3 ½ stars Tough one to describe - you've got a rape victim, the mystery surrounding a homeless man and "The Great Gatsby" all mixed in...mental illnes3 ½ stars Tough one to describe - you've got a rape victim, the mystery surrounding a homeless man and "The Great Gatsby" all mixed in...mental illness a big part of it and there’s this weird blurring of reality and fiction, guess I’ll tag it physiological suspense. A survival mechanism, we all do it, avoid confronting problems by throwing our energy into just about anything else - ah the tantalizing lure of distraction. Physically healed but with psychological wounds to painful to confront “Sometimes a forgiving memory was the only way to get by” she's obsessed with Bobbie’s mysterious past, a gentle man who walked into the shelter announcing “Honey, I’m home…less!” , and died leaving nothing behind but his brilliant photographs. I got her connection with him, two damaged, discarded people - Bobbie by society, Laurel by her rapists. Understood her determination to push others to respect him despite his mental illness as also an attempt at self-healing, a way of clawing back her own self worth. Doesn’t matter if you loved or hated “The Great Gatsby”, trust me this doesn’t romanticize the characters and its inclusion makes an odd sort of sense. “The Great Gastsby is a book, in part, about broken people, their lies and distortions: the lies we live consciously." Bottom-line it’s readable & imaginative, liked its sensitive portrayal of the homeless. There is this feeling of unease about it though, worked for me but absolutely a matter of taste. Cons: Sometimes bogged down by repetitiveness and I swear Bohjalian’s deliberately confusing at times! Warning: Graphic rape passages precariously straddle that exploitive line. Thought it important to the storyline so okay with it - you decide.
“Yeah, that was Bobbie Crocker. While some old codgers are playing golf in Fort Lauderdale, he was summering behind a Dumpster on Cherry Street and spending his winters in the state mental hospital.” ...more
Ignore the crappy cover, title & blurb; this was one important book in it's day. The story of Francine Hughes became a rallying cry for a growing moveIgnore the crappy cover, title & blurb; this was one important book in it's day. The story of Francine Hughes became a rallying cry for a growing movement to change domestic violence laws. Ranks divided on the verdict, ‘she got away with murder’ or ‘justice was served’, everybody had an opinion…whatever. More significant than the verdict was that people were finally talking, it couldn’t be swept under the rug anymore. Read it so long ago that I can't honestly comment on the writing style. I do remember being riveted and one haunting detail; the day she snapped he had forced her to burn all her secretarial text books because he couldn’t tolerate an ‘educated’ wife.
Interesting, published over 20 yrs ago and I’m still finding it listed on DV Intervention sites. Anyway, please don’t just write it off as dated drivel. Think of it as a turning point for change.
Yes this reads like a soap opera, how else could you hope to portray life in a small New England mill town? It’s pretty typical, everyone knows everyoYes this reads like a soap opera, how else could you hope to portray life in a small New England mill town? It’s pretty typical, everyone knows everyone’s business, social hierarchies are rigid and all ‘outsiders’ are suspect. Timeline is the 70’s but it could just as easily be taking place today.
In her debut novel Strout shows herself a master at building multi-layered characters, warts and all. Amy is a shy, insecure and socially inept teen - the perfect target for a sexual predator. Enter the math teacher, the account of his seduction methods are really chilling; this is one manipulative SOB you’ll want to kill - slowly and painfully. Isabelle’s character is probably the most interesting. Personal secretary to the boss, she’s disdainful of her fellow mill workers, but being a single mom is herself excluded from the town’s white collar elite. And she has her own demons to contend with, self induced loneliness compounded by the realization that her own youth is slipping away. Granted she’s bitter and controlling, but doing her best to raise her daughter well, a daughter whose sexual awakening pushes her over the edge. (view spoiler)[ Terrified the story will leak and upset their fragile standing in the community she reacts in anger rather than with sympathy. Communication breakdown - resentful silence - stalemate. There are lots of layers – Isabelle has a crush on her married boss, Amy on her teacher, looking for a father figure anyone? (hide spoiler)] Add to this a host of fascinating minor characters each dealing with their own baggage; Dottie and Fat Bev are adorable.
Absorbing, entertaining & believable, this came close to a 5 star rating for me. Dropped a star for 2 reasons 1: the predictability of the ending 2: her decision not to introduce a single likeable / sympathetic male character. Let’s be real Ms. Strout, they do exist:) ...more
Florence (Lefty)
>
Books:
womens-issues
(27)
Loading...
