Cloven Hooves

Cloven Hooves (1991) Megan Lindholm

I realized relatively quickly that this was not the book that I wanted to be reading.

Already depressed, the last thing I needed was a story full of pain and sorrow and darkness. “I’ll just finish this chapter, and then I’ll pick up something else.”

Except that I couldn’t put it down. I kept repeating that to myself, until I realized I was more than halfway through the book, and may as well just finish it.

I’d read a bit, and think, “no good can come of this,” but then think, “well, perhaps things will work out.” And then it would get worse. But I had to keep reading. I had to know what happened, and I had to keep hoping that things would get better.

So. What is Cloven Hooves about? It’s about growing up, and family, and love, and also about Pan, the half man-half goat of mythology. Evelyn grew up in Alaska, and returned there after she married. However, her husband’s family needed him, and so Evelyn, Tom, and their son Teddy go to stay with Tom’s family–just for a month he says.

The writing was good, and the story was compelling. But I really do not ever want to read this book ever again. Way too many really awful things happened–including memories of high school and being an outcast in childhood.
Rating: 6/10

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