There was so much hype around this novel that I could not wait to get my hands on it. The cover popped out at me the first time I saw it, but if I am being honest, I don't know that I would have been in such a rush to read it if I had not kept seeing it everywhere...before it even released, no less! It was actually this title that inspired me to finally sign up for Book of the Month. I saw it advertised on Instagram and immediately clicked the ad, signing up!
A little background:
After a tragic event, Anna Fox, finds herself stricken with agoraphobia. This former child psychologist is suddenly a recluse, barricading herself in her NYC home, shuddering at something as harmless as an open window. She spends most of her days drowning her sorrows in [cases upon cases] of wine and watching old black & whites, all while doped up on a myriad of anti-depressants and other medications to help her cope with what is left of her life. Her favorite passtime, however, is spying on her neighbors. If you cannot be outside of your home, you might as well know everything that is happening outside of it...right?
When the seemingly cursed home across the street is inhabited by a new family, Anna is glued to the window anticipating their every move. The Russell family - Alistair (husband), Jane (wife), Ethan (son) - appear to be perfect...until they are not. When Anna spies a murder out her window one night, her world begins to unravel. It seems simple -- you see something bad happen, you report it, it get resolved -- but when no one believes her, a series of unfortunate events follow and it seems as though she may be the crazy one of the bunch.
What I thought of it:
I loved it! This book was seriously amazing; I enjoyed it from the moment it began. I was so drawn to Anna's beautiful mess of a life that I simply could not put it down. I did not entirely know what direction it was going until we were nearly there and I could not get enough of the constant wonder and suspense I was feeling throughout.
I love that it begins with a deeply personal introduction to Anna. For me, a good book comes down to one thing: character development. To feel any amount of that, you have to get to know them well...and quickly. Also, I am learning that I have a thing for unreliable narrators. They tell the best stories...am I right?
Another relatively unimportant aspect that I enjoyed was the diary-style setup. Did it matter how many days it took for this to unfold? Of course not, but it added yet another personal element to the story. It was easy to identify with Anna; to follow her life as if you were in it with her.
I focus on her so much, not only because she is the main character, but because I truly hated everyone else in the story. The characters were written perfectly, I just dislike them as people in general. Except the coffee shop guy (I cannot remember his name, sorry)...he was a good guy.
This is a story full of twists and turns; of shocking secrets revealed of all parties. The story is sweet and powerful, perfect and impossible to watch all at the same time. Yes, I said to watch. This is one of those books that you ultimately can see unfolding right before your eyes. A movie, if only in your own head.
Fair warning: You will miss Anna when you close the book at the end.
Needless to say, it lived up to the hype.
Have you read it yet?
Tell me, what did you think?
A little background:
After a tragic event, Anna Fox, finds herself stricken with agoraphobia. This former child psychologist is suddenly a recluse, barricading herself in her NYC home, shuddering at something as harmless as an open window. She spends most of her days drowning her sorrows in [cases upon cases] of wine and watching old black & whites, all while doped up on a myriad of anti-depressants and other medications to help her cope with what is left of her life. Her favorite passtime, however, is spying on her neighbors. If you cannot be outside of your home, you might as well know everything that is happening outside of it...right?
When the seemingly cursed home across the street is inhabited by a new family, Anna is glued to the window anticipating their every move. The Russell family - Alistair (husband), Jane (wife), Ethan (son) - appear to be perfect...until they are not. When Anna spies a murder out her window one night, her world begins to unravel. It seems simple -- you see something bad happen, you report it, it get resolved -- but when no one believes her, a series of unfortunate events follow and it seems as though she may be the crazy one of the bunch.
What I thought of it:
I loved it! This book was seriously amazing; I enjoyed it from the moment it began. I was so drawn to Anna's beautiful mess of a life that I simply could not put it down. I did not entirely know what direction it was going until we were nearly there and I could not get enough of the constant wonder and suspense I was feeling throughout.
I love that it begins with a deeply personal introduction to Anna. For me, a good book comes down to one thing: character development. To feel any amount of that, you have to get to know them well...and quickly. Also, I am learning that I have a thing for unreliable narrators. They tell the best stories...am I right?
Another relatively unimportant aspect that I enjoyed was the diary-style setup. Did it matter how many days it took for this to unfold? Of course not, but it added yet another personal element to the story. It was easy to identify with Anna; to follow her life as if you were in it with her.
I focus on her so much, not only because she is the main character, but because I truly hated everyone else in the story. The characters were written perfectly, I just dislike them as people in general. Except the coffee shop guy (I cannot remember his name, sorry)...he was a good guy.
This is a story full of twists and turns; of shocking secrets revealed of all parties. The story is sweet and powerful, perfect and impossible to watch all at the same time. Yes, I said to watch. This is one of those books that you ultimately can see unfolding right before your eyes. A movie, if only in your own head.
Fair warning: You will miss Anna when you close the book at the end.
Needless to say, it lived up to the hype.
Have you read it yet?
Tell me, what did you think?
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