This week I read he's GONE by Deb Caletti. I admit that I read it because it's a Books a Million book club selection, and Sarah Addison Allen (author of Garden Spells) recommended it. It was a bit of a disappointment. Although well-written, I didn't care for the main character at all, and I'm the type reader that if I can't sympathize with the characters and like them just a little, I won't like the story.
Dani Keller is the other woman, first of all. She was married to a husband who beat her, and what does she do? Whom does she choose to have and affair with, to "save" her? Ian Keller, the control freak from hell. I kid you not, this is the dumbest woman in modern literature. Plus she has a daughter.
What has she taught her daughter?
1. It's okay if a man beats you. Deal with it.
2. When you decide you've had enough, have an affair with a married man with children.
3. But make sure you chose an OCD judgmental control freak who drives everyone crazy, including his business partner.
Basically the story is about Ian's disappearance one Sunday morning after a company cocktail party the night before. Dumbass Dani decides to pop a couple of vicodin before drinking lots of wine at the party, so she fights with Ian on their way home from the party and passes out in bed once they return home to their trendy Seattle houseboat. So of course her behavior makes her suspect #1 in the eyes of the police detective.
The plot follows about two weeks after Ian's disappearance. Told in Dani's point of view, she examines their marriage and realizes that it wasn't what she believed it to be. The reader notices right away that Dani has traded one type of abuse for another one. Okay......I really didn't need to know the intimacies of their totally messed-up marriage. Ian is a freak, and he collected butterflies for heaven's sake. Weird like the main character in The Collector by John Fowles.
Dani's license to date/cohabitate with men should be revoked.
I personally am happy that Ian is gone.
Did I mention how I really dislike this book?
I need something good to read. Please link-up!
Until next time...
Happy reading!
Ricki Jill
I hope your next book is more uplifting!
ReplyDeleteThat's good to know! I'm linked...I think. My pic doesn't appear clear. Sweet hugs!
ReplyDeleteI just finished Wild by Cheryl Strayed - non-fiction. It was a gift and I don't know if I would have purchased it. I am surprised that I liked it and that I liked the main character despite her behavior.
ReplyDeleteAhahahaha! I am the exact same way with books- I have ZERO patience for idiot (especially female idiot) characters with no arc. I'm so sorry this one was a disappointment. My mom is working on one right now that might be right up your alley! I'll let you know once she finishes it (she just started, and LOVED, the Flavia de Luce's series).
ReplyDeleteSomething good to read is on it's way!!
ReplyDeleteI am still trying to get through that sad lemon cake!!!
ReplyDeleteI love that you tell us the truth no matter what. I am compelled to finish a book once I start, (even a bad one) in the hopes of it somehow turning around at the end. I'll avoid that one and save myself some pain!
ReplyDeleteRight now I'm reading "The Midwife of Venice", I'm about half way and am loving it.
Hugs,
Patti
Ack! Dani and Ian sound dreadful.
ReplyDeleteI need to start linking up; I have so many books I wanted and planned to "review" at TBR, but just never got around to it. But is this for serious literature, or would my fluff and sometimes erotica be okay?
ReplyDeleteI hope your next read is better! I just saw this on another blog (in a mailbox post) and I thought it sounded rather interesting. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI'm so with you! If I don't like the characters I don't want to invest the time in the book. Life's too short to read bad books! I haven't had time to read more than a recipe lately :)
ReplyDelete