The Double Bind in Around the Year in 52 Books

Aug 09, 2016 Book Concierge rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio, books-about-books, mental-illness, concierge, library, photography, vermont

Audiobook performed by Susan Denaker

From the book jacket When college sophomore Laurel Estabrook is attacked while riding her bicycle through Vermont’s back roads, her life is forever changed. Formerly outgoing, Laurel withdraws into her photography and begins to work at a homeless shelter. There she meets Bobbie Crocker, a man with a history of mental illness and a box of photographs he won’t let anyone see. When Bobbie dies, Laurel discovers that he was telling the truth; before he was homele ...more

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Jun 28, 2007 Jaime rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2007, general-fiction

The first thing I did before I started this book was head to Wikipedia and read a summary of The Great Gatsby, since it’s been 12+ years since I read it, and it’s really an integral part of this book. I recommend that to anyone who picks this up.

I often start thinking about what I’m going to say about a book before I finish it. As I neared the end of this, my thoughts were “this wasn’t as good as Midwives or Water Witches“. Then, Bohjalian gives you a very M. Night Shyamalan-esque twist that com ...more

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Jan 14, 2009 Nancy rated it it was ok

Shelves: fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I had to rewrite this review because the more I think about it, the more this book annoys me. I wanted to like the book, I really did. I loved Midwives so had high hopes. But from the clunky way the characters from Gatsby were woven into the story, to referring to people by their occupation or other description as if pronouns were forbidden, to the attempt at a twist that I saw a mile away, it just wasn't a good book. Like others I have to wonder if an editor even looked at it.

One of the few po ...more

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Mar 04, 2008 Sue rated it it was ok

I had a hard time with this book. Chris Bojalian uses the Great Gatsby characters as if they were real people and the events depicted in the Great Gatsby really happened. I felt like this was pretty cheesy but I eventually bought into it for the sake of reading the story. The ending of the book has a real twist and I felt like Bojalian betrayed the reader with the ending. I felt a little conned by the whole thing.

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Jun 29, 2009 Debbie rated it liked it

Shelves: via-audio, 2010

Recently reread Gatsby...rumor has it that it's a good link to this one...will let you know!

Update...seems predictable about 1/2 way in...and the author refers to the "color" of things in 1922 pictures...not so believable. There are also these bizarre/unrelated rants interspersed.

In the very end, it comes together fairly well; however, it took too long... Not nearly as good as Midwives. ...more

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