Things Invisible/see [Mass Market Paperback]

Nancy Willard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1988

In a small Michigan town on the eve of World War II, a young man and woman share a love that is shadowed by tragedy, yet lighted by powers beyond the real.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Spectra (September 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553276522
• ISBN-13: 978-0553276527
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,951,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Book, December 13, 1999

By 

Karl Lindholm (Middlebury, Vermont USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Things Invisible/see (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Defies categorization, as do all magical things., June 10, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Things Invisible to See (Hardcover)

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a magical story, September 11, 1997

By 

Ellie - See all my reviews

This review is from: Things Invisible/see (Mass Market Paperback)

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