The Raising: A Novel

By Laura Kasischke

“Kasischke’s writing does what good poetry does—it shows us an alternate world and lulls us into living in it . . . The language catapults us into another plane of existence, one of facade and reflection.”  —New York Times Book Review

“Haunting, unsettling, and unforgettable, The Raising limns love, longing, belonging and the things we only think we know about life—and yes, death.” —Caroline Leavitt, author of Pictures of You

From Laura Kasischke, the critically acclaimed, bestselling author of In a Perfect World and The Life Before Her Eyes, comes a hypnotic mystery about one girl’s  tragic death and the fallout that occurs on her closely-knit college campus. Part Stephen King, part Donna Tartt, and wholly  unforgettable , Kasischke’s The Raising sets a new standard for hair-raising literary suspense.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Mar 15, 2011
• ISBN: 9780062042385

Laura Kasischke

Laura Kasischke teaches in the MFA program at the University of Michigan. A winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for poetry, she has published eight collections of poetry and ten novels, three of which have been made into films, including The Life Before Her Eyes.

Reviews for The Raising

[hollishter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It really had me enthralled until the "conclusion", which seemed like a cop-out. I loved the mystery, the poetry of Kasischke's words, but it lacked resolution.

[hellonicole_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

**spoiler alert**This book. THIS BOOK. I finished reading it at 11pm and my first instinct was to put my shoes on and take it across the street to the library drop box (yes I live across the street from the library, envy me), because this book! I had to get it out of my house immediately.Okay, so, last year Nicole Werner was killed when the car her boyfriend Craig was driving went off the road. And of course she was blond and leggy and beautiful because that makes it much more sad than if she was fat and pimply faced. But anyway so she was killed in this car wreck and Craig was drunk or high, or whatever, but he was never charged with anything so now he's back for his sophomore year.But oh wait, now we are back to last year. Because clearly someone took the chapters of this book, tossed them in the air, and then put them back together in whatever order they landed in.And can I just stop right here to say what a great big pile of no this book is? Seriously.But anyway so now people around campus have been seeing Nicole. In pictures, sneaking into their dorm rooms, etc. And Craig's roommate is taking a class about death and Craig is (obviously) depressed. And Shelly, the woman who came upon the accident, can't get anyone to listen to her and starts having an affair with a sorority girl, and ...Ugh, I just ... Such a slow, tedious build up. Agonizing. And then [spoiler] it ends. I can't even ...So minus one star for the mental anguish it caused me, and one because THIS BOOK HAS NO ENDING. Well, I mean obviously it ends, but it doesn't actually SOLVE anything. For serious. And minus another half because ugh, spoiled rotten, evil, over-privileged kids.

[mhanover10 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I kind of feel like I wasted my time reading this book. Yes, it was a decent storyline, yes the author is a good writer. But it was totally confusing. The story jumped around so much from present time to past without you knowing it and it jumped from one character to another and sometimes it was almost a puzzle which character was being featured until you read a few paragraphs. I don't like working that hard on a book. I like a book draw me in and I get absorbed into the story, not spend most of the book trying to figure out what is going on and who is talking.

I think this could have been a really good book if the structure was different. Also, now that I'm done, I'm still totally confused at what really happened. I don't feel like it was wrapped up with a clear explanation. It's not like this is the first book of s trilogy.

I almost gave up several times reading it but I thought I would finish to find out what really did happen. Nope. Someone clue me in. Because if it was there, then it was really subtle and I didn't get it because I was having to concentrate so hard on who was who and how they were connected to each person and trying to just remember characters. I think the "flashbacks" should have been more obvious or maybe instead of short chunks of story, have the chapters be the voice of a different character with their name as the chapter so the reader didn't have to concentrate on who was talking. Just very disappointing.

[sararush · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Award winning poet, Laura Kasischke manages to create an evocative and dreamlike effect in her newest novel, The Raising. The story begins the semester after a tragic accident which killed Nicole Werner, a beautiful college girl. Public opinion in the small college community is that her boyfriend Craig killed her. Of course, Craig can’t remember what happened. And so he returns to a hostile climate of grief and blame. One of few to stand by Craig is his roommate, Perry, who grew up in the same small town as Nicole, Bad Axe. Perry is having trouble accepting that Nicole is dead and is disturbed by rumors that she’s haunting students. Perry entangles Mira, a professor in the folklore of death. Lastly, there’s Shelley. Shelly was first on the scene, but her account of the accident differs sharply from what was reported. Believe me, the story sounds more complicated than it actually is to read. What would be a difficult premise for some writers (4 different narrators, seamless shifts back and forth through time, ominous supernatural tones), Kasischke deftly delivers. The campus feels real and her characters breathe with distinct voices in their own right. If this is literary fiction in 2011, readers have cause to be very excited. I received an E-Galley from the publisher in exchange for this review.

[shannon29-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was probably one of the better books I've read this year. The style of this book... a mystery slowly unfolding through the perspectives of several different characters... reminded me a bit of Carol Goodman's writing. The murder mystery and ghost story were comparable as well. In this way, I could also compare it to Testimony by Anita Shreve.

It's one of those books that just hook you. I didn't want to stop reading. The only thing that disappointed me was the ending.

[cathryngrant-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Raising grabbed me from the first, beautifully written line. I'm a big fan of Ms. Kasischke because her chilling psychological thrillers read like literary fiction.

The unraveling of a number of characters' lives was gripping in the sense of inevitability, and yet, it was satisfying to see them gain a sense of acceptance and peace in the end. About a quarter of the way into the book I feared it might turn into a "vampire" story, but Ms. Kasischke is too talented to fall into a cliche. She creates an ominous atmosphere around the fear and the details of death that are hidden in western culture.

The characters are so well-crafted and the writing so elegant, a plot point that slightly strained credibility became insignificant. At first, I was disappointed with the ending as it seemed too ambiguous, but as the story settled into me, I realized it was perfect. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a literary psychological thriller.

[picardyrose · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

AWESOME. Run around madly trying to shove into strangers' hands.

[teresa1953_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Nicole Werner is dead. She died, last semester, in a car crash…a borrowed car that was being driven by her boyfriend Craig. At the start of a new academic year, her college campus is in mourning and her sorority sisters have draped the halls in black. Nicole was beautiful and clever. Her death has changed everyone, but sadly, it has all but destroyed Craig. It doesn’t help that Nicole’s fellow students blame Craig for her death.Yet someone else was there that night when the accident took place and her version of events is remarkably different from the honour college’s take on things. Why would they want to alter the facts? Things become even weirder when Craig and his roommate Perry keep having sightings of Rachel. How can that be? Is it her ghost? Certainly, there are some strange goings on at Omega Theta Tau…the sorority hall where Nicole’s fellow Virgin Sisters conduct very odd, and seemingly dangerous, ceremonies. Then there is the beautiful Professor Polson who conducts classes concerning death and the rituals surrounding it. Perry doesn’t believe in ghosts…..so he is drawn to the Professor’s classes to try and find answers to the riddle of Nicole’s appearances. Their research leads to some alarming discoveries and it becomes apparent that all is not what it seems.An enjoyable read this one, but overly long and rambling in places. The ending is rather a disappointment also. The novel lacks structure and I found myself becoming bored in places. However, I think it would make a great movie. The plot is a good one, the execution not as great as I had anticipated.This book was made available to me, prior to publication, for an honest review.

[thelostentwife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I just finished this book and I'm seriously messed up. In The Raising, Laura Kasischke tackles sororities, hazing, murder, and cover-ups and she does it from the viewpoints of several people involved: the witness, the victim, the victim's boyfriend, the best friend, the professor. They all have intricate parts and slowly, but surely, Kasischke weaves together their stories patiently bringing the reader to the end conclusion.Except, was there one? From here on out will be some spoiler-type information so if you are interested in this book, feel free to stop and move on!This book was unputdownable good. The story was written well, the pace was exciting, information was given to me in the perfect amounts and I was actually biting my nails at one point and crying out with anger at actions that occurred. But then it reached this huge climax... and nothing happened except a jump to a completely different time.That, folks, is the most frustrating thing you can do to someone reading a book like this.So while I loved the tension and mystery (and could have done without the sex scenes and much of the language), the end of the book left me frustrated, angry and astonished that it ended .. like that.So I'm torn - I could recommend this book, but if I did so I'd do it with a warning. Be prepared for the ending, it may not be what you are expecting (or hoping for).

[desert7rose_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalleyThank you NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful book!Craig has been roomed with Perry who comes from a town called Bad Axe. Nicole comes from Bad Axe too and has known Perry all her life, in kindergarten, school and in study groups.So when Nicole turns up at their door looking for Perry to start a study group, Craig is smitten.They start to date and Craig is just crazy about her. What he is not crazy about is the sorority she is a part of. But he tries to understand just to keep her happy. There is absolutely nothing Craig won't do for her.Then tragedy strikes when they end up in a car accident, and Nicole dies. He is devastated and can't even remember what really happened that night. Even after so many counseling sessions. The police don't blame him but Nicole's sorority sisters do.He is trying to live through his grief and trying to shake the guilt that is consuming him.Now other people on the campus start seeing Nicole and another dead girl. Are they seeing ghosts or are they hallucinating??Professor Polsen teaches a class about Death, Dying and the Undead, so she teams up with Perry to write a book about these sightings and other weird things happening.But things just seem to get complicated for everyone, and everything doesn't seem what it is. So what is really happening??At the first when I started reading this book, I was confused that it kept going back and forth between characters and the two time periods (Before and After Nicole's death). I felt that the characters where just too much. But that was my initial feeling for the book and I was considering stopping in the beginning..Then the action started, and I just couldn't put it down. It was AMAZING!!! And the characters where just perfect. Craig was a jerk up until he met Nicole, then he just became the most adorable guy.The going back and forth was very necessary and I got used to it. It kept you up to date with all the characters at once.Every time I thought I solved the puzzle, some surprise changes everything.. It is full of unexpected surprises and twists and turns. I can't say enough about this book.. I have finished it and am still thinking about it.. It is from the few books that linger with me even after I finished reading it..The writing was incredible. This is the first time for me reading for this author and it will surely be the beginning :) I just love her style.I loved the cover too, it is very expressive!!It has become one of the favorites for this year!! I'm sure it will be on the top of the bestseller list in 2011.

[tarenn_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

THE RAISING by Laura Kasischke is an interesting pyschological thriller.The plot is well written and is told from four different points of view. This is a deep dark story of apparent susides,supposedly accidential shootings,grief,death,rituals,cover ups,ghosts,lies,deception,disappeance,and college life. On a Midwest College campus, someone will die,ghosts will appear,and answers will be sought to the burning questions of what really happen.The death of a soroity girl,who lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her will bring about questions and some answers.If you enjoy a dark,twisted,haunting pyschological thriller full of dark secrets and what ifs than this is a story for you,it will keep you turning the pages and afraid to be alone. This is a haunting story of things we thought we knew and things we don't really want to know about life and death.This book was received for the purpose of review from Net Galley and the publisher and details can be found at Harper Perennial.a trademark of Harper Collins Publisher and My Book Addiction and More.

[theonlinelibrarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was okay, not great. If you like suspense fiction with a tinge of the supernatural, you might enjoy it. It does keep you turning the pages, though the story left me a little empty at the end.A sorority girl was killed in a car accident, but the next year she seems to be showing up on campus. Another girl disappeared at the same time, but no one is looking for her. Why not? What are the sorority sisters trying to hide?I found the constant shifting from present to past a little jarring (it's not always immediately obvious which time period the story is in or even which character's viewpoint is being presented), and I found myself wondering why the author spent so much time on certain characters. One character in particular is important because of her position at the college, but her personal situation didn't seem relevant. I like some backstory, but too much is just overkill and slows down the narrative.I'm still not quite certain what the true story is, and I didn't see the point of the last part. Why should the reader care what happens nearly twenty years later? That wrapping-up also didn't seem relevant.This book would probably appeal to the mature "Twilight" crowd.

[wakela_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was quite an interesting book. At first, I was a little overwhelmed since there are so many main characters. However, once I figured out who is who, then I was able to delve deeper into the story.The way the book was written was definitely different. It's told from many different perspectives. Plus you are bouncing about through time (pre- and post-accident). But Laura Kasischke was able to do a superb job.I really liked the characters a lot. I felt they were well developed. And the college campus seemed to take on a life of its own. It had become its own little world.At first, I was a little let down by the ending, but after sitting and mulling it over for awhile. I decided that I really in fact did like the way it ended. I liked the fact that it allowed me to come to some of my own conclusions. Just as with a real death, we each have to deal with things our own way and that is how this book is. You have to deal with the end of the book in your own way.I will definitely be searching out more books by Laura Kasischke.In conjunction with the Wakela's World Disclosure Statement, I received a product in order to enable my review. No other compensation has been received. My statements are an honest account of my experience with the brand. The opinions stated here are mine alone.

[tibobi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Short of It: I found myself eagerly picking it up although I felt absolutely no affection for any of the characters. The Rest of It: I can’t say too much about the plot or I’ll give something away but this was an odd, little book. It was odd in the way it made me feel. The Raising is about the death of a sorority girl and how she continues to live on in the hearts of those who knew her. Except there are details of her death that are beginning to come out and all is not what it’s cracked up to be. Essentially, the story is simple but it’s about so much more than what you see on the surface. It’s about obsession and the power of memory. How much are we willing to admit when perfection is at stake? It’s also very much a book about death and dying, but not in the traditional sense. The sense of mourning you feel while reading this novel is not what a grieving parent would feel. It’s different. Part of that is due to the story itself, but some of it has to do with the tone of the novel. If I had to describe it artfully I’d say that it was like a B&W snapshot with torn edges. Stark. Blemished. I think if I were to focus on plot alone, I’d be rolling my eyes. It was a bit “out there” in places and not terribly realistic in others but I tend to focus on characters and although these characters would never be my friends, I found them wildly amusing. No, I can’t say that I ever felt sorry for any of them or that I could even relate to their particular circumstance, but I could easily relate to the sorority life that Kasischke created. This coming from a “sister” who was blackballed from hers. Seriously, Kasischke nailed that aspect of it. I also liked the fact that these characters were not who they appeared to be. The human condition is often not what we expect it to be once you carve away gender, race and class. I was often frustrated with these characters but fascinated with them, too. I think this is why the story worked for me. I’ve been reading some other reviews and many have not liked the book. I suspect that those folks had issues with the plot. I can certainly see where they are coming from, but because I enjoy reading about characters who are less than desirable I was willing to let go of reality for a short while. If any of you’ve read Kasischke’s In a Perfect World, and recall it taking quite awhile to get a feel for the main characters, you will experience the same thing here. The character development is not handled as delicately as In a Perfect World, but The Raising is its grittier sister. The stories were completely different in each but there are some similarities as far as the writing goes. Overall, I actually liked this one a lot more than I thought I would. I am giving a copy away on my blog. Giveaway is open to the US & Canada. Giveaway closes on 4/29. If you'd like to enter, stop by. Book Chatter

[writestuff_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Craig arrives at Godwin’s Honor Hall, an elite organization within the larger University, without a care in the world. He knows he hasn’t earned his spot, like the rest of the kids there, but he isn’t worried about academics – its the partying that motivates him. Craig’s roommate Perry, on the other hand, is a serious perfectionist. Both boys are drawn to Nicole – a beautiful blond with a charming demeanor, a girl who is much more than what she appears. Then, one night, Craig and Nicole are involved in a car accident and Nicole is killed. The only witness is a middle-aged woman named Shelly, who is baffled when the newspapers report false information about what she has seen. No one seems willing to get Shelly’s side of the story – not the reporters or the police. And then, students begin to report that perhaps Nicole really is not gone altogether. Perhaps she is still walking around the University. Perhaps her sorority sisters know more than they are telling.The Raising is a fast paced, intriguing literary mystery that explores our superstitions about death, and the collective hysteria that arises when the facts become blurred. Laura Kasischke structures the narrative in multiple points of view, weaving back and forth in time. As secrets begin to reveal themselves, the characters struggle with their own conflicts and identities. In fact, a strong theme of the book is that of identity and the setting (a college campus) is the perfect place to explore it. How much do people sacrifice themselves in order to fit in their chosen groups? What happens to one’s values when peer pressure exerts itself? In Kasischke’s capable hands, the novel turns on itself, making the reader wonder what is real and what is not.“Like that’s not how it is with everybody? Like all the lesbians your age aren’t all trying to look and act alike? Like all the counter-culture kids, or all the conservatives, or all the professors or librarians or bookstore clerks around her aren’t, every one of them, completely interchangeable?” – from The Raising, page 363 -One of the things I appreciated about The Raising, was the pitch perfect dialogue of youth, and Kasischke’s ironic sense of humor which captures perfectly the space between youth and maturity.The day was getting colder. The sky, darker. It would be a matter of minutes, Mira felt certain, before the first blizzard of the year began in earnest – and, still there were boys crossing the street in short sleeves, girls in mini-dresses and tank tops. Was this vanity, ill-preparedness, or did their youth give them some sort of metabolic advantage in the cold? – from The Raising, page 285 -The novel takes on a seductive, sexual quality as the characters try to unravel the mystery of Nicole. The setting itself becomes a character in the story giving the novel a sinister and Gothic feel. Some readers may be put off by the graphic descriptions in parts of this book – but I felt they were not gratuitous, instead adding to the flavor of the story and supporting the themes which Kasischke develops.The Raising is a terrific book – good writing, fascinating characters and a plot which keeps the reader guessing. Readers who enjoy Gothic literature, mysteries, and a well-told story will like this one.

[autumnblues · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An unsettling tale of lies and deception that burrows deep into your perspective never to leave you unchanged. From the beginning to the end, this book kept my full attention. The Raising is just that kind of novel, that totally keeps you focused even while things buzz around you, it just pulls the reader in, keeping them in a trance. Kasischke adds just the right amount of characters at just the right time maintaining a perfect balance throughout her novel. While disrobing the irony in the beliefs of past cultures regarding death, through Mira an anthropology professor at the college. That after death playing it's card a body could possibly come back to life seems ridiculous, until you read this novel. In The Raising Mira teaches a class on death. You know one of those hard to get into college courses with a waiting list. Mira has traveled to other countries and studied their cultures, their customs, beliefs and superstitions regarding death and what may happen to a body afterward. Although most of these superstitions were based on the lack of technology and skills before medical doctors came along with a way to pronounce a person clinically dead. The fact is this really did happen, people did seem to come back to life, some even in their coffins or even more disturbing in the ground. Kasischke makes sure these superstitions seep into the back of your mind weaving a paranoid kind of feeling throughout the story. What actually did take place after the accident and supposed death of Nicole? The character of Nicole reminds me of someone suffering from bio-polar or a very disturbing personality disorder. Nicole hides a dark side which seems even her family covers up, or do they? I know how enabling parents can be when it comes to their children. How far will a parent go to cover up for their child? The college and sorority Nicole belongs to seems to do it's own share of concealing or looking the other way when it comes to the disappearance of other students. Could this possibly happen in real life? I believe some of these rituals, deaths and cover-ups happen more than people think. This possibility is what leaves you with an unsettling feeling long after you have reached the end of the book.

[literatehousewife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Perry, a new college student from a small Midwestern town, finds himself drawn to his fellow students from his home town even they were not close in high school. His roommate, Craig, is from the East Coast and is completely condescending about their Midwestern college and Phillip's upbringing. Craig's not even remotely nice until he meets Nicole, one of Perry's high school classmates. As Craig and Nicole develop a relationship, life gets easier for Perry. Easier, that is, until Nicole dies in a car accident while Craig is at the wheel. From the beginning, something's not right about the accident. Shelly Lockes, the sole witness to the accident, can't understand why the newspaper wouldn't want to interview her about it when what they've reported isn't what happened. Things don't set well with Perry either and he eventually asks his anthropology professor, Mira Polson, to help him look into it. The Raising is a multifaceted novel about all that makes up college life and all that can go wrong when one attempts to question authority.The Raising is a book that requires the reader to take a deep dive into the story. From the first I was unable to split my reading attention with any other novel. It forced my complete concentration and I gave it freely. I enjoyed living amidst Shelly, Perry, and Mira within the mystery they were all certain was taking place at the college. Their confusion and frustrations added to my own apprehension. There were several occasions where I was sure I knew where the story was going. I was wrong each and every time. I loved how I knew nothing that the characters didn't know.This novel caught my attention while I was researching galleys on NetGalley. When I learned that Laura Kasischke was from Michigan, I immediately requested it from Harper Perennial. As soon as it was loaded up on my Kindle I started reading it. I love it when the Michigan connection leads me to wonderful new books and new-to-me authors. Kasischke is one of the most interesting and imaginative writers I've come across in quite some time.* While Perry, Nicole and Craig's Midwestern college was a lot more eery than my own, it was nice to be back in college again there.The Raising is not something to pick up unless you're in the mood to puzzle through a book. There are times you feel as though you're trying to find your way in a dark, unfamiliar room. At the end, it all comes together as if the lights are turned on and your eyes have no need for adjusting. Still, there's some niggling uncertainty that keeps you thinking about the book for a long time afterward. It was so worth the effort to me. I highly recommend The Raising and look forward to the next time I can read Laura Kasischke.* I'm not just saying that because she's from Michigan, either.

[grgenius_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

At first I wasn’t sure what to make of this one; I mean multiple point of view novels are in a class of their own. Within the first few pages or chapters you have to uncover just who everyone is, why their point of few differs, and create a character “image” in your minds eye before you can continue reading…or at least that’s what my brain requires. In this story, we are dealing with FOUR distinct viewpoints that all connect in one way or another. Shall we explore a bit? We start with…Craig, the accused killer of his “oh-so-perfect” girlfriend (Nicole Werner) after a supposed night of the three D’s…drinking, drugs, and driving. While bad choices in and of themselves (and especially together), they don’t quite add up to the ending we’re shown, especially when we take into consideration….Perry, Craig’s supposed “best friend”, academic achiever and forever Boy Scout, he’s prepared for anything and everything, or so he thought. After all, who would suspect a goody two shoes of this nature to have any secrets…let alone one that reveals he’s seeing the ghost of Nicole around campus. To investigate this phenomenon, he enlists the help of…Mila, a professor at the prestigious Godwin Honors Hall campus, and source of knowledge on the death rituals of so many civilizations throughout the world, you could have nightmares for a week easily. In fact, there is one tribe that believes the dead walk amongst us unless they dig up their bones one month from their burial date, paint and display them in memory. Interesting concept and perhaps one they should have considered in Nicole’s case, especially since…Shelly, another faculty member, but perhaps more importantly in this case, the only witness of the accident that occurred that faithful night, saw everything…and a “pool of blood” surrounding her “lifeless body” was DEFINITELY not one of them. She’s more than ready to share what happened and correct the misinformation spreading rampantly, the problem? No one wants to hear it. NO ONE. Just what they all have left when viewed individually or at least it will be if someone has there way….Okay so there is quite a bit of use of the word “supposed” up there and a lot of quotation marks, but really this book is all about figuring out the puzzling clues presented so there is a lot that you take on faith and much to be presumed until things finally fall into place. I wouldn’t say that I didn’t enjoy it at all, it just wasn’t quite what I thought it might be once it got down to the meat and bones of it and the journey to get to that moment of “Aha!” was so very long. While the characters were well written allowing you to glimpse them at their best and worst, I couldn’t truly connect to them. Craig was so far into his despair hidden vaguely below his fake smile that you almost got drug down with him. Perry was so straight laced and yet so ready to believe what his eyes were seeing while ignoring logic; seemed a contradiction. Mila for all her intellect can’t see her way out of the brewing conflict at home. Shelly goes against her better judgment creating a particularly sticky situation she saw coming (and she still does it) and is unable to see the forces at work around her ever since the accident. In summary, a story that asks readers to look into the face of death and consider the possibility of “what if”. What if this life isn’t all that there is? What if death is not the final step? What if the spirit goes on in more ways than one? What if the truth is so much harder to come to grips with than we would ever imagine? What if indeed…Recommended read for older teens and adults. Though it wasn’t quite my cup of tea, the rabid following it has developed in such a short amount of time certainly speaks to its ability to impress given the right audience. A quick WARNING on the content for any younger readers considering this for their reading list, there is considerable language at times and multiple instances of drug use and sexual content; in a nutshell, it doesn’t shy away from the hardness of life and it’s certainly not modest.

[nancyewhite · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't know how I feel about this book. At least partially this is due to an impression that the author doesn't know how she feels about the book's story and resolution. I found it compelling reading for many chapters where I'd want to rush to pick up where I left off if I had to set it aside. Other times, however, it was annoying and slow-moving. The basic story is that of a sorority girl who was killed in a car accident and may or may not be haunting the campus. It moves back and forth in time pre- and post-accident and is told through the eyes of her boyfriend, his roomate, the woman who found them on the side of the road, a teacher etc. Midway through the details of the mystery became clear to me, but I felt that the writer was ambivalent about the plot decisions that she made and never resolved it satisfactorily. There are moments of satisfying gothic-ness, and the characters are well-developed and interesting with each one's story giving a real sense of them as people. Nonetheless, this one could have been much better with some decisiveness by Kasischke.

[twink_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Here's the publisher's description of Laura Kasischke's new book The Raising."Last year Godwin Honors Hall was draped in black. The university was mourning the loss of one of its own: Nicole Werner, a blond, beautiful, straight-A sorority sister tragically killed in a car accident that left her boyfriend, who was driving, remarkably—some say suspiciously—unscathed. Although a year has passed, as winter begins and the nights darken, obsession with Nicole and her death reignites: She was so pretty. So sweet-tempered. So innocent. Too young to die. Unless she didn’t. Because rumor has it that she’s back." The back cover blurb was also intriguing - "...part Stephen King, part Donna Tartt..." I enjoyed the opening chapters, but it took at least 100 pages for me to get totally interested. I picked up and put down The Raising many times before finally finishing. The narrative flips back and forth between present day and the past, allowing us further glimpses and clues into what may have happened to Nicole. This part of the plot was well done and caught my interest. Where I got bored was the character development of Mira and Shelly, the two professors pursuing answers in this campus death. Yes, their personal lives play parts in the endgame, but some extraneous details, such as Mira's twin's language skills breakthrough with a fellow prof seem useless. My thoughts on Nicole's friend Perry and her boyfriend Craig changed many times throughout the book. Kasischke does a good job of manipulating the reader`s expectations and keeping us off kilter as she reveals more and more about the death and the circumstances surrounding it. I did find the commentary on sororities and hazing thought provoking.The last 100 pages had me turning more rapidly as the conclusion was nearing and I expected some answers and resolutions. However, that was not to be. The ending left me definitely unsatisfied. For me, The Raising was a read that was okay, but not great. (and never lived up to the Stephen King comparison)

[pattylouise_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The RaisingByLaura KasischkeHmm…loved it, didn’t love it, loved it, didn’t love it…loved it…The Raising was a valuable reading experience for me.A student at a Midwestern university dies in a car accident. Her boyfriend is driving the car and rumors abound that he was on drugs or drinking or both. Craig, the angst ridden tortured boyfriend, has weird memories of what happened and to further confuse him…he feels as though he sees Nicole lurking around campus. There is so much mystery, angst, confusion, and questions within all of the key players in this book. Lives of almost everyone seem to unravel as the story ( but not the mystery ) unfolds. I still don’t think I am quite sure what happened or what I would believe if I were in those circumstances. I loved the way the author allowed this story to meander…mysterious bit by mysterious bit. The incident was examined and questioned and sometimes there were no solid answers at all.The writing and the tale were amazing. The lives of the students, especially Perry, Craig and Nicole were entwined from the very beginning. The professors who became involved…Mira and Shelly and Jack…with the students and this mystery…were interesting and provocative. The actions of the university as hidden truths were becoming less hidden were both frightening and brilliant. I have an extreme fondness for books that tell the story in descriptions from all of the key characters. This story did that and also told us where the characters were after they left campus.Perry remains as my favorite character. He ironed his jeans, he bleached his socks and he kept his dorm room neat. These minor habits only helped me to understand what a fine and capable person he was. Eagle Scout was always used to describe him…he loved his parents, called them often and studied hard. He was one of those “true friends” we all hope to have in our lives. Again, this was a brilliantly mysterious story.

[simplygrace · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I completely fell in love with this book from the very begining. A ghost story (my fav) with the backdrop of a college town and some really great characters. What could go wrong?The writing was terrific throughout the entire book. Ms Kasischki had me enthralled as she painted this story. It had me guessing and on the edge of my seat.Loved the characters! They were well developed and very believable.Now comes the bad part. I am not going to ruin it for you, but I was so disappointed in the ending. It was all the build up but no great climax. What a let down! I will not let that change my opinion of the book though. It was still an enjoyable read. I definitely reccommend it and give this one 3 stars.

[miyurose_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Raising was an incredibly well-crafted novel. Kasischke takes us by the hand and pulls us through, bouncing from the time before the accident, to after, without ever confusing the reader about "when" we are. The pacing in the latter half of the novel is exquisite, and she really takes to heart the advice "Never take the reader where they want to go."Plot-wise, it’s difficult to not feel sorry for some of the characters. Particularly, Shelly and Mira, whose lives are irrevocably changed by an event that had nothing to do with them. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The students are conflicted and confused and a little bit crazy, just like real college students. The entire conspiracy is a bit far-fetched, but the story is told so well that it doesn’t really matter how well it holds together in the end.Kasischke is a new author for me, and I definitely would pick her up again.

[jenners26 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Basic Story: Set on a fictional Midwestern campus, the novel weaves a rather complicated tale about a sorority girl named Nicole Werner who was killed in a car accident and whether her ghost has come back to haunt the campus. The book follows several characters. First, we have Craig—a snotty rich boy who was driving the car when the fatal accident took place and Nicole’s boyfriend. Then we have Perry—Craig’s roommate—who grew up in the same small town as Nicole. We also meet Shelley, the first person on the scene of the accident. Finally, we meet Mira—a professor of anthropology whose specialty is death rituals. The novel tracks how each of these characters are affected by Nicole’s death and the strange circumstances surrounding it—resulting in life-changing consequences for each of them.My Thoughts: Oh, I so wanted to love this book! I was a big fan of Kasischke’s previous dystopic novel, In A Perfect World, and was thrilled when I saw she had a new book. The premise sounded so promising too—a ghost story set on a college campus! (And how intriguing is that cover.) At the beginning, I was encouraged; Kasischke does a great job of setting the scene and getting us into the heads of the different characters. However, things started to fall apart for me. The biggest problem was that Kasischke seemed to have trouble committing to what kind of novel she was writing: is this a gothic tale with supernatural elements? a conspiracy thriller? a good old-fashioned ghost story? This indecision on the part of the author led to a less than satisfying conclusion. In fact, I was still puzzling things out at the end as Kasischke seemed to want to have her cake and eat it too. There are some good elements here, but they didn’t come together in a satisfying way for me. (In fact, I would go so far as to call the plot as I understood it ridiculously ludicrous and unbelievable.) I ended up being very disappointed and can’t really recommend this book. This saddens me because I think Kasischke is a talented writer and—if she had fully committed herself one way or another—she could have had a wonderful book on her hands. (However, I would recommend In A Perfect World if you’d like to try a grown-up’s version of a dystopic book instead of a YA version.)

[meags222_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I got this book from NetGalley for review and when I first started this book I really enjoyed it. It had a rich tapestry of characters and I was drawn right into the story. The story is about a girl who has been killed in a terrible car accident but as the story unfolds something is not quite as it seems. Nicole, the accident victim, is a sorority girl who is dating Craig. Nicole claims to believe in abstinence and in her death many secrets are revealed including the fact that she has been sleeping with Craig's best friend and roommate Perry. The book drifts back and forth between the past and the present. In the present, Craig is trying to deal with Nicole's death, which he blames himself for and Perry is also trying to deal with Nicole's death by taking a course about death and dying. Throughout the novel you start to realize that things just aren't quite right and Nicole starts popping up all over the university campus. People start to believe that they are seeing a ghost. I have to say that I was really drawn into the book and I couldn't put it down. The writing style is amazing and the characters are well rounded. The novel also exposes the life of a student living on campus at university. It exposes the dangers of hazing and also how while it is frowned upon it is still a widely practiced thing on most campuses. I have to admit that while in university I was asked to rush for a sorority and I was tempted at first but then thought the better of it. Don't get me wrong I'm not bashing sororities because they can be an incredible source of support but they were just not for me. Anyhow, in the end I gave this book 3 stars out of 5 because I felt that the ending of this novel was incredibly ridiculous. There were no consequences for any actions. I don't want to give away the ending of the book but it seems to me that none of this would happen in the real world and the book ends with no real conclusion. I just felt quite unsatisfied. I felt that the whole book was so well written that the ending should have had more pizzazz. I would still recommend reading it because of the rest of the novel. The mystery was well played out and I loved the characters. I would just read this book without hoping for a great ending.

[reginar_447079 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book had me from the first page, really the first paragraph. I was entranced from the beginning and could not put it down. I spent many way too late nights staying up to read it and long after I put the book down I would be thinking about the characters in the book. Ms. Kasischke draws complex three-dimensional characters beautifully well for her readers. The story progresses slowly in the beginning, slowly in terms of the action, but I do not mean that the story was boring. Far from that – it was very interesting, it was intriguing. However, before the true action begins Ms. Kasischke shows the readers who the characters are and how they react in various situations. We learn about their family lives, we seem them with their friends, in past relationships and we begin to truly know the characters. The scenes in the beginning of the book, really flesh out the emotions and complexity of each character. Thus, when the characters are in highly stressful scenarios later on in the book, their reactions seem honest to who they are. The story is told from four different points of view. Ms. Kasischke does this very effectively (many authors can’t carry off the varying points of view, however she does), she spends quite a bit of time introducing us to each character, so that each character has a strongly distinct “voice”. Two of the characters are female professors and the other two are male students. Each character is in a very different place in their life, but I found myself identifying with each of these characters and caring about them.I do not want to spoil this book for anyone, but I will say this book is a psychological thriller. As the reader is pulled in to the characters’ lives, the reader also becomes very emotionally invested in what is happening. I began to feel afraid of what was around every corner in this book, I felt that something was out there but I had no idea what. It was a thrilling read. The setting of this book is so tangible I feel like I had been there (and maybe I have!), it is a Midwest college campus and Ms. Kasischke got the feel of it right. She accurately draws college life for students -- from their sex lives, to their relationships with each other, the pressure of studying and the pressure in a large Midwest university of the Greek system. She does the same for the professors – the political pressure inside the university, the stress of the need to publish, and add in the pull of personal and familial ties and responsibilities. Did I mention the bad “guys” yet? Ohhhhhh, the baddies in this book are truly bad – and scary. I highly recommend this book to be read by anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller (maybe some comparisons can be made to such authors as Donna Tart, Tana French, Sarah Waters). I plan to seek out Ms. Kasischke’s other books and read them. I am so glad I read this book. This book will be published on 3/15/11. I received this book from NetGalley to review for the publisher.

[drapple_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kasischke has written a paranormal mystery that will keep you guessing even after the last page. Beautiful, sweet, smart, Nicole Werner was killed in a tragic automobile accident, or was she. This is the central situation of The Raising. The impact of Nicole’s death on her boyfriend Craig, who was driving; her childhood friend, Perry; Shelly, who was first on the scene; and Mira, a professor is the focus of the novel. Nicole’s sorority sisters are always a sinister presence interacting with the four main characters. This gothic mystery examines how we handle death, as a society, a community, and an individual.Some rather graphic sex scenes, including lesbian sex, make this novel appropriate only for mature readers in the school library. However, adult readers who enjoy mystery and suspense with a twist of the supernatural will enjoy this novel.

[dk_phoenix_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I went into this one not really knowing what to expect, though I recalled David/tapestry100 recommending it on his thread. This was my first experience with Kasischke's work, and I can say with confidence that I'll read more of her writing in the future.This novel is set at a university campus, with a heavy focus on Greek life. This was a bit of a turnoff for me at first, because her in Canada, Greek life isn't really the 'thing' the way it is in the United States. It's difficult for me to relate to girls enduring hazing rituals as pledges, because I can't entirely understand why anyone would want to join a sorority or fraternity in the first place. The whole concept seems ludicrous to me, but that's another discussion for another time... back to the book!We begin the novel at the scene of a car accident, from the point of view of a witness. The actual story then opens several months later, and we learn that the girl from the accident died, her boyfriend has been blamed for it (but not convicted), and he's back on campus trying to deal with her death. The problem? Other students start seeing the dead girl around campus.The story unfolds through several avenues: Flashbacks to the year before, when the couple met, followed by present-day action. Multiple points-of-view help tell the story through different avenues, allowing the mystery to reveal itself bit by bit, and each voice is remarkably distinct. None of the flashbacks felt forced, and none of the viewpoints felt out of place (though it did take a little while for one of them to tie into the main story). I'll be honest: The amount sexual content in the book was off-putting, but I understand that Kasischke was trying to evoke the 'college campus' feel in her story (do students really hop in and out of bed with each other THAT often?! my undergrad experience must have been really sheltered...) and to be fair, none of the sex came across as dirty or gratuitous. It was extremely well written. It's just my personal feeling that she could have done without the graphic element in several scenes. For that matter, the writing in the entire book reads almost... peacefully, if that makes any sense. It's like we're seeing the events unfold through a dream, removed from the situation and taking it all in piece by piece. I don't know how she did it, but this didn't seem at first like the kind of book I'd want to read, and then I found myself unable to put it down. And when I did put it down, it was only for a few minutes and then I literally could not get my work done until I finished the book.I wouldn't say I loved it, because I didn't. What I did love was Kasischke's incredible mastery of tone, atmosphere, and character. The story was interesting, and I really liked the manner in which she played the whole thing out. I've never seen that format done successfully before, but clearly this author has the experience and skill necessary to write a book full of flashbacks and keep it moving forward at a steady pace.Would I recommend it? Yes, but I also recognize that it's not going to be for everyone. That said, here I am five days after finishing the novel, and I'm finding myself still thinking about it and the way the events unfolded. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

[tapestry100 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Laura Kasischke's The Raising is a remarkably haunting book of love and suspicion; murder and mystery. Taking place at a college in Michigan, the story follows the lives of several teachers and students who have all been drawn together by the horrible death of Nicole, a straight-A, honor roll student. The general consensus is that Craig, her boyfriend, murdered her. Yet, Shelly, the first person at the scene of the accident that killed Nicole, claims that Nicole was still alive and that Craig was trying to help her. Perry, Craig's roommate, may know more about Nicole than he's willing to admit. In trying to deal with the grief that he feels around Nicole's death (they had been friends for years), he takes a class about death and inadvertently draws that professor, Mira Polson, into the intrigue surrounding Nicole's death. And why do people on campus still think they see Nicole wandering the school? Is is a ghost they are seeing, or something else all together?Kasischke has a remarkable talent for drawing amazing detail out of what seems like a dream. Her writing can be very ethereal at times, but it never leaves the reader questioning what her meaning is, and in the case of The Raising, her writing style fits the emotion of the book perfectly. Imagine, knowing that something happened to the girl you love, and you think that you had something to do with, but you're really not sure and you can't remember and all you know is that now she's dead, and people blame you. I think I'd be walking around in a state of shock all the time. Kasischke really creates that sense of unbalance in Craig's life, as he's trying to piece together his life, while still trying to come to terms with what happened to Nicole.If you've never read anything by Laura Kasischke before, Id highly recommend The Raising. It's a deceptively powerful story that will linger with far after you've finished reading it.

[ccourtland_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book is just over 400 pages long, but that didn't stop me from blazing through the pages. I simply didn't want to put it down! This provocative little number is full of mystery that lurks just out of sight around a dark corner. Kasischke had me guessing the entire time. I longed for certain outcomes, but knew deep down I might not get what I predicted and this was part of the thrill. The exploration of death seen through the eyes of youth was exquisitely written. The love was aching and honest. The betrayal heartbreaking, and the rumors believable. The story is much more than a glimpse into campus life. It explores the tragedy of death and our cultural need for ritual and sacrifice. The perspective of different views and the moving from past to present (shifting) provides a unique picture of the scene of the crime. By doing so, Kasischke shows there is more than one crime committed with multiple victims. Each character's life is cheated by death. Not all questions are answered and this had me gasping. It was horrifying not getting what I longed for, but beautifully eloquent in the same breath and absolutely fitting. The story did not end after the last page, it lives on in my imagination because I am still pondering all the possible outcomes, reasons, and explanations. This is what humans tend to do because we never have all the answers. Our minds want to make sense out of life and death, but it is never easy. I predict The Raising will shoot to the top of the MUST read pile in 2011. Contains explicit language and sexuality. *ARC submitted for review courtesy of HarperCollins via Net Galley