The writer is an accomplished author of science
fiction and fantasy, having won the Nebula Award twice. Her latest story
revolves around the ghosts of three sisters: Irene, Viola, and Rosalee, who
continue to harbor deep-seated animosity towards one another even in death.
Unfortunately, the narrative is challenging to follow, filled with
complex vocabulary and obscure idioms that I had never encountered before. By
the end, each ghost departs from their shared home, with Irene remaining in
place, Viola heading east, and Rosalee venturing west.
Irene is portrayed as stubborn, aloof, and sophisticated, looking
down on her sisters and refusing to cooperate with them. I struggled to grasp
the writer’s intention behind crafting such an eccentric ghost story; it felt
unrealistic and lacking in excitement. I found it difficult to connect with any
of the characters, and my interest waned with each page. Reading became a
chore, and I lost count of how many times I had to consult a dictionary.
Thankfully, I finally managed to finish the story.
Some of the bewildering phrases and words included: "the
double-barreled jumping jiminetty," "wherewithat," "soul of
a particularly stupid technothriller," and "the cat had napped"
(which I assume meant "kidnapped?"), as well as "throw her
ambitions out with the bathwater."