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Web of Angels

by Lilian Nattel (Goodreads Author)

3.6 of 5 stars 3.60 · rating details · 342 ratings · 95 reviews

Just as Jodi Picoult tackles controversial contemporary issues in her compelling domestic dramas, in Web of Angels bestselling novelist Lilian Nattel explores the vivid reality of what used to be called multiple personality disorder. A Vintage Canada trade paperback original.

On the surface of things, Sharon Lewis is a lot like any other happily married mother of 3: she is...more

Paperback, 368 pages

Published February 28th 2012 by Knopf Canada

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Jul 20, 2012 Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a book that you have to concentrate on right from the start because the number of characters that you get introduced to can get a little confusing. But thats the beauty of the story. I can only assume that it can be difficult and confusing for people living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) as is portrayed in this stunning novel. And strange how cycles of truth swirl around a person, I have also read "Secret Selves" by Jamie Johnson in the last year, which also deals with the iss...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Eric rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Before I read this novel, I knew nothing about a mental illness called DID or multiple. I feel sympathetic toward people with this illness, but at the same time, I am curious if this may actually be just another example of the western society’s apparent penchant for creating new mental illnesses by giving new names to human phenomena that are merely idiosyncratic parts of certain people’s personalities, rather than really being a disease.

Regardless of whether this illness is legitimate, I think...more Before I read this novel, I knew nothing about a mental illness called DID or multiple. I feel sympathetic toward people with this illness, but at the same time, I am curious if this may actually be just another example of the western society’s apparent penchant for creating new mental illnesses by giving new names to human phenomena that are merely idiosyncratic parts of certain people’s personalities, rather than really being a disease.

Regardless of whether this illness is legitimate, I think Nattel wanted to raise awareness that there are people suffering from this, and that there are pedophiles like Cathy’s parents, Debra & Rick, who seem normal from the outside but then are actually creeps who hide behind their computers and commit sexual crimes. But it was not very credible that Debra was a pediatrician and Rick was a university professor, because, in reality, I don’t think highly educated people, let alone highly educated couples, are very likely to be pedophiles, though I acknowledge that it can be anyone and such things don't necessarily have strong correlations with appearance, social status, occupation, and so on. The novel also seems to illustrate the tragic consequences that sexual abuse can have on victims' lives, which is nothing new, however.

I have long been wondering why pedophiles exist. If the answer is that they have been sexually molested themselves in their own childhood, then this can’t be the only possible cause because then what should be the cause for the history's very first pedophile? So there must be other possible causes. And I wonder if the current law set against pedophiles are justified or fair, because I felt some of them are just ridiculous. For example, in the novel, pedophiles, once convicted, are disallowed from going near or even touching children for certain period of time, if not for their entire lifetime. I wonder how much, if at all, the law sees such perpetrators as victims themselves, rather than just giving them a harsh treatment as if they’re monsters or criminals. Or perhaps they shouldn't be seen as victims or criminals in the first place, but rather this may just have to do with their individual personality which shouldn't be considered abnormal, though I find it difficult to understand how one can become sexually excited by children, who have very little or no sexual traits developed in the first place.

Overall, I didn’t like the novel. The characters & events were not very credible & realistic, the plot was uninteresting, and the subject matter was not something that was dear to my heart, at least at this point in time of my life.(less)

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Feb 17, 2012 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have never met Lilian Nattel, but I feel I know her. The rink where she skates. The sound of her kids' laughter. The way she sees the world in which she lives. The photographs that thrill her. I read and loved her international sensation, The River Midnight. I celebrated when her new book, Web of Angels, was bought by Knopf Canada. I was honored, a few short weeks ago, when a copy showed up in my mailbox. I opened to the first page. I was stunned by the opening lines. I thought I knew Lilian N...more I have never met Lilian Nattel, but I feel I know her. The rink where she skates. The sound of her kids' laughter. The way she sees the world in which she lives. The photographs that thrill her. I read and loved her international sensation, The River Midnight. I celebrated when her new book, Web of Angels, was bought by Knopf Canada. I was honored, a few short weeks ago, when a copy showed up in my mailbox. I opened to the first page. I was stunned by the opening lines. I thought I knew Lilian Nattel. But new books teach us new things about a writer's powers.

I have never read a book like this one. You haven't either. It's brave, unblinking, categorically generous despite a most heartbreaking subject matter. With Web of Angels, Lilian isn't just exploring dissociative identity disorder—a condition that affects far more "ordinary" human beings than I had previously known. Lilian is inhabiting the mind of a woman in whom multiples live, which is to say that she is teaching us what it is like when several personalities—male and female, young and middle aged—argue for space inside the same body.

Sharon Lewis lives in a pleasant Canadian community called Seaton Grove. She is a mother of three, a loved wife, a friend. For years she has battled back the divisions in her own mind, but when a pregnant neighborhood teen kills herself and secrets begin to unravel, Sharon Lewis unravels, too. She blacks in and out of the familiar and strange. She struggles to save the dead girl's sister from a terrible and too-familiar haunting. To save the girl, she'll have to reveal her true selves. She'll have to rely on them to help her piece together truth.

There are big themes in this book. Big ideas. But what makes the whole so spectacular is how Lilian cushions the ugly things inside a beautiful, resilient domestic world. As awful as the secrets are, Web of Angels thrives because of the way that Lilian tells the tale. Those searing household details. Those absolutely true snatches of conversation that happen among kids, between adults, inside the quiet of a therapist's room. It's not just the first page of this book that is so beautifully written. It's every page.

For example:

The baby's eyes were unfocused, her gaze not following theirs but open, large, taking in the light around objects as much as the objects themselves, for she was still closer to the source of life than the material world.

I know you want more. I will satisfy your craving:

Pipes rattled upstairs as water flushed down, flowing into larger pipes laid underground a hundred years ago when Seaton Grove's bylaws stipulated that no whole sheep or hogs or geese were allowed to run free in the streets on pain of a ten-cent fine. Before that the roots of a forest intertwined and Garrison Creek flowed between ferns. Now pipes connected the houses on either side, across the street, around the corner, their sewage led far away. That was how civilized people handled sh*t: pipe it; bury it. And they sacrificed the creeks, the streams, the living waters in order to do it, their land dry and quiet except for the sound of the sprinklers.

Web of Angels is due to be released in just a few weeks. I urge you to consider spending time with this novel, and while you wait, please spend time here, on Lilian's web site, where I learned a lot listening to Lilian talk about this real and painful disorder.(less)

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Jan 08, 2013 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-friends

This is a beautiful book and so very well-written. I didn't quite expect to be thrown in to the storyline so quickly, to be honest, the back of the book makes it sound much more gradual. Almost immediately you are thrown in to Sharon/Lyssa/Alec/Callisto/etc.'s world, trying to keep the personalities and characters straight. But it's wonderful to read, how Sharon deals with all of it and having to face her past and being a multiple, and how her family reacts in the face of dissociative identity d...more

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Jul 17, 2012 John C. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dissociative identity disorder (DID, also known as Multiple Personality Disorder in the ICD-10), is a psychiatric diagnosis. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) one of the essential features of Dissociative Identity Disorder is that at least two of these identities or personality states recurrently take control of the person's behavior (switching), between distinct personality states. These dissociated states routinely control behavior, and are often limi...more

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May 01, 2012 CJC rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 18, 2013 Reeka (BoundbyWords) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: to-read-2013, canada-eh

As seen on my blog:

CONFUSING. This book BEGS for a more tightly written story line. I understood the need for it to seem a little scattered overall, as to match the main character's lack of emotional and mental control, but whoa..it could have used a lot more structure. The subject matter is highly disturbing in this novel, and may not bode well for the faint of heart-I damn near lost of control of mine towards the conclusion.

Sharon suffers from a mentally complex disorder known as DID (dissociative identity disorder). At first, I mistakenly thought this was going to be similar to those suffering from schizophrenia, but it turned out to a HELL of a lot more confusing. I was lost from pretty much the first page. I got through it by slowing my pace, and paying closer attention to when Sharon changed into one of her alter personalities-there was warning, but very little. Aside from that aspect, which I am I not faulting-it was just a little hard to follow-the story line happening outside of Sharon's mind was just as choppy. I felt like as the reader, we were were only following the perspective of Sharon, and her "multiples."-like we were only allowed inside of HER head. I would have liked to delve deeper into the minds and story lines of the side characters, particularly her husband, Dan. I really enjoyed his sincerity and patience, and would have loved to know what was going on in his head.

Abuse, especially when physical or sexual, is always something I have a hard time getting through, and I think the author did a great job of exposing the horrible details of truth in a more subtle, yet impactful, way. I only wish the first half moved as quickly as the last. It was pretty clear what the twist was from very early on, but the author stretched the mystery for longer than necessary. I also found some of the details to be a little unrealistic, especially what some others have pointed out in their reviews: the similarities between Sharon and Cathy were just too spot on. How likely is it that you have an exact life double living just next door? I could have done without some of the poetics in this novel. I appreciate the research and thought that the author put into it, but I just wanted more meat and less mind fluff.

This was not an easy read, and not just in the sense that it was a little hard to follow, but the content was stomach turning. I would recommend this to those who are curious to know of the real life demons lurking within our society. This book was a work of fiction, but the ideas were taken straight from our own backyards. (less)

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Jul 23, 2012 Stacey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Web of Angels was a book club selection, and I'm not sure why, but I was expecting something a lot lighter than what this novel delivered.
Im not one to shy away from heavy reading, but due to some of the graphic descriptions in this book, I wish I'd had a heads up.

That being said, this novel is very well executed. If you have ever wondered what it must be like living with DID (aka multiple personality disorder), look no further. I suspect this is a very accurate portrayal.

I did find the beginn...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Borrowed this book from my mother before she had the chance to read it. The book still had it's book shop sticker on it.

After I read about 5 pages, I didn't want to give it back to her. I was haunted. I did not want her to read this book.

At points, the prose is clumsy. I felt as though I knew what was coming in this story long before the author had actually gotten to the impetus for the events of the story as they are told. I was expecting it, and I was prepared for the depravity. I think I mig...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Lynn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

The Web of Angels protaganist has DID Disassociate Personality Disorder or what a layman would refer to as multiple personalities. The split occurred because of severe abuse as a child. Sharon Lewis is functioning as a normal adult now. She has a husband, three kids, and lives in a tight knit community. Sharon is the earth mother, looking after everyone's needs. She feels especially responsible for children. When the pregnant sister of her son's girlfriend shoots herself, Sharon's world is rocke...more

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May 31, 2012 Pamela Detlor rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Some books grab you by the throat from the first sentence: Web of Angels is one of those books.
Bestselling Canadian author, Lilian Nattel delivers an original story wherein the main character (Sharon Lewis) seems like an every-day, married, mother of three; until the suicide of a pregnant teen reveals some dark truths, including Sharon’s own secret.

Sharon has DID: “dissociative identity disorder,” formerly known as multiple personality disorder. The trauma of Heather Edwards’ death has stirred t...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Jane Ann McLachlan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Web of Angels by Lilian Nattel is a fascinating and well-researched novel about Sharon, a seemingly normal mother-of-three who happens to have DID, Dissociative Identity Disorder, or what many think of as multiple personalities. The suicide of a young girl, Heather, who is known to the family, causes Sharon's multiple personalities to emerge as the story unfolds. Slowly Sharon's alternate personalities reveal that Heather's sister, Cathy, may also be in danger. Sharon must confront the reality o...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

For some, the subject matter within this story may be difficult to read. Ms. Nattel has written with honesty and respect without over dramatizing. The main premise is a woman, Sharon, having the courage to 'come out of the closet' as a multiple (challenged with DID) within her family. As a result, she is able to recognize and help a young girl, Cathy, also with multiples who is suffering from the same type of childhood Sharon lived through, sexual child abuse.

Lilian Nattel wrote the story in suc...more For some, the subject matter within this story may be difficult to read. Ms. Nattel has written with honesty and respect without over dramatizing. The main premise is a woman, Sharon, having the courage to 'come out of the closet' as a multiple (challenged with DID) within her family. As a result, she is able to recognize and help a young girl, Cathy, also with multiples who is suffering from the same type of childhood Sharon lived through, sexual child abuse.

Lilian Nattel wrote the story in such a way the reader can glimpse how a family, at first, would be confused and frustrated coping with a multiple person. Over the course of the story not only the characters but also the reader gradually recognize each of the many people within the one body. I found this confusing at first, but upon completion of reading the story, I now understand how effective it was for Ms. Nattel to write her story in this manner.

The story begins with a violent, heart-breaking suicide of a young neighbour girl, Heather, who is pregnant. Heather's mother, Debra, is a doctor. She performs an emergency caesarian to save the baby. The whole neighbour hood is devastated but the parents of the girl and her sister, Cathy, seem to be 'holding up' and coping remarkably well.

Gradually the real story is revealed. Sharon's son, Josh, befriends Cathy who comes over to the house as often as her parents allow. It is within Sharon's family and home where Cathy is able to be a 'normal' teenager.

Heather's violent death triggers the emergence of Sharon's multiples. As the family, especially Sharon's husband, show total acceptance towards Sharon and her 'others', they are able to overcome their terror and ingrained self-protection to become emancipated. As they begin to feel 'safe', Sharon is able to recognize the nightmare Cathy is living.

The story evokes many emotions within the reader: horror, disbelief, anger, chagrin, cynicism, empathy, fear, love, joy, humility, hope, compassion and more. Ms. Nattel has given the reader the gift of awareness of the real world. Web of Angels is a good read.

(less)

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May 05, 2013 Marg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

WOW! The mind is an amazing organ and reading this novel has opened my eyes even more to the fascinating abilities the brain has to save and protect the people who own them. This is not a book for the faint hearted or those with weak fortitudes when it comes to discussions about the sexual abuse of children. There are damaged people in this world who don't deserve to be within 50 miles of children, let alone give birth to them. Unfortunately, there are characters like that within this book. But...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Christine rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars, but I am rounding up!

This was a powerful story about a woman with dissociative identity disorder. I was amazed at how all her multiples worked together, and how and when she switched. It was really interesting to me that most people that Sharon knew did not know that she had DID, and how she was able to function and interact so that she seemed like her 'normal' self to other people.

This book became even more interesting when Sharon was finding out about Heather and Cathy's situation....more

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Sep 27, 2012 Shirley rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book on the plane today. The flight seemed too short as I was do engrossed with it. It is a tough book to read in some parts , dealing as it does with childhood abuse. However, the author handles it with both honesty and grace so you don't feel it exploits the pain of the children. Her depiction of DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) is not sensationalized. Once you get used to the characters, inside and outside, it becomes quite easy to tell who is who by their style of speaking an...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Cindy Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book...

I liked the book overall however,

It was very slow agonizing reading for at least the first 50%. Then the book got interesting and started to take off. As I got nearer to the end the book began to be the way I had expected the entire book to be like. I rocketed through the last 20%. I could not put it down as I had to know what was to become of the perps!

Main character has MPD/DID. Secondary character was main character's son's girlfriend whom also it was discovered has DID. DID is us...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Camy rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book I had to read for the next book club meeting at City Hall. I really struggled with this one - it was troubling, difficult to read and the story disturbing for me. It made me think of the HBOO show The United States of Tara. Without spoiling it for others, I was relieved when I completed the book and I am able to mark it as read. It is not that I am not willing or afraid to delve into intense and tough subject matter - this one just bothered me too much and maybe that is the impact of t...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Gail rated it 5 of 5 stars

Right from the first sentence, Web of Angels is astonishing, shocking, loving. Lilian Nattel leads us in an exploration of how our communities cope with deep heartache, the loss of our young, and how we, as individuals, cope with trauma and the communities we carry within ourselves. Step into this novel and you will find yourself submerged; wake from it, and you will find yourself transformed. Web of Angels is a rare gift, perfectly named; within this novel, Lilian Nattel has offered us the work...more

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May 10, 2013 Allie marked it as to-read

Shelves: week-to-read

I picked this book up on a whim, I thought the book was about loss & death and was intrigued. Well, after buying it and reading some reviews, I discovered that it was about a woman with Dissociative Identity Disorder, "DID" - a subject that I only know about from a high school psychology course & watching "The United States of Tara" (which is not exactly a lot of education on the subject). This book took a little while to get into, you do have to pay attention to it and I wasn't instantl...more

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May 29, 2012 Tamye rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: family-drama, fiction-adult, published-in-2012, in-collection, random-house-canada, signed-by-author, canadian-author, for-fans-of-jodi-picoult, read-in-2012, for-fans-of-emma-donoghue

This book tells the story of Sharon Lewis, by all accounts, a typical suburban wife and mother. The secret Sharon is hiding is that she has a psychological disorder (DID) where the person has multiple personalities. No one seems to realize that she has DID.

The author deals quite skillfully and sensitively with the multiple personalities. There is quite a contrast between the perception of a normal domestic life and what actually happens behind closed doors in this story.

I enjoyed reading this bo...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was disturbing in the sense that the author brought to light some of the awful things that can occur to children who trust the adults that are caring for them. There was times I wanted to cry and would have to go and give my girl's hugs and be thankful that the will never be exploited in the same way that the the main character was. Besides the above issues I found the writing to be quite compelling and difficult to put down. I wanted to see how the different personalities were going t...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Francois Houle rated it 3 of 5 stars

I had never heard of DID before I read this novel. It was a bit difficult at first keeping track of all the personalities but eventually I got it. And then I was able to enjoy how well the story was written although the subject matter of child abuse is always hard to handle (being a parent). If you are looking for something light to read, this isn't it. But if you want a well written story that will make you feel a bit uncomfortable but leave you hopeful, give it a try.

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Jun 03, 2012 Jean rated it 5 of 5 stars

I listened to an interview with the author while driving to an appointment. I kept repeating the title and author's name until I reached my destination so I could write it down. When I returned home I downloaded the book onto my e-reader and read it that night. I found it to be a haunting and rivetting story I couldn't put down. I found some passages so emotionally disturbing that I skim read them. I have recommended this book to friends and members of my book club.

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Apr 13, 2012 Reagan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. There were some parts that I found were a bit confusing....bumpy patches....they didn't quite fit with the rest of the book. The writing style seemed a bit inconsistent. I may go back and re-read those parts to see if they become clearer to me. Parts of the end of the book felt rushed to me. Overall I was fascinated by the way the reader learned about how the main character's personality had been fractured and how the character functioned.

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Sep 10, 2012 Barb Donkersgoed rated it 3 of 5 stars

After the confusion regarding characters was resolved (at least in my brain), I enjoyed this book... Just not quite able to give it a 4 star rating. Would I pass this books on? YES

This book does have deep topics, which some may find offensive; sometimes it is good to open our eyes to that which we are not aware of on a personal matter. Is the ending a little too perfect? Yes, but then again, this is only a work of fiction.

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Oct 25, 2012 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

This read, once past the first couple of chapters was really good, it took time to understand where the story was going and what was happening, but once that was done, wow! couldn't put it down....Not at all what I expected...Really good viewpoint of DID (Dissociative identity disorder)
I don't generally read covers as I find they give to much away...so wasn't really aware that's what the story was about...
Really enjoyed!

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Aug 22, 2012 Lori Johnston rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 29, 2012 Sheila rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was a real eye opener for me. The story was way beyond anything I ever read before. I had no idea things like this go on around me. I know it has changed me. It has opened my eyes and broken my heart. Thank you Lilian Nattel for writing this story. I highly recommend it to everyone. The more people that know about this the more people there will be out there to stand up and stop it.

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Apr 17, 2012 Agnes rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

This book was outstanding! I was riveted from the first page. The story centres around Sharon, a devoted and loving mother, also happens to have DID as a result of a traumatic childhood. When tragedy strikes again, it is the DID that allows her to not only cope and survive but help other. It was a fiercly beautiful portrayal of motherhood and the author handled the extrememly difficult subject matter compasionatly and full of sensitivity. Highly recommended!

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About Lilian Nattel

Women's friendship and courage, the way history unfolds in the present, and the redemptive power of sharing secrets - these are my themes. I see literature as a partnership between author and reader. I put my vision on the page and you, the reader, bring to it your own perceptions, experiences and insight. Together we create a new book with each read. And this journey together can continue through...more

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