As 2016
commences, I am back with the program (a bunch of snow days helped with this),
and once more I’m participating in The Cephalopod Coffeehouse blog hop. This is
a gathering of readers who meet up once a month to discuss the best books we’ve
read in the past thirty days.
I have actually
read quite a few books this month, but the one that really sticks out in my
mind is a soon-to-be-made-into-a-motion-picture, best-selling novel entitled The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison.
The Silent Wife is deceptively simple. On the surface
it seems like any other story about a wife in denial of her husband’s
infidelities. But as the layers start to peel back, we learn that nothing is as
it seems. Todd may think he’s having his cake and eating it too, but as he
tries to make a life with his mistress, he realizes that the grass isn’t always
greener on the other side. As for Jodi, life without Todd is much harder than she
expected, and her resentment soon turns to deep bitterness that takes root in a
dangerous form.
My take: After
having read about a half a dozen of these things, I’ve decided I’m a huge fan
of the psychological thriller genre.
When I first
began reading this novel, I wasn’t sure I could finish it. The entire story is
written in present tense, although told in alternating points of view. Present
tense annoys me greatly. Quite honestly, neither of the characters are particularly
likable. Todd is clueless and spoiled; Jodi is cold and out of touch with her
own feelings. After the first chapter or two, I was sucked into the story and
forgot all about the present tense. And the plot is so simple, yet engrossing,
that even the character’s deep flaws didn’t bother me after a while (and I’m finding
nowadays that many novels contain unlikable protagonists). The bottom line? I
could not put this book down. It was absolutely compelling to read, and
although the basic premise is familiar, I still found myself wondering—what is going
to happen?
The story is
claustrophobic in a good way, if that’s possible. There really is very little
in the way of side plots. We get some insight into the mistress, her family and
issues, but the main focus is on these two people—their short comings and
emotions (or lack thereof).
A thriller and
domestic mystery (there is a twist to the plot) in the vein of Girl on a Train or Gone Girl, The Silent Wife
is by far the most riveting page-turner I’ve read this year. I give it four out of five quills.
Now run on over to these other great bloggers’ sites and check out their reads for the month!
What good books have you read this month?
