Audrey Niffenegger tackled a fantastical premise in The Time Traveler’s Wife, and she exceeded herself with Her Fearful Symmetry, which is, at heart, a ghost story.
Her story begins with the death of Elspeth Noblin, who bequeaths her London flat overlooking London’s Highgate Cemetery to her 20-year-old twin nieces, the daughters of her estranged twin. The twins move from America to claim their new home, embracing the adventure. In London, their lives intersect with others who dwell in their building – Elspeth’s lover, Robert; Martin, an OCD crossword-puzzler; and eventually Elspeth herself…
There are many disconcerting aspects of this novel, not the least of which is the fully drawn point-of-view character of a ghost. The omniscient narrative – an unusual choice for a 21st-century writer – also took some getting used to. As for suspended disbelief (spoiler alert!)... I was okay with the ghost, but I had more trouble believing that one twin would take her own life (albeit intending to be resurrected back into her body) in order to get away from her domineering twin.
I do wish Niffenegger had connected a few more dots as she wrapped things up. I like an author who trusts her readers’ intelligence, but a few of her concluding twists left me scratching my head. That said, Her Fearful Symmetry is a thoroughly intriguing book (if a more than a little weird) and the finale, while not hoped for, is nonetheless satisfying.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Look Again, book review
Look Again, a stand-alone novel by Lisa Scottoline (rhymes with fettuccine), is a departure for this prolific New York Times bestseller. She's built a formidable career penning legal dramas, notably the Rosato & Associates series.
But in Look Again, the protagonist is not an attorney but an ordinary working mom, Ellen Gleeson, who balances her dual roles as a feature reporter and single-mother. Two years before, Ellen embraced single parenthood willingly when, in the course of doing a feature story about NICU nurses, she fell in love with a sick baby boy abandoned by his parents. After adopting him and naming him Will, she brought him home, where life continued happily – until a Have-you-seen-this-child postcard catches Ellen eye. The featured child looks exactly like Will, and though she tries to banish questions about her son’s identity, her reporter’s curiosity won’t let her. Not even when the answers risk everything she holds dear.
From this novel’s first line, I knew I was onto something good. Its opening pages hooked me, its concluding ones satisfied, and everything in between captured my complete attention: the taut pacing, superlative writing, page-turning twists, and complex, real-life issues. In this novel, Scottoline proves her reputation as a best-seller by writing a novel that rises above the usual mainstream fare. What can I say? I really liked this book. Look Again is a story to be savored.
But in Look Again, the protagonist is not an attorney but an ordinary working mom, Ellen Gleeson, who balances her dual roles as a feature reporter and single-mother. Two years before, Ellen embraced single parenthood willingly when, in the course of doing a feature story about NICU nurses, she fell in love with a sick baby boy abandoned by his parents. After adopting him and naming him Will, she brought him home, where life continued happily – until a Have-you-seen-this-child postcard catches Ellen eye. The featured child looks exactly like Will, and though she tries to banish questions about her son’s identity, her reporter’s curiosity won’t let her. Not even when the answers risk everything she holds dear.
From this novel’s first line, I knew I was onto something good. Its opening pages hooked me, its concluding ones satisfied, and everything in between captured my complete attention: the taut pacing, superlative writing, page-turning twists, and complex, real-life issues. In this novel, Scottoline proves her reputation as a best-seller by writing a novel that rises above the usual mainstream fare. What can I say? I really liked this book. Look Again is a story to be savored.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Quality of Care, book review
I bought this book by Elizabeth Letts after reading another of her novels (Family Planning) and loving it. Quality of Care is Letts’ debut onto the publishing scene.
Though obstetrician Clara Raymond loves her work, her world is tipped upside-down the night a pregnant woman is admitted onto her delivery floor. To her astonishment, Clara discovers she’s Lydia, the estranged childhood friend who once saved her life in a shattering horseback-riding accident. With Lydia is her husband, Gordon – the man Clara once loved. Though Lydia’s complaints seem at first to be minor, the situation takes a catastrophic turn, leaving Clara to question her role in the outcome. The consequences of that night cause Clara to embark on a quest into her own past, which brings her at last to an unexpected peace.
Given the excellent writing in Letts’ other novel, I had high expectations for this one. But though her personal experience lends Letts a depth and breadth of knowledge to write from (she is both a practicing nurse-midwife and former competitive equestrian), I found that Quality of Care tried to be too many things at once. A medical suspense, a romance, an inspirational (that is, New Age)? Letts dabbled in all three genres, and while they can all belong together – and often do – I had the sense that this book lacked a grounding identity. Perhaps the problem stemmed from my inability to resonate with the protagonist. Many of Clara’s choices seem unlikely at best, and she fails to possess a credible gravitas I would expect of one in her profession.
In short, I was disappointed with Quality of Care, and though I still consider Family Planning a fine read, I will think twice before spending money on another of Letts’ novels.
Though obstetrician Clara Raymond loves her work, her world is tipped upside-down the night a pregnant woman is admitted onto her delivery floor. To her astonishment, Clara discovers she’s Lydia, the estranged childhood friend who once saved her life in a shattering horseback-riding accident. With Lydia is her husband, Gordon – the man Clara once loved. Though Lydia’s complaints seem at first to be minor, the situation takes a catastrophic turn, leaving Clara to question her role in the outcome. The consequences of that night cause Clara to embark on a quest into her own past, which brings her at last to an unexpected peace.
Given the excellent writing in Letts’ other novel, I had high expectations for this one. But though her personal experience lends Letts a depth and breadth of knowledge to write from (she is both a practicing nurse-midwife and former competitive equestrian), I found that Quality of Care tried to be too many things at once. A medical suspense, a romance, an inspirational (that is, New Age)? Letts dabbled in all three genres, and while they can all belong together – and often do – I had the sense that this book lacked a grounding identity. Perhaps the problem stemmed from my inability to resonate with the protagonist. Many of Clara’s choices seem unlikely at best, and she fails to possess a credible gravitas I would expect of one in her profession.
In short, I was disappointed with Quality of Care, and though I still consider Family Planning a fine read, I will think twice before spending money on another of Letts’ novels.
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