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A Not so Pleasant Surprise

Revisado: 03-14-19

I'm historically a snob. After reading Sartre and Dostoyevsky in high school, most everything bored and annoyed me outside of Vonnegut, Tan, and Danielewski. Unless something is interesting-- I mean, really out there-- straight into the depths of uncanny valley and veering woefully into the abyss-- I tend to dismiss it as a "beach book" or something "perhaps entertaining but painfully vacuous."

Perhaps that's why I liked Marcus. We had something in common. Both plagued with ego sickness and a need to outshine our wax denizens in the smallest box we could find, we were as bold as one of 12-26 expected colors could be. Then someone befriended us and called us out for the frauds we were, and instead of dropping them we followed and mimed our master's, remembering every rule for life we could.

The cheesiness and banality of the people we knew suddenly became interesting, and perhaps we learned that stereotypes are for a reason, but we remained delighted to discover that the most tropish of characters we knew had a rich backstory and a capacity to do and say things we never imagined.

Following the death of Marcus and Harry and getting a glimpse at their ghosts felt haunting to me in the best way. And while the prose lacked the certain prolixity and je ne sais quoi that hallmarks most great works, I kept listening. The meaning the author was able to convey using plain language, focusing instead on the spiritual and philosophical maturation of two spoiled frauds and their journey into authenticity, was immense for me, a person who has just turned 32 and is also feeling a a blank slate. There really is something about escaping adolescence that abandons the exotic quixotic, and settles for plain old love. The tenacity of banality and the banality of evil are peppered with the vaguery of goodness in this American fish of a tale.

I was born and raised in the US, and a part of me can't help but think this book is so hated by us because we can't stand to see ourselves reflected back at us, and we don't like to think value can come from small change words.

Well, I liked it anyway. I haven't liked a mystery novel this much in a long time. glad I didn't read the reviews first!

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Surprised it was so good

Revisado: 02-03-18

I read a lot of negative reviews like “predictable, boring, hate the characters” and so on. I was discussed from buying the book for quite a while, but I’m really glad I took the chance.

To the people who hated the characters: that’s what novels are all about. If you want novels where you love the main character and she or he is a true protagonist, stick to fantasy, sci fi, and other hero genres. Mysteries and thrillers aren’t it. These are where the seedy unreliable narrators come in, and I think true fans of horror and mystery and thrill love these anti heroes all the same.

To those saying the end is predictable, well I’ve predicted the end of nearly every mystery I’ve seen or read, but until two hours before the end of this novel, I really couldn’t tell. I suspected two and neither were it. This is debatable because every person will be able to predict differently, so I’ll let it go.

To those who said it was boring, however, I vehemently disagree. This wasn’t a boring novel at all. Not to me. I’ve been listening to mystery novels for two weeks straight as I’ve moved into my new place and found a place for everything, meticulously unpacking, and I haven’t been this engaged in any of them since the first one I listened to “The Woman in the Window.” Gone Girl did not surprise me, nor did The Secrets She Keeps or Good Me Bad Me— but this one— this one was something special. I’m very pleased with how much I both hated and loved the characters and the twists.

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Alright for fans of psychology

Revisado: 02-01-18

Despite this book being totally predictable, it’s merit lies in the author’s irrefutable knowledge of psychology. The ability to describe someone’s dissociations, desires, weakness of will, and ability and inability to change— a heartbreaking portraiture of nature vs nurture— is not clouded by diagnoses and the labels that proceed which is all to common in these sorts of novels. It was refreshing in this way. The main character in any other novel might have been incorrectly described as a sociopath, but not here. Ana has remorse and empathy leading one to believe she’ll pull through on her desires to be unlike her mother. She does pull through in some ways, but when it comes down to brass tax she is willing to do almost anything she thinks is necessary for her emotional survival. She is both a victim and a perpetrator of misery, true to life, much like in the novel “The Secrets She Keeps.”

I would describe this as a psychological thriller, but the lack of mystery was utterly disappointing. I was left wanting for a big twist or an unexpected turn but was left with only a subtle hint of one at the end.

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Over-sensationalized but entertaining

Revisado: 01-17-18

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

(SPOILER ALERT!!!)(SPOILER ALERT!!!)It kept me entertained while I unpacked, so it was definitely worth my time. I liked the characters much more than the story itself, but then again, the characters kind of were the story. The "big twist" in the middle was entirely predictable for me; it was so much less exciting than people made it out to be. As soon as I heard her monologue, I sighed. I was hoping for something more. The further development of Amy's character almost made up for the predictability, but I never once believed that she wouldn't have the upper hand, and that's my main issue with it. As soon as the plot twist in the middle, I knew she would win, because she was meticulous enough to have pulled off the first half. If someone can plan and execute something like that, then they can get away with anything. There is no need to couch this all in terms like "post-modern narrative." The book doesn't need to make a statement on anything to be entertaining-- it just is. The book does well to describe psychological warfare and abuse in terms of domestic arrangements, but I do not think it's making some kind of statement on masculinity. Nick is plenty masculine; I personally think he is a general masochist, and that Amy is a general sadist, and that's why they want one another despite their inescapable and visceral hatred. I have a degree in Philosophy, and I wouldn't say there's anything particularly thought-provoking about this book, despite the reviews.Basically, I think people are over-praising and over-analyzing this book. It is an entertaining mystery with an exceptional ending and interesting characters. It is nothing like people made it out to be (to me). I probably would have liked this book more if I hadn't read about it beforehand.

Which scene was your favorite?

The final two narrations were my favorite.

Any additional comments?

Advice: don't let yourself get hyped up about the book.

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When Windows are Windows into the Soul

Revisado: 01-14-18

Would you listen to The Woman in the Window again? Why?

No-- it seems to me like one of those one-timers-- not because of quality but because the mystery element is over. I would recommend it to others though.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Much like the author A.J. Finn, I have been interested in mysteries my entire life, particularly murder mysteries. Consequently I'm adept at predicting plot twists and endings. At age eleven, when seeing "The Sixth Sense" in a movie theater, I predicted the ending a quarter of the way through. It's taxing because I love mysteries, but how can I enjoy them when able to predict things so easily?This story is no different. I predicted one plot twist a third of the way through, and another halfway through. I won't spoil them for you. The final plot twist, however, I did not see coming. It was so surprising that it made the whole listen worth it.Despite the partial predictability, I was on the edge of my seat for much of the novel. I listened to it for three days straight because it was able to keep my attention quite well. The things I found most interesting were the stories of Anna's past and the way she lives her current life. Anna's character was the singular most interesting thing about the book, which is good because she is the main character, and so I was very invested in what will happen to her. I found myself rooting for her in ways I had not rooted for the characters in other novels. For example, the book made me gasp a few times, and I covered my mouth in anticipating for the next moment-- what is going to happen to Anna?!?!Overall, very entertaining.

Have you listened to any of Ann Marie Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to her other performances, but she stuck to the characters well. This was very clear in the way Anna and her daughter both said "Yes" with an unusually hard S, but the rest of the characters didn't.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Get to know your neighbors, but not too well.

Any additional comments?

I didn't like the prose at first, which nearly caused me to shut it off, but I'm glad I didn't!

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