The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold

The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold
Fiction

All her life, Helen's life has been affected by her mom. Helen always knew her mom was different from others, but only when her mom watched a boy die on their street after being hit by a car without rushing to help did Helen realize why. Her mom has an undiagnosed mental illness. This illness caused her mom to stay inside for years at a time, causing Helen to grow up much faster than she should have and putting tremendous stress on her father.

The book starts with Helen killing her mother and what happens in the next 24 hours as she remembers her relationship with her mom, kids, ex-husband, best friend, and neighbours. For an author that has written characters that are extremely easy to connect with, that certainly wasn't the case with The Almost Moon. I didn't even understand where the characters were coming from until half way through the book, let alone EVER connect with them. Parts of the book are cringe-worthy in how unhealthy some of the relationships were.

To be honest, I can't say I fully understood this book. Perhaps the characters were too deep and the relationship too intense for me. I can understand why some people may like this book, but it just wasn't to my tastes.

First Line: "When all is said and done, killing my mother came easily."

Rating:

(2.5/5)

The Almost Moon

The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold
Literature

This is a very troubling book. It all takes place in the span of 24 hours after Helen murders her mother. Helen's mother, Clair is mentally ill and very demanding on her daughter. She also suffers from agoraphobia, the fear of leaving your own home. When a neighbour calls Helen to tell her that her mother does not even recognize her, Helen goes over to find her mother sitting in her own waste. What is she to do? Well, her solution is murder.

Helen is far too controlled. The events that follow are really not believable. The book is written in the first person but it is too literary for that and the fact that Helen is trying to come to terms with what she has done. Sebold does develop the characters very well. The relationship between Helen and her parents and their relationship is very complex and the reader is pulled in. I have loved Sebold's previous two books but didn't like this one much.

First Line: "When all is said and done, killing my mother came easily."

Rating:

(3.0/5)

Lucky

Lucky by Alice Sebold
Non-Fiction

From the Publisher
Enormously visceral, emotionally gripping, and imbued with the belief that justice is possible even after the most horrific of crimes, Sebold''s compelling memoir of her rape at the age of 18 is a story that takes hold and won''t let go

A disturbing book!!! The account of the rape is detailed and quite vivid. Sebold's determination is admirable. The justice system is also shown in all its goods and bads. How can a line-up be handled like it was? I found it quite callous in how both Lila and Alice treated each other and their lack of mutual understanding. Alice also seems to forego any sort of therapy and I believe that is why she has trouble later. This is a tale of a very strong young lady to whom the ultimate personal tragedy happened

Rating:

(4.0/5)