Publication
Ballantine Books (2003), Edition: Reprint, 432 pages
Original publication date
2002
Collections
Subjects
Description
Twenty years ago, Jane Hudson fled the Heart Lake School for Girls in the Adirondacks after a terrible tragedy. The week before graduation, three lives were taken, all victims of suicide. Only Jane was left to carry the burden of a mystery that has stayed hidden for more than two decades. Now Jane has returned as a Latin teacher, recently separated and hoping to make a fresh start with her young daughter. But ominous messages from the past dredge up forgotten memories. And once again, young, troubled girls are beginning to die ...
User reviews
LibraryThing member absurdeist
A shocking secret between siblings partway through “The Lake of Dead Languages” sets off a torrent of Hitchcockian plot twists-and-turns as windy as the windiest mountain road with as many blind curves you never see coming until…until it’s too late and you sit stunned, eyes all enormo-like,
Need I praise more the exceeding Excellency of “The Lake of Dead Languages?” I could further extol the virtues of its liberal use of Latin, or champion the literarily allusive depths it plunges, how a working knowledge of Virgil’s, “The Aeneid,” in particular, aids and enriches our psychological/motivational understanding of the painful choices made by the main characters, Jane Hudson (our narrator-heroine), and Lucy and Dr. Lockhart, as well as foreshadowing the varied dire consequences and outcomes of these character’s actions, for those, that is, who are in tune with the designs of Virgil’s ancient classic. But I’ll conclude and say no more, other than what a delight to have “discovered” the debut novel from one Carol Goodman which launched what looks to be an extraordinary career.
Show More
like you’re driving off a cliff, too shocked to scream. Though I’m not suggesting you disregard the first 243 pages of what’s an already intriguing whodunit mystery staged around a lost journal and an oft-lethal lake prone to apparent suicidal drownings (or might they be murders?) in the austere snowbound Adirondacks; it’s just that Carol Goodman so ups the macabre, gothic ante in the novel’s concluding chapters that as a reader you’re all-in no matter what. Should you recklessly begin this book in the evening plan on an unputdownable all-nighter and calling in sick to work the next day. Best read “The Lake of Dead Languages” during the day time, Friend, and never by a pine forested lake at night near a boarding school for nice and naughty girls, and especially not by a pine forested frozen lake which moans and creaks as its ephemeral ice shifts and cracks, eliciting eerie sounds all too hauntingly human. Need I praise more the exceeding Excellency of “The Lake of Dead Languages?” I could further extol the virtues of its liberal use of Latin, or champion the literarily allusive depths it plunges, how a working knowledge of Virgil’s, “The Aeneid,” in particular, aids and enriches our psychological/motivational understanding of the painful choices made by the main characters, Jane Hudson (our narrator-heroine), and Lucy and Dr. Lockhart, as well as foreshadowing the varied dire consequences and outcomes of these character’s actions, for those, that is, who are in tune with the designs of Virgil’s ancient classic. But I’ll conclude and say no more, other than what a delight to have “discovered” the debut novel from one Carol Goodman which launched what looks to be an extraordinary career.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bragan
Jane Hudson returns to teach Latin at the private girls' school she attended as a teenager. The place has some painful memories for her, though: while she was a student, both of her roommates, apparently suicidal, drowned in the nearby lake. Except Jane knew more about those deaths than she ever
First the good: The wintry lake upon which everything in the novel centers creates a very nice sense of atmosphere. And the slow unfolding of the truth about what really happened to the narrator's old roommates is interesting and entertaining, if a bit melodramatic. Unfortunately, the present-day part of the story is much less successful, featuring details and plot points that seem awfully contrived and artificial, some characterization so sketchy as to be practically non-existent, and a big surprise revelation that was obvious a mile away. Not to mention -- and this applies to both parts of the story -- a main character so oblivious that she seems to be incapable of recognizing anything that's happening directly in front of her, ever.
All that being said, I did find it a very quick read, and at times a fairly engaging one, but mostly it just leaves me thinking somewhat wistfully about what a good book it could have been, if written by someone with a defter feel for character and story.
Show More
told, and now pages of her old journal, in which she recorded her secrets, are mysteriously turning up, and past events are beginning to repeat themselves. First the good: The wintry lake upon which everything in the novel centers creates a very nice sense of atmosphere. And the slow unfolding of the truth about what really happened to the narrator's old roommates is interesting and entertaining, if a bit melodramatic. Unfortunately, the present-day part of the story is much less successful, featuring details and plot points that seem awfully contrived and artificial, some characterization so sketchy as to be practically non-existent, and a big surprise revelation that was obvious a mile away. Not to mention -- and this applies to both parts of the story -- a main character so oblivious that she seems to be incapable of recognizing anything that's happening directly in front of her, ever.
All that being said, I did find it a very quick read, and at times a fairly engaging one, but mostly it just leaves me thinking somewhat wistfully about what a good book it could have been, if written by someone with a defter feel for character and story.
Show Less
LibraryThing member victorianrose869
June 2, 2002
The Lake of Dead Languages
Carol Goodman
I read a review of this book in some magazine – maybe People? Not sure. At any rate, I was intrigued right from the start, and looked for it as soon as it was released. Barnes & Noble didn’t have it on the shelf yet the first time I looked, so
The protagonist, Jane, is a teacher at a private girls’ school at some wonderful wintry place (New England?), at the very school where she was once a student. When she was a student there, a series of deaths and suicides among her closest friends was a scandal, and 20 years later when she’s a teacher there, the same pattern seems to be recurring. Great mystery. Very intelligently written – more of a suspense thriller than a mystery, really. I loved the academia, private-school setting. I enjoyed it.
The Lake of Dead Languages
Carol Goodman
I read a review of this book in some magazine – maybe People? Not sure. At any rate, I was intrigued right from the start, and looked for it as soon as it was released. Barnes & Noble didn’t have it on the shelf yet the first time I looked, so
Show More
it was a couple of months later that I went back and found it, still in hardback version. The protagonist, Jane, is a teacher at a private girls’ school at some wonderful wintry place (New England?), at the very school where she was once a student. When she was a student there, a series of deaths and suicides among her closest friends was a scandal, and 20 years later when she’s a teacher there, the same pattern seems to be recurring. Great mystery. Very intelligently written – more of a suspense thriller than a mystery, really. I loved the academia, private-school setting. I enjoyed it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member dianaleez
If you're looking for a good scary story, and you're willing to suspend disbelief, 'The Lake of Dead Languages' is a satisfying read and is really quite well done for a first novel.
Newly separated Jane Hudson, child in tow, returns to isolated Heart Lake School to teach Latin. Jane is an 'old
But once at Heart Lake Jane's past appears to resurface - is she the victim of a cruel hoax or the instigator as her current students seem to toy with suicide?
Goodman has a remarkably smooth novelist's voice - the book glides along much as the skaters on Heart Lake. Her plotting is a little less sure, and the book is best enjoyed in a wonderful marathon read or two [perhaps on a dark, cold, windy night alone with a nice bottle of red]. Warning: for the best enjoyment, don't look too deeply beneath the surface!
Newly separated Jane Hudson, child in tow, returns to isolated Heart Lake School to teach Latin. Jane is an 'old
Show More
girl' - a Heart Lake graduate with a remarkable past - both her roommates drowned in the lake their senior year. Jane is the survivor, complete with survivor's guilt and an untold story haunting her life. But once at Heart Lake Jane's past appears to resurface - is she the victim of a cruel hoax or the instigator as her current students seem to toy with suicide?
Goodman has a remarkably smooth novelist's voice - the book glides along much as the skaters on Heart Lake. Her plotting is a little less sure, and the book is best enjoyed in a wonderful marathon read or two [perhaps on a dark, cold, windy night alone with a nice bottle of red]. Warning: for the best enjoyment, don't look too deeply beneath the surface!
Show Less
LibraryThing member krisiti
A very compelling read, but didn't leave me wanting to try it again. Something about the deaths of those girls (Athena and Aphrodite) and the way the characters didn't much care - they cared only how it affected _them_, and about the long ago deaths of Matt and Lucy - bothered me.
LibraryThing member lahochstetler
This book has been blurbed as being comparable to Donna Tartt's Secret History, and indeed, there are some distinct similarities. Both books enter the world of New England private schools, paticularly the world of classics students obsessed with their teachers. Both books involve students entranced
Show More
by the rites of the ancients, and in both the students perform clandestine rites with tragic consequences. All of these similarities aside, the two books have different purposes. Goodman's novel follows Latin teacher Jane Hudson, a teacher and alumna of the Heart Lake school in upstate New York. Hudson had a horrible experience at Heart Lake, and when mementoes from her past start washing up in the lake, she has little idea who or what could be responsible. Deaths and accidents in and around the school make it clear that Jane is being pursued by a malevolent force, and she is in real danger. And that danger makes this a gripping book. The story sucked me in quickly and held me to the end. Though I had determined the responsible party and the twist at the end before Goodman revealed it, the book was still engaging, and I couldn't wait to get to the end. In this book Goodman has woven a complex narrative with multiple layers of characters and relationships. The story jumps back and forth between Jane's past and present, and culminates when the two parts of her life collide. Suspense builds quickly in this book. Full of suspense and psychological intruige, I couldn't put the book down. I'll certainly be reading other of Goodman's books soon. Show Less
LibraryThing member PermaSwooned
I found myself very taken with the descriptive portions relating to Latin and to the approaches to teaching that subject. I didn't take Latin myself, but it made a dead language seem quite fascinating. It was interesting that the author sets this private school to be a place for misfits with
Show More
students who weren't accepted elsewhere or were expelled from other schools. Otherwise it's hard to imagine that many parents would keep sending their girls to a school where suicide seemed to keep recurring. I also figured out the villain very early, and since the heroine had known her years before it's almost impossible to accept that she didn't get it. A very intense read, but very absorbing. Show Less
LibraryThing member likelectriceels
I thought this novel was a very good summer read. Not too much thought involved, but a very intense story line with exciting plot twists. Coming from a very public school background, I love books that take place in private schools. It amuses me to think about dorms in a high school and whatnot.
LibraryThing member SugarCreekRanch
This a multi-layered mystery story. Jane Hudson takes a job teaching Latin at the girls' boarding school she had attended as a teen. Recent accidents and apparent suicides have an uncanny resemblence to similar events in Jane's past. The secrets of the present and past unwind together.
This is a
This novel reminded me very much of another I'd read recently, Arcadia Falls. The parallels are numerous. I should not have been surprised to find out that both books are written by the same author. While I really enjoyed both books, the similarilarty makes me slightly less likely to pick up another Carol Goodman in the future, because I'm not sure I want to read a third variation on the theme.
This is a
Show More
very atmospheric story, with the "moaning" frozen lake playing a major role. There is a running theme of mythology and ancient literature. This novel reminded me very much of another I'd read recently, Arcadia Falls. The parallels are numerous. I should not have been surprised to find out that both books are written by the same author. While I really enjoyed both books, the similarilarty makes me slightly less likely to pick up another Carol Goodman in the future, because I'm not sure I want to read a third variation on the theme.
Show Less
LibraryThing member chinquapin
After a divorce, Jane Hudson goes back to her old private girls boarding school that she had attended in the late 1970s. In her senior year at this school, her two roommates had committed suicide and Jane had kept some secrets about the whole incident. Now back, pieces of the journal that she kept
This moody, atmospheric book moved with ease back and forth from the current time and to Jane's fateful senior year in the 1970s. Jane is a Latin teacher and Latin and the classics play a prominent role in the story, especially for symbolism. The story was somewhat predictable and I guessed major plot elements early, but the writing and suspenseful pacing was excellent. Jane was a well-drawn, very sympathetic character who it was very easy to like and get behind. Also, the wintry, frozen lake setting was especially well-written.
Show More
that year begin appearing, and Jane finds that the horrific events are replaying in the lives of her current students. This moody, atmospheric book moved with ease back and forth from the current time and to Jane's fateful senior year in the 1970s. Jane is a Latin teacher and Latin and the classics play a prominent role in the story, especially for symbolism. The story was somewhat predictable and I guessed major plot elements early, but the writing and suspenseful pacing was excellent. Jane was a well-drawn, very sympathetic character who it was very easy to like and get behind. Also, the wintry, frozen lake setting was especially well-written.
Show Less
LibraryThing member samfsmith
A literary mystery, which means that the quality of writing is higher than your average whodunit. The characterization is excellent, several generations of girls/women that are all students, teachers, or alumni at a private girl’s high school. The setting is also excellent, the Adirondacks of New
The plot revolves around a series of mysterious suicides of two generations of students. Or are they suicides? The plot is convoluted and complicated, but that is part of the charm of this novel. I highly recommend it.
Show More
York.The plot revolves around a series of mysterious suicides of two generations of students. Or are they suicides? The plot is convoluted and complicated, but that is part of the charm of this novel. I highly recommend it.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Sukisue7
Thoroughly predictable, and a bit slow in parts, but still a good read overall.
I wish I hadn't figured out who the culprit was so early on in the story, but I knew as soon as we met that person, and by the next chapter, I had figured out the whole back story too, which was a pity, as it ruined my
Some of the Latin ramblings bored me, but overall, I am interested in checking out more from this author. I love anything modern Gothic and coming-of-age, so a book that combines the two will always appeal to me. LibraryThing keeps on recommending 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt since I've added this book to my collection, but I'm a little reluctant to read it, having hated 'The Little Friend'
I wish I hadn't figured out who the culprit was so early on in the story, but I knew as soon as we met that person, and by the next chapter, I had figured out the whole back story too, which was a pity, as it ruined my
Show More
enjoyment of the book somewhat. Great moments of suspense were ruined for me, as I just knew what was going to happen. Maybe I just think along the same lines as Carol Goodman.Some of the Latin ramblings bored me, but overall, I am interested in checking out more from this author. I love anything modern Gothic and coming-of-age, so a book that combines the two will always appeal to me. LibraryThing keeps on recommending 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt since I've added this book to my collection, but I'm a little reluctant to read it, having hated 'The Little Friend'
Show Less
LibraryThing member Laiane
So what if this book is easy to "figure out." The use of language and imagery is excellent, and I will gladly re-read this -- and savor it -- in the future.
LibraryThing member la_femme_jennifer
Quite suspenseful and hard to put down at first, but towards the end it becomes kind of contrived, which was disappointing. Definitely a guilty pleasure, though- a perfect beach book.
LibraryThing member jaimjane
After three years of Latin in h.s. I was delighted to see someone use it in a novel. I knew nothing about the book or author when I picked it up and was pleasantly surprised at how good a storyteller Carol Goodman is. Yes, I knew what was going to happen but what does it matter when it is told so
Show More
well? I will definitely read more of her works. Show Less
LibraryThing member sakurakittycreatives
The Lake of Dead Languages is a romance novel junk thriller, perfect for someone who has never read a decent book. Everyone else will be sorely disappointed by this Secret History meets Flowers in the Attic rip-off. There are too many characters with multiple names, and an over abundance of
Show More
scooby-doo a-ha! moments. The Latin theme is a pathetic attempt at trying to make the book scholarly. The main character is an unsympathetic wimp, who makes June Cleaver look like a militant feminist. 400 pages of brain rot. Stay Away. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jennie_103
This has to be one of the best crime novels I have read in a while. It cleverly pulls the past into the present and merges the two but without leaving the reader confused.
It's about secrets and friendships, all central to being an adolescent girl, and how these affect the future when Jane comes
I will be searching out all of Goodman's books!
It's about secrets and friendships, all central to being an adolescent girl, and how these affect the future when Jane comes
Show More
back to the school to teach.I will be searching out all of Goodman's books!
Show Less
LibraryThing member blockbuster1994
I devored this story with guilty pleasure. Engaging story about girls from mostly priveleged families (although narrarator is on a scholarship) being shuttled off to boarding school who form tight bonds with eachother and their teachers.
Icy winters and a moaning lake add atmosphere. Characters are
Icy winters and a moaning lake add atmosphere. Characters are
Show More
developed in a somewhat predictable manner, but the story remains tight and compelling. Show Less
LibraryThing member goth_marionette
Overall a gripping book. This is the second I have read by the author and enjoy the characters that she creates. The ending of it seemed a bit forced and too coincidental for my tastes however. This is a great coming of age story with a dark past and present mystery thrown in for good measure.
LibraryThing member kkkoob
A contemporary gothic suspense set in a girls boarding school in upstate New York. Though the plot and characters are somewhat predictable, including a former student now a teacher. The story moves along with some compelling twists and turns. I especially appreciated the Latin references.
LibraryThing member AuntJha
Lake of Dead Languages was another book I knew nothing about when I picked up and loved it. Devoured it over 3 evenings, staying up way to late each night and then dreaming about the book as I slept. The story is devided into 3 parts, the first and the last are in the present (maybe late 90s) with
Show More
Jane returning to her former school to teach Latin after a complicated divorce. Flashbacks are used to tell the story of her senior year during the mid 70s when both of her roomates committed suicide. The middle section tells the complete story of her friendship with Matt and Lucy Toller and their attendance at Heart Lake. During the first portion of the novel I felt like part of the story was missing, but as I continued to read my questions were answered. I found the mystery compelling even although I identified the killer early in the story, and was on pins and needles until the end. There were enough aspects of suspense and surprise to keep me guessing. There were a few characters I felt were left under developed, particularly the schools head mistress (especially her relationship with Domina Chambers) and the main characters husband (Why did he grow to hate her?). I would have liked the killer to have been found responsible for the deaths of Matt and Lucy's Parents and their teacher, I felt like their deaths were suspicious and was waiting for a link to the killer that never came. All in all, a very satisfing read. Show Less
LibraryThing member debnance
I've seen this book compared to The Secret History, a book I loved. I enjoyed solving the mysteries of the book and I enjoyed the Latin words and phrases that added depth to the book.
LibraryThing member cassiopia_cat
After her marriage fails, Jane takes her young daughter Olivia back to the private girls academy where she attended as a scholarship student. Heart Lake School was the scene of the devastating tragedy of her life-the loss of both of her best friends to suicide. Jane hasn't been long back when
I was engrossed in the story by the second page and the pace didn't stop. I did figure out the twist fairly early on but it was still gripping and quite poignant. Somewhat Gothic in flavour I was sometimes sympathetic to Jane but then confused by her apathy to the current events and the past.
I can't wait to read another book by Carol Goodman.
Show More
history seems to repeat itself and strange yet familiarly eery events start to traumatize Jane. her daughter and some of her Latin students.I was engrossed in the story by the second page and the pace didn't stop. I did figure out the twist fairly early on but it was still gripping and quite poignant. Somewhat Gothic in flavour I was sometimes sympathetic to Jane but then confused by her apathy to the current events and the past.
I can't wait to read another book by Carol Goodman.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tryingtogetsomesleep
I enjoyed this book so much, I've actually read it four times. The mystery within the plot really had be quessing all the way to the end and the way that Goodman flashes back to the past pulls in the reader. It's a great book to have on a rainy day.
LibraryThing member jedisluzer
I picked this up from the "Local Book" shelf in Albany and didn't expect to get pulled so deeply into it! (I also thought it was a great title.)
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9780345450890
Physical description
432 p.; 5.55 inches
Pages
432