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    Glimpse
    Glimpse
    Glimpse
    Ebook418 pages1 hour

    Glimpse

    By Carol Lynch Williams

    4/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Twelve-year-old Hope’s life is turned upside down when her older sister, Lizzie, becomes an elective mute and is institutionalized after trying to kill herself.

    Hope and Lizzie have relied on each other from a young age, ever since the death of their father. Their mother, who turns tricks to support her family, is a reluctant and unreliable parent—at best. During the course of this lyrical and heartbreaking narrative from an exceptionally promising YA voice, readers will discover the chilling reason why Lizzie has stopped speaking—and why Hope is the only one who can bring the truth to light and save her sister.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
    Release dateJun 22, 2010
    ISBN9781416997320
    Glimpse
    Author

    Carol Lynch Williams

    Award-winning author of more than twenty-five books and a graduate of the Vermont College of Fine Arts with an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults, Carol Lynch Williams facilitates a week-long workshop to help writers get published (www.wifyr.com). She lives in Utah with her family. Visit her at her blog, Throwing Up Words.

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    Reviews for Glimpse

    4/5

    91 ratings17 reviews

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    • 3/5
      You can read this review and more like it at Pretty Deadly Reviews

      I'm not the biggest fan of books written in free verse. But I did read Carl Lynch Williams' Waiting and really did fall in love with her particular style. Her writing was beautiful, and so when I had the chance to read her first novel, Glimpse, I snatched it right up.

      I never felt stuck in the writing, like I have before when reading free verse. I sometimes get caught up in the fact that it's poetry, and it yanks me out of the story. But with Williams' writing, I was thoroughly wrapped up in the story, gliding effortlessly from stanza to stanza without any hiccups or catches. Her writing is beautiful and flows so well together. She really know how to capture the voices of her protagonists flawlessly - in the last book I read by her I could tell that London had a more affluent upbringing than Hope, the main character of Glimpse. I love that Williams can write abut totally different characters in different situations, and the feel authentic and whole and different.

      Glimpse was not the easiest book to read. There is mention of suicide, animals dying (not killed, but dying, which is still sad) and so many more dark, twisted things. We slowly unravel the mystery of why Hope's older sister, Lizzie, tried to kill herself. It's not a fun or light journey, and at times it was heartbreaking and difficult to read. But I felt relief and satisfaction at the end. I felt hopeful. But Hope's and Lizzie's mother is the worst I've ever read about, and there's nothing that could make me feel sympathetic towards her (not that the author tried that, I'm just saying.)

      The reason why I knocked off a couple stars is because I wasn't completely attached to the characters. Hope's pain would have felt more real to me if we had more time being shown how close she was to Lizzie. Instead, we are only told about the sisters' connection and friendship. If I had gotten to see more of that, then I think I would have liked the book more. So while I do give this book a solid 3.5, it wasn't perfect.

      Carol Lynch Williams' debut novel is a short, heart wrenching read. It is very, very dark and depressing, so I don't recommend it to those who aren't a fan of that sort of thing. The writing, even if done in free verse, was captivating, and really drew me into the story. Glimpse is a very quick read, but I wouldn't let that fool you - you will think about it long after you turn the last page.
    • 2/5
      This book was very disappointing. I guess I set my standards to high after reading Ellen Hopkins books. It wasn't realistic to me.
    • 4/5
      Told in verse, thirteen year old Lizzie is devastated when her older sister Hope attempts suicide and is hospitalized, and somewhere inside her Lizzie is certain she knows the reason behind her sister’s altered mental state, but is she prepared to face it?I think most readers will figure out Hope’s devastating secret before Lizzie does, there’s still a great deal of suspense though in wondering when Lizzie will put together the pieces, and what, if anything she’d do about it. This is not the happiest of stories, it’s upsetting and awful, your heart will hurt for these girls, it’s tough to read stuff like this, it’s tough to be reminded that this doesn’t just happen in fiction, so this is definitely not a book to turn to if you’re looking for something uplifting, but if you’re braced for the content, for feeling angry and sad, it’s truly well-written, emotional reading experience, with a tender, protective connection between the sisters.
    • 5/5
      Glimpse is a YA novel written in verse, which shares the story of two sisters, who live with their mother. Their father passed away years ago and Mom is trying to take care of her girls. Hope and Liz find strength together as Mom turns to alcohol and a life inappropriate for her girls. Something changes in Liz and Hope does not understand. When Liz is found with a gun, doctors are brought in to help. Will their family secrets be revealed before Liz and Hope lose each other forever?
    • 4/5
      Glimpse was lovely, sad, and hopeful all at the same time. I loved the writing style, but can't help but think it was a waste of paper. That would be my only complaint though. Hope's voice was sweet and innocent, but stronger than she knew until the very end.
    • 4/5
      Gripping story written in verse.
    • 5/5
      This book was a fantastic read!! The way that Carol Lynch Williams portrays the mother and the two sisters and their lives really can be relatable! I feel for the one daughter in the hospital, the harships she has gone through shouldnt be faced by anybody.I thought the suspense in this book and the puzzlement until the end made it an easy read.Also the writing style is very well put together!
    • 5/5
      Glimpse is about two sisters, Hope and Lizzie. They are more than just sister, they are best friends. Lizzie is the oldest and has looked after Hope since she was just a baby. Suddenly, something has changed and Lizzie becomes suicidal. At first Hope is bewildered, but she slowly puts together source of her sister’s depression. It is time for Hope to look out for her sister, before it is too late or is she already too late?Glimpse is a dark and sad story/poem that provides insight into the life of one dysfunctional family.I love this book. It's well-written, sad, and hopeful.For such few words, I was amazed on how; this novel is filled with so much emotion, amazing character development, and lines that will break your heart.
    • 5/5
      It isn't often that I am so emotionally overwhelmed by a novel that I want to simultaneously hug it to my chest and throw it across the room. I was riveted by Hope and Lizzie's heartrending story and, even though it was difficult to read, I found that I was unable to tear my eyes from the pages. I found it hard to determine if it was the book's content or the age of the narrator that called to my protective side, but it was there in full force. Williams' depiction was so vivid that I found myself completely invested in the characters, which caused many frustrated tears. I wanted to protect Hope and Lizzie from their awful, selfish mother and prevent the tragic events that I felt were sure to unfold. I haven't read very many books written in verse, but, after GLIMPSE, I may have to. Williams' writing had a much more powerful impact written in blank verse than it would have in any other format. I'm astounded by how the deletion of superfluous words can hone text into a dangerous weapon that cuts straight to the reader's heart. GLIMPSE is left me swollen-eyed and emotionally drained, but in no way regretting my soggy state. It's often the difficult reads that leave a permanent mark, opening the reader's eyes to an issue or situation that they'd rather avoid. My eyes are officially open.
    • 4/5
      A novel told in verse, this story of two young sisters and a mother, who resorts to prostitution to support her family, is heartbreaking and yet I couldn't stop reading it. When one sibling tries to commit suicide, the other sister, who happens to be named Hope, finds a diary explaining the events leading up to the decision. I loved the way the story unfolded. Even though the material is challenging, by breaking up the sentences into poetry seemed really fitting and help to lighten the story for me. Would not suggest this book to anyone though.
    • 5/5
      Told in poems. Hope and her older sister Lizzie have always been close. Their fatehr died when they were young and they've been raised by their mom, who has tried various ways of supposting them, including prostitution. When Lizzie tries to kill herself, Hope can't understand why. It's not until she finds her diary that she discovers the motivation.
    • 4/5
      From my blogThis was a good story. A mom that needs mental help but doesn't realise she does. It is a very sad story to see unfold. The younger sister is so sweet but naive, as she should be though. The love between these sisters is an emotional sisterly love, I enjoyed that. The story doesn't go into details but you are still disgusted.YA is just never enough for me so it is hard to review. Here are a few snippets....On Kindle at 24%When things get touch...When things get touch...When life is rough...When life is rough...The Chapman girls...The Chapman girls...Will take only enough...Will take only enough.On Kindle at 87%and any of those things - the watcher,the snake,or the killer alligator - would have been better than what I found outtoday.
    • 4/5
      Finding her sister with a shotgun to her head, Hope tries to figure out what would make her sister do such a thing. Glimpse had a high bar to reach after The Chosen One and Carol Lynch Williams managed to deliver. Written in verses, Glimpse is a novel to breeze through, but the emotional and tragic subject for the novel is not. It is a stunning novel of redemption for the soul as Hope stumbles along the road of her sister’s trauma. It is a story of struggle of money, of deaths, of protecting the sisterhood. Glimpse is only a glimpse of I foresee and expect of Carol Lynch Williams. This was literary L O V E . Ah, but I do question some of the vague details of their past life and of Hope. Is she 13? Or is she 12?
    • 4/5
      Though written in a poetry-style, Glimpse is a very moving novel. It's suspenseful, but also terrifying as we try, along with Hope, to find out what made her sister Liz try to kill herself. I figured it out about halfway through, but wasn't quite sure I was write until Hope eventually came to the same conclusion. While the book looks huge, it is not. The style fits the novel quite well and even if you're not sure if it's good, it's worth a try. A good, hard book.
    • 4/5
      I'm not a big fan of verse novels. The only exception was Sold by Patricia McCormick. That is, until now. I still don't like the fact that this book was written in free verse, but I was able to get past that and enjoy the story underneath. Glimpse is about 12-year-old Hope and what happened after she found her older sister, Liz, in the bathroom with a gun in her hand. Liz becomes virtually silent and is sent off to a mental care facility. Meanwhile, Hope is trying to cope with things back home. Her mother isn't the best role model around. She's selfish and turn tricks to bring in cash. Hope suspects that her mother knows something as to why Liz almost killed herself that night, and resolves to bring Liz back to a safe home. I definitely got caught up in the story. The mother is probably one of the worst fictional parents I ever encountered. I wanted to go in there and call DCF myself. I was just amazed at the atmosphere. At first I thought the book took place a few decades ago in the South, but I came to discover it took place in modern-day Florida. It made me realize how poverty and ill-treatment can really isolate someone. The big secret as to why Liz was suicidal is pretty easy for the reader to figure out, but that doesn't lessen the emotional impact. Poor Hope and poor Liz. I don't see why this book had to be in verse, though. Is it because they are in style? That the author thinks it makes the work seem more emotional? Original? I would have enjoyed it more if it was written in prose. But it was a quick, emotional read, nonetheless.
    • 4/5
      Glimpse is a heartbreaking and powerful novel that had me turning the pages as fast as possible near the end just to find out what happened. It's told in verse, and it only took me about an hour and a half to read. Oh, how I love novels in verse. Every word is important, everything has to work together or you're left confused with no idea what's happening. Carol Lynch Williams understands that and this was an exceptional novel in verse.The characters really make this book. Hope is a strong girl, especially considering the way she lives. Her mother is a prostitute, her father is dead, and her sister is all she has. Until she tries to kill herself. Then Lizzie is taken to a mental hospital and Hope is left to figure out what happened. I really felt for Hope. Thinking of her life makes me feel slightly sick. From the get go I didn't like Hope and Lizzie's mother, and by the end I despised her. We don't see much of Lizzie, but there are flashbacks and they visit her a few times. I'm in awe of her and what she endured.This book isn't for the faint of heart. A lot of it horrified me, because I know that right now, somewhere, this could be happening. It breaks my heart. I really enjoyed the writing in this book, a lot of it was beautiful. The only complaint is that sometimes I was confused about whether it was the past or present. Basically: Go read this! It will break your heart in the best way!
    • 4/5
      After reading The Chosen One last summer, I was so excited to read Williams' new novel. Having finished Glimpse, I find myself feeling indifferent. I think it's because with each book I read, I'm always either emotionally or mentally involved on some level. But with Glimpse, I was surprisingly unaffected. The story itself is actually very heartbreaking: prostitute mother, suicidal sister, dead kittens, sexual abuse - all things cringe-worthy that make you jerk a few tears. But I think the major flaw was the format Williams chose to write Glimpse. The verse format of the book is creative and original, something only a handful of YA authors have attempted. This, combined with the southern diction and setting, was interesting enough to hold my attention and made it to easy to read. However, the verse format also made it easy for me to float above it all. I could detach myself from the story at any time and have no urgent need to return myself. Williams' style of verse was choppy, and because of this, I wasn't able to get very far under the surface of the characters. Therefore, I didn't care about what happened to them. Overall, Williams' attempt at writing verse was average. But it's still interesting enough to hold your attention just so you can find out what happens in the end.

    Book preview

    Glimpse - Carol Lynch Williams

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    FOR

    my favorite daughters

    (you know who you are)

    AND

    all the world’s Lizzies

    1.

    In one moment

    it is over.

    In one moment

    it is gone.

    The morning grows

    thin, gray

    and our lives—

    how they were—

    have vanished.

    Our lives have

    changed

    when I walk

    in on Lizzie

    my sister

    holding a shotgun.

    She fingers the

    trigger.

    Looks up.

    My sister.

    My sister just looks

    up at me.

    Touching

    the trigger

    of that gun.

    2.

    My breath goes,

    lungs empty,

    all the blood

    runs up to my face.

    My heart pounds so

    that it hurts.

    It hurts.

    What are you doing,

    Lizzie girl?

    I say,

    sounding just like Momma,

    only not so loud.

    The words are

    without air

    full of blood

    and pain.

    What are you doing?

    I’m on one knee now

    face-to-face

    with Lizzie.

    Just thinking,

    she says.

    Momma?

    I say over my shoulder.

    Momma!

    And to Lizzie,

    What are you thinking?

    I’m not even sure

    I can hear her answer,

    the blood pounds

    so in my ears.

    Just thinking,

    Lizzie says,

    looking me right in the eye,

    just thinking about

    leaving.

    3.

    Wait—back up.

    Back up and see the story

    of Momma, Lizzie, and

    me.

    Of Lizzie and

    me

    and how the two

    of us

    got here

    to this moment.

    4.

    Mama she say, Shh.

    She say, Shhh.

    She say, Quiet, baby.

    5.

    I love babies,

    Momma says.

    I love babies most of all.

    6.

    In the beginning

    it was me

    and Liz

    and Momma

    and Daddy.

    The four of us.

    Together.

    Me and Liz just

    babies.

    Smiling, no teeth. Bottles.

    Saggy diapers.

    Sunburned cheeks.

    All those old

    pictures

    Momma has hidden

    under her

    bed in that

    box,

    all those

    pictures prove

    we were a family

    before.

    7.

    He left me,

    Momma used to say

    (and sometimes does

    still

    now),

    when it was late

    and she

    felt lighter

    from Pabst Blue Ribbon

    and the hour.

    He left me.

    She thumped her chest,

    tears making her eyes glisten.

    Me and Liz

    were quiet

    on the edge

    of the living room

    watching

    looking

    listening.

    Even from this far

    away

    I could see

    the tears

    in Momma’s eyes

    Me and Liz

    we sat quiet.

    We stayed

    we listened

    because we had to.

    The more she drank,

    raising can after can,

    the more Momma talked

    and soon

    would let out the truth.

    She let out the truth

    and the reason me and Liz

    were still in the room,

    like she always does.

    He left me,

    Momma said,

    because I had

    two kids.

    Then she cried right out loud.

    And I couldn’t help it.

    I cried

    with her.

    Lizzie patting my shoulder.

    Shhh,

    Lizzie said.

    Shhh.

    You were his kids

    too,

    Momma said.

    I cried along with her,

    till she fell asleep, quiet, on the sofa

    and Lizzie would say,

    Hope, it’s time for bed.

    8.

    Once

    after Daddy left

    on his bike

    and didn’t come back

    Miss Freeman

    waddled her way across

    the street and

    over to our place

    with a big platter of fried catfish

    and hush puppies and

    a dish of potatoes and

    a salad.

    For you, Ms. Chapman,

    she said.

    I heared what happened

    and I thought

    you could use some good

    Southern cooking.

    Momma cried in Miss Freeman’s arms

    and me and Lizzie

    ate all the hush puppies before

    Momma had dried her

    eyes.

    Looks like you girls

    need some more of them

    things,

    Miss Freeman said.

    And she brought us a whole

    bowlful more.

    9.

    Miss Freeman

    taught me

    and Lizzie to play

    rummy

    and Chinese checkers

    and let us watch

    Wheel of Fortune

    at her place

    on the nights

    Momma worked.

    And when Momma

    tried to pay her,

    Miss Freeman said,

    Ms. Chapman, I love these girls

    like they was my own.

    She laid a heavy hand

    on my head

    and I felt the pressure

    of that hand

    long after I had gone to bed.

    10.

    Lizzie was my job.

    And I was hers.

    It is your job,

    Momma said

    to us years ago

    when me and Liz

    came home from school

    one day.

    (Almost six

    and

    seven

    years old.)

    We were late,

    late coming home from

    the bus.

    Playing in the

    huge puddle of

    mud and

    water

    there

    in the dirt road.

    Didn’t notice the time passing.

    Till Miss Freeman—

    old as the sun—

    hollered out,

    You girls know

    what time it is?

    Your momma is gonna be worried sick

    about you two

    playing in the road.

    We move when we

    see cars,

    Lizzie said.

    She had mud all over,

    splashed on her

    face even.

    I was soaked through too.

    I know it,

    Miss Freeman said.

    Git on home.

    We got.

    Momma, though,

    she was even later

    coming in that night,

    not waiting for us

    at all.

    Lizzie and me

    we changed our clothes,

    dried the dirty places

    off our legs

    on a towel,

    and waited.

    We watched us some TV,

    turned up real loud,

    and waited

    some more on the sofa.

    And when the sun was set

    coloring the sky a thin

    line of hibiscus red,

    Momma pulled into the

    drive.

    Both me and Liz,

    we looked at each other,

    and I felt so glad that Momma had made it home.

    I let out a breath

    I’d been holding all afternoon.

    Now we could

    eat

    and not be afraid

    or worried

    that she

    might leave

    like Daddy did.

    Might not come back

    at all.

    You make any dinner?

    Momma asked Lizzie

    while looking through

    the fridge.

    No,

    Lizzie said.

    Momma’s lips made a line

    —like a dash—

    and she said,

    I got me a new job.

    Then she smiled.

    A good job.

    It’ll take time,

    this job. I’ll be

    busier.

    Momma walked over to us,

    smoothed my hair,

    patted on Lizzie’s shoulder.

    We’re gonna have us some money.

    More than now.

    She squatted down till I could see,

    in her eyes,

    a bit of me

    and a bit of Liz

    and the light

    from the fridge.

    I’ll be working more and more,

    she said.

    And I expect you two

    to help out around here.

    Lizzie nodded.

    Okay, Momma,

    she said.

    And I said,

    Okay, Momma,

    too.

    Momma thought.

    Then she said,

    It is your job,

    Liz,

    to take care of your

    little sister.

    And you, Hope,

    Momma said

    her finger pointing like

    she meant it,

    you take care of Lizzie.

    You hear me?

    I nodded. So did

    Lizzie.

    Then we grinned at each

    other,

    showing our teeth.

    All right then,

    Momma said.

    We are a team.

    The Chapman Girls’

    team.

    Let’s go get us some

    McDonald’s

    for dinner

    ’cause I got money.

    And she waved two twenties in the air.

    I was so glad

    she was home

    and safe

    and we were headed

    to McDonald’s,

    a team.

    11.

    Daddy,

    I know,

    did not mean

    to leave us—

    though

    Momma sometimes

    sees it was

    me

    and Liz

    that sent him away.

    He was coming

    home

    to all

    of

    us,

    bringing

    cough syrup for Lizzie

    from the Piggly Wiggly,

    when

    he got himself

    killed on that

    motorcycle

    of his.

    Damn motorcycle,

    Momma

    said.

    Damn cough that

    Lizzie had.

    Damn

    damn

    damn.

    And I agree.

    12.

    It’s my job now

    (like it was then

    when we were

    almost six and seven),

    I know it,

    to make Lizzie

    happy.

    No matter that I am

    younger,

    that I am

    almost thirteen and she’s

    fourteen.

    The two of us

    work hard

    for

    the two of us.

    And have

    since

    the olden days,

    with Momma

    changing

    more and more

    as time passed

    and it became clear

    that all the praying

    she did

    would never bring

    her dead husband back

    and all the praying

    in the world

    me and Lizzie did

    wouldn’t keep

    Momma from falling

    in her own work

    and away from us

    more and more.

    13.

    So we grow up alone

    without Daddy

    with Miss Freeman

    looking in on us

    from time to time

    with Momma busy

    more and more.

    Me and Lizzie.

    Together.

    Until it all begins

    with that

    gun.

    14.

    Last night

    me and Lizzie

    sit

    in the dark,

    sit on my bed,

    in the quiet of

    night.

    We’re all grown up,

    I think.

    But we are

    having us some

    troubles.

    Now all I can hear is

    our breathing,

    and from outside,

    the frogs and crickets

    singing nighttime songs.

    I can see the shadow shape of

    trees. A light wind

    moves the leaves

    like a waving hand.

    I talk soft at the

    side of Lizzie’s head.

    Right now I

    think of her like the tiny baby she was,

    drinking green Kool-Aid

    from a bottle,

    biting the nipple so

    it hung from her mouth,

    and slapped her

    baby chest.

    The picture tucked under

    the bed with

    the rest—

    the picture that proves

    a father

    a mother

    and two sisters.

    My own bottle of Kool-Aid.

    Me on my back.

    Feet supporting that

    bottle.

    (And Momma laughing.

    Laughing!)

    I say to Liz on this night,

    I say,

    ’Member last night how

    I was upset at you

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