Invisible – A Book Review
Steph Nickel reviews “Invisible” a book by Ginny L Yttrup. She discovers it is an interesting book about relationships between people with complex issues.
What have you read and recommend? We would love to hear from you. Share your comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Invisible by Ginny L. Ytrrup
Invisible is the first book I’ve read by Ginny L. Yttrup. Remember what I said about making connections with authors online? Ginny is in a couple of the Facebook groups I belong to. So, I wanted to check out her writing.
(Because I’m listening to the audiobook, I use the words reader and listener interchangeably.)
The further into the book I got, the more difficult it became not to excuse, “Just one more chapter.”
Here’s the write-up on Amazon:
When an overweight woman who’s hidden from romance discovers a handsome doctor is in love with her, will she finally risk her heart?
Ellyn – chef, cafe owner, and lover of butter – is hiding something behind her extra weight. While she sees the good in others, she has only condemnation for herself. So, when a handsome widower claims he’s attracted to Ellyn, she’s certain there’s something wrong with him.
Sabina – tall, slender, and exotic – left her husband, young adult daughters, and a thriving counseling practice to spend a year in Northern California where she says she’s come to heal. But it seems to Ellyn that Sabina’s doing more hiding than healing. Why?
Twila has come out of hiding and is working to gain back the pounds she lost when her only goal was to disappear. When her eating disorder is triggered again, she’s tempted to go back into hiding.
As these women’s lives intertwine, will they dare to come out of hiding?
All About Relationships
Relationships … that’s the first thing I noticed when I read the summary of Invisible before downloading it for Audible.
As you likely know, I’m all about relationships. I often connect with the characters in the books I read and TV shows I watch—even those I can’t readily relate to. As a natural “fixer,” I want to comfort and encourage those who are hurting, even if they’re fictional characters.
I’ve often wanted to shout at a character, “Don’t go there!” or “Don’t do that!” In which case, the story would be safe—safe and boring. But you get the idea.
Four Characters
As I listen to Invisible, which is told from Ellyn’s, Sabina’s, Twila’s, and Dr. Miles Becker’s points of view, I get inside the heads of all four characters.
The dialogue Ellyn has with the condemning voice in her head, whom she has named Earl, creates an understanding of the self-talk that could be going through the mind of a woman in Ellyn’s situation. It also serves to hint at details the reader must piece together.
Sabina’s story shows that no matter how seemingly successful an individual may be, there very well could be hidden issues that are not readily apparent. It often surprises us to learn who suffers from depression and related issues, such as anxiety and panic attacks.
Eating Disorders
While we don’t hear about eating disorders as often as we once did, they haven’t gone away. And while the issues that lead to these heartbreaking behaviours are as varied as the people who suffer from them, Twila’s story gives readers insight into the progression of thoughts and feelings that can result in an eating disorder, or ED.
I don’t connect as readily with Dr. Becker, likely because he’s a man, but I do appreciate the author including a male protagonist as well. It lets readers see things from his perspective. Authors are often asked how they create believable characters of the opposite gender, and while there are no simple answers, Ginny has done a good job. And pretty much anyone can relate to loss, loneliness, and the desire to be in a meaningful relationship.
In the case of an audiobook, the narrator may also be a voice actor, and this is the case with Invisible. The narrator uses a different voice for each character. This is a skill some listeners find engaging, while others find it distracting. I’ve found I prefer straight narration, but that’s just a personal preference.
Complex Issues
As was mentioned in the blurb, the author addresses a number of complex issues. These include the physical and emotional challenges of being overweight, the realities of what it’s like to be anorexic, the life-altering affects of depression and suicidal thoughts, and the challenges of losing your spouse of several decades.
The author weaves these stories together through developing friendships between the characters in a natural, believable way. Faith is also woven into the story in natural and believable ways. It is God who is transforming each individual, but the change is slow, in a two-steps-forward-one-step-back kind of way.
The multiple, first person points of view may make it challenging for some readers to get immersed in the book, but if you enjoy a story about real issues with well-developed characters forming relationships and encouraging one another, a story that gets harder to set aside with each passing chapter, you may very well enjoy Invisible by Ginny L Yttrup.
Happy Reading!
Leave a Reply