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The Drama Teacher
By the New York Times bestselling author of Mother, Mother and Smashed, a propulsive new thriller featuring a devious and unreliable narrator who will do anything to give her family a better life.
Gracie Mueller is a proud mother of two and devoted wife, living with her husband Randy in upstate New York, her life complicated by the usual stressors and tedium—young children, marriage, money—and she’s settled down comfortably enough. But Gracie, underneath all that’s marked her life as average, has a lot to hide about where she’s from, who she is, and who she’s been. And when Randy’s failing career as a real estate agent makes finances tight, their home goes into foreclosure, and Gracie feels she has no choice but to return to the creatively illegal and high-stakes lifestyle of her past in order to keep all that she’s worked so hard to have.
Gracie learned from her manipulatively charming father how to steal identities in order to survive, and she eases back into her routine of lying and cheating with a wicked skill set and gritty resolve. Things begin to slip out of her control, though, when her web of deceit lands her a job as a private school drama teacher--a role that demands emotional honesty--and soon more questions about the truth of her past are raised, including all the ones she never meant to, or even knew to, ask.
Written with the style, energy, and penetrating insight that made her memoir Smashed a bestselling phenomenon, Koren Zailckas's next novel confirms her growing reputation as a psychological novelist that can stand up to the best of them.
Gracie Mueller is a proud mother of two and devoted wife, living with her husband Randy in upstate New York, her life complicated by the usual stressors and tedium—young children, marriage, money—and she’s settled down comfortably enough. But Gracie, underneath all that’s marked her life as average, has a lot to hide about where she’s from, who she is, and who she’s been. And when Randy’s failing career as a real estate agent makes finances tight, their home goes into foreclosure, and Gracie feels she has no choice but to return to the creatively illegal and high-stakes lifestyle of her past in order to keep all that she’s worked so hard to have.
Gracie learned from her manipulatively charming father how to steal identities in order to survive, and she eases back into her routine of lying and cheating with a wicked skill set and gritty resolve. Things begin to slip out of her control, though, when her web of deceit lands her a job as a private school drama teacher--a role that demands emotional honesty--and soon more questions about the truth of her past are raised, including all the ones she never meant to, or even knew to, ask.
Written with the style, energy, and penetrating insight that made her memoir Smashed a bestselling phenomenon, Koren Zailckas's next novel confirms her growing reputation as a psychological novelist that can stand up to the best of them.
389 pages, Hardcover
First published August 7, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
June 22, 2018
Grace Mueller is a con artist and if you can't stand unlikable characters this book probably isn't for you. She's the mother of two and in order to keep up their lifestyle she comes up with some crazy moneymaking schemes and eventually everything spins out of control.
While the book was entertaining enough as I half rooted for Grace to get caught for her schemes and also half wanted her to get away, I didn't really feel like this was the most satisfying read. There were just too many things that were meant to be surprising that were fairly predictable. The action went back and forth between present day and Grace's past which was supposed to enlighten the reader to why she was the way she is but it fell a little flat. I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book but I did like that Grace was not your typical female character.
Thank you First to Read for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy! I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
While the book was entertaining enough as I half rooted for Grace to get caught for her schemes and also half wanted her to get away, I didn't really feel like this was the most satisfying read. There were just too many things that were meant to be surprising that were fairly predictable. The action went back and forth between present day and Grace's past which was supposed to enlighten the reader to why she was the way she is but it fell a little flat. I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book but I did like that Grace was not your typical female character.
Thank you First to Read for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy! I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
August 24, 2018
Erin Grace Aelish had an emotionally devastating childhood. Her father expected an extravagant lifestyle while mother insisted upon doing away with waste. Continuous fighting ensued until Grace, at the tender age of ten, chose to go to Belfast with her dad. Eventually, their money ran out and Dad embarked upon "cost cutting" measures. Why not hook up with a "cash cow" as a means of saving on rent? Leaving Belfast, dad rented a cottage on the Isle under the guise of an American tourist. Grace did not attend school. She intimated, "...the longer my father kept me from other children, the more I began to confuse his crimes for mine".
Until she struck out on her own and traveled to India, she watched, learned, and became complicit in her father's cons. Many "marks" were women who thought poorly of themselves. Grace felt "...like a method actor studying a part". In India, she met future husband, Oz. She fled when Oz was jailed for investment fraud. Now living in New York, Grace and second husband Randy Mueller would soon be homeless as a result of Randy's scams. By the way, Grace was a bigamist. She was not divorced from Oz. She had a phony green card and was wanted for her role in Oz's bogus property deals. Grace and her two children, Fitz and Kit, ages 5 and 2 respectively, must stay under the radar. It's time for a new "mark", phony passports and new identities. Is there a way for Grace to jump off the grifter's carousel? Constant scams. Always looking over her shoulder. She really was trying to provide stability for her children. Will Grace be able to leave her flim-flam existence behind or will her past catch up to her?
"The Drama Teacher" by Koren Zailckas is a character study of a protagonist raised by a father with no moral compass, an untrustworthy schemer. By seeking anonymity and trying to reinvent herself, she continues to fall short creating the need to proceed to the next con. Will a stint as "acting" drama teacher lead her on the road to destruction or to recovery? It's anybody's guess. This novel is a read that points out ways to scam people. Arguably, it can be viewed as a cautionary tale reminding the reader to maintain a heightened awareness of identity theft and on-line or phone scams.
Thank you Crown Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Drama Teacher".
Until she struck out on her own and traveled to India, she watched, learned, and became complicit in her father's cons. Many "marks" were women who thought poorly of themselves. Grace felt "...like a method actor studying a part". In India, she met future husband, Oz. She fled when Oz was jailed for investment fraud. Now living in New York, Grace and second husband Randy Mueller would soon be homeless as a result of Randy's scams. By the way, Grace was a bigamist. She was not divorced from Oz. She had a phony green card and was wanted for her role in Oz's bogus property deals. Grace and her two children, Fitz and Kit, ages 5 and 2 respectively, must stay under the radar. It's time for a new "mark", phony passports and new identities. Is there a way for Grace to jump off the grifter's carousel? Constant scams. Always looking over her shoulder. She really was trying to provide stability for her children. Will Grace be able to leave her flim-flam existence behind or will her past catch up to her?
"The Drama Teacher" by Koren Zailckas is a character study of a protagonist raised by a father with no moral compass, an untrustworthy schemer. By seeking anonymity and trying to reinvent herself, she continues to fall short creating the need to proceed to the next con. Will a stint as "acting" drama teacher lead her on the road to destruction or to recovery? It's anybody's guess. This novel is a read that points out ways to scam people. Arguably, it can be viewed as a cautionary tale reminding the reader to maintain a heightened awareness of identity theft and on-line or phone scams.
Thank you Crown Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Drama Teacher".
April 18, 2018
vai my blog:
'Too old to play the ingénue, I took on the role of pampered housewife instead.'
Gracie Mueller isn’t about to let her husband sink the perfect life she has created for her precious family. With their home in foreclosure, she is grasping to save them from financial ruin. Luckily for her, she has skills that her husband doesn’t even know about. Her past has been shrouded from him, that other self is dead. If she has to turn his gaze in another direction anytime he comes close to uncovering her deceptions, she knows just how to do it. She has floated on her lies for years, kept her secrets locked deep beneath the surface of her housewife facade. Always a step ahead of the chaos her past leaves behind, there is nothing for her to do but find something or someone new to manipulate and if she must commit crimes to do it, so be it, it’s nothing new.
This time, however, she is getting messy and committing acts that make one question whether there is any humanity within her soul. Through a friendship, she seeks salvation and once she sets her plan in motion, no one is safe. Then we, the reader, go backwards through snippets of her life with her father and the ways they began to leave her mother. Is she a victim? What is the point of lies, what if lies are the only way a person has been taught to survive? Just how damaging is a life of constant renewal and creation? What did dear old daddy teach her, what about her first real love? Her past is poisonous and there are secrets she doesn’t know either.
Gracie is a complicated character, she is disturbed but there are times when I felt empathy while being horrified and disgusted. Monsters really are sometimes made, but can they change? The children, I love that the author lends innocents to the story. Her children are young but not so young that she can always control what comes out of their mouths, and it’s heart breaking to hear the confusion when mommy lies and her child corrects her! Does she love her children? In the only way she knows how, but not enough to stop living the only life she knows.
When she invents another life, she seems one breath away from collapse. It’s shocking how easy people slip out of their suspicions, how their own emotional state blinds them. I didn’t want her to get away with what she’d done, and I also wanted salvation for her and the children. I would love to dissect the entire novel, but I don’t want to give away what happens. Could people really be so gullible? Yes, of course. At the start of the story she is conning people, nothing really dark, easy cons- until the rot emerges through opportunities. Sometimes the devil is in the people you let in. Who better to be a drama teacher than a woman who lives an artificial existence? Just who are you Gracie Mueller?
Publication Date: August 7, 2018
Crown Publishing
'Too old to play the ingénue, I took on the role of pampered housewife instead.'
Gracie Mueller isn’t about to let her husband sink the perfect life she has created for her precious family. With their home in foreclosure, she is grasping to save them from financial ruin. Luckily for her, she has skills that her husband doesn’t even know about. Her past has been shrouded from him, that other self is dead. If she has to turn his gaze in another direction anytime he comes close to uncovering her deceptions, she knows just how to do it. She has floated on her lies for years, kept her secrets locked deep beneath the surface of her housewife facade. Always a step ahead of the chaos her past leaves behind, there is nothing for her to do but find something or someone new to manipulate and if she must commit crimes to do it, so be it, it’s nothing new.
This time, however, she is getting messy and committing acts that make one question whether there is any humanity within her soul. Through a friendship, she seeks salvation and once she sets her plan in motion, no one is safe. Then we, the reader, go backwards through snippets of her life with her father and the ways they began to leave her mother. Is she a victim? What is the point of lies, what if lies are the only way a person has been taught to survive? Just how damaging is a life of constant renewal and creation? What did dear old daddy teach her, what about her first real love? Her past is poisonous and there are secrets she doesn’t know either.
Gracie is a complicated character, she is disturbed but there are times when I felt empathy while being horrified and disgusted. Monsters really are sometimes made, but can they change? The children, I love that the author lends innocents to the story. Her children are young but not so young that she can always control what comes out of their mouths, and it’s heart breaking to hear the confusion when mommy lies and her child corrects her! Does she love her children? In the only way she knows how, but not enough to stop living the only life she knows.
When she invents another life, she seems one breath away from collapse. It’s shocking how easy people slip out of their suspicions, how their own emotional state blinds them. I didn’t want her to get away with what she’d done, and I also wanted salvation for her and the children. I would love to dissect the entire novel, but I don’t want to give away what happens. Could people really be so gullible? Yes, of course. At the start of the story she is conning people, nothing really dark, easy cons- until the rot emerges through opportunities. Sometimes the devil is in the people you let in. Who better to be a drama teacher than a woman who lives an artificial existence? Just who are you Gracie Mueller?
Publication Date: August 7, 2018
Crown Publishing
July 22, 2018
I honestly was on my way to hating this book. It has a long drawn out beginning that was a bit boring and hard to follow. Close to the half way point, the main protagonist allows someone to drown and the book changed for me at the point. Kind of makes me wonder about myself a bit.
This book is just full of lies, deceit and cons. She is a con man and she learned it all from her father and then continued to learn from her husband. Everything she did was a con. It was a bit annoying and at times all the lies and deceit grew tiresome. The story also went back and forth from the current time to her past. It was a lot of convoluted information, but in the end it did wrap up rather well.
I found myself towards the end really pulling for her and for everything to work out. Her final con was a big one that definitely wrapped everything up. She did find what I feel was true love in the end, but with all of the lies in the end they were not together. That was the saddest part of the book. In fact, he really was the best thing that had happened to her and he helped her to become a decent person.
Not terrible; it would never be a reread, but it wasn't bad. It took a bit to get going through. In the end it was a satisfying read.
This book is just full of lies, deceit and cons. She is a con man and she learned it all from her father and then continued to learn from her husband. Everything she did was a con. It was a bit annoying and at times all the lies and deceit grew tiresome. The story also went back and forth from the current time to her past. It was a lot of convoluted information, but in the end it did wrap up rather well.
I found myself towards the end really pulling for her and for everything to work out. Her final con was a big one that definitely wrapped everything up. She did find what I feel was true love in the end, but with all of the lies in the end they were not together. That was the saddest part of the book. In fact, he really was the best thing that had happened to her and he helped her to become a decent person.
Not terrible; it would never be a reread, but it wasn't bad. It took a bit to get going through. In the end it was a satisfying read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2018
I read Koren Zailckas' Mother, Mother and I loved it. This one was just a no brainer for me as far as requesting a copy. It arrived in the mail and I was thrilled.
Sadly, I REALLY struggled to get through this book. I contemplated not finishing it several times. Nearly every time I picked it up I wanted to put it back down. This saddens me so much.
Gracie Mueller is kidnapped by her con artist father at a young age and he teaches her everything she needs to know to scam and thieve her way through life.
We then watch Gracie as an adult follow in her father's footsteps.
Just. So. Boring.
This is not to say she is a bad writer. She's terrific. This story just did not interest me for whatever reason.
For others that read this I do hope you enjoy it more than I did.
I would like to thank Becca at Penguin Random House for generously sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Sadly, I REALLY struggled to get through this book. I contemplated not finishing it several times. Nearly every time I picked it up I wanted to put it back down. This saddens me so much.
Gracie Mueller is kidnapped by her con artist father at a young age and he teaches her everything she needs to know to scam and thieve her way through life.
We then watch Gracie as an adult follow in her father's footsteps.
Just. So. Boring.
This is not to say she is a bad writer. She's terrific. This story just did not interest me for whatever reason.
For others that read this I do hope you enjoy it more than I did.
I would like to thank Becca at Penguin Random House for generously sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 8, 2020
well-written, intelligent character study of a woman with multiple identities and her way through a Labyrinth of lies, criminal deeds and deceits towards finding her true identity, defined by love and a belief in values like resilience and education. I liked many things about it ("i like subtext" and "a challenging read", as stated there somewhere) and enjoyed reading it. Some of the (too) many crimes and con actions etc felt a bit too much, and at the point, towards the end, where it started feeling more and more like a plot-driven "thriller", with a fast-paced what happens in mind - I thought it's a pity, it doesn't need this to be good, on the contrary. But it always did find its way back to the character and her transformation, learning, analyzing and becoming, and i find that admirable.
August 30, 2018
Thank you Crown Publishing for the free copy. All opinions are my own.
3.5 stars
“Gracie Mueller is a proud mother of two and devoted wife, living with her husband Randy in upstate New York, her life complicated by the usual stressors and tedium-young children, marriage, money-and she’s settled down comfortably enough. But Gracie, underneath all that’s marked her life as average, has a lot to hide about where she’s from, who she is, and who’s she’s been.”
I enjoyed this slow burning character study. Years ago, I read the authors debut – Mother, Mother and loved the in-depth character development. It was unsettling and insightful and got completely under my skin. The Drama Teacher falls a close second to her debut. While I don’t think this will be for everyone due to the pacing of the story and lack of major plot twists, I did find it fascinating. The story is a sympathetic look inside the head of a master manipulator and con artist. We begin to really see that people are a product of their environment.
I will continue to read what Zailckas writes and look forward to what comes next. This book is out in the world now.
3.5 stars
“Gracie Mueller is a proud mother of two and devoted wife, living with her husband Randy in upstate New York, her life complicated by the usual stressors and tedium-young children, marriage, money-and she’s settled down comfortably enough. But Gracie, underneath all that’s marked her life as average, has a lot to hide about where she’s from, who she is, and who’s she’s been.”
I enjoyed this slow burning character study. Years ago, I read the authors debut – Mother, Mother and loved the in-depth character development. It was unsettling and insightful and got completely under my skin. The Drama Teacher falls a close second to her debut. While I don’t think this will be for everyone due to the pacing of the story and lack of major plot twists, I did find it fascinating. The story is a sympathetic look inside the head of a master manipulator and con artist. We begin to really see that people are a product of their environment.
I will continue to read what Zailckas writes and look forward to what comes next. This book is out in the world now.
June 27, 2018
I'm a sucker for flawed characters or unreliable narrators so this one was a thrill ride for me! When we first meet Gracie she appears to be a loving mother of two young children who is bored as a stay-at-home mom and is simply attempting to make friends--well, at least rich friends who can spend money without worry. We soon discover her husband's schemes have landed their house in foreclosure and now she must scramble to find a way out. Fortunately her past with her drifter father comes to light and we realize she's been "trained" for this life as a grifter since she was young. And she's quite good at it! Tech-savvy and charming, Gracie worms her way into others' lives and manipulates them, always covering her tracks...until her past catches up to her with devastating realizations and consequences. Yes, of course you wouldn't want a woman like Gracie in your life, but it's a great fantasy to read about her!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
April 4, 2018
Geeze this book was a wild ride! Talk about unreliable narrators.
A twisty turny psychological read that will keep you fully engrossed. Some technical details were off but hey you can't win them all.
The narrator is a true scam artist. Any scam will do. She runs all kinds of scams. This book is a plethora of scams. The reader finds themselves wondering how soon the narrator will be caught in her web of lies. But that turns out to just be the tip of the iceberg.
Very much enjoyed reading this.
A twisty turny psychological read that will keep you fully engrossed. Some technical details were off but hey you can't win them all.
The narrator is a true scam artist. Any scam will do. She runs all kinds of scams. This book is a plethora of scams. The reader finds themselves wondering how soon the narrator will be caught in her web of lies. But that turns out to just be the tip of the iceberg.
Very much enjoyed reading this.
July 16, 2018
Wow. I'm actually really torn on what to think about this novel. This is a character study of a woman who endured a difficult childhood with a crazy father. This shaped her adulthood and set her on a path that she does not know how to get out of. Told strictly through Gracie, traveling from her childhood to her present day, the author takes you right into Gracie's thoughts, her fears, her intelligence and her manipulative ways. Somehow, I never get mad at her though. I empathize and see how what she is doing is all she has ever really known.
I actually started thinking about how much she figured out as a child. How susceptible you are a child to soak in what is around you and how parents don't realize that the child knows way more than they ever think they do... and vice versa. Clearly Gracie is an extremely intelligent person and watching her transverse between the various situations she got herself into really did fascinate me. I kept waiting for the shoe to drop and well.... you're just going to have to read this to figure out what happens.
I will say that I did get a little bored in certain areas. I felt at times that it stretched on just a little too long and I almost wished at certain moments that it was a more linear read. However, I will say that once I got to the last 10%, I understood why it was written the way that it was written. The reveals that came towards the end just kind of gave me that "oh, yeah, ok" kind of feeling. I wasn't surprised by them but I also don't think you really needed that AHA moment with this type of read either.
This is a great read for those who love a good character study and really want to dive deep into the mind of a woman who is just trying to do right by herself and her kids when she didn't get a very good hand to start with.
Thank you Crown for this copy!
I actually started thinking about how much she figured out as a child. How susceptible you are a child to soak in what is around you and how parents don't realize that the child knows way more than they ever think they do... and vice versa. Clearly Gracie is an extremely intelligent person and watching her transverse between the various situations she got herself into really did fascinate me. I kept waiting for the shoe to drop and well.... you're just going to have to read this to figure out what happens.
I will say that I did get a little bored in certain areas. I felt at times that it stretched on just a little too long and I almost wished at certain moments that it was a more linear read. However, I will say that once I got to the last 10%, I understood why it was written the way that it was written. The reveals that came towards the end just kind of gave me that "oh, yeah, ok" kind of feeling. I wasn't surprised by them but I also don't think you really needed that AHA moment with this type of read either.
This is a great read for those who love a good character study and really want to dive deep into the mind of a woman who is just trying to do right by herself and her kids when she didn't get a very good hand to start with.
Thank you Crown for this copy!
December 2, 2018
I do recommend this book but was completely perplexed by the protagonist. Maybe that was good. This was certainly a different experience....reading about Erin/Tracy/Gracie/Marianna (yes, take your pick) who is a con artist extraordinaire but also a mom, sometimes wife, sometimes girlfriend, acting student, housewife, teacher, friend and very likable. It was hard coming to terms with liking this character who had no redeeming qualities, except that she was a somewhat good mom through it all. She had been taken on the road with her dad in Ireland, a con artist too, and taught the ropes at an early age. What follows: her adventures with husband number 1, husband number 2 and boyfriend Francis as well as the people she meets along the way, from Ireland to upstate New York to NYC, her somehow devotion to her two children, Gio (Fitz) and Cat (Kitty) (lol)....made for a very entertaining novel and me wondering how this woman pulls everything off. She is addicted to conning and danger, yet has this side that is sweet and tender and stops to smell the roses. For me, the whole book was about this woman - Eric/Tracy/Gracie/Marianna - but at times, I just couldn't keep up...and found myself a little confused by the life this woman makes for herself. There are only gray areas with the protaganist, no black and white - do you like her or you don't? - or is that just not possible to feel one way about her? That makes for a lot of the interest. I almost gave it a 5 until 3/4 through but then wasn't thrilled with the outcome. Some may disagree with me. It was a very different book, with many genres and maybe too many to deal with. Yet, I liked it a lot...and I recommend The Drama Teacher if you want to experience a really rocky, fun, yet sad read.
July 31, 2018
Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley, for an advance egalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5, rounded up. As many other reviews have stated, if you are not a fan of unlikeable narrators, this will not be a story to pick up, as the main character, Gracie, does a number of things that to her, are in the name of survival, but might be unpalatable to those who don't have her history. It takes time to reveal her full history, but the story of how Gracie ends up where she is and her background are all interesting, and Gracie will test readers- if the things she does are really with the primary goal of keeping her children with her, and giving them a life that's more than what she knew as a child, would they do the same?
3.5, rounded up. As many other reviews have stated, if you are not a fan of unlikeable narrators, this will not be a story to pick up, as the main character, Gracie, does a number of things that to her, are in the name of survival, but might be unpalatable to those who don't have her history. It takes time to reveal her full history, but the story of how Gracie ends up where she is and her background are all interesting, and Gracie will test readers- if the things she does are really with the primary goal of keeping her children with her, and giving them a life that's more than what she knew as a child, would they do the same?
August 15, 2018
Review to come
abandoned
August 11, 2018DNF @ 7% (30ish pages). I picked this book up because the author's debut Mother, Mother was unputdownable. The Drama Teacher just wasn't for me, at least not right now. I've given it a month, but I just couldn't get into it. The first few chapters reminded me of the opening of the movie Ocean's 8. I know that sounds intriguing, but the main character Gracie was a little bland to me and I didn't care about any of her future antics. I felt bored and thrust into the middle of something that I didn't quite understand. It's possible that I'm just not in the mood for a slower read right now. I had the same feeling towards it that I did for All Things Cease to Appear & Two Days Gone, two other suspense novels with a character focus and a formal, literary feel. If you liked those two books, you might be interested in this one too!
I received this book for free from NetGalley and Crown Publishing. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. It will be available on August 7, 2018!
I received this book for free from NetGalley and Crown Publishing. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. It will be available on August 7, 2018!
June 26, 2018
I loved Koren Zailckas's MOTHER, MOTHER, so I was super excited to be granted an ARC of THE DRAMA TEACHER by the publisher and Netgalley in return for an honest review. In all honesty, I could not put this book down!
THE DRAMA TEACHER contained all of the elements that I love in a novel: fantastic character development, a plot full of roller coaster twists and turns, tension, suspense, love and an unreliable narrator. In this case, the narrator wasn't totally unreliable, though. In fact, Erin Aelish was sometimes a sympathetic story teller, even when I wasn't sure of her truths. Lastly, the writing is absolutely stellar. I couldn't ask for anything more from a writer.
I highly recommend this book which will be published in August 2018. I absolutely loved it.
THE DRAMA TEACHER contained all of the elements that I love in a novel: fantastic character development, a plot full of roller coaster twists and turns, tension, suspense, love and an unreliable narrator. In this case, the narrator wasn't totally unreliable, though. In fact, Erin Aelish was sometimes a sympathetic story teller, even when I wasn't sure of her truths. Lastly, the writing is absolutely stellar. I couldn't ask for anything more from a writer.
I highly recommend this book which will be published in August 2018. I absolutely loved it.
October 22, 2018
Grace is con artist but a nice one if such a thing existed. We are introduced to Grace as she begins her life as Tracey Bueller trying to get her kids some food and entertainment for the day. While at the pool, she befriend Melanie. This meeting with Melanie and later "friendship" changes Grace's life more than she could ever imagine. It leads her down a winding road of even more lies than truths that effect not only her own life but her children's lives.
Besides the current lies Grace is living out, we get a glimpse of how Grace came to be back. Erin, a.k.a. Grace, grew up in the con life thanks to her father. Her father, according to him, took her from her mother amid an upcoming divorce. She remembers her parents fighting so his explanation is plausible so she doesn't hesitate to follow her father into the unknown. To help provide a living, her father commits cons to get access to money and housing which leads to a rather transient lifestyle for the two of them. Readers will see schoolgirl Erin transform into world traveling adult Grace.
The alternating timelines are artistically sound allowing the reading to understand which timeline is taking place in a given chapter. Karen Zalickas writes with such conviction that as a reader you'll be rooting for Grace but also at time finding her irredeemable. With the introduction of the third act of the novel, as a reader you have an idea where it's heading but Zalickas throws in some curve balls that add to the story and will surprise readers. In the end, Grace will start to question how far she's really willing to go for a con and if you want to find out you'll just have to read The Drama Teacher.
Besides the current lies Grace is living out, we get a glimpse of how Grace came to be back. Erin, a.k.a. Grace, grew up in the con life thanks to her father. Her father, according to him, took her from her mother amid an upcoming divorce. She remembers her parents fighting so his explanation is plausible so she doesn't hesitate to follow her father into the unknown. To help provide a living, her father commits cons to get access to money and housing which leads to a rather transient lifestyle for the two of them. Readers will see schoolgirl Erin transform into world traveling adult Grace.
The alternating timelines are artistically sound allowing the reading to understand which timeline is taking place in a given chapter. Karen Zalickas writes with such conviction that as a reader you'll be rooting for Grace but also at time finding her irredeemable. With the introduction of the third act of the novel, as a reader you have an idea where it's heading but Zalickas throws in some curve balls that add to the story and will surprise readers. In the end, Grace will start to question how far she's really willing to go for a con and if you want to find out you'll just have to read The Drama Teacher.
July 3, 2022
I’m not sure I can fit all I want to say about a book in one review: it captivated me, from the first page.
Once I found out this book was a psychological thriller of sorts, I was a little hesitant to try it. However, Koren Zailckas has surprised and surpassed my expectations in almost every way.
I loved how the plot unfolded delicately, almost quietly, slowly leaving hints as to the ending. The back story of the main character was at once startling and unsettling; confusing and clear. I will admit that I was not always certain about what “actually happened” at times, since the story and the dialogue did not always make it 100% clear what was happening and when.
Nonetheless, I loved reading this book, telling the story of a con artist that quite literally is an artist - who at one, small time in her life pursued theatre at university. I liked the technical wording and the drama topics, even if it’s difficult to truly tell how much the author knew by heart to be fact and how much was polished research.
This book intrigued parts of myself I never knew existed - how someone can be so afraid of losing themselves that they do. How one’s past has such a profound impact on their present and future. How a parent will always be a role model - whether or not they set a good example for their children to follow.
I believe the most enticing parts of this novel may be wrapped up in saying that the most convincing psychological game played was the one between reader and author. Zailckas artfully dubbed not only the characters in her story, but her readers.
The curiosity of Grace? I had it too. The paranoia of trouble lurking at the next bend? My eyes and ears were just as alert.
Although the ending slightly confused me, and the story was not always the clearest (or cleanest), I’d recommend this book to anyone wanting to see a female Neal Caffrey at work (from the TV show White Collar).
The lesson I took away from this story? You don’t have to be who you think you are, if you’ve been told your whole life you were the worst version of yourself. Although the book ended on a note that felt almost unfinished and expectant of something more, the author’s writing is truly a gift.
Mystery, murder, cons, games, love, loss, fear, growth: that is Gracie Muller’s story.
Once I found out this book was a psychological thriller of sorts, I was a little hesitant to try it. However, Koren Zailckas has surprised and surpassed my expectations in almost every way.
I loved how the plot unfolded delicately, almost quietly, slowly leaving hints as to the ending. The back story of the main character was at once startling and unsettling; confusing and clear. I will admit that I was not always certain about what “actually happened” at times, since the story and the dialogue did not always make it 100% clear what was happening and when.
Nonetheless, I loved reading this book, telling the story of a con artist that quite literally is an artist - who at one, small time in her life pursued theatre at university. I liked the technical wording and the drama topics, even if it’s difficult to truly tell how much the author knew by heart to be fact and how much was polished research.
This book intrigued parts of myself I never knew existed - how someone can be so afraid of losing themselves that they do. How one’s past has such a profound impact on their present and future. How a parent will always be a role model - whether or not they set a good example for their children to follow.
I believe the most enticing parts of this novel may be wrapped up in saying that the most convincing psychological game played was the one between reader and author. Zailckas artfully dubbed not only the characters in her story, but her readers.
The curiosity of Grace? I had it too. The paranoia of trouble lurking at the next bend? My eyes and ears were just as alert.
Although the ending slightly confused me, and the story was not always the clearest (or cleanest), I’d recommend this book to anyone wanting to see a female Neal Caffrey at work (from the TV show White Collar).
The lesson I took away from this story? You don’t have to be who you think you are, if you’ve been told your whole life you were the worst version of yourself. Although the book ended on a note that felt almost unfinished and expectant of something more, the author’s writing is truly a gift.
Mystery, murder, cons, games, love, loss, fear, growth: that is Gracie Muller’s story.
July 19, 2018
So, i won a copy of The Drama Teacher by @KorenZailckas on @goodreads its a good read! I read the whole book in one afternoon and it was definitely awesome! Gracie is very good con artist and manipulator that is until things go crazy and over her head! Check it out!!
Want to read
November 6, 2017Zailckas' Mother, Mother was fantastic! Looking forward to this one for sure.
October 19, 2018
I really enjoyed the book up until the ending. I don't know why I was let down but it had been a page turner until then.
July 13, 2018
Thanks to Penguin First to Read for providing a free uncorrected proof for review. (There were definitely many cases missing letters/words and missing/misplaced punctuation that will hopefully be fixed when published. One sentence of dialogue was cut off, so I'm curious about its content.)
I was pleasantly surprised by quality of the writing and the consistency of the plot. Our protagonist, former conwoman Gracie, is riveting from the start -- when we meet her, she is broke, looking for her next meal ticket, and like a good mom, trying to get her kids entertained and fed (by conning an unsuspecting woman at the pool of an upscale hotel). Throughout the book, Zailckas walks that narrow line between a villainness who has no qualms about who she hurts and a victim who is #sorelatable...because Gracie's not trying to get filthy rich, she just wants to provide for her kids (and also save her own skin). It's not her fault that her dad was a conman who never gave her any legitimate papers, right? Gracie's various cons and what she has to do to make them work are thoroughly described. I'm not a con person, obviously, but with the level of detail we're given, Gracie's tricks of the trade and personal resourcefulness come across as plausible and authentic. Zailckas clearly did her research. The pacing and plotting of this book don't waver, and neither do the characterizations of the main characters. The suspense ramps up when too many old former marks (and con partners) converge in one place. It seems Gracie's carefully constructed world will finally topple around her, and it's a credit to Zailckas' deft development of Gracie that the reader fears, right alongside Gracie, that all her lies and trickery will be revealed.
I was even more impressed when I looked Zailckas up and realized that she's in her late 30s and not British at all. This author has managed to create a fully formed, flawed mother of two who is convincingly British, in her 30s and 40s, who has traveled all over the world and lived dangerously, often escaping capture by the skin of her teeth. Gracie sounds so convincingly British that I kept forgetting the present-day part of the book was set in America. As we delve into Gracie's past, we also meet characters from Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland, Britain, and more -- though I'm no expert, everyone sounds pretty authentic to where they're supposed to be from.
Spoilers for myself:
Also, this apt quote:
"The Internet— a place where men are men, women are men and little girls are FBI agents—had been the perfect venue for our fast-and-loose relationship with the truth."
I was pleasantly surprised by quality of the writing and the consistency of the plot. Our protagonist, former conwoman Gracie, is riveting from the start -- when we meet her, she is broke, looking for her next meal ticket, and like a good mom, trying to get her kids entertained and fed (by conning an unsuspecting woman at the pool of an upscale hotel). Throughout the book, Zailckas walks that narrow line between a villainness who has no qualms about who she hurts and a victim who is #sorelatable...because Gracie's not trying to get filthy rich, she just wants to provide for her kids (and also save her own skin). It's not her fault that her dad was a conman who never gave her any legitimate papers, right? Gracie's various cons and what she has to do to make them work are thoroughly described. I'm not a con person, obviously, but with the level of detail we're given, Gracie's tricks of the trade and personal resourcefulness come across as plausible and authentic. Zailckas clearly did her research. The pacing and plotting of this book don't waver, and neither do the characterizations of the main characters. The suspense ramps up when too many old former marks (and con partners) converge in one place. It seems Gracie's carefully constructed world will finally topple around her, and it's a credit to Zailckas' deft development of Gracie that the reader fears, right alongside Gracie, that all her lies and trickery will be revealed.
I was even more impressed when I looked Zailckas up and realized that she's in her late 30s and not British at all. This author has managed to create a fully formed, flawed mother of two who is convincingly British, in her 30s and 40s, who has traveled all over the world and lived dangerously, often escaping capture by the skin of her teeth. Gracie sounds so convincingly British that I kept forgetting the present-day part of the book was set in America. As we delve into Gracie's past, we also meet characters from Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland, Britain, and more -- though I'm no expert, everyone sounds pretty authentic to where they're supposed to be from.
Spoilers for myself:
Also, this apt quote:
"The Internet— a place where men are men, women are men and little girls are FBI agents—had been the perfect venue for our fast-and-loose relationship with the truth."
Read
October 8, 2018This unusual thriller could serve as a master class in the art of deception. Gracie Mueller, who appears to be the model of a devoted wife and mother, actually has quite a checkered past as a con artist. She carefully studied and learned the tricks of the trade from her father and, later, her first husband, both of whom could cleverly reap the rewards of conning anyone they met. Add Gracie's considerable computer hacking talents and you'll encounter a nearly unstoppable swindler. The novel is a bit slow at its start but hang in there -- you'll be rewarded with a great read! - Louisa A.
August 25, 2018
self absorbed egotistical narrator, so sure of yourself and her reasons why. Not worth the time.
July 26, 2018
Thank you First To Read for giving me a free advanced copy of this amazing book, in exchange for my honest review!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Drama Teacher It worked for me on so many levels. Being a music/theater major in college and occasionally after working in the profession, I really enjoyed the parts concerning the theater. I also thought the author did a great job with the characters. I thought they seemed real and believable without too much stereotyping. Ms Railckas also did a great job with the plot and her writing style is excellent. Normally I am not too crazy about books that skip from the present to the past but she handled it well especially with a character who had several identities throughout the book. The story of Erin's life in Ireland was the foundation of what she became in her adult life. She had it pretty rough, living in poverty,
her father an alcoholic, who practiced being a con man for a living, the arguments between her parents, losing her mom at such a young age, the hints of sexual abuse....it is no wonder she learned from her father how to survive. He was like her "drama teacher" as was Oz, the guy she met in India, who was also a con artist.
Then she came to the United States and became Tracey, got involved with Randy and when she found a golden opportunity to pull a major scam she became Grace. and that is the middle section of the book. The third stage of the story is when she had to leave her "architect and designer" role and moved into NYC, becoming Marianna and became an actual drama teacher in an exclusive private school. which her boyfriend Francis, a teacher at the school, helped get her hired, but I think Mari helped it along with an unfortunate incident during an assembly program. Unfortunately, Mari's last position came back to haunt her and her entire world came crashing down.
I had a real like /dislike relationship with Erin/Tracey/Grace/Marianna! She was such a smart and clever actress, she could have been a star,but she preferred to pay the con game which she did very well, but only on short term basis. She failed miserably at longer term "assignments' especially with Melanie as Grace and with Francis as Marianna. Both really loved her and trusted her. It is too bad she didn't have a better influence when she was growing up because she eventually ruined herself and the lives of others. That she had two children during these cons was amazing and sad. They had to have their identities changed too which is not easy when you are little and you can't always hold character or be silent all the time. Things slip out. The end of the novel sounded like there might be some positive direction for Erin and I liked that.
What I took away from the book, not only a good novel of psychological suspense, , but that I think we are all actors to some extent in our daily lives. Kids don;t want to go to school to avoid a test so they fake some ailment that keeps them home. Lovers will hold back on their secrets that might not be viewed as a deal breaker in the relationship. It; is human nature not to reveal everything to others, even people who say they are an open book will hide something. We all play a role of what we want to be perceived by others. I think that is a fascinating idea to ponder! I love books that make me think beyond the surface story and look closer for deeper meanings in the words on the page. The Drama Teacher does this well!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Drama Teacher It worked for me on so many levels. Being a music/theater major in college and occasionally after working in the profession, I really enjoyed the parts concerning the theater. I also thought the author did a great job with the characters. I thought they seemed real and believable without too much stereotyping. Ms Railckas also did a great job with the plot and her writing style is excellent. Normally I am not too crazy about books that skip from the present to the past but she handled it well especially with a character who had several identities throughout the book. The story of Erin's life in Ireland was the foundation of what she became in her adult life. She had it pretty rough, living in poverty,
her father an alcoholic, who practiced being a con man for a living, the arguments between her parents, losing her mom at such a young age, the hints of sexual abuse....it is no wonder she learned from her father how to survive. He was like her "drama teacher" as was Oz, the guy she met in India, who was also a con artist.
Then she came to the United States and became Tracey, got involved with Randy and when she found a golden opportunity to pull a major scam she became Grace. and that is the middle section of the book. The third stage of the story is when she had to leave her "architect and designer" role and moved into NYC, becoming Marianna and became an actual drama teacher in an exclusive private school. which her boyfriend Francis, a teacher at the school, helped get her hired, but I think Mari helped it along with an unfortunate incident during an assembly program. Unfortunately, Mari's last position came back to haunt her and her entire world came crashing down.
I had a real like /dislike relationship with Erin/Tracey/Grace/Marianna! She was such a smart and clever actress, she could have been a star,but she preferred to pay the con game which she did very well, but only on short term basis. She failed miserably at longer term "assignments' especially with Melanie as Grace and with Francis as Marianna. Both really loved her and trusted her. It is too bad she didn't have a better influence when she was growing up because she eventually ruined herself and the lives of others. That she had two children during these cons was amazing and sad. They had to have their identities changed too which is not easy when you are little and you can't always hold character or be silent all the time. Things slip out. The end of the novel sounded like there might be some positive direction for Erin and I liked that.
What I took away from the book, not only a good novel of psychological suspense, , but that I think we are all actors to some extent in our daily lives. Kids don;t want to go to school to avoid a test so they fake some ailment that keeps them home. Lovers will hold back on their secrets that might not be viewed as a deal breaker in the relationship. It; is human nature not to reveal everything to others, even people who say they are an open book will hide something. We all play a role of what we want to be perceived by others. I think that is a fascinating idea to ponder! I love books that make me think beyond the surface story and look closer for deeper meanings in the words on the page. The Drama Teacher does this well!
November 7, 2018
I heartily recommend THE DRAMA TEACHER if you are not tired of all the new books that seem to hang their respective hats on the damaged, unreliable narrator who manages to rise above it all and recover some lost element of her life. This novel takes that plot device and turns it on its head. Author Koren Zailckas demonstrates in her sophomore fiction effort that the critical success of her suspense novel MOTHER, MOTHER was no fluke. It will leave you doubting everything, and maybe just about everyone in your life, by story’s end.
THE DRAMA TEACHER features Gracie Mueller, who, as the story begins, is pulling a mild con so that she can take her children swimming --- and maybe to lunch --- at the Odell Resort and Spa in upstate New York. It only takes Zailckas a few pages and a phone call to put the reader deep into Gracie’s moment…and she is in deep. She isn’t just trying to sneak her two kids into the exclusive members-and-guests-only establishment. She is also balancing a home on the verge of foreclosure, while her husband Randy (who isn’t really her husband, but that is another story) is in Florida, trying to salvage his rapidly failing real estate agency.
It is quickly established that Gracie is a master manipulator who, in the course of an afternoon, manages to begin ingratiating herself into the life of a woman at the club named Melanie Ashworth. Melanie is buying Gracie drinks and her children lunch before the afternoon is over, and within a few days, they have moved into the (relatively palatial) Ashworth estate at Melanie’s insistence. Gracie --- now Tracey Mueller --- goes with the flow, but when that flow turns into a tidal wave, she flips the script and flees to New York, where she befriends an instructor at a posh New York school and insinuates herself into a situation where she begins doing what she does best, until the lies of the last 20 or so years begin catching up with her.
Someone like Gracie --- or Tracey, or whatever she happens to be calling herself --- does not spring fully formed from a god’s forehead, and so it is that her first-person narrative of the present is interspersed with the description of her past, where we find out that Gracie learned at the knee of her author, a master of deception whose biggest marks included his own daughter. The depth of Zailckas’ talent is such that the reader cannot help but sympathize with her larcenous client, if only for the innocents who tow along in her wake. The conclusion is unpredictable, and not entirely neat and tidy, but that doesn’t keep the reader --- or Gracie --- from hoping that everything will work out for her somewhere beyond the final crease in the book’s back binding.
THE DRAMA TEACHER is in part a cautionary tale for our times. Zailckas fills her tale with the whats and hows of online, telephone and street scams. And while you boys and girls won’t necessarily want to try any of them at home or on the street, it behooves you to keep an eye and ear out for them so that you don’t fall victim yourself. Packing a copy of the book in the knapsack of your supposedly worldly college freshman wouldn’t be a bad idea, either. However, the real reason for picking up this late-summer work is to bear witness to how Zailckas plays with and manipulates the emotions of the reader. One can almost see Gracie nodding approvingly. And, as with the best cons, Zailckas leaves the reader happy.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
THE DRAMA TEACHER features Gracie Mueller, who, as the story begins, is pulling a mild con so that she can take her children swimming --- and maybe to lunch --- at the Odell Resort and Spa in upstate New York. It only takes Zailckas a few pages and a phone call to put the reader deep into Gracie’s moment…and she is in deep. She isn’t just trying to sneak her two kids into the exclusive members-and-guests-only establishment. She is also balancing a home on the verge of foreclosure, while her husband Randy (who isn’t really her husband, but that is another story) is in Florida, trying to salvage his rapidly failing real estate agency.
It is quickly established that Gracie is a master manipulator who, in the course of an afternoon, manages to begin ingratiating herself into the life of a woman at the club named Melanie Ashworth. Melanie is buying Gracie drinks and her children lunch before the afternoon is over, and within a few days, they have moved into the (relatively palatial) Ashworth estate at Melanie’s insistence. Gracie --- now Tracey Mueller --- goes with the flow, but when that flow turns into a tidal wave, she flips the script and flees to New York, where she befriends an instructor at a posh New York school and insinuates herself into a situation where she begins doing what she does best, until the lies of the last 20 or so years begin catching up with her.
Someone like Gracie --- or Tracey, or whatever she happens to be calling herself --- does not spring fully formed from a god’s forehead, and so it is that her first-person narrative of the present is interspersed with the description of her past, where we find out that Gracie learned at the knee of her author, a master of deception whose biggest marks included his own daughter. The depth of Zailckas’ talent is such that the reader cannot help but sympathize with her larcenous client, if only for the innocents who tow along in her wake. The conclusion is unpredictable, and not entirely neat and tidy, but that doesn’t keep the reader --- or Gracie --- from hoping that everything will work out for her somewhere beyond the final crease in the book’s back binding.
THE DRAMA TEACHER is in part a cautionary tale for our times. Zailckas fills her tale with the whats and hows of online, telephone and street scams. And while you boys and girls won’t necessarily want to try any of them at home or on the street, it behooves you to keep an eye and ear out for them so that you don’t fall victim yourself. Packing a copy of the book in the knapsack of your supposedly worldly college freshman wouldn’t be a bad idea, either. However, the real reason for picking up this late-summer work is to bear witness to how Zailckas plays with and manipulates the emotions of the reader. One can almost see Gracie nodding approvingly. And, as with the best cons, Zailckas leaves the reader happy.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
September 5, 2020
A woman was raised by a con artist, becomes a con artist, befriends a con artist, marries another con artist, "marries" yet another con artist, ... and then stays in the same general area and, predictably, starts to get caught.
Reading this story was more like reading an autobiography of a con artist. It was incredibly long and mostly boring, but since it was an audiobook from the library, I soldiered on. If I had been reading a physical/ebook of this... there's no way I would have gotten through it. Even with the audiobook, I was constantly having to rewind because I would get bored and drift off. There were some twists, but I think if some things had been cut or punched up, it would've been a tighter and more fast-paced read. There were also a ton of characters, but they didn't get fleshed out that much... I was much more interested in her lesbian hacker friend than most of the main characters, but sadly she gets lost in the deluge of other criminals and marks.
This wasn't a bad book, but
But yeah, if you want a contemporary fiction with a couple of minor shocking events, go for it. Not really a thriller, and definitely 100 pages too long, but maybe it just wasn't for me. Nothing shockingly terrible about it, but nothing to really write home about either...
Reading this story was more like reading an autobiography of a con artist. It was incredibly long and mostly boring, but since it was an audiobook from the library, I soldiered on. If I had been reading a physical/ebook of this... there's no way I would have gotten through it. Even with the audiobook, I was constantly having to rewind because I would get bored and drift off. There were some twists, but I think if some things had been cut or punched up, it would've been a tighter and more fast-paced read. There were also a ton of characters, but they didn't get fleshed out that much... I was much more interested in her lesbian hacker friend than most of the main characters, but sadly she gets lost in the deluge of other criminals and marks.
This wasn't a bad book, but
But yeah, if you want a contemporary fiction with a couple of minor shocking events, go for it. Not really a thriller, and definitely 100 pages too long, but maybe it just wasn't for me. Nothing shockingly terrible about it, but nothing to really write home about either...
August 8, 2018
The Drama Teacher by Koren Zailckas is a highly recommended drama about a con artist.
Gracie Mueller is a habitual liar, a con artist and the mother of two. She learned her craft from her father, and later her husband, Oz. Once Oz was put in prison in the UK, she took her fake passport and headed to the USA with her son where she eventually "married" Randy. Now she's the mother of two and Randy has moved to Florida for his job. Their home in upstate New York is in foreclosure, Gracie is out of money, and she needs to set up a new con to make some quick cash. She picks out a new mark, a wealthy woman, and befriends her while putting her plan into place. When an accident happens, Gracie runs away with her kids to NYC and looks for her next big score.
The novel is narrated by Gracie, who is telling her present story, starting in upstate New York and through to the current situation in NYC. As she relates this, there are also flashbacks to her childhood and life before she moved to the USA, first with her father and later with Oz. It becomes obvious that she has been on the run her whole life, moving from one scam to another. She's used to changing her name and finding a way to side-step the law. At first she is not particularly likeable, but as she tells more and more of her story you will admit that, while she is a liar, often it is related to her trying to find a way to survive.
The Drama Teacher is an entertaining novel, whether you like Gracie or not. The writing is excellent and I was engaged with the novel the entire time I was reading it while the plot unfolded. There are a few stretches when you may think, as I did, she's a bit too skilled in specialized technical ways to be a completely believable character, but it is fascinating. It also has a few sections that seem over-long. The ending, however, will totally make up for it. This is a great choice for a vacation read or an airplane book. It is going to hold your attention and entertain you.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Crown/Archetype via Netgalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2018/0...
Gracie Mueller is a habitual liar, a con artist and the mother of two. She learned her craft from her father, and later her husband, Oz. Once Oz was put in prison in the UK, she took her fake passport and headed to the USA with her son where she eventually "married" Randy. Now she's the mother of two and Randy has moved to Florida for his job. Their home in upstate New York is in foreclosure, Gracie is out of money, and she needs to set up a new con to make some quick cash. She picks out a new mark, a wealthy woman, and befriends her while putting her plan into place. When an accident happens, Gracie runs away with her kids to NYC and looks for her next big score.
The novel is narrated by Gracie, who is telling her present story, starting in upstate New York and through to the current situation in NYC. As she relates this, there are also flashbacks to her childhood and life before she moved to the USA, first with her father and later with Oz. It becomes obvious that she has been on the run her whole life, moving from one scam to another. She's used to changing her name and finding a way to side-step the law. At first she is not particularly likeable, but as she tells more and more of her story you will admit that, while she is a liar, often it is related to her trying to find a way to survive.
The Drama Teacher is an entertaining novel, whether you like Gracie or not. The writing is excellent and I was engaged with the novel the entire time I was reading it while the plot unfolded. There are a few stretches when you may think, as I did, she's a bit too skilled in specialized technical ways to be a completely believable character, but it is fascinating. It also has a few sections that seem over-long. The ending, however, will totally make up for it. This is a great choice for a vacation read or an airplane book. It is going to hold your attention and entertain you.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Crown/Archetype via Netgalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2018/0...
July 24, 2018
The Drama Teacher by Koren Zailckas is a real page turner: A con-mom grifter-thriller in the vein of Catch Me If You Can. The story is timely - a confident, adept female protagonist, even a criminal one in these tumultuous times, is apt to find more fans than ever.
The story centers around single mom Gracie Mueller with two children by different fathers, trying to make a living while dodging the ghosts of her past. This could be a bit tedious in the wrong writer’s hands. In Zailckas’ however, Gracie earns the reader’s empathy and respect and if you pay close enough attention, you can learn a thing or two about identity theft, architecture, real estate and so much more.
Gracie is a woman with above average intelligence and the propensity for genius. Having learned the art of the con from a less than wholesome father, Gracie finds herself falling back on those “skills” later in her adult life following a couple marriages gone south. Shape-shifting as she navigates motherhood, Gracie dons a new identity and crafts new id’s for her children, young enough to go with it, but precocious enough to upset the apple cart each time Gracie is on the grift.
What follows is an edge-of-your-seat tale of survival by any means necessary. There are the usual moral dilemmas: how far will you go to protect your children, what will you do for love, what makes you a sociopath or not? You know, life’s usual obstacles with a stalker ex-husband and murderous father thrown in for good measure.
The Drama Teacher is an entertaining read and at the very least it will make you fly to your computer, immediately change all your passwords and review your privacy settings. And Gracie/Mariana/Erin would tell you: You’d be a fool not to.
Thank you to Penguin Random House, First To Read for the digital ARC of this novel in exchange for a candid review.
The story centers around single mom Gracie Mueller with two children by different fathers, trying to make a living while dodging the ghosts of her past. This could be a bit tedious in the wrong writer’s hands. In Zailckas’ however, Gracie earns the reader’s empathy and respect and if you pay close enough attention, you can learn a thing or two about identity theft, architecture, real estate and so much more.
Gracie is a woman with above average intelligence and the propensity for genius. Having learned the art of the con from a less than wholesome father, Gracie finds herself falling back on those “skills” later in her adult life following a couple marriages gone south. Shape-shifting as she navigates motherhood, Gracie dons a new identity and crafts new id’s for her children, young enough to go with it, but precocious enough to upset the apple cart each time Gracie is on the grift.
What follows is an edge-of-your-seat tale of survival by any means necessary. There are the usual moral dilemmas: how far will you go to protect your children, what will you do for love, what makes you a sociopath or not? You know, life’s usual obstacles with a stalker ex-husband and murderous father thrown in for good measure.
The Drama Teacher is an entertaining read and at the very least it will make you fly to your computer, immediately change all your passwords and review your privacy settings. And Gracie/Mariana/Erin would tell you: You’d be a fool not to.
Thank you to Penguin Random House, First To Read for the digital ARC of this novel in exchange for a candid review.
August 3, 2018
Thank you to the First to Read program for the offering of The Drama Teacher. Initially I was not crazy about Grace. The novel begins with Grace at a resort pool near Woodstock, New York. Grace sneaks her daughter and son into the pool and she then befriends another woman at the pool, Melanie, who is very well off. Melanie is taken in by Grace and her need to help others. Grace is trying to cobble together a life for her children while her husband, Randy, is in Florida pursuing a real estate career and a younger woman. As the novel progresses, we are taken back in time to Grace's childhood. Grace had an usual childhood. Her father took Grace and they left Ireland. They went to different parts of England trying to pose as Americans. Once Grace was somewhat settled, her dad would mess up and they would be on the run again. The other flashback for Grace involves her meeting her first boyfriend while in her "gap" year spent in India. She finds herself running out of money quickly because her dad had stolen her money for his next scheme. She meets Oz when she's ready to return to England, but she has no money to do so. Oz has his own schemes to get money and he brings Grace in to help him. I really enjoyed reading about Grace's past which helped form the woman she is today. Koren Zalickas is an excellent writer and successfully combines the different aspects of the story all the way to the exciting climax. It was amazing how the pieces finally fit together. Grace finally wants a "normal" life, but will she ever be able to accomplish that? I highly recommend this book. It was fascinating! I also kept thinking that this book would make a really great movie!
November 25, 2018
Gracie started off The Drama Teacher by explaining the many ways her life was built on lies. As she detailed why she didn't have an identity, and how she had to lie to pretend to be the woman she was, it became clear that her entire life was a carefully constructed charade. This made her very interesting to me, and I admit I wanted her lies to be believed by others.
Gracie "accidentally" met Melanie at a local country club, and soon became Tracy, befriended Melanie, and then moved into Melanie's extra home. As Gracie's lies mounted, it was clear it was only a matter of time before she would be discovered. That narrative was coupled with Gracie's recollections of growing up and the cons she learned from her father.
Gracie was a villain, but I was riveted by her. She was so unlike me, or anyone I know, that I was just in awe of how she thought and the was she schemed herself into accepting money from Melanie. That awe kept me interested for much of the novel, but at some point I sort of lost my passion for Gracie. Her conniving became too much for me and she moved from an interesting specimen to a cold hearted psychopath.
The plot kept changing as Gracie had to reinvent herself to maintain her life. I liked that the novel kept changing to keep up with Gracie's lies, although it did all converge in a tidy ending. What I liked so much about this was that Gracie thought about her actions and explained everything she did. There was substance to her actions and in turn, the plot. Overall, this was good and different.
Gracie "accidentally" met Melanie at a local country club, and soon became Tracy, befriended Melanie, and then moved into Melanie's extra home. As Gracie's lies mounted, it was clear it was only a matter of time before she would be discovered. That narrative was coupled with Gracie's recollections of growing up and the cons she learned from her father.
Gracie was a villain, but I was riveted by her. She was so unlike me, or anyone I know, that I was just in awe of how she thought and the was she schemed herself into accepting money from Melanie. That awe kept me interested for much of the novel, but at some point I sort of lost my passion for Gracie. Her conniving became too much for me and she moved from an interesting specimen to a cold hearted psychopath.
The plot kept changing as Gracie had to reinvent herself to maintain her life. I liked that the novel kept changing to keep up with Gracie's lies, although it did all converge in a tidy ending. What I liked so much about this was that Gracie thought about her actions and explained everything she did. There was substance to her actions and in turn, the plot. Overall, this was good and different.
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