An ages-old family secret breaches the boundaries between reality and magic in this fresh retelling of a classic fairy tale. When Berkeley student Will Taylor is introduced to the mysterious Feierabend sisters, he quickly falls for enigmatic Livvy, a chemistry major and accomplished chef. But Livvy’s family—vivacious actress Maddie, family historian Rose, and their mother, absent-minded Sylvia—are behaving strangely. The Feierabend women seem to believe that luck is their handmaiden, even though happiness does not necessarily follow. It is soon discovered that generations previous, the Feierabends made a contract with a powerful, otherworldly force, and it is up to Will and his best friend to unravel the riddle of this supernatural bargain in order to save Livvy from her predestined fate.
The Uncertain Places
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Goldstein (The Red Magician) plays around with forgotten fairy tales in this decades-spanning mixture of romance and fantasy. In 1971, Berkeley sophomore Will Taylor falls hard for Livvy Feierabend, though there's something strange about the laissez-faire, eccentric Feierabend family, whose members apparently lead charmed, prosperous lives. When Livvy falls into an enchanted sleep, Will discovers that a German folktale ties the Feierabends' success to sacrifice. To awaken Livvy, Will must outfox the fairy folk, a slow-burning process that takes nearly 20 years. This leisurely, lyrical tale owes much to old school mythic fictionists like Charles de Lint and Terri Windling. The fictional folktale of the Bondmaid feels utterly authentic, but the novel's pacing is off, and there's just too much crammed into a relatively short book. This mostly satisfying story could have been even better with more room to play. (June)
Review
"Lisa Goldstein is the perfect, born storyteller." —Diana Wynne Jones
"Lisa Goldstein's work deserves to be celebrated along with that of Alice Walker and Shirley Jackson." —Lucius Shepard, author, Green Eyes and The Golden
"The arrival of a new Goldstein fantasy is a major cause for rejoicing. And The Uncertain Places does not disappoint." —www.io9.com
"Goldstein is in fine form with a darkly compelling modern fairytale." —www.JanuaryMagazine.blogspot.com (September 2011)
"[Lisa Goldstein is] a clear-eyed fantasist of depth, range and charm." —Kirkus Book Reviews
"Exemplary. . . . Goldstein is one of fantasy's most reliable practitioners, and a new novel from her is always a cause for celebration." —San Francisco Chronicle (August 8, 2011)
"The author of The Red Magician and The Alchemist's Door has written an exquisitely beautiful, eerily compelling modern fairy tale. . . . A treat for fantasy lovers and folk/fairy tale enthusiasts alike." —Library Journal (starred review)
"Goldstein fearlessly rubs the dreamlike logic of fairytales up against stark realism, and each one makes the other more real." —Cory Doctorow, www.BoingBoing.net
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Uncertain Places by Lisa Goldstein is the story of a family haunted by a long-ago pact with the fairies. Like all fairy tales, it's also a story about human problems, so it's easy to find yourself within these pages even if mysterious beings have never cleaned your house in the middle of the night.
In 1971, Berkeley students Will and Ben go to visit the eccentric Feierabend family who live in a rambling house in Napa Valley. Ben is dating the eldest Feierabend sister, Maddie, and wants to introduce Will to the second sister, Livvy. Will thinks Ben's trying to palm off a less attractive "pale shadow" of Maddie, but when he meets Livvy, he's smitten. As their relationship grows, so do the mysteries surrounding the Feierabends -- and then something terrible occurs and Will must outwit the fairies to bring back his love.
Goldstein invents a long-lost Grimm fairy tale that serves as the trail of breadcrumbs to guide Will's steps. But even if Will does win his way to Livvy, he'll need to be careful; fairies can be tricky about the fine print. The climax of the story is the kind I like best; it forces the characters to look within themselves and decide what they value most.
The prose is spare and the plot zips along quickly, sometimes skipping years if not much is happening during that time, and the result is a short novel of 240 pages. This is the kind of story that could have sustained a more ornate writing style and a slower, saga-like pace. (Indeed, many of the books I want to compare it to in terms of mood -- older books like Pamela Dean's Tam Lin, newer books like Freda Warrington's Aetherial Tales -- are far longer.) The characterization suffers a bit from this brevity, but the plot is complete and self-contained. On the whole, I'm satisfied with the story itself but would have loved to spend more time in the setting -- particularly the Feierabend house itself, with its mishmash of architectural styles, its china cabinet full of books, and its forbidden ballroom.
The Uncertain Places has a wistful feel to it. As the story of Will and his entanglement with the Feierabends progresses, it's clear that magic is gradually slipping out of the characters' lives. Though at least some of this happens for supernatural reasons, the losses are the kinds of losses we all understand. Lost youth. Lost idealism. The end of an optimistic time in history. That golden circle of friends that so many of us have around college age, and that so many of us lose.
For readers who enjoy the quieter style of contemporary fantasy, I recommend The Uncertain Places. It's a quick read, but a memorable one. I will definitely be looking up Goldstein's earlier books.
In 1971, Berkeley students Will and Ben go to visit the eccentric Feierabend family who live in a rambling house in Napa Valley. Ben is dating the eldest Feierabend sister, Maddie, and wants to introduce Will to the second sister, Livvy. Will thinks Ben's trying to palm off a less attractive "pale shadow" of Maddie, but when he meets Livvy, he's smitten. As their relationship grows, so do the mysteries surrounding the Feierabends -- and then something terrible occurs and Will must outwit the fairies to bring back his love.
Goldstein invents a long-lost Grimm fairy tale that serves as the trail of breadcrumbs to guide Will's steps. But even if Will does win his way to Livvy, he'll need to be careful; fairies can be tricky about the fine print. The climax of the story is the kind I like best; it forces the characters to look within themselves and decide what they value most.
The prose is spare and the plot zips along quickly, sometimes skipping years if not much is happening during that time, and the result is a short novel of 240 pages. This is the kind of story that could have sustained a more ornate writing style and a slower, saga-like pace. (Indeed, many of the books I want to compare it to in terms of mood -- older books like Pamela Dean's Tam Lin, newer books like Freda Warrington's Aetherial Tales -- are far longer.) The characterization suffers a bit from this brevity, but the plot is complete and self-contained. On the whole, I'm satisfied with the story itself but would have loved to spend more time in the setting -- particularly the Feierabend house itself, with its mishmash of architectural styles, its china cabinet full of books, and its forbidden ballroom.
The Uncertain Places has a wistful feel to it. As the story of Will and his entanglement with the Feierabends progresses, it's clear that magic is gradually slipping out of the characters' lives. Though at least some of this happens for supernatural reasons, the losses are the kinds of losses we all understand. Lost youth. Lost idealism. The end of an optimistic time in history. That golden circle of friends that so many of us have around college age, and that so many of us lose.
For readers who enjoy the quieter style of contemporary fantasy, I recommend The Uncertain Places. It's a quick read, but a memorable one. I will definitely be looking up Goldstein's earlier books.
13 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This narrative bears some uncomfortable similarities to a certain television series with three charmed sisters and relies too heavily on arbitrary portals which appear at the most convenient times. Though based on the fairy tale tradition, and unique in concept, the author would have done better to stick to the story of the Bondsmaid as a lost tale by the Brothers Grimm. Instead it veers off into Wonderland territory and becomes a whirlpool of characters appropriated from overly familiar fantasy realms. Tangents notwithstanding, the strongest scenes were those of the real world in which settings were unexpectedly altered by faerie magic. Likewise, the prime focus was on a dull protagonist, whereas the most interesting characters were peripheral to the plot. As intriguing as the premise of this novel is, its execution was a disappointment.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
like a bag of white cheddar popcorn for the addictive bits of fairy tales seasoned with the amiable flavor of Will's narration
September 3, 2012
By kblincoln
Format:Paperback
A reviewer of Graham Joyce's "Some Kind of Fairy Tale" mentioned this book as a better version of "person kidnapped by fairies with consequences in the real world" So I had to read it.
Uncertain Places definitely fits the genre. A Berkeley undergrad, Will, goes with his buddy to visit the buddy's girlfriend's house in Napa, meets her sister, and falls in love.
Only the mother is slightly vague, and the sisters possessed of a mischievous and devil-may-care air unlike anyone else. Around the sisters Livvy and Maddie, things just seem more exciting and strangely lacking in difficulties.
Then Livvy comes down with a mysterious illness and Will must brave unworldly dangers that seem to come from fairy tales in order to save her.
Will's journey into discovering the stories behind Livvy's illness definitely is a journey into Fairy Tales. Most of this book's fun is in following along and remembering/guessing which tale inspired which character or situation. The plot goes quickly- the removed narrative style kept me from feeling fully immersed in the story until the end.
In some ways, I enjoyed the slow-paced, focus on nuances of human relationship in "Some Kind of Fairy Tale" better. "Uncertain Places" is definitely much more fun. Only at the end, when Will must make choices between family members does it begin to delve into weightier emotions, but by then I was a bit lost in the many characters who appear at the end (various family members of the sisters) and where I wanted more of Livvy and Will's relationship I got instead more snippets of fairy tales.
Don't get me wrong, it was all kinds of fun, but not as emotionally-baring as my personal taste looks for. The book is tame enough in terms of descriptions of relationships and fairy battles (no one dies there) that I would have no fear of ten year old reading it.
This Book's Snack Rating: A bag of white cheddar popcorn for the addictive bits of fairy tales seasoned with the amiable flavor of Will's narration
Uncertain Places definitely fits the genre. A Berkeley undergrad, Will, goes with his buddy to visit the buddy's girlfriend's house in Napa, meets her sister, and falls in love.
Only the mother is slightly vague, and the sisters possessed of a mischievous and devil-may-care air unlike anyone else. Around the sisters Livvy and Maddie, things just seem more exciting and strangely lacking in difficulties.
Then Livvy comes down with a mysterious illness and Will must brave unworldly dangers that seem to come from fairy tales in order to save her.
Will's journey into discovering the stories behind Livvy's illness definitely is a journey into Fairy Tales. Most of this book's fun is in following along and remembering/guessing which tale inspired which character or situation. The plot goes quickly- the removed narrative style kept me from feeling fully immersed in the story until the end.
In some ways, I enjoyed the slow-paced, focus on nuances of human relationship in "Some Kind of Fairy Tale" better. "Uncertain Places" is definitely much more fun. Only at the end, when Will must make choices between family members does it begin to delve into weightier emotions, but by then I was a bit lost in the many characters who appear at the end (various family members of the sisters) and where I wanted more of Livvy and Will's relationship I got instead more snippets of fairy tales.
Don't get me wrong, it was all kinds of fun, but not as emotionally-baring as my personal taste looks for. The book is tame enough in terms of descriptions of relationships and fairy battles (no one dies there) that I would have no fear of ten year old reading it.
This Book's Snack Rating: A bag of white cheddar popcorn for the addictive bits of fairy tales seasoned with the amiable flavor of Will's narration
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A nice take on fantasy and fairy tales
I really enjoyed this book. The narrative voice was great and really got you into the setting which helps because the book covers a long period of time (from the 60s to the 80s). Read more
Published 26 days ago by Marsapalto
5.0 out of 5 stars
VERY interesting & unique
I like offbeat & quirky. I like those traits in my friends & my reading material. I bought this book, mainly because it was selling for a good price. Read more
Published 1 month ago by gramma d'great
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very interesting and entertaining!
I was enchanted by this book. It's the type of grown up fantasy that doesn't make you blush or squint to get through bad plot concepts, instead it takes you on a journey that... Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Ryherd
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not too good...
The main character was a guy, but the story was written by a woman. The guy character wasn't believable. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Sherry M.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Believable Fantesy
This is a good suspense fiction and a very enjoyable read. While a fantesy, it is "believable", with good character development.
Published 3 months ago by Lyman W. Roberts lyman roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars
Evocative and haunting -
This is a book that evokes wonder and magic. It describes a place, a house, a family, a first love, all in such a way that it makes you long for them. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Joanne Clarke
3.0 out of 5 stars
It was pretty good
It was well written and engaging, with a unique idea of the magic places in the world. It was a great Sunday afternoon read, although the ending left me a little wistful.
Published 3 months ago by Allyson Stauffer
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty strange
Quirky but interesting story. I stayed with it but seemed like there were many 'scenes' that were repeated. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Annette M. Hunsaker
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good book to read
For a single book, it's a good book to read. The story line was well placed but kind if drifted apart towards the end. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Feng Shoe Girl
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Uncertain Places
I did enjoy The Uncertain Places. I found it difficult to put down and I will me looking forward to reading more by Lisa Goldstein.
Published 4 months ago by Bobby
