I read this as being a part of buddy read, and am excited to discuss it tonight. In 2001, we moved from Singapore to Boston, and it was the first time I was exposed to the New England culture. I finished reading it last week, but needed time to process it. To be honest, the story is so provocative that I am still thinking about how to articulate my feelings about the story.
Set in Emerson, Massachusetts in an affluent community, this immersive page turner is a story of social justice, power, and influence. At the heart of it, the question asked is how far would you go to protect your child? But, the answer is not as simple as what the meets eye. A young girl, Eden Perry, has been found murdered, which leads an investigation into the lives of three teenagers: Hannah, Jack, and Christopher. Each parent manages their own complicated and secretive lives.
What I perhaps did not expect, which I considered powerful moments in the novel: the subplot of Patrick and the loss of his daughter, Gabbi, and the immigrant othered narrative of Christopher and his father, Michel - an immigrant family of French Catholics. Throughout the novel, the mention of the Lebanese Civil War added an additional dimension to the tension of the novel. Then, there were the mothers - Alice, Danielle, and Cece who had their own complex relationships. Another novel, which I highly recommend and has been popular among students about the Lebanese Civil War is Rawi Hage’s De Niro’s Game - which if you haven’t read will add another layer to this propulsive novel.
The novel therefore explores the following themes: power, social justice, sexual violence, addiction. And, it is one that you should read. It’s such a moving story about such pivotal subjects that I honestly don’t feel comfortable rating it! If I would, it is a definite five stars ⭐️! This book is excellent for book clubs!
Set in Emerson, Massachusetts in an affluent community, this immersive page turner is a story of social justice, power, and influence. At the heart of it, the question asked is how far would you go to protect your child? But, the answer is not as simple as what the meets eye. A young girl, Eden Perry, has been found murdered, which leads an investigation into the lives of three teenagers: Hannah, Jack, and Christopher. Each parent manages their own complicated and secretive lives.
What I perhaps did not expect, which I considered powerful moments in the novel: the subplot of Patrick and the loss of his daughter, Gabbi, and the immigrant othered narrative of Christopher and his father, Michel - an immigrant family of French Catholics. Throughout the novel, the mention of the Lebanese Civil War added an additional dimension to the tension of the novel. Then, there were the mothers - Alice, Danielle, and Cece who had their own complex relationships. Another novel, which I highly recommend and has been popular among students about the Lebanese Civil War is Rawi Hage’s De Niro’s Game - which if you haven’t read will add another layer to this propulsive novel.
The novel therefore explores the following themes: power, social justice, sexual violence, addiction. And, it is one that you should read. It’s such a moving story about such pivotal subjects that I honestly don’t feel comfortable rating it! If I would, it is a definite five stars ⭐️! This book is excellent for book clubs!