- price: $15.00
- isbn: 978-0-385-34725-9
- release: Jul 8th, 2014
- format: Trade Paperback
- category: Fiction - Literary
- Publisher: Crown Publishing
- Author: Koren Zailckas
From Koren Zailckas,
author of the iconic memoir SMASHED: an electrifying debut novel about a family
being torn apart by the woman who claims to love them most
Josephine Hurst has her family under control. With two beautiful daughters, a brilliantly intelligent son, a tech-guru of a husband, and a historical landmark home, her life is picture perfect. But living in this matriarch’s determinedly cheerful, yet subtly controlling domain hasn’t been easy for her family, and when her oldest daughter, Rose, runs off with a mysterious boyfriend, Josephine tightens her grip, gradually turning her flawless home into a darker sort of prison.
Resentful of her sister’s newfound freedom, Violet turns to eastern philosophy, hallucinogenic drugs, and extreme fasting, eventually landing herself in a psych ward. Meanwhile, her brother, Will, recently diagnosed with Asperger's, shrinks further into a world of self-doubt. Their father, Douglas, finds resolve in the bottom of a bottle—an addict craving his own chance to escape. Josephine struggles to maintain the family’s impeccable façade, but when a violent incident leads to a visit from child protective services, the truth about the Hursts might finally be revealed.
Now with Extra Libris material, including a reader’s guide and bonus content
Josephine Hurst has her family under control. With two beautiful daughters, a brilliantly intelligent son, a tech-guru of a husband, and a historical landmark home, her life is picture perfect. But living in this matriarch’s determinedly cheerful, yet subtly controlling domain hasn’t been easy for her family, and when her oldest daughter, Rose, runs off with a mysterious boyfriend, Josephine tightens her grip, gradually turning her flawless home into a darker sort of prison.
Resentful of her sister’s newfound freedom, Violet turns to eastern philosophy, hallucinogenic drugs, and extreme fasting, eventually landing herself in a psych ward. Meanwhile, her brother, Will, recently diagnosed with Asperger's, shrinks further into a world of self-doubt. Their father, Douglas, finds resolve in the bottom of a bottle—an addict craving his own chance to escape. Josephine struggles to maintain the family’s impeccable façade, but when a violent incident leads to a visit from child protective services, the truth about the Hursts might finally be revealed.
Now with Extra Libris material, including a reader’s guide and bonus content
~My Impressions~
This is what happens with religion gone wrong and to the extreme out of fear. Sadly, it is these types of horrific life experience with religion that turn many off that live through it and view it from the outside. This family in general is psychologist dream family with all the years of therapy they would need to work through the multifaceted family dysfunction that goes on. Just a wonderful psychological thriller from beginning to end.
Josephine is at the heart of this destructive family. She is controlling, manipulative, twisted and vile. She is so wrapped up in public opinion she does not care about the damage she causes on her own family to maintain an outward perfect image. I don't want to say she is pure evil, but she is definitely walking in darkness. The characters are written wonderfully. Koren did a beautiful job breathing life into these characters. Full of life and emotion you start to think of them as real people that you love and hate. I would get so disgusted with Josephine I would pitch my book across the room or simply stop reading. It is a type of book you have to read in small doses, its too disturbing.
This is what happens with religion gone wrong and to the extreme out of fear. Sadly, it is these types of horrific life experience with religion that turn many off that live through it and view it from the outside. This family in general is psychologist dream family with all the years of therapy they would need to work through the multifaceted family dysfunction that goes on. Just a wonderful psychological thriller from beginning to end.
Josephine is at the heart of this destructive family. She is controlling, manipulative, twisted and vile. She is so wrapped up in public opinion she does not care about the damage she causes on her own family to maintain an outward perfect image. I don't want to say she is pure evil, but she is definitely walking in darkness. The characters are written wonderfully. Koren did a beautiful job breathing life into these characters. Full of life and emotion you start to think of them as real people that you love and hate. I would get so disgusted with Josephine I would pitch my book across the room or simply stop reading. It is a type of book you have to read in small doses, its too disturbing.
~About the Author~
KOREN ZAILCKAS is an
internationally bestselling writer, and has contributed to The Guardian,
U.S. News & World Report, Glamour, Jane, and Seventeen
magazine. She currently lives with her family in the Catskills mountains of New
York.
~Disclaimer~
I received this book from Broadway Books via BloggingforBooks program in exchange my honest review and opinion.
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