“Could you walk away from your family?” is the question posed on the front cover of this intriguing and sometimes frustrating novel, that seems aimed at a mainly female readership.
I thought the book did convincingly explain the actions of Helen, the housewife who disappears one day from her apparently perfect life.
The story is told from various perspectives, but interestingly for much of the time we are missing Helen’s own voice. The greatest share of the narrative is given over to Sam, Helen’s bewildered husband, who reveals much more than he realises about her motivation. This clever device made me identify much more, emotionally at least, with Helen, although I still felt the perfection and degree of self-control she achieved was somewhat unrealistic. Also, as much of my sympathy for Sam was exhausted before I was halfway through the book, I found a few of the middle sections dragged a little.
Overall however I found this a thoroughly involving read with a finale that satisfyingly explained various elements of the plot and a heart-warming ending that confirmed the importance of family ties.
I thought the book did convincingly explain the actions of Helen, the housewife who disappears one day from her apparently perfect life.
The story is told from various perspectives, but interestingly for much of the time we are missing Helen’s own voice. The greatest share of the narrative is given over to Sam, Helen’s bewildered husband, who reveals much more than he realises about her motivation. This clever device made me identify much more, emotionally at least, with Helen, although I still felt the perfection and degree of self-control she achieved was somewhat unrealistic. Also, as much of my sympathy for Sam was exhausted before I was halfway through the book, I found a few of the middle sections dragged a little.
Overall however I found this a thoroughly involving read with a finale that satisfyingly explained various elements of the plot and a heart-warming ending that confirmed the importance of family ties.