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Living Dead Girl
After his estranged wife disappears, a husband returns to the remote lake house where their young daughter died, and he soon loses his grip on reality.
Paul Luden has been haunted by a memory he can't recall. Whatever happened to his marriage, to his two-year-old daughter, is too traumatic to remember, so his unconscious has chosen to block out key details. But when he receives a phone call from the small lake town where they'd lived, telling him that no one had seen or heard from his wife in ten days, he knows what he has to do.
He and his nineteen-year-old girlfriend drive from L.A. to Washington State where he's forced to confront his past. And as he pieces together his buried memories, Paul unravels mentally, falls into self-destructive trances and ultimately discovers the truth about his wife.
Paul Luden has been haunted by a memory he can't recall. Whatever happened to his marriage, to his two-year-old daughter, is too traumatic to remember, so his unconscious has chosen to block out key details. But when he receives a phone call from the small lake town where they'd lived, telling him that no one had seen or heard from his wife in ten days, he knows what he has to do.
He and his nineteen-year-old girlfriend drive from L.A. to Washington State where he's forced to confront his past. And as he pieces together his buried memories, Paul unravels mentally, falls into self-destructive trances and ultimately discovers the truth about his wife.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
28 people are currently reading
361 people want to read
About the author
Tod Goldberg
35 books573 followersTod Goldberg is the New York Times bestselling author of sixteen books of fiction, notably the acclaimed Gangsterland quartet: Gangsterland, a finalist for the Hammett Prize; Gangster Nation; The Low Desert, a Southwest Book of the Year; and Gangsters Don’t Die, an Amazon Best Book of 2023 as well as a Southwest Book of the Year. Other works include The House of Secrets, which he co-authored with Brad Meltzer, and Living Dead Girl, a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His short fiction and essays have been anthologized widely, including in Best American Mystery & Suspense and Best American Essays, and appear regularly in the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and Alta. Tod Goldberg is a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside, where founded and directs the Low Residency MFA program in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing Arts. His next novel, Only Way Out, will be released this fall from Thomas & Mercer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
September 30, 2015
Ugh. This ending left me so... Blah. I wanted to really like this book because it had me so worked up and then the ending knocked me down. I think the author really could have made the ending better. Instead of Bruce killing Molly he could have had it where Bruce kidnaps Molly and hides her claiming her ex killed her and have him framed. I wanted a bigger and better ending. :/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2016
This is the sort of book that I personally liked very much, but due to the heaviness of the subject matter and general bleakness it would be tough to recommend. Suffice to say you have to be in the mood for it. And yet, if you are, this tale of love and madness might resonate for you. It's exceptionally well written, Goldberg utilizes sparse prose to great effect, the economy of words only maximizes the emotional wallop. The basic plot is a man comes to investigate the disappearance of his estranged wife. As the story progresses, the readers becomes clued into the past through flashbacks, which makes the present all the more confusing, particularly due to the ultimate unreliable narrator, although here it isn't a trick. The narrator, our protagonist, is actually unhinged and is gradually becoming exponentially more so. He is a soul torn apart by grief, love lost and faulty brain chemicals to the point of not being able to distinguish facts from fiction and the readers are meant to try to figure out the events through his distorted point of view. By definition (and the fact that it was published by SOHO crime) this is probably a psychological thriller, although definitely more of the former than the latter. Goldberg's main strength here is his emotionally intelligent, precise and authentic psychological portrayal of the sort of madness wherein reality becomes an uncertain slippery concept. The murder mystery aspect is very much secondary. This slender novel was a quick read, but far from light, the page count belied the weightiness of the story. I enjoyed it very much. Recommended for fans of psychological fiction.
October 25, 2015
Paul and his ex wife may have killed their daughter. Maybe they didn't(?)
Now, ex wife is missing and Paul may have killed her. Or maybe not (?)
Paul is mentally unstable and has blackouts, so, did he hurt his wife? Where is she?
I liked the plot, I liked truly not knowing where ex wife was, and I do like a great deal of psychological intrigue, but some things were kind of implausible for me, I couldn't connect with any of the characters, especially Paul (ugh, I hated Paul), and his never ending inside-his-head ramblings were too much!
Now, ex wife is missing and Paul may have killed her. Or maybe not (?)
Paul is mentally unstable and has blackouts, so, did he hurt his wife? Where is she?
I liked the plot, I liked truly not knowing where ex wife was, and I do like a great deal of psychological intrigue, but some things were kind of implausible for me, I couldn't connect with any of the characters, especially Paul (ugh, I hated Paul), and his never ending inside-his-head ramblings were too much!
December 8, 2008
It is hard to recommend a book that you know is going to make the reader uncomfortable. It came to my attention by an expert in the field of book talking. She was offering titles that might appeal to young adults, but are not traditionally thought of as teen titles. Those of any age who like books about mental illness or about those who have not always made the best decisions will enjoy this offering. From the beginning chapters, one is allowed into the mind of this troubled man and taken on his journey to find his missing wife. The presence of his teen girlfriend, his obsession with his past life, and his memory loss makes it difficult to "like" this character. This is not a cozy mystery, but a disturbing glimpse into the life of a conflicted soul.
August 22, 2013
Book got a lot of good reviews but I found the never ending monologue of a man trying to come to grips with reality and his place in the universe tiresome.
March 15, 2011
There are few more disturbing books that I've read. I felt insane myself by the end and my mind is still swimming. I feel like the addiction this man has to his missing wife is the same addiction the reader feels for this book, it's more than a page-turner, it quite literally sucks the reader in.
This book is about a man's journey to find his missing ex-wife with his 19-year old girlfriend in tow. His mind is fragmented and the reader sees the story through this disturbed mind. All of the lives around him are deeply affected, including his own missing ex-wife as well as his 19-year old girlfriend. However, as usual, nothing is quite what it seems. There are no likable characters and I think that's a good reflection of the isolation this man feels because no one in his life, including himself, is faultless. His love for his wife (or ex) is so great it drives him and aids this insanity.
This book is about a man's journey to find his missing ex-wife with his 19-year old girlfriend in tow. His mind is fragmented and the reader sees the story through this disturbed mind. All of the lives around him are deeply affected, including his own missing ex-wife as well as his 19-year old girlfriend. However, as usual, nothing is quite what it seems. There are no likable characters and I think that's a good reflection of the isolation this man feels because no one in his life, including himself, is faultless. His love for his wife (or ex) is so great it drives him and aids this insanity.
January 3, 2013
Wow. I picked up this book because the author has a fantastic podcast, Literary Disco (http://www.literarydisco.com/), and I was curious. It turns out to be a literary thriller at its page-turning best. I don't want to write too much for fear of spoilers, but it is a story that draws you in, lets you think you have some grasp of what's going on and then slowly reveals that really, you (and the main character) have no idea. Good stuff.
July 26, 2014
A little gem of a book. This goes way beyond genre fiction -- particularly so for the disappearance sub-genre of the larger suspense genre -- to make a claim to real literary status.
And it packs an extra little kick at the end with a better "twist" than its literary ambitions would lead many authors even to attempt.
And it packs an extra little kick at the end with a better "twist" than its literary ambitions would lead many authors even to attempt.
December 15, 2020
Living Dead Girl follows the mysterious circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the estranged wife of Paul Luden, a manic/depressive and mentally ill anthropology professor who dissociaties as a coping mechanism to escape his inability to comprehend the universe. Goldberg writes in a purposely confusing manner in order to put the reader in Luden's confused shoes- after all, he can't remember what has happened to him. Unfortunately, Luden's voice comes off as smarter/holier-than-thou and as a result, he becomes an unlikable protagonist. The book is only 190 pages long and by page 160, I felt my patience wearing thin with him and was tempted to set down the book.
If Luden's obsession with his ~science~ and ~life experience~ wasn't cringe-worthy enough, the sudden solving of the crime is enough to seal the deal.
Unfortunately, I do not recommend.
If Luden's obsession with his ~science~ and ~life experience~ wasn't cringe-worthy enough, the sudden solving of the crime is enough to seal the deal.
Unfortunately, I do not recommend.
March 25, 2019
I liked this book so much that I read it in one sitting. I think some of it may have gone over my head though. A teacher of anthropology at a community college in Los Angeles has some mental heath and memory challenges mostly having to do with his failed marriage and his daughter. When he receives a call from the town where he had lived with his wife stating that she is s missing, he and his nineteen year old girlfriend drive up to see if he can figure out where his wife might be. As straightforward as that sounds, it is anything but. The book is very well written and there is loads of information regarding anthropology and theories of such things as ontology begets philology type stuff, all very interesting, but mainly you find yourself interested in why he can’t remember things and what those things might be. The mystery in and of itself is very good. The protagonist and his artist wife/ ex-wife are absolutely fascinating.
December 1, 2019
The jacket blurb calls this a “murder mystery”, but I would disagree. There is a missing wife and a dead child, and Goldberg has recently written crime novels. Even the publisher, Soho, specializes in crime fiction. But this novel keeps building to a mystery but never gets there. It is more a study of relationships and madness, and, as such, it is excellent — both very well written and plotted. This is very much worth reading, and there is a mystery at the bottom of it all that’s finally unraveled.
July 24, 2023
A mystery that focuses on some heavy family issues, including abortion, miscarriage, the death of a young child, parental guilt, divorce, and suspicion. The story is filled with lots of heartfelt reflection that endears us to the narrator. There are a few coincidences in the plot twists, but the story keeps you guessing and engaged.
April 26, 2022
I was glad it was short, because I didn't feel like I could take much more of his odd ramblings about his place in the world. I was hoping it would all culminate to a more satisfying ending, but I was rather let down.
August 15, 2022
This book was so good. i’ve just recently started reading again & anytime i was free i NEEDED to pick this book up. it was a very quick read & it really helps when the author keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time
April 17, 2016
In the beginning of 1CLiving Dead Girl, 1D Tod Goldberg 19s anthropology professor protagonist, Paul Luden, is driving his gregarious cutie-pie girlfriend up from L.A.in a rental car towards an isolated lake deep in the woods of Washington state. She is taking in the changing autumn colors and the smoky taste of damp wood, formulating her ideas out loud for an original screenplay she 19s been thinking about for a long time, like something out of 1CDelieverance, 1D or a David Lynch movie, she says, and from the little we know about these two characters, we might expect signs of some horrific, sadistic, homosexual nightmare to come, but that would be too predictable. As for Paul, who has gotten word that his estranged ex-wife has gone missing from the cabin the couple once lived in (three years to the day following the mysterious death of their daughter), he 19s balancing his grief for mistakes gone by with a hard, unyielding erection for his young, half-his-age companion. We watch for his guilt-driven nervous breakdown, but that would be too Jewish.
What the author does for us instead is lead us through a series of medicated flashbacks, cutbacks and blackouts to the dark edge of a Pacific Northwestern lake to take a prolonged look deep below the suface. We see fairly soon in the novel that there will be nothing more frightening in the woods or in the water than what is already deeply embedded in Paul 19s soul. He is a sick, tortured man who talks to his own shadow, draws true-to-scaled models of his daughters organs, and every now and then tries to rip his heart right out of his chest with his bare hands. Let 19s not forget: He 19s still an anthropolgist and a scholar. He analyzes his troubled condition coldly and scientifically that he is 1Cpart of the small percentage of men who must hurt themselves to control his anxiety. 1D
1CLiving Dead Girl, 1D is a psychological thriller that details Paul 19s nightmarish struggle with the death of his daughter who apparently died of natural causes at a very early age
We think. Or did she? We also learn that Paul loved his wife more than anyone could possibly believe. Or did he? The Goldberg plot that evolves from the missing ex-wife is as fragmented as Paul 19s personality. Since his earliest childhood memories, Paul has believed that he was genetically predisposed to hold his emotions in. His doctor told him worse: 1CYou depersonilze yourself until things seem distorted and unreal. That 19s dangerous.. 1D
That 19s dangerous, of course, when it is this same deep seated psycho that happens to be the narrator of Living Dead Girl.
In a sense, we rely on Paul 19s twisted vision for leading us to the dead bodies. Goldberg has created us a point of view right out of Dosteyefski, a Jim Thompson pulp fiction novel and/or a broken kaliedescope. As Pauls tells his story we learn that he is deep into a Zoloff program to reduce fits of stress-induced hyperventilation, but that is now.
When he was younger, he was the kind of cold blooded killing machine that had spent his time inventing experiments in eighth grade science lab that involved peeling the skin of pigs eyes and running water through the hearts of dead cats. Obviously he is a man of deep and severe contradictions 13 after all, he is the one that bravely initiates the search for Molly, and appears willing to withstand all scrutiny and overcome all obstacles. Molly is his one love. His angel. On the other hand, this same guy is the one who is plagued throughout the novel by recurring images that darken his consciousness like a blood stains that won 19t completely wash out- this is the guy that from one moment to the next sees himself running barefoot through a forest with his own dead baby in his arms...
The problem for Goldberg, then, is to convince the reader to stick around to the end of the novel. How can you possibly sustain a mystery if there is no mystery? After reading the first ten pages of the novel, every one with half a brain has to know that there are no limits for what Paul could do. Everyone can surmise that he is exactly the type of asshole who could kill the one he loves.
Sherriff Drew, a wizened back country sherriff, knows it. He 19s got his eye on him from the moment he arrives, and he arrests him nearly twenty four hours. There is Paul 19s old reliable buddy from out of the past, Bruce Duper, who he trusts with the safety of his ex wife, possibly because she once said that 1Che was no smarter than the fish he caught. 1D But Bruce is more than a good neighbor, he has a secret knowledge to the ups and downs of Paul 19s troubled marriage. He knows what Paul is capable of and treats him the same way you would treat a pet cobra. Well sure, there is Ginny, Miss Navel Ring, but we find out he doesn 19t have any real feelings for her one way or the other. He just takes her along for good bang to steady his nerves when he needs it.
The only ones that don 19t know Paul is sick are Molly and Katrina. They are dead.
What the author does for us instead is lead us through a series of medicated flashbacks, cutbacks and blackouts to the dark edge of a Pacific Northwestern lake to take a prolonged look deep below the suface. We see fairly soon in the novel that there will be nothing more frightening in the woods or in the water than what is already deeply embedded in Paul 19s soul. He is a sick, tortured man who talks to his own shadow, draws true-to-scaled models of his daughters organs, and every now and then tries to rip his heart right out of his chest with his bare hands. Let 19s not forget: He 19s still an anthropolgist and a scholar. He analyzes his troubled condition coldly and scientifically that he is 1Cpart of the small percentage of men who must hurt themselves to control his anxiety. 1D
1CLiving Dead Girl, 1D is a psychological thriller that details Paul 19s nightmarish struggle with the death of his daughter who apparently died of natural causes at a very early age
We think. Or did she? We also learn that Paul loved his wife more than anyone could possibly believe. Or did he? The Goldberg plot that evolves from the missing ex-wife is as fragmented as Paul 19s personality. Since his earliest childhood memories, Paul has believed that he was genetically predisposed to hold his emotions in. His doctor told him worse: 1CYou depersonilze yourself until things seem distorted and unreal. That 19s dangerous.. 1D
That 19s dangerous, of course, when it is this same deep seated psycho that happens to be the narrator of Living Dead Girl.
In a sense, we rely on Paul 19s twisted vision for leading us to the dead bodies. Goldberg has created us a point of view right out of Dosteyefski, a Jim Thompson pulp fiction novel and/or a broken kaliedescope. As Pauls tells his story we learn that he is deep into a Zoloff program to reduce fits of stress-induced hyperventilation, but that is now.
When he was younger, he was the kind of cold blooded killing machine that had spent his time inventing experiments in eighth grade science lab that involved peeling the skin of pigs eyes and running water through the hearts of dead cats. Obviously he is a man of deep and severe contradictions 13 after all, he is the one that bravely initiates the search for Molly, and appears willing to withstand all scrutiny and overcome all obstacles. Molly is his one love. His angel. On the other hand, this same guy is the one who is plagued throughout the novel by recurring images that darken his consciousness like a blood stains that won 19t completely wash out- this is the guy that from one moment to the next sees himself running barefoot through a forest with his own dead baby in his arms...
The problem for Goldberg, then, is to convince the reader to stick around to the end of the novel. How can you possibly sustain a mystery if there is no mystery? After reading the first ten pages of the novel, every one with half a brain has to know that there are no limits for what Paul could do. Everyone can surmise that he is exactly the type of asshole who could kill the one he loves.
Sherriff Drew, a wizened back country sherriff, knows it. He 19s got his eye on him from the moment he arrives, and he arrests him nearly twenty four hours. There is Paul 19s old reliable buddy from out of the past, Bruce Duper, who he trusts with the safety of his ex wife, possibly because she once said that 1Che was no smarter than the fish he caught. 1D But Bruce is more than a good neighbor, he has a secret knowledge to the ups and downs of Paul 19s troubled marriage. He knows what Paul is capable of and treats him the same way you would treat a pet cobra. Well sure, there is Ginny, Miss Navel Ring, but we find out he doesn 19t have any real feelings for her one way or the other. He just takes her along for good bang to steady his nerves when he needs it.
The only ones that don 19t know Paul is sick are Molly and Katrina. They are dead.
December 7, 2017
It’s rare that I can’t put a book down. Tod Goldberg’s writing was fantastic. I got completely lost in the story & characters. Already ordered 2 more of his books.
May 24, 2018
Suspenseful & disturbing psychological drama. The twist at the end wrapped things up a bit too quickly & neatly, but otherwise I’d recommend this book.
May 6, 2020
Felt like a word vomit monologue of a ‘crazy’ man-child? I’m left wondering what I even just read?
July 1, 2022
I liked the way he writes, direct and simple. It’s just that the ending feels like it’s rushed and unsatisfying. All that build up and with that ending. It’s just blah.
Want to read
April 29, 2024This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2025
Another stellar book by Tod. Page turner that kept me guessing. Quick read with heavy subject matter. But overall a great book.
April 26, 2011
First of all there is way to much that isn't going on in this book. It is all thoughts really with some dialog but it seems like a man just rambling. I'm not sure if the author was aware of certain things. Basically the main character says at one point regarding a bottle of Paxil saying it is an anti depressant which is correct then when he sees a bottle of Xanax he states that it is another anti depressant which is not true. But later he states that his wife always had Valium or Xanax which are both anti anxiety meds suggesting that he does know the difference between the two. So I'm not sure if the author knew and slipped up or did not know. Either way call me picky but the character had a wife with mental illness and the main character had mental illness as well so I felt it was rather important to get those details correct. There was also the issue of the main character being arrested and jailed for three days. In these three days he is prescribed Zoloft. Already after only 3 days he can now remember things that he had suppressed and that were made clear because the medication was working. Zoloft does not start to work and make impact after 3 days. It is most common 2 weeks and sometimes a few days off of 2 weeks if you are lucky. Anything short of that is not possible. Never mind that for his mental condition Zoloft would not be anything that was given. There is also no way that a person would be given any new medications or even see a doctor from being in a small town jail for a few days. These services are not available in his condition. If they were concerned about his mental state he would have been transferred before anything happened. So those errors really got to me mostly because you are meant to believe this man is intelligent and knows a bit about psychological problems. I mean him and his wife suffered. I did not care for the ending. I almost felt like a twisted sort of hero is the killer thing would have been so much better then the flat thing of it being Bruce. I just didn't like it. Overall that is the reasoning behind my one star. I would have gave it 2 but I really was put off by the errors. Again maybe I am picky.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2013
Mystery authors have the right to follow whatever narrative style they like, but then the readers have the right not to like the style chosen. This is the case with my reception of Tod Goldman's "Living Dead Girl". In this novel the narrator has all information already at the very beginning of the plot, yet the information for the reader is carefully rationed so that we are allowed to learn little by little about what happened in the past, and it is only by the end of the novel that we finally are told everything. I find this narrative structure quite annoying and at times I have focused more on guessing why a particular tidbit from the past is revealed than on following the plot.
Paul Luden, an anthropology professor from a Los Angeles area community college, learns that his estranged wife, Molly, is missing. Paul drives to Washington state, to the house where he and Molly used to live in. Paul's young girlfriend, a student from the college he teaches at, accompanies him. We begin to learn about deeply traumatic experiences that Paul and Molly have gone through. In addition, bipolar disorder is involved and some rather disturbing medical stuff. In one of strangest fragments of non-horror mystery prose I have ever read we learn about tumors that have proven not to be tumors but much worse.
This is a heavily psychological mystery. I have limited first-hand experience of mental illness, but from the little I know the novel realistically portrays mood disorders and other dimensions of "not-quite-sanity". Mr. Goldman's writing is competent even if there is a bit too much histrionics. The plot is interesting and the weird pathology stuff leaves a strong impression. It would be a much higher rated book for me if not for the irritating structure of narration. Readers who are not bothered by the narrator not telling them what he or she knows might rate this novel much higher. In fact, the book was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
Two and a quarter stars.
Paul Luden, an anthropology professor from a Los Angeles area community college, learns that his estranged wife, Molly, is missing. Paul drives to Washington state, to the house where he and Molly used to live in. Paul's young girlfriend, a student from the college he teaches at, accompanies him. We begin to learn about deeply traumatic experiences that Paul and Molly have gone through. In addition, bipolar disorder is involved and some rather disturbing medical stuff. In one of strangest fragments of non-horror mystery prose I have ever read we learn about tumors that have proven not to be tumors but much worse.
This is a heavily psychological mystery. I have limited first-hand experience of mental illness, but from the little I know the novel realistically portrays mood disorders and other dimensions of "not-quite-sanity". Mr. Goldman's writing is competent even if there is a bit too much histrionics. The plot is interesting and the weird pathology stuff leaves a strong impression. It would be a much higher rated book for me if not for the irritating structure of narration. Readers who are not bothered by the narrator not telling them what he or she knows might rate this novel much higher. In fact, the book was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.
Two and a quarter stars.
July 17, 2015
I guess you can say almost all of my reviews would include something like "This book made me feel in ways I can't even explain and more." But truer words have never been said before.
The first time I saw this book, I knew I wanted to have it. It doesn't really suit the books I've been reading lately but I knew, for sure, I wanted to read it. Too bad I had to sacrifice it. Too bad I had to hand it for someone else to buy. I've been regretting that decision ever since.
But this book. THIS BOOK. This shred my heart to pieces, slowly and painstakingly. I thought this book would be about a man's journey to finding peace. Partly, it was and MORE. This was more than just a book printed on the pages of paper. This was a story floating in the air, inhaled by my mind and then, my heart. This is the kind of book you have to read before you understand what I am trying to say.
This is a story of true love, under the wrong circumstances.
One sentence: I painfully love this book to death.
The first time I saw this book, I knew I wanted to have it. It doesn't really suit the books I've been reading lately but I knew, for sure, I wanted to read it. Too bad I had to sacrifice it. Too bad I had to hand it for someone else to buy. I've been regretting that decision ever since.
But this book. THIS BOOK. This shred my heart to pieces, slowly and painstakingly. I thought this book would be about a man's journey to finding peace. Partly, it was and MORE. This was more than just a book printed on the pages of paper. This was a story floating in the air, inhaled by my mind and then, my heart. This is the kind of book you have to read before you understand what I am trying to say.
This is a story of true love, under the wrong circumstances.
One sentence: I painfully love this book to death.
May 5, 2014
I didn't know what to expect from this book. I found it in a book fair and it seemed interesting enough, so I picked it up. When I began reading it, I wasn't very excited. It's just not the type of novel I usually read.
At first, it was quite confusing, but also interesting. The mystery of the plot made me want to find out what happened and why. Also, the subjects it talks about, such as anthropology and mental diseases, and the complexity of its characters, made it even more gripping. The author keeps revealing new stuff every five pages, surprising you each time. Half-way through the book, I could not stop reading.
Basically, I fell in love with this book. It seems extremely underrated, which is a pity. It might not be a majestic piece of literature, but it is good enough. I would read it over and over again if I were that kind of reader.
At first, it was quite confusing, but also interesting. The mystery of the plot made me want to find out what happened and why. Also, the subjects it talks about, such as anthropology and mental diseases, and the complexity of its characters, made it even more gripping. The author keeps revealing new stuff every five pages, surprising you each time. Half-way through the book, I could not stop reading.
Basically, I fell in love with this book. It seems extremely underrated, which is a pity. It might not be a majestic piece of literature, but it is good enough. I would read it over and over again if I were that kind of reader.
November 23, 2012
Glad that's over. I'd skip this one if I were you. Tried to see this as the psychological page turner of my fellow Goodreads reviewers. Couldn't get there.
190 pages of depressive narration on Paul Lunden's life spirals as he deals with Dissociative Disorder. Paul looses blocks of time and when he comes out of the fugue doesn't remember what has happened. On his mother's death bed, she tells him she tried to abort him. His young daughter had died, his wife is missing. He cuts himself to feel pain. Mental illness is a tragedy for those who experience it and their loved ones who helplessly find themselves on the fringe of despair to do something. To fix it.
190 pages of depressive narration on Paul Lunden's life spirals as he deals with Dissociative Disorder. Paul looses blocks of time and when he comes out of the fugue doesn't remember what has happened. On his mother's death bed, she tells him she tried to abort him. His young daughter had died, his wife is missing. He cuts himself to feel pain. Mental illness is a tragedy for those who experience it and their loved ones who helplessly find themselves on the fringe of despair to do something. To fix it.
July 22, 2014
It was written from the perspective of an anthropologist (Paul) suffering from dissociative disorder. It was pretty fragmented storyline, mostly since it was told from his point of view. Though interesting, it was difficult to follow and made it hard to connect with Paul. I am most definitely not a science-minded person and I had a hard time following or even caring about his anthropology observations. Overall, not a bad read, but you have to be patient and let the story unfold in it's own time.
January 3, 2013
This book deserves 3.5 stars. The reviews I read on goodreads called it disturbing, and boy is it ever! It’s like standing in quicksand, never sure of my footing or my perspective. But I really enjoyed that effect. In fact , it never felt forced or phony. As i was reading, I wondered if a mentally ill person would go through a similar thought process. What would truth or reality feel like when you just are not sure??
October 9, 2013
I read the comments of other reviewers: "it sucks you in"; "life seen through a mental illness"; "don't bother"
I enjoyed it, nearly a four star but thought the ending was weak (no clues to spoil it for you), gave it three stars. I did not want to put it down but was not "sucked in" - it is life seen through a mental illness and it is worth reading. (Read in one sitting on a transatlantic flight).
I enjoyed it, nearly a four star but thought the ending was weak (no clues to spoil it for you), gave it three stars. I did not want to put it down but was not "sucked in" - it is life seen through a mental illness and it is worth reading. (Read in one sitting on a transatlantic flight).
April 8, 2015
I read this book in two sittings. After reading it, I still am confused by Paul (the main character in the book). What was wrong with him? I didn't understand half of the things the author wrote about (evolution, being formed...etc...). Whatever Paul had wrong with him was confusing. I was interested in what happened to Molly, that was why I kept reading. It was an easy read, so I continued. However, I did not like half the characters. Not a big fan of this book. Just FYI.
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