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Rust & Stardust: A Novel
Автор: T. Greenwood
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“Greenwood’s glowing dark ruby of a novel brilliantly transforms the true crime story that inspired Nabokov’s Lolita. Shatteringly original and eloquently written....So ferociously suspenseful, I found myself holding my breath.” —Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You
Camden, NJ, 1948. When 11 year-old Sally Horner steals a notebook from the local Woolworth's, she has no way of knowing that 52 year-old Frank LaSalle, fresh out of prison, is watching her, preparing to make his move. Accosting her outside the store, Frank convinces Sally that he’s an FBI agent who can have her arrested in a minute—unless she does as he says.
This chilling novel traces the next two harrowing years as Frank mentally and physically assaults Sally while the two of them travel westward from Camden to San Jose, forever altering not only her life, but the lives of her family, friends, and those she meets along the way.
Based on the experiences of real-life kidnapping victim Sally Horner and her captor, whose story shocked the nation and inspired Vladimir Nabokov to write his controversial and iconic Lolita, this heart-pounding story by award-winning author T. Greenwood at last gives a voice to Sally herself.
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Rust & Stardust: A Novel
Автор: T. Greenwood
Описание
“Greenwood’s glowing dark ruby of a novel brilliantly transforms the true crime story that inspired Nabokov’s Lolita. Shatteringly original and eloquently written....So ferociously suspenseful, I found myself holding my breath.” —Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Pictures of You
Camden, NJ, 1948. When 11 year-old Sally Horner steals a notebook from the local Woolworth's, she has no way of knowing that 52 year-old Frank LaSalle, fresh out of prison, is watching her, preparing to make his move. Accosting her outside the store, Frank convinces Sally that he’s an FBI agent who can have her arrested in a minute—unless she does as he says.
This chilling novel traces the next two harrowing years as Frank mentally and physically assaults Sally while the two of them travel westward from Camden to San Jose, forever altering not only her life, but the lives of her family, friends, and those she meets along the way.
Based on the experiences of real-life kidnapping victim Sally Horner and her captor, whose story shocked the nation and inspired Vladimir Nabokov to write his controversial and iconic Lolita, this heart-pounding story by award-winning author T. Greenwood at last gives a voice to Sally herself.
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This book is beautiful heartbreaking. I couldn’t put it down. The writing is superb. Despite the dark subject matter (the real life kidnapping of Sally Horner) the author wrote respectfully, not including any salacious, unnecessary detail. I truly can’t recommend it enough.
Rating: 5Heartbreaking fictional account of a true abduction of 11 year old Sally Horner by 50 year old Frank LaSalle, a child molester. This story is referenced in the 1955 novel Lolita.
Sally wants to be friends with the popular girls, so on a dare, steals a composition book from a Woolworth. Frank is there eating, and sees what happens, and prays on Sally’s fear of getting in trouble. He kidnaps her, by posing as a friend’s father, and keeps her as his hostage for 21 months.
Story is disturbing because of the exceptional lying skills of Frank and the gullible nature of Sally’s mother and Sally herself. Monsters are all around, they were then and are now! The Franks of current are much more sophisticated. The author tells this story thru different people...Sally, Her mom, sister, and the few people who tried to help her. Author does a good job of keeping the story moving and of describing the climate of the 40s. Your heart will break for this child throughout the book.
Thanks to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4Sally wants to be friends with the popular girls, so on a dare, steals a composition book from a Woolworth. Frank is there eating, and sees what happens, and prays on Sally’s fear of getting in trouble. He kidnaps her, by posing as a friend’s father, and keeps her as his hostage for 21 months.
Story is disturbing because of the exceptional lying skills of Frank and the gullible nature of Sally’s mother and Sally herself. Monsters are all around, they were then and are now! The Franks of current are much more sophisticated. The author tells this story thru different people...Sally, Her mom, sister, and the few people who tried to help her. Author does a good job of keeping the story moving and of describing the climate of the 40s. Your heart will break for this child throughout the book.
Thanks to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I have such mixed feelings about "Rust and Stardust". It is a beautifully written story based on a horrific case that really did happen in the 1950s. 11-year-old Sally Horner steals a notebook on a dare and doesn't realize that she has been seen by Frank LaSalle, a 52-year-old who has recently been released from prison. Frank takes advantage of Sally's naivety by telling her he is an FBI agent who can help her avoid being arrested if she does everything that he says. Of course, his intentions are less than noble. I think you get what I am hinting at here. The novel then details the next two years as Sally and Frank avoid the law while Sally suffers relentless mental and physical assaults by Frank. This is not an easy book to read but I feel like it should be read. People remember the case in the 1950s and it is believed that the book, "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov was based on the case. The one who seems to have been forgotten is Sally Horner herself and she should be remembered. I can't imagine the horror she lived through and what her life (though it was tragically cut short) was like afterward. "Rust and Stardust," tells the story from Sally's point of view and is compassionate in showing how it must have devastated her. I would definitely recommend this book but be prepared for a story that does not have a happy ending.
Rating: 4Florence Sally Horner, 1948I'd never heard this name before yet, it's a true crime story. Once I hit the end and read some of the author notes, I was floored. I immediately googled and found that this really happened. How sad.Sally just wanted to belong so when she saw the girls at school prick their fingers to become "blood sisters" she wanted to be a part of that as well. She finally got up the nerve to ask but the girls were cruel and expecting an initiation before she could be one of them. They told her she had to steal something from Woolworth's and when she did, she was caught by a man, Frank LaSalle, who sat at the counter and said he was from the FBI. She was petrified and willing to do what he instructed so she could make up for what she did. For months and months, he promised to take her to see the judge. He told her lie after lie making promise after promise until over the months / years Sally got a little wiser and started questioning him. What she found was appalling. As a mom, this is so scary to see how "easy" this was for Frank to pull off.Sally was also the inspiration behind the disturbing book, Lolita.What a stunning cover as well. Definite recommend from me!
Rating: 5Until this book, I only had the vaguest notion that the classic novel Lolita was based on an actual kidnapping. This novel dramatizes the case of Sally Horner, who was kidnapped in 1948 and spent two years with Frank LaSalle before the authorities caught up to them. One thing I liked about this novel is that it is largely told from the perspective of Sally and her family. While I love the novel Lolita, it's written from the perspective of a child molester and the reader always has a very skewed sense of what the child thinks and feels throughout. This novel brings Sally's hopes and fears and pain to the center of the story and left me wishing for a better end to the story for Sally.
Rating: 4Rust and Stardust by T. Greenwood 2018 St. Martins Sally Horner's problems began when she stole a notebook from a Woolworth's, in Camden, New Jersey, 1948. It was a dare from a group of the popular girls at school, a group she longed to be part of. What she didn't know was she was being watched by Frank La Salle, just released from prison. He was waiting for her outside the store, convincing her that he was FBI, and will arrest unless she does what he says.....For 2 years, she was kept, constantly on the move, starting in Camden and winding up in San Jose, California, Frank convincing others Sally was his daughter and no one questioned him. She was raped repeatedly and treated as a prisoner.Based on an actual case, this was extremely hard to read at times. It was upsetting and shocking and disgusting. Its also eye-opening how easily this happens. T. Greenwood tells this story with compassion and skillful storytelling. This was hard to put down. Such a tragic case.Recommended.
Rating: 4Based on the life of Sally Horner, this historical fiction describes a possible role model for Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita. The characters and their actions are appropriate to the times and historical record. The kidnapping and abuse and Sally’s story is told by a revolving cast of participants. The constant change in viewpoints along with the constant movement by ten-year-old Sally and her captor upset the smoothness of the plot.
Rating: 3Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood is a 2018 St. Martin’s Press publication.Rarely do I happen to read a non-fictional account of a book before I read the fictionalized version. Usually, it is the other way around. However, I requested this book and ‘The Real Lolita” at the same time from the library, and as fate would have it, the true crime book became available first. This book had a very long ‘hold’ period, so I was caught off guard when It suddenly became available, a couple of weeks after I finished ‘TRL’. I am not a fan of reading books with the exact same subject matter too close together. However, because this is a library loan, and I didn’t want to get back in line for it later, I just had to suck it up. The story of Sally Horner has suddenly become a hot topic. Her role in Vladimir Nabakov’s creation of ‘Lolita’ has recently come under great scrutiny. For me, all of the hype and speculation on that front, drowns out the true horror of what Sally Horner endured during her captivity. Blessedly, this author leaves out the Nabokov conjectures during the telling of Sally’s ordeal, and keeps the focus on Sally and her family, where it should be. Although this is a fictionalized account of Sally’s troubled life, the author did a very credible job of recreating this vulnerable, lonely girl and vividly depicts her harrowing experience at the hands Frank LaSalle, and her ultimate release from his grasp. Sally’s life is a troubled one, very sad, and full of tragedy. This book does her story justice, and handled the emotions and criminal parts of her life with great respect and dignity, while giving the reader a full -blown view of what this child suffered. This I my first book by T. Greenwood. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about his author, and now I see why she is held in such high regard. This book is utterly absorbing, very well written, although I am sure the story must have been an emotional undertaking. I am glad to see that Sally has not been forgotten. I do wish she didn’t have to share the spotlight with Nabakov, but at least her journey goes a long way towards dispelling some myths associated with the case and its connection to ‘Lolita’.If you are interested in Sally’s life, my advice would be to read this fictionalize account before reading ‘The Real Lolita’. Both books are good, both are very thought provoking, and both would serve well as book club reads. This one, however, gives Sally’s case the absolute undivided attention it deserves. 4 stars
Rating: 4I am not sure if this would be considered Historical Fiction or based on a true story, but I think it is both as well as crime, drama and a very, very sad story. Make sure you read the author's notes at the end of the story to find out what motivated her to pen this book and to learn more about the true story of Sally Horner. I had no idea this was based on a true occurrence when I started reading it and that made this story even more traumatic to read.
11 year-old Sally Horner lives in Camden New Jersey in 1948. She is a quiet, happy child, who has a hard time making friends. When she finally gets up enough nerve to go up to a group of girls to try and join their group, they decide to take advantage of this young girl. They tell her she can be part of their group, but she needs to be initiated by stealing something from Woolworth’s. Sally is scared to steal and hurt her mother, but really wants to have friends so she slips a marble composition notebook into her sweater and hurries to leave the store. Sally doesn’t realize that stealing that notebook will change her life forever. Enter 52-year-old Frank LaSalle, just released from prison. He sees Sally steal the notebook and makes his move. He tells her he is from the FBI and tells Sally that she needs to do what he tells her or she will be arrested and thrown in jail. Terrified, Sally agrees and tricks her mother into letting her go to "the shore" with her friend's father. What follows is two years of abuse.
The chapters alternate between Sally and many other secondary characters. We read about Sally’s time with LaSalle, the places they lived, and the people Sally came in contact with. There are chapters from Sally’s mother, sister, and brother-in-law while they are trying to find her. They all struggle with guilt, anger, and blame. So many things could have changed the outcome of this story. What is even more of a mystery, is why Sally does not take advantage of so many times she could have gotten away or told someone. She was so brainwashed to think something worse would happen, that she seemed to accept her lot in life. This story is chilling, emotional, and heartbreaking. I listened to this story and that made it seem all the worse to me. I had to switch it up with some lighter stories in order to finish this one. Having said that, this story is riveting. I wanted to find out what was going to happen. Who would finally realize that there was something wrong? When would Sally realize she had to speak up?
As I said at the beginning, this story is based upon a true crime story. It was also the basis for the book "Lolita", but the author placed herself as an observer of Sally's story and what she describes is fiction. Many of the characters were based on situations such as the circus being in town and the circus performers staying in the same trailer park were Sally and Frank lived, but the interactions are fiction. Many people will find this book too difficult to read. The incidences of abuse are not graphic, most are just innuendo or Sally writing about them in her journal after the fact, but that may still bother many readers. I am glad I listened to this book, it was disturbing, but the author did an amazing job. I look forward to reading more by T. Greenwood.
Rating: 411 year-old Sally Horner lives in Camden New Jersey in 1948. She is a quiet, happy child, who has a hard time making friends. When she finally gets up enough nerve to go up to a group of girls to try and join their group, they decide to take advantage of this young girl. They tell her she can be part of their group, but she needs to be initiated by stealing something from Woolworth’s. Sally is scared to steal and hurt her mother, but really wants to have friends so she slips a marble composition notebook into her sweater and hurries to leave the store. Sally doesn’t realize that stealing that notebook will change her life forever. Enter 52-year-old Frank LaSalle, just released from prison. He sees Sally steal the notebook and makes his move. He tells her he is from the FBI and tells Sally that she needs to do what he tells her or she will be arrested and thrown in jail. Terrified, Sally agrees and tricks her mother into letting her go to "the shore" with her friend's father. What follows is two years of abuse.
The chapters alternate between Sally and many other secondary characters. We read about Sally’s time with LaSalle, the places they lived, and the people Sally came in contact with. There are chapters from Sally’s mother, sister, and brother-in-law while they are trying to find her. They all struggle with guilt, anger, and blame. So many things could have changed the outcome of this story. What is even more of a mystery, is why Sally does not take advantage of so many times she could have gotten away or told someone. She was so brainwashed to think something worse would happen, that she seemed to accept her lot in life. This story is chilling, emotional, and heartbreaking. I listened to this story and that made it seem all the worse to me. I had to switch it up with some lighter stories in order to finish this one. Having said that, this story is riveting. I wanted to find out what was going to happen. Who would finally realize that there was something wrong? When would Sally realize she had to speak up?
As I said at the beginning, this story is based upon a true crime story. It was also the basis for the book "Lolita", but the author placed herself as an observer of Sally's story and what she describes is fiction. Many of the characters were based on situations such as the circus being in town and the circus performers staying in the same trailer park were Sally and Frank lived, but the interactions are fiction. Many people will find this book too difficult to read. The incidences of abuse are not graphic, most are just innuendo or Sally writing about them in her journal after the fact, but that may still bother many readers. I am glad I listened to this book, it was disturbing, but the author did an amazing job. I look forward to reading more by T. Greenwood.
*I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*This book is now my favorite book of the summer (and actually, my favorite book of 2018!). I love reading books that relate to my home state, no matter how small the connection. I did not know the story of Sally Horner and waited until I finished reading before looking up more about her actual life.As awful as the experiences are that Sally goes through, I kept reading to see what would happen next, each time hoping that someone would help her out. This book is riveting, emotional, and bittersweet. A fascinating story!
Rating: 5This book is a historical rendering of the true life abduction of an 11 year old girl named Sally in 1948. It was difficult to read because I knew many of the events really occurred. The story was so well written. Sally was kidnapped by a child molester named Frank LaSalle, who manipulates Sally so well, she is afraid to leave. The book describes her harrowing two year journey across the United States.This was an emotional read. The writing is supurb and so unsettling at the same time. I highly recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy as part of the Goodreads giveaway program.
Rating: 4What a tragic story! Poor Sally and all she went through at the hands of that monster who took her. The end had me crying!
Rating: 5I would not be a bit surprised to see Rust & Stardust on the bestseller list this fall. T. Greenwood has written a riveting fictional story based on a true event that happened in 1948, when Sally Horner was kidnapped and taken on a 21 month journey with a known pedophile.This is such a sad story, but Greenwood manages to write it in such a way that readers are hopeful and invested in the characters she portrays. Sally is an innocent and obedient child, which in this case makes her vulnerable to kidnapping. She is such a brave and positive soul and throughout the story I was so impatient for her to take that one step she needed to get away from Frank La Salle.The other characters in the story touched my heart in so many ways. Ella, her mother, in such pain, both physical and emotional, was dealing with so much guilt over Sally’s kidnapping and the unexpected death of her husband, Russell. Russell, although deceased, became an integral part of the story through the memories each family member recounted of him. He was dealing with undiagnosed depression, but his love for the family was evident in their memories of him.Susan, sister to Sally, was a rock for her mother during the months Sally was missing. A time for Susan that should have been filled with happiness, was instead overshadowed by the disappearance of her beloved little sister and her family’s grief.Al, Susan’s husband and childhood sweetheart, had been a part of the family since Sally was a baby. I loved the way Al took responsibility and was ready and willing to go and search for Sally himself. It was so evident how much he cared for Sally and her family.There were several other integral characters that were important to Sally and helped keep some balance in the story. Obviously, there are several trigger warnings for sensitive readers such as sexual abuse ( not explicit in detail), suicide, depression and some violence. I recommend readers grab this book, a box of tissue and get ready to read straight through from start to finish. The chapters are short and told from many of the characters’ points of view and it’s certainly a book that is hard to put down.Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
Rating: 5In 1948, 11-year-old Sally Horner stole a notebook from Woolworth’s. Frank LaSalle, newly released from prison, witnessed the theft and grabbed Sally, telling her he was with the FBI. Terrified of getting in trouble, she agreed to leave with him, and she didn’t come home for two years.
I was drawn to read this novel after discovering that Sally’s story inspired Nabokov’s Lolita.
Rust and Stardust is a fictionalized account of what may have happened during Sally’s two years on the run with Frank LaSalle. LaSalle mentally and physically abused Sally, convincing her at first that he was the law, then that he was her real father. Sally was naïve and gullible, believing that she had to keep quiet or she would get in trouble. He took her across the country, evading the police and the FBI, telling neighbors that Sally was his daughter.
No one thought to question his story.
Rust and Stardust gives life to a real story that has almost been lost to history. Told from multiple points-of-view, the story follows Sally’s nightmare with Frank LaSalle, and also the horrible anguish of her family searching for her. The author deftly recreates Sally’s thought processes, showing how this young girl could believe such outlandish lies even while enduring abuse and isolation. Even though I knew the outcome, this was a gripping story. My heart was racing while I turned the pages.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rating: 4I was drawn to read this novel after discovering that Sally’s story inspired Nabokov’s Lolita.
Rust and Stardust is a fictionalized account of what may have happened during Sally’s two years on the run with Frank LaSalle. LaSalle mentally and physically abused Sally, convincing her at first that he was the law, then that he was her real father. Sally was naïve and gullible, believing that she had to keep quiet or she would get in trouble. He took her across the country, evading the police and the FBI, telling neighbors that Sally was his daughter.
No one thought to question his story.
Rust and Stardust gives life to a real story that has almost been lost to history. Told from multiple points-of-view, the story follows Sally’s nightmare with Frank LaSalle, and also the horrible anguish of her family searching for her. The author deftly recreates Sally’s thought processes, showing how this young girl could believe such outlandish lies even while enduring abuse and isolation. Even though I knew the outcome, this was a gripping story. My heart was racing while I turned the pages.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
This story of child abduction could have been ripped from the pages of a current newspaper, however, it was not. It is 1948 and it is the story of Sally Horner who, along with her mother, Ella, were tricked into believing Frank LaSalle, aka Mr. Warner, aka Mr. Peterson, was an upstanding individual when in fact he was an ex-con, a sexual predator targeting young girls.When she is caught stealing a notebook by Mr. Warner, who claims to be FBI, Sally agrees to his plan in order to stay out of juvenile prison. He tells her the judge in Atlantic City will have to hear her story and might exonerate her. Her mother in Camden, NJ never has to know about her daughters unspeakable crime. Ella Horner is told he is Mr. Peterson, the father of Sally's friend and he will gladly take Sally to Atlantic City to join his family for a weeks vacation. Sally is only 11 years old, a bright little girl but she's scared so she follows the plan.When one week becomes three her family begins to recognize that this vacation seems very suspicious and only then begin to take action. Author, T. Greenwood's novel retells Sally's true story, which inspired Nabakov to write Lolita, in a page turning, heart wrenching, spine tingling, suspenseful fashion. The conclusion will stun you. Special thanks go out to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this novel before it's August publication date.
Rating: 5Having literally just finished this book, I'm finding myself both filled with so many emotions and thoughts but unable to truly write down and convey them properly. Words don't feel enough. How does one find the words for a story such as this one? While the happenings within this tale have been fictionalized, many of the persons involved are in fact real, and Sally Horner's story did in fact happen. Her abduction was even the inspiration for Nabokov's Lolita - leaving a stark and constant reminder that this story is not meant to be fantastical or pretty in any sense. And there were times where reading was triggering and tragic. Greenwood masterfully handled the darkest points with tact and maintained the believability of a child's mind in duress during such a situation.This novel lives up to it's title, and I certainly won't be seeing red ribbons in the same manner for some time.
Rating: 4