The Almost Moon: A Novel
by Alice Sebold
Book Summary Information
Author: Alice SeboldEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2007-10-16
ISBN: 0316677469
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Book Reviews of The Almost Moon: A Novel
Book Review: Dark and dreary, indeed
Summary: 3 Stars
I borrowed the audio book from the library to listen to for company on my commute. I really wish I had just borrowed the book so I could have finished it in 2-3 days and didn't have to spend over a week with this character. I could not relate to Helen at all; she was self-absorbed, prickly, cold, and full of self-righteousness. I understood why she was that way, but that didn't make it easier to get through the story.
The main character wasn't the only problem. It was difficult to get through the narration--not because of the reader, who was excellent. It was difficult because of the constant shifting between past and present. It was impossible to stay with the story because as soon as it would start to gain momentum, there would be a flashback or a confusing change of scene. I could keep up, but I started not wanting to.
The author's intent seems to be to make you feel Helen's disappointment in life, her frustration and constant wishes for a better life/mother/husband/daughter/father/etc, her truly poor ability to make decisions. She seemed doomed to her fate; everything led up to her making her decision, whether it was out of mercy or the culmination of years of resentment--I just don't care enough about her to speculate. She's not like a friend or an acquaintance who makes me want to speculate about their fate or motivations. I just. Don't. Care.
The reason I gave it three stars is that Sebold really is a good writer and can pull off descriptive sections in a way that other modern writers can't. Though she does tend toward the choppy mundane on occasion, I think that was purposeful. It wasn't appealing at all, but there you go.
I'm only glad I didn't spend money on this one. Thank you public library system!! (If you choose to read it, I recommend the book if you're a fast reader and the audio book if you're not; just get through it.)
Summary of The Almost Moon: A Novel
A woman steps over the line into the unthinkable in this brilliant, powerful, and unforgettable new novel by the author of The Lovely Bones and Lucky.For years Helen Knightly has given her life to others: to her haunted mother, to her enigmatic father, to her husband and now grown children. When she finally crosses a terrible boundary, her life comes rushing in at her in a way she never could have imagined. Unfolding over the next twenty-four hours, this searing, fast-paced novel explores the complex ties between mothers and daughters, wives and lovers, the meaning of devotion, and the line between love and hate. It is a challenging, moving, gripping story, written with the fluidity and strength of voice that only Alice Sebold can bring to the page.
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