Imaginary Crimes

by Sheila Ballantyne

Her father an incorrigible con man, her mother a daydreamer who died young, Sonya Weiler is forced to tend both father and sister but gallantly manages to build a life for herself

Genres: Fiction, Novels

265 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Pen name of Sheila Caroline Weibert, author of two novels and a short story collection. Her second novel, Imaginary Crimes was made into a film in 1994. She received an O'Henry prize for the short story "Perpetual Care",

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As protagonist Sonya says at one point, "I had no sense of humor," which works in the book's favor. Devoid of wisecracks, wit, and irony as defense mechanisms, Sonya fumbles to find other ways to deal with the decline of her family, often failing, but always examining her memories through a darkly poetic/lyrical lens. Ballantyne wisely opts to make Sonya unexceptional, preventing her from getting the sort of easy escape routes a lesser writer might've provided. It's a delicate balance, deftly handled, and makes for a gripping read even 35 years after publication. The film, with Elisabeth Moss and Vincent D'Onofrio, is remarkably different from the book (it captures a handful of mostly high-school based years of Sonya's life, as opposed to the novel's more expansive child-to-adulthood trajectory). Highly recommended.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible read. I've loved it for many years.

[dianne b. · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you have to hold it together so intensively, against the dark forces within your home - then, when it seems like it’s over - do you collapse or celebrate? Are all our “memories” of our parents balloon animals patched together with scotch tape - placed where we can see them when we need to - but only the lit part? Can sweet, fun - loving - memories ever jive with cruelty, lies, deception? Do all parents really “do the best they can”?

I enjoyed the anecdotal storytelling. The fractured memories seem real - none of us remember it all - day into night into day - we remember bits. Anecdotes: spun the way we need them to be spun. The last 40 pages felt a departure from the previous grit, and although understandable, i found the ending disappointing.

[Bill C · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Live the rest yourself."

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mom rec. Set in Seattle. 2000? -- Good.