Marianne Perry's Blog - Posts Tagged "a-j-finn"
the woman in the window by A.J.Finn
Book Notes:
the woman in the window by A.J.Finn
A thriller set in New York City, the woman in the window spans from October 24th to the end of December. Organized in one-hundred chapters, the action of several unfolds on specified days. The chapters are short and the plot moves fast.
Dr. Anna Fox is a thirty-eight year old child psychologist. Trapped in her home the past ten months, she suffers from agoraphobia; an anxiety disorder defined by fears of public places. Her recent affair caused marital discord. On the verge of separation, she, her husband, Ed and their eight-year old daughter, Olivia were involved in a horrific vehicular accident. The incident precipitated her current situation.
An alcoholic, she lives alone, talks regularly to her husband and daughter, watches old movies, counsels others via an on-line group and spies on her neighbors, the Russell family, who live across the street by using her camera. Believing she has witnessed the husband, Alastair murder his wife, Jane and their teenage son, Ethan endangered, Anna alerts the police. Given her mental condition and almost constant state of inebriation, the authorities doubt her testimony.
A, J. Finn explores universal themes including depression, loss, adoption, mental health, infidelity and post traumatic stress. His story resonates with twists and turns. On many occasions, the solutions I concluded to the dilemmas presented were proven false. With respect to surprises, I cite chapters forty-one, seventy-three and ninety-four in particular.
A. J. Finn also masters dialogue. He partners Anna's comments with internal monologue to reveal her jumbled and tormented state. Chapter sixty-six in its retelling of the vehicular accident serves an example of the author's vivid descriptive writing.
With respect to novel shortcomings, I felt Anna's drinking excessive in the sense the reader eventually numb to it. Perhaps less might have made it more effective character trait. I also believed it a stretch that given her constant inebriation, Anna able to have such detailed recall of certain events. And the final chapters drawn out and, as such, the drama diminished.
On a final note, I thought the selection of the surname “Fox” brilliant for a fox is a cunning, solitary mammal. Chapter one hundred is a satisfying and acceptable conclusion. Congratulations to A.J. Finn. This is a great read and I look forward to his future books.
Marianne Perry
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
www.marianneperry.ca
the woman in the window by A.J.Finn
A thriller set in New York City, the woman in the window spans from October 24th to the end of December. Organized in one-hundred chapters, the action of several unfolds on specified days. The chapters are short and the plot moves fast.
Dr. Anna Fox is a thirty-eight year old child psychologist. Trapped in her home the past ten months, she suffers from agoraphobia; an anxiety disorder defined by fears of public places. Her recent affair caused marital discord. On the verge of separation, she, her husband, Ed and their eight-year old daughter, Olivia were involved in a horrific vehicular accident. The incident precipitated her current situation.
An alcoholic, she lives alone, talks regularly to her husband and daughter, watches old movies, counsels others via an on-line group and spies on her neighbors, the Russell family, who live across the street by using her camera. Believing she has witnessed the husband, Alastair murder his wife, Jane and their teenage son, Ethan endangered, Anna alerts the police. Given her mental condition and almost constant state of inebriation, the authorities doubt her testimony.
A, J. Finn explores universal themes including depression, loss, adoption, mental health, infidelity and post traumatic stress. His story resonates with twists and turns. On many occasions, the solutions I concluded to the dilemmas presented were proven false. With respect to surprises, I cite chapters forty-one, seventy-three and ninety-four in particular.
A. J. Finn also masters dialogue. He partners Anna's comments with internal monologue to reveal her jumbled and tormented state. Chapter sixty-six in its retelling of the vehicular accident serves an example of the author's vivid descriptive writing.
With respect to novel shortcomings, I felt Anna's drinking excessive in the sense the reader eventually numb to it. Perhaps less might have made it more effective character trait. I also believed it a stretch that given her constant inebriation, Anna able to have such detailed recall of certain events. And the final chapters drawn out and, as such, the drama diminished.
On a final note, I thought the selection of the surname “Fox” brilliant for a fox is a cunning, solitary mammal. Chapter one hundred is a satisfying and acceptable conclusion. Congratulations to A.J. Finn. This is a great read and I look forward to his future books.
Marianne Perry
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
www.marianneperry.ca
