Blog Tour Stop: Creatures by Crissy Vanmeter

Crissy Van Meter

To begin with, can we just talk about this cover? The colors are so cool and soothing. The artwork is truly beautiful! As a first impression, this is off the charts interesting.

As the story begins, Evie is preparing for her wedding day, waiting for her husband to return from his fishing boat work, as a storm gathers around the island and dealing with a surprise visit from her estranged mother. A dead whale is stranded in the harbor bringing with it a foul smell, putting everyone in an even more foul mood.  As the story unfolds, Evie begins to remember her childhood. How her mother was a wanderer and her father was an addict/dealer.  Neither being great parenting material.

The writing style of the story is so unique.  Less conversational and more impressions of thoughts or statements made by the different characters. Thoughts are expressed in short and blunt sentences that can seem choppy at times.  It did take me a bit to become comfortable with the writing style but once I got there, I found it very impactful. Perhaps more so than if a conversation was being written out from each character’s perspective. 

The story moves back and forth from present to past to future.  The overall arching tale is clearly an example of parents putting their own needs over their child and the lasting damage that has as the child grows to adulthood. The work that child must do to overcome the hurt caused at such a young age. The lasting impact that parental relationships can have on all future relationships as the child grows into adulthood.

The emotion evoked in Creatures is like an ocean wave. Be careful with this one! It will sneak up on you and knock you over if you aren’t paying attention. Tears can spring up when you least expect them and your heart can hurt just a little as you see your reflection in the water as it runs back to the sea.

 

 

 

 

“Creatures, Van Meter’s excellent debut novel, is a beautiful look at how we navigate the pain and heartbreak that comes with being human… Van Meter is a wonderful writer, and her novel is so beautifully written, it’s somewhat surprising that it’s a debut.”

—NPR

 

 

“An alluring, atmospheric debut.”

—People Magazine

 

 

“A lush and complex debut novel… Creatures is studded with lovely, melancholy sentences that shimmer like dark sea glass.”

—Los Angeles Times

 

 

“[A] kaleidoscopic narrative full of bewitching nooks and crannies, with a unique structure that is unexpected, messy and inspired all at the same time…Van Meter’s first foray into fiction is as impressive as it is unorthodox — tenacious, wildly original and full of insight.” —San Francisco Chronicle

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 

Crissy Van Meter is a writer in Los Angeles. Her writing has appeared in VICE, Catapult, Guernica, ESPN, The Hairpin, Golly, VIDA, and Bustle. She has an MFA from the New School. She teaches creative writing at The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. She is the founder of the literary project Five Quarterly, and the managing editor for Nouvella Books. She serves on the board of directors for the literary non-profit, Novelly.

 

 

 

 

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