Customer Reviews

Things Invisible to See

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a wonderful book. I teach it in a class on "Baseball, Literature, and American Culture." Like all good baseball books, it's not really about baseball. It's really about love, war, families, race, and other universals. Willard is a gifted writer who understands that adults like stories with spirits and ghosts and magic and whimsy as much as kids. The baseball in it is well-rendered. Willard is a sophisticated fan (Tigers): she knows whereof she speaks. It's a shame it's not in print as there are so few works of baseball fiction by women. This the best I know of. I photocopy 50 copies for my class (with permission). It works. Students like it, especially the more literary types.

I just ordered a hardback copy of this book, because my paperback is falling apart from so many readings! I was not surprised to see so many other reviews for a book so old; because this is a wonderful, magical book. I picked it up at a used book-store, even though it looked to be a "fantasy", which I don't read. But this novel cannot be wedged into any genre. If you love baseball, are interested in (or lived through) WWII, grew up in S. Michigan, went to U. of Michigan, or believe in miracles, this book WILL resonate with you. And you may love it without any of those points of resonance! It also has those subtle references that make re-reading worthwhile. Example: a scene set in early December 1941, where Death-a little man who is a main character in the book-attends a seance several days early, because "he has important business on Sunday". It was my third reading before I followed the book's timeline well enough to realize Death had to be at Pearl Harbor that Sunday.

This book leaves you with not just a good feeling, but a tingle of wonder--like maybe there are always little miracles afoot in the world???? If Nancy Willard only had one "big novel" in her, I'm glad its this one; but I'd love to see more from her.

It's a shame this lovely book is out of print; it is one of my all-time favorites. It's about a young man named Ben who, goofing around with friends, bats a baseball into the night sky and hits a young woman named Clare, sending her to the hospital. He finds out about the accident, and that Clare now can't walk, and seeks her out to try to help. (That's just the beginning.) Magic appears in many forms throughout this story - the end is a baseball game between Ben's team and Death's. It's a quirky, funny, hopeful book, and well worth the trouble of finding it

This book turned my teenaged niece from a non-reader to an avid reader. Can there be a better tribute to any book?

In case anyone wonders why Willard has some players on the Dead Knights playing out of position, here's her answer: at the time when the novel is set, there weren't enough dead Hall of Famers to fill out a team position by position.

Admittedly, I'm from Ann Arbor. But Willard is quite magical in capturing the feel of (what was then, before WWII) a smallish Michigan city, from an utterly unexpected angle. The book is one of the most successful examples of magical realism I have ever encountered, and Willard's prose itself is enchanting. I've read this book (and its successor, Sister Water, now out of print) many times, always with fondness, and I recommend it to anyone else who wants a thoroughly good read.

My feshman year in college I picked Things Invisible to See at random from deep within our library's stacks. It has been a treasure ever since. It is too bad it is out of print, but worth finding. Willard's use of metaphors defy description. Her book is infused with the magic of everyday things--so much so that I found myself putting down the pages and staring about in awe. If you can find it, read it.

This isn't so much about Things Invisible To See as it is about Nancy Willard in general. Nancy Willard is an author who has never, in my opinion, received the adulation she is due. Many of her best books are out of print, including this one. It's one of the two more-or-less for adults books she's written, the other being the equally excellent Sister Water. I do wish she'd write another. It's hard to describe Willard's style accurately -- perhaps that's why she isn't as popular as she might be, as she doesn't pigeonhole very well. Her stories can twist and turn but always they end up back on track, with the reasons for things made clear. Some of the characters live in a world like most of us seem to. Others live in one a little richer with magical and less earthbound powers. Her books are always good-hearted, and I've found them to stand up to many, many readings. Anyway, this is an excellent book. Maybe you can find it at your library, if not used someplace.

I just picked this book from the library, not really expecting anything from it....well, i was surprised because after reading it, I must say it has captured my heart....it is a truly enchanting book about life and some of its mysteries.... too bad it is out of print!

Reviewed by AJ Cooper for Reader Views (1/07)

"Things Invisible to See" is about a number of different families and people. It is also about spirits and death. The main focus revolves around Ben and Clare. Ben is on a golf course with his friends goofing off and they decide to hit baseballs towards the river. The ball is pitched to Ben and he hits it so hard it goes across the river and strikes someone. All of the boys hear the scream and take off without determining who they hit. Ben searches the local paper in the hopes of discovering who he hit. A number of days later he does locate a small article about the girl his baseball hit. He is wrought with guilt and works his way into her life and the life of her family. Clare is unable to walk due to the accident and it cannot be determined why she cannot walk. Clare has a spirit that visits her and takes her to see different images and people away from her body. There are also others in the book who are able to see and communicate with the spirit world.

The book goes on and on with each chapter describing different families. It is very disjointed to me and not really that interesting. It is as if parts from this book are taken from many other stories and then added together at the last minute. I found this book very hard to read. I felt I had been reading this book all of my life and could never get to or find the ending. There are small parts of the book that I found interesting. But over all I would not read this book again and I am not sure who might enjoy it. I am sure there must be a group of people who may enjoy "Things Invisible to See," but I could not take a guess as to who that might be.

Book received free of charge.