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When in Broad Daylight I Open My Eyes
Whom do you trust when nothing is as it seems? In the aftermath of her mother’s sudden death, psychologist Maria Petros confronts disturbing questions.What is the secret society that her mother frequented? Who is the philosopher Maria meets in a therapy session, and why is he pursuing her with such vigour? As she delves into her mother’s strange life, she finds herself seduced . . . and facing grave danger.When in Broad Daylight I Open My Eyes is set in a familiar yet sinister Cape Town. It explores, in evocative and erotic fashion, the extent to which people prey on one another.
258 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Greg Lazarus
3 books8 followersGreg Lazarus is the pen name of husband-and-wife writing duo Greg Fried and Lisa Lazarus.
Greg is a philosopher at the University of Cape Town. He teaches various topics, including the philosophy of mathematics and the history of philosophy. Currently Greg’s research is in social choice theory, which deals with methods of reaching collective decisions.
Lisa is a psychologist and freelance writer. She has Master’s degrees in educational psychology and creative writing, and a higher diploma in education. She has written for publications including Men’s Health, Femina, Shape, Cosmopolitan, Cape Town’s Child, Psychologies, and Mail & Guardian. Lisa tutors Magazine Journalism, Feature Writing and Memoir Writing for SA Writers’ College. The blog on the home page is written by Lisa.
The couple have co-written a psychological thriller, When in Broad Daylight I Open My Eyes (Kwela, 2012) and a memoir, The Book of Jacob: A Journey into Parenthood (Oshun, 2009). Their latest book, Paradise, will be published by Kwela in May, 2014.
Greg is a philosopher at the University of Cape Town. He teaches various topics, including the philosophy of mathematics and the history of philosophy. Currently Greg’s research is in social choice theory, which deals with methods of reaching collective decisions.
Lisa is a psychologist and freelance writer. She has Master’s degrees in educational psychology and creative writing, and a higher diploma in education. She has written for publications including Men’s Health, Femina, Shape, Cosmopolitan, Cape Town’s Child, Psychologies, and Mail & Guardian. Lisa tutors Magazine Journalism, Feature Writing and Memoir Writing for SA Writers’ College. The blog on the home page is written by Lisa.
The couple have co-written a psychological thriller, When in Broad Daylight I Open My Eyes (Kwela, 2012) and a memoir, The Book of Jacob: A Journey into Parenthood (Oshun, 2009). Their latest book, Paradise, will be published by Kwela in May, 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 17, 2012
*contains mild spoilers*
When In Broad Daylight I Open My Eyes has in common with Lauren Beukes’ Zoo City the authors’ use of ordinary South African realities to extraordinary effect. Whereas Beukes chose Hillbrow as the setting for her dystopic fantasy, here it is a suburban Cape Town haunted by the possibility of violence; both familiar and infinitely sinister. As in life, the story plays out in the shadow of the Mountain: not here the sunny icon of a million postcards but rather a malign presence emblematic of Cape Town’s bloody past and present.
The novel unfolds through the experiences of two deeply unreliable narrators, an amoral philosopher and a psychologist who is herself at the centre of an emotional storm. Through their mingled stories the authors explore the role of force, deceit and manipulation in sexual relationships, elegantly posing a series of essential questions: may we use others to pursue our own pleasure? What forces make us what we are? Can we ever escape our origins, or are all our apparent choices made for us by circumstances? The novel also coolly considers female ambivalence towards pregnancy, and the uncertain redemption offered by parenthood. For all that the pace never slackens, with several satisfying plot twists and a genuinely shocking conclusion. The result is half erotic thriller, half novel of ideas, but wholly convincing.
When In Broad Daylight I Open My Eyes has in common with Lauren Beukes’ Zoo City the authors’ use of ordinary South African realities to extraordinary effect. Whereas Beukes chose Hillbrow as the setting for her dystopic fantasy, here it is a suburban Cape Town haunted by the possibility of violence; both familiar and infinitely sinister. As in life, the story plays out in the shadow of the Mountain: not here the sunny icon of a million postcards but rather a malign presence emblematic of Cape Town’s bloody past and present.
The novel unfolds through the experiences of two deeply unreliable narrators, an amoral philosopher and a psychologist who is herself at the centre of an emotional storm. Through their mingled stories the authors explore the role of force, deceit and manipulation in sexual relationships, elegantly posing a series of essential questions: may we use others to pursue our own pleasure? What forces make us what we are? Can we ever escape our origins, or are all our apparent choices made for us by circumstances? The novel also coolly considers female ambivalence towards pregnancy, and the uncertain redemption offered by parenthood. For all that the pace never slackens, with several satisfying plot twists and a genuinely shocking conclusion. The result is half erotic thriller, half novel of ideas, but wholly convincing.
August 17, 2013
The cool, controlled yet peculiar behaviour of the main protagonists can't but hold your attention. I liked the strange impulse the philosopher Kristof has, where he moves the gecko to the bathroom. Then later I liked the way the psychologist views this, first as a joke, next she gives it a more sinister interpretation. The references to the Bosch painting sprinkled throughout the book are particularly apt, referring to evil and its existence. The shifting ways people's actions may be interpreted, according to how you assess their motives, were shown clearly, making you feel you were looking through a kaleidoscope, almost, and I particularly enjoyed the way the little pieces of the puzzle fell into place right near the end. Very lekker.
February 1, 2014
Haunting! The music that pops up again and again in the story is Rothko Chapel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxSt_w...) and is the perfect soundtrack for a sinister tale of deception and abuse. Well written with characters that you can never quite get a good grip on. I couldn't stop reading this one.
December 31, 2017
I struggled to get into the book, but the second half of the book really held my attention and was very fast paced. The ending was unexpected, which is to be commended. I did not really LIKE any of the characters though I was invested to know what happened. I liked the references to different spots in Cape Town, it was described well and made the book all the more realiastic and believable for me.
It is a quick and easy read, I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for something they can sink their teeth into without having to concentrate too hard. A sophisticated fast paced thriller. I gave it 3 stars because the first part of the book did not hold my attention as well as the second part and because I did not feel like any of the characters resonated with me nor were very likeable for that matter.
It is a quick and easy read, I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for something they can sink their teeth into without having to concentrate too hard. A sophisticated fast paced thriller. I gave it 3 stars because the first part of the book did not hold my attention as well as the second part and because I did not feel like any of the characters resonated with me nor were very likeable for that matter.
October 20, 2017
Loved this book, once it got going it was a real thriller. The style of writing did not give away the real plot or story line until the last page, when I got my "ah ha" moment.
July 11, 2012
I have to laugh. The moment I tried to explain to my friends what the title of the book I’m reading was I couldn’t. So I just kept saying “this really cool book with the very long title”. And I said as much on my Twitter feeds until the author chimed in and suggest I should just call this novel WIBDIOME. I had to laugh. Yes, When in… has a Very Long Title.
Long titles aside, Greg Lazarus is the name for the talented husband-and-wife writing duo, Greg Fried and Lisa Lazarus. And, as if to echo the main characters in this novel, Greg really is a philosopher and Lisa a psychologist. So, when I cracked open the book I suspected I was going to be in for a thought-provoking work of fiction. I’m happy to report my initial opinion wasn’t disproved.
Set in Cape Town, When in… is told from the dual perspectives of Maria, a psychologist, and Kristoff, a philosopher. Without giving spoilers, these two begin a carefully choreographed dance around each other as readers are gradually drawn into their worlds.
But Maria and Kristoff’s tales plays out against a bigger backdrop—of Maria’s mother’s story. Claudia was a prominent astrologer linked to a mysterious esoteric order, and whose motivations for committing suicide aren’t immediately clear. Her relationship with her daughter seems almost ambivalent, and when the dark past is revealed, no less tragic.
Maria finds that, even beyond the grave, that her mother has an impact on her life, a fact that she resents but finds herself unable to avoid.
Kristoff, at a glance, is cold and manipulative, and appears to gain great pleasure out of toying with women’s emotions. As the story progresses we discover why he engages in such casual cruelty. As a reader, at times, I wanted to slap the man for being the way he is, yet although some of his actions are morally reprehensible, he is nonetheless fascinating to observe.
In conclusion, When In… is a novel about power, and the games people play with each other, both inside and outside the bedroom. The authors’ combined style offers fast-paced and crisp prose, which kept me guessing right until the end. Although there were one or two points where I felt they withheld viewpoint character information a bit too much, they successfully communicate sinister, simmering tension and a sting in the tail that made me gasp.
Long titles aside, Greg Lazarus is the name for the talented husband-and-wife writing duo, Greg Fried and Lisa Lazarus. And, as if to echo the main characters in this novel, Greg really is a philosopher and Lisa a psychologist. So, when I cracked open the book I suspected I was going to be in for a thought-provoking work of fiction. I’m happy to report my initial opinion wasn’t disproved.
Set in Cape Town, When in… is told from the dual perspectives of Maria, a psychologist, and Kristoff, a philosopher. Without giving spoilers, these two begin a carefully choreographed dance around each other as readers are gradually drawn into their worlds.
But Maria and Kristoff’s tales plays out against a bigger backdrop—of Maria’s mother’s story. Claudia was a prominent astrologer linked to a mysterious esoteric order, and whose motivations for committing suicide aren’t immediately clear. Her relationship with her daughter seems almost ambivalent, and when the dark past is revealed, no less tragic.
Maria finds that, even beyond the grave, that her mother has an impact on her life, a fact that she resents but finds herself unable to avoid.
Kristoff, at a glance, is cold and manipulative, and appears to gain great pleasure out of toying with women’s emotions. As the story progresses we discover why he engages in such casual cruelty. As a reader, at times, I wanted to slap the man for being the way he is, yet although some of his actions are morally reprehensible, he is nonetheless fascinating to observe.
In conclusion, When In… is a novel about power, and the games people play with each other, both inside and outside the bedroom. The authors’ combined style offers fast-paced and crisp prose, which kept me guessing right until the end. Although there were one or two points where I felt they withheld viewpoint character information a bit too much, they successfully communicate sinister, simmering tension and a sting in the tail that made me gasp.
December 15, 2013
Those who rate this book rate themselves: there is no greater novel written for these reasons:
(1) No book excels it in the elegance of its style.
(2) In the intelligence it repays in the reader.
(3) In the importance of its main subjects: philosophy, psychology, astrology, sexuality and romanticism.
(4) In readability.
(5) It's written specifically with the most intelligent readers in mind, without compromising this level in order to attract a larger audience. Compare Dan Brown's 'Angels and Demons': a most excellent book in ideas and facts, in character, but degenerates halfway into a long, drawn-out, infantile 'thriller'-type chase through Rome: an obvious concession to a hopefully wider readership. I had to stop reading, my patience was exhausted. This will NOT happen to intelligent readers of WIBDIOME.
(1) No book excels it in the elegance of its style.
(2) In the intelligence it repays in the reader.
(3) In the importance of its main subjects: philosophy, psychology, astrology, sexuality and romanticism.
(4) In readability.
(5) It's written specifically with the most intelligent readers in mind, without compromising this level in order to attract a larger audience. Compare Dan Brown's 'Angels and Demons': a most excellent book in ideas and facts, in character, but degenerates halfway into a long, drawn-out, infantile 'thriller'-type chase through Rome: an obvious concession to a hopefully wider readership. I had to stop reading, my patience was exhausted. This will NOT happen to intelligent readers of WIBDIOME.
April 28, 2013
Bit weird. An easy read. Plenty of twists and an unexpected ending (to me). Set in Cape Town so has a familiar feel.
Read
July 28, 2013Bought this on the Kindle. Prefer not to do that with books from RSA, but when I examined a copy at a friend's home, I worried about the size and my wrists.
Pretty cover.
Pretty cover.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews