Perfidia

by Judith Rossner

Her mother makes love to strangers and chooses the worst kind of friends.  Her classmates talk of going to college, but Madeleine, with a scholarship waiting at an Ivy League school, knows that escape is unlikely.  For Maddy's life revolves around one her jealous, raging, promiscuous mother.

And now that Maddy has a lover of her own, now that her mother's delusion-filled, grudge-filled, lover-filled life is crashing down around them, now that Maddy knows leaving would be the deadliest blow of all, there is only one way through a terrifying, disastrous moment that will change everything forever....  

In her explosive novel Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Judith Rossner issued a chilling wake-up call to a generation intoxicated by sexual freedom.  Now the New York Times bestselling author explores another fatal in this unforgettable novel of mother-daughter love gone torturously, tragically wrong.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Judith Perelman Rossner was an American novelist, best known for her 1975 novel Looking for Mr. Goodbar, which was inspired by the murder of Roseann Quinn and examined the underside of the seventies sexual liberation movement. Though Looking for Mr. Goodbar remained Rossner's best known and best selling work, she continued to write. Her most successful post-Goodbar novel was 1983's August, about the relationship between a troubled young woman and her psychoanalyst who has emotional troubles of her own.

Reviews

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed this book, but in an uneasy sort of way. Perfidia is a somewhat depressing tale, but a very realistic one, and both an interesting and compelling read.

I found the ending a bit unsatisfying, but that didn't make me dislike it--on the contrary, after a few minutes of thoughtful, somewhat stunned and not-necessarily-happy contemplation, I decided I preferred it that way. Life is like that sometimes, I guess, whether we like it or not.

[Michele]

Perfidia by Judith Rossner (1998)

[Susan Liston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this in a shelf of unread mass market paperbacks in the garage, apparently I bought it at long-defunct Crown Books in 1998. Hmm. It caught my attention right away, and for the most part it was a solid three stars. A bit unpleasant at times, as it's one of those coming-of-age-with-a-crazy-mother stories. But certainly entertaining. Unfortunately it took a VERY unpleasant, unexpected turn, and the rest was merely unpleasant without the entertainment factor. And then it just sort of ends...perhaps a sequel was originally planned? Loses a star for that last quarter.

[allisonn · Rating 3 out of 5]

the middle was definitely the peak of this tragic and somber story. it was great in depicting that normalcy in being in this environment for the protagonist with how much it fluctuates in atmosphere with that of her mother (the torment of madelaine) just as we see a small glimpse of serenity only to be followed by dread and anxiety.

pretty solid

[Sarah Rigg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this around 2002 or 2003 and remember being really impressed by the writing and the way she builds up a palpable sense of dread.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sad, depressing book. I hoped for a happy ending, but...

[Nicole Cohoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

So bomb the ending kinda messed it up for me though it just seemed like she ended up with everything she worked against but maybe that’s the point

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Addictive unique writing style. Too many weak men.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish the book couldn't finish it tried & tried to read it to finish but no luck.

[Dianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book - it was dark, depressing and coming from a totally different familial background I have a very hard time understanding why people just don't leave such terrible situations and how they get so wound up in needing love from someone who obviously is unable and unwilling to give it. I know that this story rings true for many people - but for me, it's just too sad to allow your life to be shaped by such anger.

[Tristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is a tail of how one girls mother can turn to hate her daughter for something she had nothing to do about, in the end the witch of a mother tries killing her daughter with a broken beer bottle but has it turned on her to summon her death

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot about sex from this book.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too depressing.

[Joseph Griggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself absolutely fascinated by the twisted relationship between Maddy and her mother, who were both perfectly realized.

[Kathleen O'Nan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Rossner's Looking for Mr. Goodbar years ago and loved it.
This is also a very dark tale, equally well told and equally moving.

[Lynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just. Too. Awful. To. Finish.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is well-written. The "ick" factor is as high as the level of writing. So reading it is up to you!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love this book!

[Donna Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

..very different. I found it a very enjoyable read.