Deborah Markus’s Reviews > The Woman in the Window > Status Update
Deborah Markus
is 8% done
Frantic, Polanski's ode to the master
So a woman -- a 38-year-old woman -- a woman who is a therapist who specializes in helping troubled and traumatized children -- THIS woman can mention Polanski as if he's a neutral subject? As if while he's still alive we can focus solely on his work?
I think the fact that this author is male keeps showing itself in some troubling ways.
— Mar 11, 2020 12:35PM
So a woman -- a 38-year-old woman -- a woman who is a therapist who specializes in helping troubled and traumatized children -- THIS woman can mention Polanski as if he's a neutral subject? As if while he's still alive we can focus solely on his work?
I think the fact that this author is male keeps showing itself in some troubling ways.
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Deborah’s Previous Updates
Deborah Markus
is 24% done
A sound downstairs.
It's quiet, just a low roll. Possibly the house settling.
"Wait," I say to Ed.
Then, clearly, a dry cough, a grunt.
Someone is in my kitchen.
"I have to go," I say to Ed.
I thought that this only struck me as bizarre because as a woman my impulse would be to STAY ON THE PHONE if you think you're in danger. Or only hang up to call 911.
However, my husband and son said the same. So...
— Mar 13, 2020 05:00PM
It's quiet, just a low roll. Possibly the house settling.
"Wait," I say to Ed.
Then, clearly, a dry cough, a grunt.
Someone is in my kitchen.
"I have to go," I say to Ed.
I thought that this only struck me as bizarre because as a woman my impulse would be to STAY ON THE PHONE if you think you're in danger. Or only hang up to call 911.
However, my husband and son said the same. So...
Deborah Markus
is 21% done
So: why is Anna agoraphobic?
"Trauma. Same as anyone."
Seriously?
Um. NO.
People can be agoraphobic for a LOT of reasons. I know a lot of people on the spectrum who are agoraphobic because spectrum. I've struggled with agoraphobia myself.
Not all traumas lead to agoraphobia and not all agoraphobia is trauma-induced.
As this character ought to know, given that she's a THERAPIST.
sheesh
— Mar 13, 2020 12:31PM
"Trauma. Same as anyone."
Seriously?
Um. NO.
People can be agoraphobic for a LOT of reasons. I know a lot of people on the spectrum who are agoraphobic because spectrum. I've struggled with agoraphobia myself.
Not all traumas lead to agoraphobia and not all agoraphobia is trauma-induced.
As this character ought to know, given that she's a THERAPIST.
sheesh
Deborah Markus
is 20% done
"Hey, when's your birthday?"
"You going to buy me something?"
"Easy there."
"Coming up, actually," I say.
"So's mine."
"November eleventh."
She gawks. "That's my birthday, too."
This isn't a scene from a preteen slumber party. These are two women in their thirties who've barely met. That first sentence is the beginning of a conversation. Because, you know. That's how humans talk.
(smh)
— Mar 12, 2020 09:45PM
"You going to buy me something?"
"Easy there."
"Coming up, actually," I say.
"So's mine."
"November eleventh."
She gawks. "That's my birthday, too."
This isn't a scene from a preteen slumber party. These are two women in their thirties who've barely met. That first sentence is the beginning of a conversation. Because, you know. That's how humans talk.
(smh)
Deborah Markus
is 18% done
She wears a butter-yellow sweater that exposes a terse slit of cleavage;
Oh, no. Please, no. Stop.
her locket dangles there, a mountaineer above a gorge.
FOR THE LOVE OF MAUD STOP WRITING LIKE THIS
— Mar 12, 2020 08:53PM
Oh, no. Please, no. Stop.
her locket dangles there, a mountaineer above a gorge.
FOR THE LOVE OF MAUD STOP WRITING LIKE THIS
Deborah Markus
is 18% done
"Sometimes I've got too many thoughts at once. It's like there's a four-way intersection in my brain where everyone's trying to go at the same time."
I actually really like this line. That's nicely put. And I can relate.
Is it too late to ask the author to write the whole rest of the book this well?
(Spoiler: yes.)
— Mar 12, 2020 08:02PM
I actually really like this line. That's nicely put. And I can relate.
Is it too late to ask the author to write the whole rest of the book this well?
(Spoiler: yes.)
Deborah Markus
is 13% done
She purses her lips again. Very active mouth, I notice.
OH GAWD DON'T EVER SAY THAT AGAIN
— Mar 12, 2020 03:48PM
OH GAWD DON'T EVER SAY THAT AGAIN
Deborah Markus
is 12% done
She turns to the television, furrows her brow.
"What are you watching? A black-and-white movie?" Baffled.
Oh, for the love.
We get it! You're a fan of old movies! Because you're special! You're SO special, people are "baffled" by the things you enjoy! I mean, who's even HEARD of black-and-white movies? I'm surprised this woman even knew what they're called!
(sigh)
— Mar 12, 2020 02:27PM
"What are you watching? A black-and-white movie?" Baffled.
Oh, for the love.
We get it! You're a fan of old movies! Because you're special! You're SO special, people are "baffled" by the things you enjoy! I mean, who's even HEARD of black-and-white movies? I'm surprised this woman even knew what they're called!
(sigh)
Deborah Markus
is 12% done
Me: So where are you in the book?
Spouse (who's been reading along a little behind me): Oh, I'm at the part where she's about to go outside to faint.
Me: ...okay, I've been trying not to feed you any spoilers...
S: It just seems safe to assume. That's the author's fault, not yours.
Me: Fair enough.
— Mar 12, 2020 01:26PM
Spouse (who's been reading along a little behind me): Oh, I'm at the part where she's about to go outside to faint.
Me: ...okay, I've been trying not to feed you any spoilers...
S: It just seems safe to assume. That's the author's fault, not yours.
Me: Fair enough.
Deborah Markus
is 11% done
Anna is doing online searches of ex-patients. She's looking at pictures of their families and greedily learning every fact possible about their personal lives.
These patients are young children.
"He really ought to activate some privacy settings," she thinks to herself about one.
The author describes her as "swollen with longing" as she does her "research."
More and more, this book is the wrong kind of creepy.
— Mar 11, 2020 06:47PM
These patients are young children.
"He really ought to activate some privacy settings," she thinks to herself about one.
The author describes her as "swollen with longing" as she does her "research."
More and more, this book is the wrong kind of creepy.
Deborah Markus
is 10% done
"What sort of movies?" he asks.
"Mostly old ones."
"Like, black-and-white?"
"Mostly black-and-white."
"I've never seen a black-and-white movie."
I make full moons of my eyes. "You're in for a treat. All the best movies are black-and-white."
And all the best books use the same phrase four times in rapid succession.
— Mar 11, 2020 02:19PM
"Mostly old ones."
"Like, black-and-white?"
"Mostly black-and-white."
"I've never seen a black-and-white movie."
I make full moons of my eyes. "You're in for a treat. All the best movies are black-and-white."
And all the best books use the same phrase four times in rapid succession.
