If you’re a fan of sci fi/fantasy novels that are more on the cosy end of the scale, you’ve probably heard of TJ Klune – or at least heard of his novel The House in the Cerulean Sea and its highly anticipated sequel. But you probably haven’t heard of The Bones Beneath My Skin, which is honestly rather a shame. While it’s not quite as whimsical or as well-polished as some of his later novels, this sentimental action movie of a book is full of heart and will leave you with a smile on your face – once you dry away your tears, that is. This re-release is the perfect opportunity to check it out.
When a brutal series of personal tragedies leaves (former) journalist Nathaniel Cartwright with nothing but a beaten-up truck and a cabin in the middle of nowhere, there’s only one thing left for him to do – hide away in that mountain retreat until he can figure out what the hell he’s going to do with his life. Unfortunately, nothing can go right for him. Instead of a place housing only fond memories of his family’s vacations, he arrives at the cabin to find a strange man and an even stranger little girl already living there, hiding from forces unknown. It becomes pretty clear pretty quickly that this pair is dangerous, and that there’s something they’re not telling Nate. He soon finds himself wrapped up in an adventure of a lifetime, setting off on a road trip across the American countryside with a girl he’s starting to care for and a man he’s starting to fall in love with.
From that description, you might be expecting this to be (as TJ Klune himself described it in his author’s note) an action movie in book form. At times, it is – with thrilling car chases, tense battles and confrontations that will have you biting your nails off. But, at its core, this is a story about the characters and the love they share, the little family they build in motels and service stations as they run from those chasing them. It’s about exploring what it means to be human, and how to deal with the good and bad parts of being one. It’s heart-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time.
Unfortunately, as the characters drive the story, the plot and the action take a backseat. It moves slowly at first; the characters spend a lot of time meandering around the cabin and sharing quiet, intimate moments together before they finally find a reason to leave or explain the truth behind what’s going on. That slow pace can feel frustrating at times, and it takes quite a while for the novel to really find its feet.
But once it does, it’s fairly engaging, with a blend of action and the slow, quiet moments that make this story a special one. It’s a little repetitive and even predictable, with the mystery behind the two strangers at the cabin easy to solve if you look at the chapter headers, but in some ways that predictability feels like a reassurance. No matter what our protagonists face now, you know they’ll be okay in the end. It might not be super unusual or exciting, but it still means it makes for a nice relaxing read.
The fact of the matter is, The Bones Beneath My Skin doesn’t have quite the same shine as some of the author’s later books. It’s a little messier and less refined. And, if you’re expecting something in the vein of Under the Whispering Door or The House in the Cerulean Sea, it’s rather less whimsical as well. But, while it might have a little less polish, it’s still largely the same well-built structure underneath. In Klune’s signature storytelling style, the plot doesn’t pull its punches, delving into and discussing brutal topics – but always comforting you after they hit. It’s full of heart, and if you let it take you by the hand it has a message of reassurance and love to whisper in your ear. Sometimes, it’s what you need to hear.
I can’t deny this novel is not perfect, or that you might not be disappointed if you took the ‘action movie’ thing to heart – but nor can I deny that I enjoyed reading The Bones Beneath My Skin. If you’re a fan of TJ Klune’s work and haven’t read this one yet, or if you just need a good reassurance in novel form, it might just be worth picking it up.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The Bones Beneath my Skin by TJ Klune is available now from Pan Macmillan Australia. Get a copy from your local bookstore HERE.
Header Image supplied by Pan Macmillan Australia
