Review: DEFINED BY OTHERS by M.C.V. Eagan

“At forty-seven my perfectly organized life was suddenly disrupted, destroyed.” (11) Only one ideal word defined the moment: despondent. Even though the wake of a frenemy’s sudden death should make her feel alive, Anne still felt empty. “Enemies always attend the funeral of the fallen. It’s a way to show they’ve won.” (19)
Actually, Anne really didn’t have much against Amanda, especially since they haven’t spoken in over a decade. Still, it created a lot of questions for Anne. What defines us? Is there a word that defines certain moments? Throughout the book, that’s exactly what Anne does as she wagers with an unexpected inheritance and plays a little game.
The writing was clever and thought-provoking. The character seems to ponder the social hierarchy as she meddles and snoops around. I didn’t always understand the reasoning behind the characters’ motives. I mean, what was the whole point in all this?
Defined by Others certainly has a way of making the reader think, although the concepts can be widely varied.
A decent read.  
My rating: 3 stars