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Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Book Review: Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance
by Ruth Emmie Lang
Nov. 7, 2017
352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

"Told with brains and heart" ―Michelle Gable, New York Times bestselling author of A Paris Apartment

"Bristles with charm and curiosity" ―Winston Groom, New York Times bestselling author of Forrest Gump

"A wholly original and superbly crafted work of art, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is a masterpiece of the imagination." ―Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Life List and Sweet Forgiveness

"Charlotte's Web for grown-ups who, like Weylyn Grey, have their own stories of being different, feared, brave, and loved." ―Mo Daviau, author of Every Anxious Wave

Ruth Emmie Lang teaches us how to find magic in the ordinary in her magical realism debut Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance.

Orphaned, raised by wolves, and the proud owner of a horned pig named Merlin, Weylyn Grey knew he wasn’t like other people. But when he single-handedly stopped that tornado on a stormy Christmas day in Oklahoma, he realized just how different he actually was.

As amazing as these powers may appear, they tend to manifest themselves at inopportune times and places, jeopardizing not only his own life, but the life of Mary, the woman he loves.

Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance tells the story of Weylyn Grey’s life from the perspectives of the people who knew him, loved him, and even a few who thought he was just plain weird. Although he doesn’t stay in any of their lives for long, he leaves each of them with a story to tell: great storms that evaporate into thin air; fireflies that make phosphorescent honey; a house filled with spider webs and the strange man who inhabits it.

There is one story, however, that Weylyn wishes he could change: his own. But first he has to muster enough courage to knock on Mary’s front door.

Don't be discouraged in the beginning of this book. It's not as complicated to follow as it seems. See, this is a book told by multiple characters and their recollections of a young man named Weylyn Grey. A young man who may or may not have control of the weather and was raised by wolves after loosing his entire family.

Now Weylyn is a unassuming character who has a magical pig. Named Merlin of course. Merlin was born with a single small bump in the middle of his forehead and that must make him magical. But then on the day Weylyn was born, there was a snowstorm....and it was the middle of summer! So it's really hard to tell who really has the magic.

Even thought I was having a little trouble jumping right into the purpose of this story I was enticed into continuing by the individual stories told. There were a total of 9 characters giving accounts of Weylyn's life events. Three of those became central to the story but all added dimensions to the development of Weylyn's character. I liken it to painting a picture. In the beginning all you may see is the stark outline of something that becomes a masterpiece by the end. Interesting concept, great writing and just enough info in the separate tales to want to keep you pushing forward to "see" the finished product!

Getting 4.5 "Extraordinary" sheep





Jeanie G

About the Author:
Ruth Emmie Lang was born in Glasgow, Scotland and has the red hair to prove it. When she was four years old, she immigrated to Ohio where she has lived for the last 27 years. She has since lost her Scottish accent, but still has the hair.

Ruth currently lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband and dreams of someday owning a little house in the woods where she can write more books. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is her first novel.

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