Beautiful to the Bone

“A prickling sense of foreboding that travels across the pages.”

“Do not be intimidated by the length of PG Lengsfelder’s Beautiful to the Bone, the over 300 pages will fly as the story unravels. This shadowy tale centers on the intelligent and strange Eunis and the often-terrible cast of characters that make up her life. Eunis is an albino and the book begins in her childhood with her mother essentially seeking justification from a doctor that “something is wrong with her”. Eunis is surrounded by cruelty and quickly comes to believe that not only is something “wrong” with her, but that she is also bad luck as everyone tells her, particularly her family. Her only ally for a short time is a three-legged mutt named Nemo that gives her the love and companionship she so desperately lacks elsewhere. Eunis retreats into a life of solitude, study and calculated observation that will continue on long into her adult life. The novel, part of a trilogy, follows Eunis into her mid-thirties and creates a quiet darkness that creeps throughout the story.
 
Beautiful to the Bone is hard to categorize, as there are themes of fantasy, magical realism, suspense, psychological drama and more. The text is not heavy as a result of these themes, but rather moves the story along in a very fluid manner, like the currents of the water that Eunis seeks refuge within. In high school she gets to hide while she performs as her school’s Beaver mascot and finally finds love and adoration, only while wearing a mask. Eunis is quietly obsessive, with beauty, with mating rituals, bodies and anatomy and more. She takes an unlikely job with a taxidermist—and not only enjoys the work, she excels at it.
 
Eunis is a hard character to read. She’s sympathetic because of the cruelty that she endures, but there is a prickling sense of foreboding that travels with her across the pages, never fully opening her up. Her investigative qualities make her exciting and her aloof demeanor makes her a fascinating, rather than polarizing figure. This seems to be exactly the plan that PG Lengsfelder intended. When Eunis meets her eventual husband Harold, it seems for a moment that she has finally discovered happiness, yet that too is fleeting. With the events that follow, there is a shift in the book and a shift in Eunis’ resolve. A different level of Eunis is exposed. The twists and turns that the story takes are fast-paced and well thought out, the evolution of the characters and the strong, twisted and interesting plot showcases Beautiful to the Bone as a novel that will appeal to all readers, looking to get tangled in a murky drama.
 
PG Lengsfelder crafts an interesting story about a woman often overlooked and while the story is not a coming of age tale, it does showcase a woman coming into her own through her own devices, with little outside assistance. Lengsfelder’s characters are strong and invoke a lot of powerful emotions—some that open up further contemplation of motives or processes. This story is one that will definitely stick with the reader after completion.”

Rating: 5/5 (Book Rating:  5– An amazing book; excellent writing, powerful story – will be appreciated by most who read it.)

— Lauren Cannavino, LuxuryReading.com

“The perfect summer read”

“Is there a mathematical calculation for beauty? Is there a perfect genetic code that creates a beautiful individual? Eunis' quest for an answer is prompted by her albinism and a large, grotesque birthmark that overpowers her face. How far is she willing to go to satisfy her curiosity?

PG Lengsfelder's absorbing, debut novel, Beautiful to the Bone, is packed with intrigue and mystery, each chapter exposing an unanticipated twist, or detail. Once you’ve read Beautiful to the Bone, you’ll be anxiously anticipating the next in the Eunis trilogy. This is a perfect add to your summer reading collection!”

Rating: *****5 out of 5 stars

— T. Pugh, Amazon & Goodreads reader

“Very original”

"This is a very well-written book, but what really made me want to read it more was it was an extremely original idea. The main character, being an Albino woman, felt like an outcast and the book explored society's idea of beauty. It was a good plot, moved along by well-paced action and well-developed characters. Loved it!"

Rating: *****5 out of 5 stars

— Amazon reader

“Memorable characters”

"Lengsfelder has boundless imagination and creates such memorable characters. A vividly told story which makes this reader eagerly await the sequel(s). Bravo!"

Rating: *****5 out of 5 stars

— KW, Amazon reader

“ Sound, sensuality and emotion”

“PG Lengsfelder is an artist. He paints images with color, sound, sensuality and emotion. Lots of emotion. Beautiful to the Bone is not only the title of this, his first novel, but an apt description of his writing style. I haven't been so intrigued with a writing style since Annie Proulx won a Pulitzer for The Shipping News.”

Rating: *****5 out of 5 stars

—William O. Joseph, author (Jefferson’s Nightmare)

”Luscious!”

"This book was simply beautiful. I am unsure what genre to describe it as, there's a mystery, science, mythology, fantasy, and a coming of age family tale. It's luscious!"

Rating: ****4 out of 5 stars

—A.E., Goodreads Early Reviewer

“A great read!”

"A great read! It might be hard to categorize, but that’s also its strength. With the twists and turns of a mystery, a dash of fantasy, some humor, and elements of a psychological thriller; this is one book that constantly keeps you wondering what’s coming next, and hoping that it won’t end soon."

Rating: *****5 out of 5 stars

— Brown, Amazon reader

“Thought provoking”

"Loaded it to my Kobo in Mexico City and read it non-stop on our 7 hour flight. A story that not only entertains but is very thought provoking. Have recommended this to my friends."

Rating: ****4 out of 5 stars

— Anne Marie, Kobo reader

“Twists & turns”

“Beautiful to the Bone is an outstanding novel by first time novelist PG Lengsfelder. I was looking for something to read, got intrigued by the title, picked it up and then was hardly able to put it down. It is the story of a young girl who grows into herself through pain, struggle and her quest to understand beauty. It is full of drama, suspense, supernatural twists and turns. The writing is superb, the character development strong, and the plot intriguing, twisty, well-paced. For anyone wanting a novel that is crisp, educational and entertaining, I recommend it highly.”

Rating: *****5 out of 5 stars

— JL, Amazon reader

“Couldn’t put it down!”

“Once I started I could not put it down. The way the story draws you in and takes you on a very interesting journey of the main character's life is wonderful. I can't wait for the next on in the trilogy. A must read!”

Rating: *****5 out of 5 stars

— NP, Amazon reader

“Provocative & beautiful”

“I really enjoyed this book. The plot is quite different to anything I’ve read before and I was never sure where the story would lead me. The character of Eunis is deeply and richly drawn and I felt the pain of her need to pursue an objective understanding of beauty. The book is beautifully written with evocative language and genuine empathy for the characters. It was thought provoking and its exploration of beauty, and what it is, made me reflect on my own notions of beauty and the tendency I (and perhaps all of us) have to see beauty as only skin deep rather than what is at the heart and soul of an individual. An excellent read.”

Rating: ****4 out of 5 stars

— Steve P, Amazon reader, Australia

“One could hardly guess at the outset.”

“Rooting for Eunis isn’t difficult . . . it keeps readers curious about the protagonist’s next move . . . leading the narrative to places that one could hardly guess at the outset.”

— Kirkus Reviews