjoy it but I didn’t hate it because there were so many potentials and I still want to read more works of the author. Let’s give solid three stars and wish that my next thriller will be more heart throbbing.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers, Custom House for sharing this interesting gothic book’s ARC COPY in exchange my honest review.
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I have to emphasize that world building and creepy, eerie, dark atmosphere the author created was splendid. I was always a big fan of dark boarding school mysteries, mind games, the secrets behind closed doors, a murderer walks around the corner and he or she can be anyone sits behind you or your best friend or your boyfriend holds the pillow on your face to choke or appear at your bathroom like his spirit captured by Norman Bates and stabs you with newspaper (I think this was Mel Brooks’ version of Psycho!) So yes wait for the unexpected things occur out of nowhere and be suspicious about everyone kind of tricky story telling always works well for me!
I think the book failed me for two big reasons even though it had a promising, stunning start: I hate the protagonist (I don’t want to call her heroine because she is just creepy, living in her head with so many obsessions, introvert, feeble, indecisive, I didn’t find any good qualities to like her just a little bit!) The other is pacing! The story stopped in the middle of somewhere. I feel like I was trapped in a school car in the snow storm and I cannot open the doors (Well opening the door is not a solution if I will freeze to death) and when I turn my head to the window, I realize the zombies banging on them. They can break and jump inside any second. So my over exaggerated imagination is scarier and more entertaining than this book’s dragged plot!
I think the author is really talented and created a great subplot with full of great ideas and this will be really enjoyable book without too many descriptions or slow burn mystery. If the pace would be a little faster and captivating with more interesting characters, this book could be one of my unputdownable, riveting thrillers that I may really enjoy reading.
So I arranged myself a special place in Switzerland that means I’m in the middle: I didn’t enjoy it but I didn’t hate it because there were so many potentials and I still want to read more works of the author. Let’s give solid three stars and wish that my next thriller will be more heart throbbing.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers, Custom House for sharing this interesting gothic book’s ARC COPY in exchange my honest review.
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April 21, 2020
Believe me when I tell you that I tried to like this. I really, really did but I'm at 60% and I just can not force myself to keep reading this. For whatever reason my brain is struggling to understand what any of this is about. There is a lot of eating, drinking, nudity, and casual sex. I normally don't rate a DNF but I read over half of this son of a b and I feel that was enough to qualify a rating.
"You are in the house and the house is in the woods. The woods are in the house. The stairs are in the house. Down the stairs is the hallway, and at the end of the hallway is the ballroom. The ballroom is in the house. You are in the house and the house is in you." = um, whaaat? 🤨
"You are in the house and the house is in today. Today is not a moment. Today is not a point. Today is an infinite area. Today is forever. Everything that has happened and that will ever happen is now. Everything that has been and will be is here. And everything is good. Everything is fine. You are not sad. You are not afraid. You are not hateful. Because you are here. You are here. You are inside. And you are ready." = Ready to throw my kindle at the wall. 😒
"Your hands are on the table. The table is in the hall, across the yard, in the house. The house is in the woods. In the woods, across the yard, in your hands, is the cup. The cup is in your hands. Your hands are in the house." = My brain hurts 😵
Anyhoo I tried. Maybe I will save others some valuable reading time. Also, according to other reviewers the end brings no resolution so, yeah.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"You are in the house and the house is in the woods. The woods are in the house. The stairs are in the house. Down the stairs is the hallway, and at the end of the hallway is the ballroom. The ballroom is in the house. You are in the house and the house is in you." = um, whaaat? 🤨
"You are in the house and the house is in today. Today is not a moment. Today is not a point. Today is an infinite area. Today is forever. Everything that has happened and that will ever happen is now. Everything that has been and will be is here. And everything is good. Everything is fine. You are not sad. You are not afraid. You are not hateful. Because you are here. You are here. You are inside. And you are ready." = Ready to throw my kindle at the wall. 😒
"Your hands are on the table. The table is in the hall, across the yard, in the house. The house is in the woods. In the woods, across the yard, in your hands, is the cup. The cup is in your hands. Your hands are in the house." = My brain hurts 😵
Anyhoo I tried. Maybe I will save others some valuable reading time. Also, according to other reviewers the end brings no resolution so, yeah.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2020
This definitely won't be a book for everyone, but I have to say that I really enjoyed the weird, quirky attributes this story had to offer. Please do not confuse the author's brevity of content for writing that isn't fully expanded upon; each scene is a slow, dread inducing dance that marries mystery with sensuality. The revelations might not be shocking to the seasoned suspense reader, but I felt the overall draw is more in the luscious setting and character interactions that gave me a foggy sense of the space between waking and dreaming. If you enjoy books that leave you wondering what you just read, you can't miss Catherine House.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
June 14, 2020
So why didn't anybody tell me how much of my time I was going to waste reading this book?
Yes, it was atmospheric. Yes, I was intrigued at the idea of this taking place at a boarding school BUT this book was so boring. The main character was insufferable and did a lot of things that did not make sense. I don't understand what Thomas intended by creating such a frustrating character. At the beginning I thought I would be able to get used to her, but it just got progressively worse. She just seemed so out of it almost like she was drunk the entire book and then it made me feel like I was reading the book in a haze. She didn't care about anything which then made me feel like I couldn't care about anything.
I don't even want to get started on the plot. Was there a plot?!? Because if there was a plot or a point to this whole story I completely missed it. I was so confused the entire time that I couldn't even figure out what genre this book was supposed to fall under. It was incredibly slow and dry. Even when the "reveal" occurred I STILL didn't understand the purpose of the book.
Honestly ya'll I really wanted to like the book. I thought that this was going to be a thriller/mystery that I would end up loving, but honestly it wasn't worth it. I spent 11 hours of my life listening to this book and now I'll never get that time back and I'm beyond pissed.
Yes, it was atmospheric. Yes, I was intrigued at the idea of this taking place at a boarding school BUT this book was so boring. The main character was insufferable and did a lot of things that did not make sense. I don't understand what Thomas intended by creating such a frustrating character. At the beginning I thought I would be able to get used to her, but it just got progressively worse. She just seemed so out of it almost like she was drunk the entire book and then it made me feel like I was reading the book in a haze. She didn't care about anything which then made me feel like I couldn't care about anything.
I don't even want to get started on the plot. Was there a plot?!? Because if there was a plot or a point to this whole story I completely missed it. I was so confused the entire time that I couldn't even figure out what genre this book was supposed to fall under. It was incredibly slow and dry. Even when the "reveal" occurred I STILL didn't understand the purpose of the book.
Honestly ya'll I really wanted to like the book. I thought that this was going to be a thriller/mystery that I would end up loving, but honestly it wasn't worth it. I spent 11 hours of my life listening to this book and now I'll never get that time back and I'm beyond pissed.
May 26, 2020
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When I first started reading this book, I couldn't quite figure out why the ratings for CATHERINE HOUSE were so poor. Ines was a desperate, anxious, introverted girl filled with insecurities and a sense of fatalism that cause her to act out wildly within the confines (or prison?) of her new school, a university-like institution that doesn't call itself a university, where scholarship is given to all who are accepted but expulsion is as easy as the money, and wine flows freely like soma to opiate the masses.
And then I continued to read, and CATHERINE HOUSE became less like THE SECRET HISTORY's younger, butterfly clip-wearing little sister, and more like a 80s B-movie version of VITA NOSTRA. You see, there's a movie called The Langoliers by Stephen King that starts off really great and has all this amazing build-up, so that by the time you're about to reach the climax of the film, you're on the edge of your seat. And then you find out what's really going on and you go "whaaaat?" or you laugh. You laugh, and laugh, and then you cry, because those are your hopes being dashed on screen in dreadful CGI.
I made a shelf on Goodreads called "the langoliers effect" for books that start off good but are effectively ruined by the "payoff" (or lack thereof). More than the pretentious language of the book, and the syrupy-surreal flow of the plot (which I actually liked), I feel like a lot of readers were turned off by how ridiculous the "secret" of Catherine House is, and how it doesn't even end in a particularly satisfying way. There are books out there that make a point of confusing the reader as part of their premise, and many of those are cyberpunk novels, and many of those are Philip K. Dick novels, but I don't think this book was meant to be one of them. I can't help but feel like Elisabeth Thomas had several conflicting ideas for how this book was going to go and tried to combine all those threads to the best of her ability, maybe liking them all so much that she didn't want to scrap any of them.
I do like the 90s setting and the whole "Pleasure Island" by means of Pinocchio way that the students drowned in their excesses. Likewise, the intellectual snobbery and impossible-to-please professors made me wonder just how much of this book was informed by the author's own Yale education, especially when the main character, Ines, talks about how her school never leaves her. Yale is also a prestigious institution, and though I've never been, I imagine that because of the wealthy and privileged student body, they have access to a wide variety of excesses that probably result in wild parties that serve as a stark contrast to the draconian rigors of academia.
This was a debut novel and it definitely feels like one, and not in a good way. I would read more from this author because I do like her dreamy style but I can't say that I would recommend CATHERINE HOUSE now that I've finished it.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
2.5 stars
February 7, 2021
uhhhh 👀
June 27, 2020
"The cup is in my hands.
My hands are in the house.
The house is in the woods.
The woods are in my hands."
You know that saying, "If it sounds too good to be true it probably is"? Yes, of course you do. We all do.
So why is it that characters in books and movies act as though they've never have heard this phrase? Instead, they go all into things that are blatantly, screamingly, shockingly too good to be true.
This is the case with Ines, the edgy and provocative protagonist of Catherine House. On the run and all alone, she is thrilled to have secured a vaunted place in the prestigious school. Once accepted, students receive:
✓Free tuition
✓Free room and board
✓Free meals
✓Free clothing and toiletries
Catherine House alumni go on to fill powerful positions. It is all but a given that upon graduation, one will shoot to the top of their chosen profession. Three years of the best education one could hope for, in an institution more selective than any Ivy League school. And all for free!
An all-expenses-paid trip to fortune and fame.
Too good to be true? Yeh.......
I absolutely loved this novel. It's quiet and introspective, dark and mysterious. Elisabeth Thomas slowly builds the suspense, drawing the reader ever deeper into Ines' life and the secrets of Catherine House.
In a way it's predictable but I didn't mind that. I love the way the author writes. I adored Ines. I couldn't help but want the best for her. I enjoyed her interactions with the other characters. I loved exploring Catherine House with her, watching as she discovered its sinister foundation. I was intrigued by the eerie, cult-like workings of the school.
If you enjoy introspective books that are character-driven, I highly recommend Catherine House. It will be too slow-moving for some readers but those who enjoy a meandering buildup and complicated, well-developed characters in a dark, gothic setting will find much to enjoy in this book.
My hands are in the house.
The house is in the woods.
The woods are in my hands."
You know that saying, "If it sounds too good to be true it probably is"? Yes, of course you do. We all do.
So why is it that characters in books and movies act as though they've never have heard this phrase? Instead, they go all into things that are blatantly, screamingly, shockingly too good to be true.
This is the case with Ines, the edgy and provocative protagonist of Catherine House. On the run and all alone, she is thrilled to have secured a vaunted place in the prestigious school. Once accepted, students receive:
✓Free tuition
✓Free room and board
✓Free meals
✓Free clothing and toiletries
Catherine House alumni go on to fill powerful positions. It is all but a given that upon graduation, one will shoot to the top of their chosen profession. Three years of the best education one could hope for, in an institution more selective than any Ivy League school. And all for free!
An all-expenses-paid trip to fortune and fame.
Too good to be true? Yeh.......
I absolutely loved this novel. It's quiet and introspective, dark and mysterious. Elisabeth Thomas slowly builds the suspense, drawing the reader ever deeper into Ines' life and the secrets of Catherine House.
In a way it's predictable but I didn't mind that. I love the way the author writes. I adored Ines. I couldn't help but want the best for her. I enjoyed her interactions with the other characters. I loved exploring Catherine House with her, watching as she discovered its sinister foundation. I was intrigued by the eerie, cult-like workings of the school.
If you enjoy introspective books that are character-driven, I highly recommend Catherine House. It will be too slow-moving for some readers but those who enjoy a meandering buildup and complicated, well-developed characters in a dark, gothic setting will find much to enjoy in this book.
January 9, 2021
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would.
this writing is SO good. I don't understand why people are saying there's no plot?? It's Vibes™️ but it's not like there wasn't a solid flow of events that lead up to something which surprised me because I was really expecting no direction whatsoever.
— overall thoughts: 4.5 —
*All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless stated otherwise*
PSA: I do not consider this as horror or even remotely scary
I'm weak for school and academy settings because of the character relationships that result from that. And this book gave all those dynamics that I was looking for without feeling redundant. The characters are very grey and are prone to teenage mistakes but that just made them feel more tangible and relatable.
I think people expect a dynamic plot but it isn’t that but that doesn't mean it's bad? Honestly, I am so tired of books that try so hard to give out of this world plot twists that the essence of the book suffers greatly. Probably just my personal preference since I think I'm an unpopular opinion 😹
Nothing about this book was ever boring to me LIKE.... NOTHING. The story telling was so well done and atmospheric. I was so intrigued by the looming mystery of the house and even though I didn't really mind.
Definitely a weird book. It explores the mindset and vulnerability of people who are attracted to... associations.. like Catherine. I thought that it was poignant and I see why people might not have felt like this was for them. Don't get me wrong though, I really was just here for Vibes™️ and it delivered!
A lot of strings were left untied by the end but I was satisfied with how everything went down. If you just want atmosphere and a good time, with characters that won't annoy the heck out of you and sound like a melodrama is playing in your head, I recommend this book.
P.s.
chanting people... I swear... one of the creepiest things to listen to audiobooks of
this writing is SO good. I don't understand why people are saying there's no plot?? It's Vibes™️ but it's not like there wasn't a solid flow of events that lead up to something which surprised me because I was really expecting no direction whatsoever.
— overall thoughts: 4.5 —
*All of my reviews are as spoiler-free as possible unless stated otherwise*
PSA: I do not consider this as horror or even remotely scary
I'm weak for school and academy settings because of the character relationships that result from that. And this book gave all those dynamics that I was looking for without feeling redundant. The characters are very grey and are prone to teenage mistakes but that just made them feel more tangible and relatable.
“Because they have some delusion that to be human and perishable is divine.”
I think people expect a dynamic plot but it isn’t that but that doesn't mean it's bad? Honestly, I am so tired of books that try so hard to give out of this world plot twists that the essence of the book suffers greatly. Probably just my personal preference since I think I'm an unpopular opinion 😹
Nothing about this book was ever boring to me LIKE.... NOTHING. The story telling was so well done and atmospheric. I was so intrigued by the looming mystery of the house and even though I didn't really mind.
Definitely a weird book. It explores the mindset and vulnerability of people who are attracted to... associations.. like Catherine. I thought that it was poignant and I see why people might not have felt like this was for them. Don't get me wrong though, I really was just here for Vibes™️ and it delivered!
A lot of strings were left untied by the end but I was satisfied with how everything went down. If you just want atmosphere and a good time, with characters that won't annoy the heck out of you and sound like a melodrama is playing in your head, I recommend this book.
P.s.
chanting people... I swear... one of the creepiest things to listen to audiobooks of
October 8, 2020
Read for the Literally Dead Book Club https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
and during this long ass vlog https://youtu.be/WEFpmwhBA7g
and during this long ass vlog https://youtu.be/WEFpmwhBA7g
January 26, 2023
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3 re-read:
I once again loved this. The novel's gothic ambience is truly hypnotic and Thomas really manages to suffuse Ines' experiences at Catherine House with a dreamlike quality. There is a vagueness, a haze, one that makes many scenes opaque, unreachable. Yet, there are moments were the description are bursting with vibrancy: from the tantalising food descriptions to the attention paid to the changing seasons. This novel merits descriptors such as lush, sensual, and atmospheric. But, despite my very first impression, which had me dismiss this book as superficial and affected, I now feel an affinity to Ines, despite her remoteness. The novel doesn't present us with solid character development or particularly multi-dimensional characters, but I believe that Thomas does capture the essence of the people in Ines' lives, and stays true to her protagonist impression of them. There is also a subtle yet nevertheless palpable sense of 'wrongness' permeating Catherine House, and Thomas' sensuous and ethereal language really captures that. The use of repetition—be it words or imagery—is also highly effective as it gives the story a lulling rhythm that is hard to ignore.
Set in the 90s Catherine House follows Ines Murillo and her 3 years at Catherine House, a private college-like institution shrouded in mystery. One of the college's central tenets is that its students (and teachers) should leave their past behind, and they are discouraged (read: forbidden) from discussing their families, childhoods, or any of their experiences or attachments they may have formed prior their arrival CH. They will spend the next 3 years in CH, were they have almost no contact with the outside world, meanwhile they can buy things (such as hair products, clothes, trinkets) and earn certain freedoms through a 'points' system. Not only are they closely monitored but they have to abide strict and obscure rules that see them taking part in happenings of a rather esoteric nature.
Much about CH remains unknown to us, and even the architecture of house itself seems just beyond Ines' and our grasp. By giving us very little information CH acquires an air of ambiguity that really accentuates the narrative enigmatic tone. Ines' character too is a mystery, and I found myself simultaneously able to empathize with her and to feel slightly puzzled by her outlook and behaviour. She very much reminded me of Shirley Jackson's heroines, in particular, the peculiar & alienated protagonist of Hangsaman, Natalie Waite. They both often dissociate themselves from their surroundings and have a tendency to perceive their world and understand their experiences through dark yet fairy-talesque lenses.
There are also certain lines that really reminded me of Jackson's work: “I am in the house, we chanted. The house is in the woods. My hands are on the table. The table is in the woods.” did bring to mind Merricat's “I put my hands quietly in my lap. I am living on the moon, I told myself, I have a little house all by myself on the moon.”
Style and atmosphere wise I was also reminded of Magda Szabó's Abigail, Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, and Vita Nostra.
Sure, there are certain minor points that I could question or criticise but ultimately I found the writing and Ines' voice so spellbinding that those didn't really matter. I mean, I read this twice in 6 months, so it safe to say that I absolutely loved it.
re-read:
...turns out I actually love this now...?!
The first time I read this I was not impressed but this second time around…well, I loved it. It isn’t an easy book and I can sort of see why it could come across as frustrating…but if you are in the mood for a dreamy and ambiguous Gothic-y read you should consider giving Catherine House a go. If you are a fan of authors such as Shirley Jackson and Helen Oyeyemi, you will probably ‘vibe’ with this book. Speaking of vibes, I saw someone describe this as a book all about vibes and I have to agree. There is a strong focus on the atmosphere of Catherine House and Thomas pays particular attention to the smells and flavours Ines encounters in its walls. Throughout the narrative Thomas juxtaposes beauty with decay, and there were plenty of lush descriptions contrasting the two. Nature too has a role in this story and I loved how Ines describes the seasons.
I loved Ines and her ‘sideways’ perspective. Thomas beautifully articulates Ines' conflicting feelings about Catherine House and I truly felt for her. I also loved her friendship group, often their scenes together eased some of the tension from the narrative.
Basically, this second time I loved everything about this novel: the eerie setting, the ominous nature of plasm, Ines, her friends, the beautiful writing, the dreamlike atmosphere...
I can’t wait to read this again (and maybe write a more cohesive review).
1st read:
I initially gave this book 3 stars and was rather unimpressed by it (i deleted my og review as the views i expressed there are no longer of relevance). What I suggest is that you learn from my mistake and do not approach this book excepting the usual dark-academia type of campus novel (that has a clear arc etc.).
3 re-read:
I once again loved this. The novel's gothic ambience is truly hypnotic and Thomas really manages to suffuse Ines' experiences at Catherine House with a dreamlike quality. There is a vagueness, a haze, one that makes many scenes opaque, unreachable. Yet, there are moments were the description are bursting with vibrancy: from the tantalising food descriptions to the attention paid to the changing seasons. This novel merits descriptors such as lush, sensual, and atmospheric. But, despite my very first impression, which had me dismiss this book as superficial and affected, I now feel an affinity to Ines, despite her remoteness. The novel doesn't present us with solid character development or particularly multi-dimensional characters, but I believe that Thomas does capture the essence of the people in Ines' lives, and stays true to her protagonist impression of them. There is also a subtle yet nevertheless palpable sense of 'wrongness' permeating Catherine House, and Thomas' sensuous and ethereal language really captures that. The use of repetition—be it words or imagery—is also highly effective as it gives the story a lulling rhythm that is hard to ignore.
Set in the 90s Catherine House follows Ines Murillo and her 3 years at Catherine House, a private college-like institution shrouded in mystery. One of the college's central tenets is that its students (and teachers) should leave their past behind, and they are discouraged (read: forbidden) from discussing their families, childhoods, or any of their experiences or attachments they may have formed prior their arrival CH. They will spend the next 3 years in CH, were they have almost no contact with the outside world, meanwhile they can buy things (such as hair products, clothes, trinkets) and earn certain freedoms through a 'points' system. Not only are they closely monitored but they have to abide strict and obscure rules that see them taking part in happenings of a rather esoteric nature.
Much about CH remains unknown to us, and even the architecture of house itself seems just beyond Ines' and our grasp. By giving us very little information CH acquires an air of ambiguity that really accentuates the narrative enigmatic tone. Ines' character too is a mystery, and I found myself simultaneously able to empathize with her and to feel slightly puzzled by her outlook and behaviour. She very much reminded me of Shirley Jackson's heroines, in particular, the peculiar & alienated protagonist of Hangsaman, Natalie Waite. They both often dissociate themselves from their surroundings and have a tendency to perceive their world and understand their experiences through dark yet fairy-talesque lenses.
There are also certain lines that really reminded me of Jackson's work: “I am in the house, we chanted. The house is in the woods. My hands are on the table. The table is in the woods.” did bring to mind Merricat's “I put my hands quietly in my lap. I am living on the moon, I told myself, I have a little house all by myself on the moon.”
Style and atmosphere wise I was also reminded of Magda Szabó's Abigail, Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, and Vita Nostra.
Sure, there are certain minor points that I could question or criticise but ultimately I found the writing and Ines' voice so spellbinding that those didn't really matter. I mean, I read this twice in 6 months, so it safe to say that I absolutely loved it.
re-read:
...turns out I actually love this now...?!
The first time I read this I was not impressed but this second time around…well, I loved it. It isn’t an easy book and I can sort of see why it could come across as frustrating…but if you are in the mood for a dreamy and ambiguous Gothic-y read you should consider giving Catherine House a go. If you are a fan of authors such as Shirley Jackson and Helen Oyeyemi, you will probably ‘vibe’ with this book. Speaking of vibes, I saw someone describe this as a book all about vibes and I have to agree. There is a strong focus on the atmosphere of Catherine House and Thomas pays particular attention to the smells and flavours Ines encounters in its walls. Throughout the narrative Thomas juxtaposes beauty with decay, and there were plenty of lush descriptions contrasting the two. Nature too has a role in this story and I loved how Ines describes the seasons.
I loved Ines and her ‘sideways’ perspective. Thomas beautifully articulates Ines' conflicting feelings about Catherine House and I truly felt for her. I also loved her friendship group, often their scenes together eased some of the tension from the narrative.
Basically, this second time I loved everything about this novel: the eerie setting, the ominous nature of plasm, Ines, her friends, the beautiful writing, the dreamlike atmosphere...
I can’t wait to read this again (and maybe write a more cohesive review).
1st read:
I initially gave this book 3 stars and was rather unimpressed by it (i deleted my og review as the views i expressed there are no longer of relevance). What I suggest is that you learn from my mistake and do not approach this book excepting the usual dark-academia type of campus novel (that has a clear arc etc.).
May 15, 2020
Oh my goodness...
At times I felt I needed to have my head examined while reading “Catherine House”. But there is an addictive quality mixed with a few lagging parts.... but then back to addictive.
I could have a field day talking about a variety of smorgasbord tidbits found inside this mysterious puzzling world-of-weird!
....One of the characters goes by the name ‘Baby’.
Infantilizing - creepy - but fitting to the girls character...
and the overall creepiness of the entire school.
....Catherine House is a prestigious cultlike environment of higher learning ....depriving their students from any contact with family or friends on ‘the outside’.
Want to know why? Your guess is as good as anyone’s.
....The restrictions are endless
....Punishments are severe quarantine self isolation.
....Plasm .....( or curiosity of ectoplasm spirits?)....is a field of study.
....eerie, yet oddly engaging....
....Parts were brilliant gothic creative and intriguing....
But...
....Parts were boring.
If you’re in the mood to visit a community of diverse older teens boarding together - with fraught relationships....
eating, studying, partying, drinking, chatting, and having sex together...
while discovering their purpose in life.....
there are plenty of tales about Baby, Ines, Nick, Thor, Yaya, Mandy, etc., etc.,
to keep you (mostly) interested.
As for the mystery of “Catherine House”, itself.....
Ha.....you’ll have to read to the ‘end’ ( which feels like it’s forever coming)... to know more.
Take a walk on the haunting - wild side ..... at your own risk!
3.6 stars
At times I felt I needed to have my head examined while reading “Catherine House”. But there is an addictive quality mixed with a few lagging parts.... but then back to addictive.
I could have a field day talking about a variety of smorgasbord tidbits found inside this mysterious puzzling world-of-weird!
....One of the characters goes by the name ‘Baby’.
Infantilizing - creepy - but fitting to the girls character...
and the overall creepiness of the entire school.
....Catherine House is a prestigious cultlike environment of higher learning ....depriving their students from any contact with family or friends on ‘the outside’.
Want to know why? Your guess is as good as anyone’s.
....The restrictions are endless
....Punishments are severe quarantine self isolation.
....Plasm .....( or curiosity of ectoplasm spirits?)....is a field of study.
....eerie, yet oddly engaging....
....Parts were brilliant gothic creative and intriguing....
But...
....Parts were boring.
If you’re in the mood to visit a community of diverse older teens boarding together - with fraught relationships....
eating, studying, partying, drinking, chatting, and having sex together...
while discovering their purpose in life.....
there are plenty of tales about Baby, Ines, Nick, Thor, Yaya, Mandy, etc., etc.,
to keep you (mostly) interested.
As for the mystery of “Catherine House”, itself.....
Ha.....you’ll have to read to the ‘end’ ( which feels like it’s forever coming)... to know more.
Take a walk on the haunting - wild side ..... at your own risk!
3.6 stars
June 7, 2020
Catherine House......the place you finally belong...the place you want to stay...the place you want to leave...the place you love...the place you hate... Holy mixed reviews on this one! I truly enjoyed this slow burn. This book is not a cookie cutter book, it is a completely unique story. You have to have an open mind and you have to pay attention and dig deep. Suspend some belief- it gave me a bit of a Ninth House vibe. With that being said, it will not be for everyone, but it sure was a good fit for me. I am debating between 4 and 4.5 stars on this one.
SO here is the deal......Catherine House- very competitive, prestigious school with a secretive past. What actually goes on behind these walls? The deal you make with the devil- oh I mean Catherine House- is all tuition is paid. You live completely free of all costs while attending school. Food, clothing, books and all the alcohol you can want are paid for. In exchange you walk away from your old life. No contact with the outside world for three long years. This is so you can "focus" on your studies, or so they say.
Everyone entering the halls of Catherine House have been carefully selected and they all have a past. They have had trouble "fitting in" with society. Yet at Catherine House you are the perfect fit. Too bad you can't stay forever.........or can you? One way or another you may never leave......
Much of the first part of the book is built around the development of the characters, especially Ines and Theo. You get a good feel for their daily life at school and how things roll at Catherine House. It was more of a drama at the beginning with an underlying feeling that "something just isn't right" at this school. As the story builds you learn there are some weird things going on that only certain people are privy too. About 100 pages out it really picked up and things started to make more sense. Usually I like a more clear cut ending but I was totally satisfied with how it ended. The author provided just enough insight that I was able to come to my own conclusions.
I always love reading the work of a debut writer and I thought the writer was superb and she left me wondering what she will come up with next. As I stated this will not appeal to everyone but I loved it. Just keep an open mind and let the author paint the picture of what life at Catherine House is like.
Huge shoutout to Custom House/William Morrow for this gorgeous physical copy in exchange for an honest review!
SO here is the deal......Catherine House- very competitive, prestigious school with a secretive past. What actually goes on behind these walls? The deal you make with the devil- oh I mean Catherine House- is all tuition is paid. You live completely free of all costs while attending school. Food, clothing, books and all the alcohol you can want are paid for. In exchange you walk away from your old life. No contact with the outside world for three long years. This is so you can "focus" on your studies, or so they say.
Everyone entering the halls of Catherine House have been carefully selected and they all have a past. They have had trouble "fitting in" with society. Yet at Catherine House you are the perfect fit. Too bad you can't stay forever.........or can you? One way or another you may never leave......
Much of the first part of the book is built around the development of the characters, especially Ines and Theo. You get a good feel for their daily life at school and how things roll at Catherine House. It was more of a drama at the beginning with an underlying feeling that "something just isn't right" at this school. As the story builds you learn there are some weird things going on that only certain people are privy too. About 100 pages out it really picked up and things started to make more sense. Usually I like a more clear cut ending but I was totally satisfied with how it ended. The author provided just enough insight that I was able to come to my own conclusions.
I always love reading the work of a debut writer and I thought the writer was superb and she left me wondering what she will come up with next. As I stated this will not appeal to everyone but I loved it. Just keep an open mind and let the author paint the picture of what life at Catherine House is like.
Huge shoutout to Custom House/William Morrow for this gorgeous physical copy in exchange for an honest review!
November 23, 2020
4.5 stars
I absolutely understand why this is divisive but wow, it landed for me.
Why you may not like this book: This is a very atmospheric, gothic story that captures a moment in time-- specifically the three years that Ines attends Catherine House. Because this is a "this is what happens during these years" story, it isn't plot driven. We aren't really trying to solve anything or go toward anything. It's easy, while reading, to trick yourself into thing that we are working toward some sort of resolution and if you do, I think the ending and experience will be disappointing. Catherine House is an institution that existed way before Ines (and we) find it and it exists after Ines's story. That's the story.
This is also very strange and eerie, in a way that is somewhat explained, but perhaps not enough for readers who need a bit more explanation and concrete world building.
Finally, Ines is an apathetic character. She moves through this dreamlike story in a dreamlike way, never really owning her actions or her story. It's purposeful, in context, but if you are not a fan of apathetic characters, this will probably be a frustrating experience.
Why I loved this book: While what it sets out to do is not ~for everyone~, it's hard to argue that this book doesn't do what it sets out to do amazingly. It is beautifully atmospheric and haunting. It's disarming in the way it feels like nothing and everything is happening. I felt off balance at times, hearing the author very clearly explain things to me, but still feeling like I was a world away from understanding. My body was clenched through the last chapters, knowing that there was no true happy ending, but hoping against hope that there would at least be an escape.
I loved all of the characters and the found family aspect. Something very central to this story, and to Catherine House working, is the idea that all of these characters are seeking connection and somewhere to fit. They feel safe in those connections and in the way that Catherine provides, so it's easier for them to accept the ways that Catherine takes. The dialogue was funny, the weird antics of the students believable, and I appreciated how diverse and three dimensional they were.
I think, though, the thing I loved the most about this story is that it invites the reading to think a little more about what we are reading. I can see readers wondering what the point was here, but I felt it had so much to say, particularly about institutions of higher education. The themes of identity, of cognitive dissonance, and of the ways people buy into obviously broken systems were particularly fascinating.
This is a book I will think about a lot for a long time to come. I hope Elisabeth Thomas has a long career!
April 11, 2020
3.5. We are living in a unsettling and uncertain time. I think that is why I was drawn into this novel. Catherine House is a very unusual school. Past students of this school have graduated to become successes in many fields. Prospective students are thoroughly vetted, nine hour interviews, recommendations and these are gone over with a keen eye. Those accepted commit to three years, without the usual school vacations, leaving everything from their last behind. All food, clothing, supplies and medical are provided. Calls or letters home just be earned and paid for in points. The school provides an experimental liberal arts curriculum. Their real and very selective course is new materials, plasma studies.
There is more to this school than meets the eye as Inez finds out. Getting in to this school was a surprise, but she has no intention of giving in to the atmosphere of the place. Though in truth, because of an incident in her past she has no where else to go. She forms friends and eventually learns the secret this school is hiding. A secret few know. So now what can Inez do?
An insular school, fully funded with little or no oversight by outside sources. This was an entertaining in a strange way with a rather gothic toned atmosphere. Definitely took my mind off our current situation. Plasma the way it is used within might be effective now.
There is more to this school than meets the eye as Inez finds out. Getting in to this school was a surprise, but she has no intention of giving in to the atmosphere of the place. Though in truth, because of an incident in her past she has no where else to go. She forms friends and eventually learns the secret this school is hiding. A secret few know. So now what can Inez do?
An insular school, fully funded with little or no oversight by outside sources. This was an entertaining in a strange way with a rather gothic toned atmosphere. Definitely took my mind off our current situation. Plasma the way it is used within might be effective now.
June 9, 2020
Claustrophobic, disturbing, and gorgeously written.
July 12, 2020
Catherine House is a college that produces greatness. Those who leave its hallowed halls do so with blazing glory in their future but are oddly tight-lipped about their past. The students there are cut off from the outside world for the entire three years of their stay and pay no price for the education and board they receive. Funding keeps the school alive, as do the mysteries surrounding it.
I thought this was going to be a dark academia story, following pretentious scholars and their dark deeds but I never imagined that the school itself would become the central source of intrigue. Protagonist Ines has her own tragic past she is running from, as does every other student to grace the college confines, but they pale in comparison to those of the school and its leaders. Exactly what these secrets are is revealed yet never truly explained, leading this to feel like a strange fever dream of a novel, where nothing can be trusted as truth and everything is experienced in a dream-like haze that disallows the reader to get close to the heart of the matter.
I have no words to adequately describe the unsettling experience of reading this novel. I think I enjoyed it and I certainly couldn't put it down. It held me at a distance but I believe this was a purposeful decision on the author's part. It was a sordid fairy tale, a dark academia insight, and a twisted Wonderland trip all in one. I grew to love and to fear the contents as Ines did and left the novel no more certain of what occurred but definitely invested in it, nonetheless.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Elisabeth Thomas, and the publisher, Tinder Press, for this opportunity.
I thought this was going to be a dark academia story, following pretentious scholars and their dark deeds but I never imagined that the school itself would become the central source of intrigue. Protagonist Ines has her own tragic past she is running from, as does every other student to grace the college confines, but they pale in comparison to those of the school and its leaders. Exactly what these secrets are is revealed yet never truly explained, leading this to feel like a strange fever dream of a novel, where nothing can be trusted as truth and everything is experienced in a dream-like haze that disallows the reader to get close to the heart of the matter.
I have no words to adequately describe the unsettling experience of reading this novel. I think I enjoyed it and I certainly couldn't put it down. It held me at a distance but I believe this was a purposeful decision on the author's part. It was a sordid fairy tale, a dark academia insight, and a twisted Wonderland trip all in one. I grew to love and to fear the contents as Ines did and left the novel no more certain of what occurred but definitely invested in it, nonetheless.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Elisabeth Thomas, and the publisher, Tinder Press, for this opportunity.
January 12, 2021
w.h.y.
May 14, 2020
When I'm lining up forthcoming books I want to read, I tend to think of some as definites and some as maybes. I had Catherine House on the 'maybe' pile. I thought: elite university; newcomer with a secret; idyllic environment in which Things Are Not As They Seem – these are themes and tropes I like, but they've been done a million times, and there's a good chance this will bring nothing new to the table. Boy, was I wrong about that: this is such a rich and intoxicating novel, and it turned out to be the perfect escapist read for these dark times.
Catherine House is an exclusive institution – 'not a college, exactly', but something similar; a 'community of minds'. It's shrouded in mystery, but also well-respected, and has produced renowned inventors, prizewinning artists, and two US Presidents. Students choose a 'concentration', but the classes they take are esoteric, with titles like 'Literature of War' and 'Electricities'. Catherine provides clothes, toiletries and lavish meals as well as education and accommodation. The catch is that, for the three years they study there, Catherine residents cannot leave the campus or communicate with the outside world. This suits our narrator, Ines, just fine. She's on the run from a troubled past; for her, the ability to hide is just as appealing as Catherine's exceptional reputation.
There's also a science fictional element. Catherine is home to a highly secretive and experimental research discipline known as 'new materials'. Working with 'plasm', these researchers can – so the rumours say – make broken objects whole again. Places in new materials classes are highly sought after, but other students learn little of what they involve. Even so, thermometer-like instruments called 'plasm pins' are used on people too, seemingly to draw out memories and/or reconfigure one's attitude.
It all adds up to an exciting, addictive confection. I sailed through it, totally immersed. It is easy to read, but quite beautifully written, balancing on that line between gorgeous and overly whimsical. Every description of food is indulgent, and the details of Ines's golden days made me ache to be there. Ines is an interesting choice of protagonist: stories like this are typically narrated by an outsider, but she's very much part of the in-crowd – someone who really finds her place at Catherine and seems to be accepted and liked by everyone. I enjoyed what Thomas did with her character: giving depth to someone who, on the surface, is not all that likeable or relatable; cleverly making us understand that her frame of perception is being shifted by outside forces, all while holding us within it.
Catherine House has a lot in common with Mona Awad's Bunny: it's less gory, but the wild strangeness and lush language are similar. There are also shades of Lara Williams' Supper Club (all that sumptuous food) and, as the sci-fi ingredient, Sara Flannery Murphy's The Possessions. It's lovely and weird and abundant, and I enjoyed it a lot.
I received an advance review copy of Catherine House from the publisher through NetGalley.
TinyLetter
Catherine House is an exclusive institution – 'not a college, exactly', but something similar; a 'community of minds'. It's shrouded in mystery, but also well-respected, and has produced renowned inventors, prizewinning artists, and two US Presidents. Students choose a 'concentration', but the classes they take are esoteric, with titles like 'Literature of War' and 'Electricities'. Catherine provides clothes, toiletries and lavish meals as well as education and accommodation. The catch is that, for the three years they study there, Catherine residents cannot leave the campus or communicate with the outside world. This suits our narrator, Ines, just fine. She's on the run from a troubled past; for her, the ability to hide is just as appealing as Catherine's exceptional reputation.
There's also a science fictional element. Catherine is home to a highly secretive and experimental research discipline known as 'new materials'. Working with 'plasm', these researchers can – so the rumours say – make broken objects whole again. Places in new materials classes are highly sought after, but other students learn little of what they involve. Even so, thermometer-like instruments called 'plasm pins' are used on people too, seemingly to draw out memories and/or reconfigure one's attitude.
It all adds up to an exciting, addictive confection. I sailed through it, totally immersed. It is easy to read, but quite beautifully written, balancing on that line between gorgeous and overly whimsical. Every description of food is indulgent, and the details of Ines's golden days made me ache to be there. Ines is an interesting choice of protagonist: stories like this are typically narrated by an outsider, but she's very much part of the in-crowd – someone who really finds her place at Catherine and seems to be accepted and liked by everyone. I enjoyed what Thomas did with her character: giving depth to someone who, on the surface, is not all that likeable or relatable; cleverly making us understand that her frame of perception is being shifted by outside forces, all while holding us within it.
Catherine House has a lot in common with Mona Awad's Bunny: it's less gory, but the wild strangeness and lush language are similar. There are also shades of Lara Williams' Supper Club (all that sumptuous food) and, as the sci-fi ingredient, Sara Flannery Murphy's The Possessions. It's lovely and weird and abundant, and I enjoyed it a lot.
I received an advance review copy of Catherine House from the publisher through NetGalley.
TinyLetter
June 1, 2020
What a strange novel! Catherine House is definitely unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s odd, mysterious, confusing, and very blunt with its writing. That said, although I loved all the uniqueness and strangeness, the story and end left a lot to be desired.
Most importantly — what happened in this book? It felt like the entire story was a lot of strangeness that never came to conclusion. In simpler terms, it felt like there was no rhyme or reason as to why characters were acting the way they were; or why Catherine House was the way it was or anything. Everything/everyone seemed lost and confused, but there wasn’t a lot of connection on that — rather everyone was that way, just because, I guess.
Therefore, while I enjoyed the beginning and was eager to see how the mysteriousness of the story would unravel, after the 50% mark once I realized nothing was progressing, I started losing hope, because sometimes there are books that have so much promise but fail to execute. I feel this was one of them.
Most importantly — what happened in this book? It felt like the entire story was a lot of strangeness that never came to conclusion. In simpler terms, it felt like there was no rhyme or reason as to why characters were acting the way they were; or why Catherine House was the way it was or anything. Everything/everyone seemed lost and confused, but there wasn’t a lot of connection on that — rather everyone was that way, just because, I guess.
Therefore, while I enjoyed the beginning and was eager to see how the mysteriousness of the story would unravel, after the 50% mark once I realized nothing was progressing, I started losing hope, because sometimes there are books that have so much promise but fail to execute. I feel this was one of them.
August 4, 2020
I won this on a First reads Giveaway and I was really excited about the premise.
Catherine House is an old exclusive school that offers college degrees in "new materials" and "plasm." Students that are accepted into the school do not need to pay a fee but must live there for three years and cannot have any contact with the outside world. No tv, internet, phones, or visits with family and outside friends. While the initial description of Catherine House seemed creepy and atmospheric and promising it was not meant to be. I just found the whole book a bit odd and dull. I did not care for the main character, Ines at all. Or really any of the characters.
It seems with this book you will either love it or hate it. The ratings are very different. I just personally cannot recommend it. It was just not for me. Not the type of story I like. It definitely was not the thriller it was tooted out to be.
Catherine House is an old exclusive school that offers college degrees in "new materials" and "plasm." Students that are accepted into the school do not need to pay a fee but must live there for three years and cannot have any contact with the outside world. No tv, internet, phones, or visits with family and outside friends. While the initial description of Catherine House seemed creepy and atmospheric and promising it was not meant to be. I just found the whole book a bit odd and dull. I did not care for the main character, Ines at all. Or really any of the characters.
It seems with this book you will either love it or hate it. The ratings are very different. I just personally cannot recommend it. It was just not for me. Not the type of story I like. It definitely was not the thriller it was tooted out to be.
September 13, 2020
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Not sure what to put this under.
Scientific?
Futurist?
Fantasy realism?
This is a book club read.
And I’d say very quickly it’s not a book for everyone......yet.....I’m glad I read it.
You see! I’m confused.
All the way through this I took each page, each chapter each section as it came.
In parts reminding myself this is a YA book.
It’s oddly unusual.
Catherine House is odd alright.
The mantra that is spoken is odd too.
The pupils were realistic.
Who knows their own minds at this age.
Each pupil is running away from something or someone.
And what is plasm.
Yes, just what is that. I googled and still not completely sure.
Did I like it? Yes. Did I love it? No.
Would I recommend it?
Not to everyone.
Yet it’s a story that will stay with.
The ending?
Well, I was flicking forward for more pages, except all I found were acknowledgements.
Have I lost some pages or have I lost the plot.
Answers on a postcard or phone a friend.
NB
If this review makes no sense to you......it’s because this book has used up any brain cells I thought I had!
Enter at your peril.
May 9, 2020
3.5 stars
This wasn't a perfect read but for the most part I did enjoy this one. It might have lost me a little bit at the end but that's okay because my overall opinion is pretty positive. The story is different, or at least compared to most of the books I typically read, and I do tend to place a high value on stories that feel unique.
Catherine House is an exclusive school and and its impressive list of alumni includes presidents, Supreme Court justices, writers, inventors, you name it. There are some rules though if you are lucky enough to be selected to attend this higher learning school. You must attend for three years, summers included, and cut off all contact with the outside world including your family and friends. You aren't even allowed to watch television or listen to music. But hey, your tuition, room and board are free and plus once you graduate the possibilities for what you can achieve are practically limitless. So maybe the trade off of a grueling three years is worth it in the end. New student, Ines, is about to find out whether that is true or not.
The story has a creepy vibe to it and that's what made it a fun read. I wasn't sure what was going to happen and so all I could do was sit back and enjoy the ride. There's so much mystery to the story and to be quite honest I didn't feel like I got every question answered. Maybe that was intentional by the author or maybe some elements just went completely over my head. Who knows?
I do have a few criticisms about the novel. Sometimes the writing felt disjointed as the transitions weren't always the best. At times it felt like the story jumped from point A to point C and it's like how did we get here? Did I miss something? It's like the character just floated from one thing to the next without proper development. I'm doing a poor job explaining it but I guess what I'm trying to say is the execution was a little off. The story just didn't reach maximum potential in my opinion.
But as I mentioned before despite a few flaws, this was a pretty enjoyable reading experience. Any time I can step out of my reading comfort zone and try something different, that is a good thing.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
This wasn't a perfect read but for the most part I did enjoy this one. It might have lost me a little bit at the end but that's okay because my overall opinion is pretty positive. The story is different, or at least compared to most of the books I typically read, and I do tend to place a high value on stories that feel unique.
Catherine House is an exclusive school and and its impressive list of alumni includes presidents, Supreme Court justices, writers, inventors, you name it. There are some rules though if you are lucky enough to be selected to attend this higher learning school. You must attend for three years, summers included, and cut off all contact with the outside world including your family and friends. You aren't even allowed to watch television or listen to music. But hey, your tuition, room and board are free and plus once you graduate the possibilities for what you can achieve are practically limitless. So maybe the trade off of a grueling three years is worth it in the end. New student, Ines, is about to find out whether that is true or not.
The story has a creepy vibe to it and that's what made it a fun read. I wasn't sure what was going to happen and so all I could do was sit back and enjoy the ride. There's so much mystery to the story and to be quite honest I didn't feel like I got every question answered. Maybe that was intentional by the author or maybe some elements just went completely over my head. Who knows?
I do have a few criticisms about the novel. Sometimes the writing felt disjointed as the transitions weren't always the best. At times it felt like the story jumped from point A to point C and it's like how did we get here? Did I miss something? It's like the character just floated from one thing to the next without proper development. I'm doing a poor job explaining it but I guess what I'm trying to say is the execution was a little off. The story just didn't reach maximum potential in my opinion.
But as I mentioned before despite a few flaws, this was a pretty enjoyable reading experience. Any time I can step out of my reading comfort zone and try something different, that is a good thing.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
October 29, 2020
"Catherine House. No, it wasn't a college, exactly, though it was accredited as such . . . What was Catherine, exactly? Let's say, a community of minds . . . " -- narrator Ines Murillo, on page 8
Good to know, Ines, because I thought I was going to lose my own damn mind before I reached the conclusion of Thomas' debut novel Catherine House. I was spurred on to read it simply due to the mid-90's setting in rural Pennsylvania (which coincides with being my own home state and my college years) but, in actuality, those details have very little bearing on the plot . . . other than the thin story would likely proceed much faster if the characters had access to the Internet and/or cell-phones. Anyway, author Thomas sets up a somewhat intriguing storyline in the initial 100 or so pages - a mysterious university, far 'off the grid' and also not charging tuition, accepts students of questionable or hard-luck backgrounds only if they stay sequestered on campus and follow strict guidelines for a full three years - at first generates some suspicion and suspense with the imposed isolation. But then things stay stubbornly anti-climactic and nothing really happens to reinforce the dread which seemed to be lurking just under the surface. We get far too many passages mentioning the students' meals (and what sort of school readily provides wine to the underage?) as well as their casual fornication sessions, but the uninteresting handful of characters ultimately remain ciphers.
Good to know, Ines, because I thought I was going to lose my own damn mind before I reached the conclusion of Thomas' debut novel Catherine House. I was spurred on to read it simply due to the mid-90's setting in rural Pennsylvania (which coincides with being my own home state and my college years) but, in actuality, those details have very little bearing on the plot . . . other than the thin story would likely proceed much faster if the characters had access to the Internet and/or cell-phones. Anyway, author Thomas sets up a somewhat intriguing storyline in the initial 100 or so pages - a mysterious university, far 'off the grid' and also not charging tuition, accepts students of questionable or hard-luck backgrounds only if they stay sequestered on campus and follow strict guidelines for a full three years - at first generates some suspicion and suspense with the imposed isolation. But then things stay stubbornly anti-climactic and nothing really happens to reinforce the dread which seemed to be lurking just under the surface. We get far too many passages mentioning the students' meals (and what sort of school readily provides wine to the underage?) as well as their casual fornication sessions, but the uninteresting handful of characters ultimately remain ciphers.
January 27, 2020
I was really excited for this one., For no reason it turns out. The characters were undeveloped and the pace was slow.. It would be better labeled a "novel" than psychological thriller because this book never gets you on the edge of the seat. I instead fell asleep.
August 20, 2020
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher (Custom House) for promotional purposes.
I know not a lot of people liked this book, but I oddly liked it. It’s not going to be an all time favorite of mine, but I was satisfied with it.
A lot of people say that nothing happens in the book and there is some merit to that. There are a lot of scenes that aren’t that important to the book because they are kind of mundane. To me, I liked those parts because it helped highlight what life was like at the school. The school is the core of the book, so those parts were necessary.
Speaking of the school, the author did a tremendous job giving Catherine House a voice and personality. Catherine House was a character itself.
As for the ending, I liked it. It was a little ambiguous which I typically don’t like, but for this book it worked. The book is mysterious and I liked that it kept that element through the end.
I really liked the writing style. There was something about it that pulled me deeper and deeper into the story. It was haunting and mesmerizing.
One critique I have is that the book didn’t do a good job explaining plasm. I still don’t fully understand that part. I understand what it is generally, but don’t grasp how it works.
Overall, this book will not be for everyone, so I recommend you read it for yourself and see what you think!
I know not a lot of people liked this book, but I oddly liked it. It’s not going to be an all time favorite of mine, but I was satisfied with it.
A lot of people say that nothing happens in the book and there is some merit to that. There are a lot of scenes that aren’t that important to the book because they are kind of mundane. To me, I liked those parts because it helped highlight what life was like at the school. The school is the core of the book, so those parts were necessary.
Speaking of the school, the author did a tremendous job giving Catherine House a voice and personality. Catherine House was a character itself.
As for the ending, I liked it. It was a little ambiguous which I typically don’t like, but for this book it worked. The book is mysterious and I liked that it kept that element through the end.
I really liked the writing style. There was something about it that pulled me deeper and deeper into the story. It was haunting and mesmerizing.
One critique I have is that the book didn’t do a good job explaining plasm. I still don’t fully understand that part. I understand what it is generally, but don’t grasp how it works.
Overall, this book will not be for everyone, so I recommend you read it for yourself and see what you think!
September 17, 2021
DNF'd at 50% because if i listen to one more second of this i'm gonna cry
May 28, 2020
This was the perfect book for my reading mood - a spin on a campus novel where the institution known as Catherine House manages to be elite but also questionable, cutting off the outside world (and all technology) from the students for three years. It is moody and features a MC with a past, a mysterious layer of secret deeds, an external legacy, and art!
I think all the pieces are here and the fragmentation in how the novel is told aligns with Ines and how she experiences the world, but it did create a bit of a barrier between her story and what I get as the reader. Still, I ate it up in two evenings.
I had a copy from the publisher from NetGalley; it came out May 12. While we are all cut off from the outside world, we might as well connect to Catherine House.
I think all the pieces are here and the fragmentation in how the novel is told aligns with Ines and how she experiences the world, but it did create a bit of a barrier between her story and what I get as the reader. Still, I ate it up in two evenings.
I had a copy from the publisher from NetGalley; it came out May 12. While we are all cut off from the outside world, we might as well connect to Catherine House.
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