Title: A Stranger in the House
Author: Shari Lapena
First published July 27, 2017
305 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780735221123 (ISBN10: 073522112X)
Rating: 3.68
Overview
From the bestselling author of The Couple Next Door comes a gripping domestic thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat. In this quiet suburban neighborhood, danger lurks just around the corner.
When Karen Krupp disappears without a trace, her husband Tom is left to unravel the mystery of her sudden vanishing. But as Tom delves deeper into Karen’s past, he discovers secrets she’s kept hidden from him – secrets that could put them both in danger.
As the police investigate Karen’s disappearance, Tom begins to question everything he thought he knew about his wife. With every twist and turn, A Stranger in the House will keep you guessing until the very end.
Editoral Review
Rebecca Solnit’s The Faraway Nearby is a poignant and introspective reflection on the nature of storytelling and the human experience. Published in June 2013, Solnit’s work is a collection of interconnected essays that explores themes of loss, identity, and the power of narrative.
Solnit, an American writer, historian, and activist, is known for her insightful and nuanced perspectives on issues of social and cultural significance. In The Faraway Nearby, she delves into personal experiences, weaving them seamlessly with literary allusions and cultural critiques.
The work is an exquisite blend of genres, including memoir, history, and philosophy, making it a unique and captivating read. The book opens with Solnit reflecting on her mother’s decline into dementia and the subsequent emotional turmoil she experiences.
From this starting point, Solnit takes the reader on a journey that traverses diverse landscapes, both physical and emotional, from Iceland to the Arctic, from cancer wards to Buddhist monasteries. Throughout the journey, she explores the interconnectedness of our experiences and the stories we tell, drawing on real-life events and literary works to illustrate her points.
Solnit’s prose is poetic and evocative, full of vivid descriptions that bring the reader into the heart of the story. She captures the essence of loss, love, and growth with a keen sense of emotional depth that resonates with the reader.
The characters she portrays are complex and multifaceted, imbued with a sense of humanity that is both relatable and awe-inspiring. One of the strengths of The Faraway Nearby is its ability to bring seemingly disparate themes and stories into a cohesive narrative.
Solnit masterfully weaves together musings on fairy tales, the history of cancer treatment, and Buddhist philosophy, among other things, seamlessly blending the personal and the universal. The result is a mesmerizing work of art that speaks to the human condition with a sense of grace and insight that is both provocative and insightful.
However, while The Faraway Nearby is an impressive work, it is not without its limitations. At times, Solnit’s philosophical musings can become a bit overwhelming, bordering on didacticism.
Some readers may find her use of literary allusions and references to be overly dense or esoteric. Still, these minor flaws do not detract from the overall power and beauty of the work.
In conclusion, The Faraway Nearby is a profound and thought-provoking work that explores the nature of storytelling and the human experience with an eloquence and insight that is rare in contemporary literature. Recommended for readers who appreciate a deeply introspective and eclectic work that challenges conventional thinking and offers new perspectives on life, love, and loss.
4.5 out of 5.
