The Almost Moon

Alice Sebold

This is a story about relationships. How they come to define who you are as a person , how you...more

This is a story about relationships. How they come to define who you are as a person , how you relate to other people, and how you view your life. It delves into how a relationship can be both toxic and loving. How we as people, in relationships, step in to fill roles we spend our entire lives running away from; because of a sense of duty, love, honor or responsibility. the story opens with helen killing her mother. helen spent her entire life living in or trying to get away from her mothers shadow. as a child she strove for perfection, to act in a way that garnered praise from the person least likely to give it. as an adolescent she counted the days until she could break all the chains binding her to her house. in adulthood, after moving back to her home town, taking the place of caretaker vacated by her father. through out her life she always saw her father as a person on the periphery of her life. his time too consumed with caring for her mother, and battling his own demons. his own life was somewhat shrouded in mystery, with little glimpses provided creating a more murky profile in the eyes of his daughter. after killing her mother, she begins to look back on their lives as a unit. how they functioned in their relationships, how her mothers attitudes shaped who helen became. thus affecting her relationships with her husband, while married, her children, and the world around her. while looking back, she is also moving forward. facing the decisions of where to go from here and how her actions will have a major impact on her life. people from her past show up and offer opinions, not only of who she is, but how they feel her mother has impacted her life. she begins to see her parents for who they were, deeply flawed and moving down the only course they knew. the story ends with helen alone in a house, the police searching for her. knowing she will have to face what she has done, more than the personal appraisal, but also in the eyes of her daughters, neighbors and friends. she feels she only has the path that her parents have laid for her. she realizes that despite her best efforts she has fallen into the trap she spent her entire life avoiding, a life mimicking theirs.    hide

Alice Sebold is definitely a compelling writer. Once you begin her books, they are difficult to...more

Alice Sebold is definitely a compelling writer. Once you begin her books, they are difficult to put down, no matter how disturbing the subject matter. This book is just as disturbing as The Lovely Bones, but almost as well written. Maybe not quite as unique a concept as the aforementioned novel, The Almost Moon is still an absorbing read. I am suddenly reminded of the police psychologist at the end of the movie saying something like "Matricide is the worst of all crimes." This novel works out some of the consequences of that crime in a thought provoking manner. Not for the faint of heart, but still well worth reading.   hide

This was a hard one for me. I like it for I admire a writer who is obviously so talented. It's...more

This was a hard one for me. I like it for I admire a writer who is obviously so talented. It's haunting, creative and delivers a certain mood appropriate to the subject matter. This brings me to the hard part. Not only does the main character kill her mother (and I was not convinced it was an act of mercy in the least) but her subsequent actions left me no choice but to despise her...which I guess, considering the end of the book and the impact it would have on the other characters in the book, could have very well been the goal...to me it just proved how selfish she is...not for the light hearted, that's for sure...   hide

I got an advanced copy of this title (it comes out in October). I loved The Lovely Bones, so I was...more

I got an advanced copy of this title (it comes out in October). I loved The Lovely Bones, so I was really looking forward to this one. It's well-written and definitely an exciting and interesting read, exploring the dark side of the human psyche, but I must say I was disappointed. Alice Sebold is such a talented writer, and I expected more from her. I recommend it, especially if you were a fan of the Lovely Bones, but I can't guarantee you'll like it in the end.   hide

I completely agree with Hayley below. What was Sebold thinking when she wrote this? I loved Lucky,...more

I completely agree with Hayley below. What was Sebold thinking when she wrote this? I loved Lucky, mostly like The Lovely Bones, and I had high hopes for this book. It doesn't seem like the same author. I wonder she wrote such a twisted book with a protagonist with no redeeming qualities. Do not waste your time or money on this book.   hide