Chime

Citation:

Billingsley, Franny. Chime. New York: Dial. 2011. Print.

Summary:

17-year-old Briony Larkin is able to communicate with the spirits in the marshes that surround her home and from what her recently dead step mother has led her to believe, she is also a witch. For fear of being put on trial and hanged, Briony desperately tries to keep her identity a secret. She feels responsible for her twin sister, Rose, and lives with the constant guilt of a childhood accident that left Rose emotionally disabled. Eldric Clayborne comes to live at the Larkin residence after he is expelled from college. Briony and Eldric become close and a fragile romance begins. Evil spirits from the swamp begin to threaten Rose’s life and Briony must make the decision to reveal her unique gifts and risk being sent to the gallows.

 Critical Analysis:

Author Franny Billingsley has created a complex protagonist wrought with guilt and self-loathing. Briony’s sense of self-worth is obviously low which is evident through an exceptional first person account. While Briony often shows disgust for herself and her past, there is evidence of occasional hope and promise for the future. Her defensive wall is temporarily taken down after Eldric arrives and their playful antics (their “fraternity” and Briony’s wine binge, for example) alleviate tensions throughout the novel. Briony and Eldric’s romance develops slowly and readers will find themselves anxious to see if Briony and Eldric end up together at the book’s conclusion.

One thing that might be a nice addition to the novel would be further descriptions for the swamp spirits. Billingsley does a fantastic job describing the swamp itself, creating a dark, murky setting for unusual beings. However, the creatures themselves lack vivid descriptions. For example, the “brownie” is a spirit that follows Briony. The only descriptors the reader is given is the fact that the Brownie has twig legs and a long nose. Further development may be helpful to some readers and would definitely enhance the story.