Jane, Unlimited by Kristin CashoreMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I really admire authors who can pull off more than one genre. It takes talent to manage a completely different tone and voice. Kristin Cashore has done that here, and done it well. She has written a slightly bizarre postmodern story that is worlds apart from the Graceling series. I honestly couldn't tell this was the same author.
It starts out as a contemporary story set on an island off the coast of New York. Jane runs into an old friend, who invites her to the island for a gala that's being thrown by her enormously wealthy family. Jane, who has been at loose ends since her aunt died, accepts the invitation.
Where the story diverges from a normal contemporary novel is when we start seeing the same couple of days play out in different ways. The story changes depending on which decision Jane makes at a single point. Each choice results in a wildly different version of her life, ranging from the more ordinary to the paranormal and bizarre.
Each version gives the reader a new layer of understanding of what's happening in the house far beyond what Jane actually gets to see for herself. It also gives you a sense of how a small decision can alter your life. It may even make you wonder if multiverses really are out there, created by every decision you've ever made.
It ended up being a rich story, but also just plain weird at times. Strange, yet captivating. I have never enjoyed postmodern fragmentation before. It's usually not my thing. I could have done without a couple of the weirder turns Jane's life took, but I can still appreciate the overall effect, and I did mostly enjoy reading this.
I'm still trying to decide which version of Jane's life I would pick for her. Too bad she can't have everything. Or maybe she can, since it's all versions of her who are living out different lives in the multiverse?
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