Customer Reviews

Sin

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a novel that deals not just with envy. Elizabeth and Ruth are cousins, and Elizabeth gets adopted by Ruth's parents when her own parents are killed. The girls grow up as sisters, but all along Ruth develops an incredible ill for Elizabeth, even though she doesn't do anything to provoke that resentment. Ruth makes it her life's mission to destroy Elizabeth. Her dream is to see her in pain, suffering and humiliated. She resorts to extreme manipulations and convoluted schemes to achieve that purpose.

Ruth is an amazing character, who personifies badness in a thought-provoking way. Her selfishness, envy and greed are almost incomprehensible. How can a human being harbor such hate for someone who has never done anything wrong? This novel made me think and think about the issue. Is it possible that people are born bad? So many times i've heard that we are all born good, and it's circumstances that make us bad. Did Ruth turn bad when she saw her parents combing Elizabeth's hair? Was that the moment when Ruth became jealous of her cousin? What happened in subsequent years, how did that badness grow?

Almost as amazing are Elizabeth's reactions to her sister's attacks. As evil as Ruth is, so is Elizabeth gracious and forgiving. Elizabeth summarizes her philosophy of life during their final meeting, a cathartic episode for Ruth, who is deeply changed after that.

A fascinating, disturbing novel that i highly recommend.

I thought Sin was a crafty follow-up to Damage. Not as poignant, but a good read nonetheless. Some second novels are flat compared to the author's first release, but this is not the case with Sin. It is well worth your time although I do concede that it has an overall soap opera feel to it. The place names, plot, and characters can seem ostentatious at times so prepare to make at least a small suspension of disbelief. Hart continues to explore the ideas of jealousy, obession and passion in Sin but not with the same effectiveness as with Damage. Overall, I would suggest Sin as an excellent rainy day, relax and have fun read.

I see this as a story of girl, Ruth, who carried burden of deprived childhood, deprived in an unusal way(being too lucky/capable). It develps in to a dream to see her cousin and adopted sitestr Elizabeth suffer in pain, in all possible secretive ways. On the other hand Elizabeth has practiced to love Ruth instead of fighting her, She didn't figure this out till Elizabeth told her of her strategy at a very late stage in their lives. If Damage is a good book, this is an excellent one.

Josephine Hart has a superb way with words. As a novelist, her writing is almost poetic; she can say in one paragraph, what takes Pat Conroy several pages. This novel, her second, is deeply psychological, mostly taking place in the mind of the main character. Unlike her first novel, Damage, it should not ever be made into a film. The book is short. I enjoyed it immensely.

She wraps her finger around you and entices you to enter her world. Ms. Hart has delivered yet another spellbinding novel. This book puts a spin on the typical good vs. evil. It takes you far into the villian's mind, her thoughts, her reasoning and makes you understand her hate, and recognize your own. Bravo for Joesphine Hart! Her fans await her next masterpiece...

Josephine Hart, like Pat Barker, writes about dark emotions and drives that shape the lives of not only her protagonists (if one can find a true protagonist in her novels) but their families. I am in awe of her talent. Minimalist prose (she makes Hemingway look like Dickens...) is the perfect frame for these explorations of the darkest of all emotions and of human frailty---and cruelty. You cringe as the plot develops yet you can't look away. This book and her other novel, Damage are two of my favorite books this year and I can't wait to read Oblivion.

Josephine's second novel "Sin" is as equally moving and hypnotic as her first novel, "Damage"! As you read this story, you will find yourself inside of a calculating and manipulative person. You will never look at your siblings in the same way again! If you haven't read "Damage" yet, what are you waiting for? Another great story by Josephine Hart.

After "Damage" which is one of the best books I read in years, I couldn't wait to read another Josephine Hart. When I found "Sin" I bought it and started to read ... and got very disappointed. The whole novel through I was waiting for a chance for the good: I didn't like the unrealistic, arrogant, self-centred (main-)character(s), I was bored by yet another story in snobbist english high-society and where "Damage" was fascinatingly sensual and destructive, "Sin" is just a "would-be" but doesn't get close. I can only agree with the reader from Edgartown, Mass.: it was the worst second novel I ever read.

Unlike some of the other reviewers I have not seen Damage, or read Josephine Hart's other books. I came to it with an open mind.
It is a dark tale of a woman's obsession with her beautiful adopted older sister, and her resentment and growing hate for the beautiful, tall and lean, blond Elizabeth. The prose is precise and jagged. At time disjointed, but always beautiful.
I found the description of Ruth's stealing personal items from her sister and squirreling them away and bringing them out as fetishes when the need took her, piquantly sordid.
The Lake incident was heartbreaking and I had to stop reading and compose myself. Tragedy follows tragedy and we see Ruth gradually taking on the identity of Elizabeth. Disturbing at times. An emotional car smash one cannot help but continuing to read in utter fascination.

I bought the book used, but it was in poor condition. I guess what should be expected when buying used. It was a great price though, but did take a couple weeks for me to receive. The book itself was wonderful, as expected, I love Josephine Hart :)