Book Review: The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
By Doreen Sheridan
June 10, 2022
What a delightfully meta-textual examination of writing in the 21st century! With The Woman In The Library, Sulari Gentill has written a truly thought-provoking modern crime fiction novel—one that entertains and enthralls at a high level while still keeping at least one foot grounded in reality.
The book’s core is the story of four people brought together by a hair-raising scream while they’re all seated in the Reading Room of the Boston Public Library. Our narrator, Freddie, is an Australian author who’s received a fellowship to research her next novel in the United States. She’s idly glancing over her fellow Reading Room occupants and giving them nicknames in her head when a scream rends the air. Forced to stay put while the authorities search the building, Freddie and three others strike up a friendship that inspires Freddie to finally start writing her book:
The story is still coming in waves, surging ideas crashing onto the page faster than I can type. I’ve not yet found actual names for Handsome Man, Heroic Chin, and Freud Girl, but it doesn’t seem to matter. Perhaps it’s because I am not yet ready to diverge them from their inspiration, to stem that momentum of discovery, the excitement of new friendship that seems to form a story of itself. The narrative is strange–unlike anything I’ve written before. The library takes on a consciousness of its own, watchful, patient, dangerous. The scream becomes a motif, an echo of each character’s silent cry for connection and friendship, for help.
Outside of Freddie’s head, Freud Girl is actually Marigold, a heavily tattooed psychology grad student who seems to be developing a crush on Heroic Chin, or Whit as he’s more commonly known. Whit is doing his best to flunk out of Harvard Law so that he won’t have to follow in his parents’ footsteps and join their law firm. Finally, Handsome Man is Cain, who is also a writer researching his next novel, depicting the life and death of a homeless man surviving on the cold Boston streets. As the foursome begin to build stronger relationships based on their initial rapport, they’re each excited to have found genuine new friends. Trouble is, one of them is a murderer.
As the story builds, we’re made aware that Freddie’s tale is actually a fiction created by the renowned Australian author Hannah Tigone. Further, while Hannah is stuck in pandemic lockdown in Australia, she’s in direct correspondence with a Bostonian fan, Leo, who’s more than happy to help research her setting. Leo starts out friendly, if a little pushy, often offering unsolicited advice as he reads each of the chapters Hannah sends. Some of this advice is actually quite canny, as when he’s talking with Hannah about race or about COVID-19 :
I notice that you have not once in this novel made any reference to the global pandemic. I understand of course. We’re all sick of it and all it entails. But I think it is the responsibility of writers to bear witness to the darkness as well as the light. Without any mention of the virus, your novel risks being dated before it’s released.
You could of course be setting this novel in the future, at a time when all this is behind us. But if you don’t mind me saying so, that’s exceedingly optimistic. I suspect that a world without disease will need to feature flying cars and victims dispatched by laser guns. Writing a contemporary novel without the pandemic is surely more fantasy than mystery.
As Freddie’s story grows more and more complicated, so too does Hannah and Leo’s. The cat and mouse games between the various characters lead to several thrilling surprises, and a tense, satisfying ending for Hannah and Leo’s story. I was a little less clear on what was signified by the end of Freddie’s tale, though I did think that the whodunnit overall was successfully executed.
Overall, I found the book to be a wonderfully nimble play on the relationships between writer and reader, and writer and muse. While Ms. Gentill is perhaps best known for her terrific Rowland Sinclair historical mystery series, this standalone novel is an excellent addition to her canon, tackling complex literary issues with both wit and panache.
Comments
Comments are closed.
SNF Co., Ltd is the leading manufacturer of electric vehicle assembly.
We are the best laser therapy machine for physiotherapy suppliers in the market at reasonable rates.
I have read your blog it is very helpful for me. I want to say thanks to you. I have bookmark your site for future updates.
Call Weed is an online Cannabis delivery service, we have the best Cannabis stock and provide rapid delivery to the customers. From our dedicated phone representatives to our friendly delivery drivers, we work hard day in day out to provide you with industry’s best Cannabis. Buying from us you will get the guaranteed fresh flowers we have a lot of varieties and different strains we are one of the Top Dispensaries In LA .
I really enjoyed this one! But I found your blog trying to figure out if those last couple paragraphs of Freddie’s story (trying to keep it vague for any of your blog readers who are still reading the book) had a darker meaning? I’m still not 100% sure
Right?! I wasn’t sure either. It was so abrupt and vaguely menacing.
เล่น สล็อต pg ให้เงินคุณได้มากกว่า jobthai ยุคที่ต้องหางาน หาเงิน หารายได้เสริม แต่เงินในยุคนี้หายากมากๆ ช่องทางการหาเงินง่ายๆ เข้าเว็ บ สล็อต pg แค่สมัครเเล้วเล่นเกม
เล่นผ่านเว็บ pg slot สล็อตเครดิตฟรี ไม่ต้องฝาก ทดลองเล่นโดยไม่ต้องฝาก เล่นได้แบบไม่มีขีดจำกัดตลอด 24 ชั่วโมง รวมทั้งเบิกเงินในปริมาณ พีจี รับเครดิตง่าย ๆ ไม่ต้องฝากก็เล่นได้
US mobile marketing team is comprised of a fleet of trucks and drivers to provide the perfect size specialized equipment. We offer maximized visibility of your business and or product using high quality exterior grade vinyl on the side of a transfer truck ranging in size between 24 – 53 ft that runs from coast to coast.
I’m Totally savoring your website. You without doubt have some fantastic Perception and wonderful tales.
great post site
สล็อตเว็บตรง แตกง่าย เกมเดิมพันออนไลน์ยอดฮิตที่ได้รับความนิยมมากที่สุดในปัจจุบันเนื่องจากเป็นเกมที่มีรูปแบบการเล่นที่ง่ายไม่เหมือนกับพนันอื่นๆ เล่นง่ายได้ที่ พีจีสล็อต
Are you lacking inspiration and feeling bored? Why don’t you give pgslot a try and let the fun begin? quinniiz.
Looking for some fun and entertainment? There is nowhere better than jokerslot, so visit us and see for yourself! quinniiz.
I have read your blog it is very helpful for me. I want to say thanks to you. I have bookmark your site for future updates.
I have read your blog it is very helpful for me. I want to say thanks to you. I have bookmark your site for future updates.
I’m Totally savoring your website. You without doubt have some fantastic Perception and wonderful tales.
I’m Totally savoring your website
I’m Totally savoring your website
Right?! I wasn’t sure either. It was so abrupt and vaguely menacing.
Right?! I wasn’t sure either. It was so abrupt and vaguely menacing.
Try playing pg slot games, apply for slot games, direct web, free games, free slots, free trial, withdraw today. The website has collected more than 100 interesting slot games for everyone to try for free. The hottest online slot game Guaranteed fun without boredom
เว็บแทงบอลออนไลน์ ยูฟ่าเบท แทงบอลขั้นต่ำ 10 บาท แทงบอลลีกเล็ก ลีกใหญ่ ในการแทงบอลสเต็ป บอลเต็ง บอลไลฟ์ ดูบอลสดฟรีของเราไม่ต้องเสียค่าสมัคร
شركة قمة الخليج للخدمات المنزلية
كود تايم هي واحدة من أكبر المؤسسات الرقمية في السوق السعودي
great
nice
شركة السعودية للتركيبات بالرياض
(نقل – تركيب – تصليح – تفصيل – صيانه)
[url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]شركة نظافة بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]افضل شركة تنظيف بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]ماهي افضل شركة تنظيف بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]افضل شركة تنظيف منازل بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]شركة الصفرات للتنظيف بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]تنظيف شقق بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]ارخص شركة تنظيف في الرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]رقم شركة تنظيف بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]شركه نظافه بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]شركة الصفرات لتنظيف الشقق بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]شركة تنظيف شقق الرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]ارخص شركة تنظيف بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]ارخص شركة تنظيف منازل بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]شركة تنظيف بالرياض عمالة فلبينية[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]شركة تنظيف في الرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]شركة تنظيف بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]تنظيف منازل بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]شركه تنظيف منازل بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]شركة تنظيف منازل بالرياض[/url] | [url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]شركة تنظيف شقق بالرياض[/url]
[url=https://www.cleaningcompany-riyadh.com/cleaning-houses-riyadh/]شركة تنظيف منازل بالرياض[/url]
Looking for some fun and entertainment? There is nowhere better than jokerslot, so visit us and see for yourself! quinniiz.
ome fun and entertainment? There is nowhere better than jokersl
good