‘The Act Of Disappearing’ By Nathan Gower: Review

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The days are getting longer, as we’re getting into the summer season, allowing me more time to read and this book is one I absolutely devoured. I had just read a brief description of this book and I was immediately intrigued by the story, so as soon as I had the opportunity to read it in advance of its publication date, I took it and am so glad I did.

The Act of Disappearing is about a girl named Julia, a struggling bartender and also a writer. She was approached by a man with a proposal to research and write the story behind a never-before-seen photograph. She goes on a quest to find answers and the story unfolds piece by piece.

The story is written so beautifully as a dual timeline in present-day Brooklyn and 1940s-60’s rural Kentucky. I love the way the author writes differently in both of the timelines, so not only are you told, by chapter, that it’s taking place in another era, but it reads that way too. I was gripped by this story from the very beginning and every night as I read before bed, I found I was telling myself “just one more chapter” because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next and put more of the puzzle together. Both the present day and the past told interesting, emotional stories of mental health, womanhood, infertility, family secrets and relationships and the mystery that unfolded with a twist at the end was just right.

It’s not very often I give a book a full 5 stars, but this one is definitely deserving. This is Nathan Gower’s debut novel and I already can’t wait for the next.