Matt McAvoy Book Review

One of this author’s greatest strengths is the simplicity of her premises, and this is another of those – if at times a little bizarre.  But again, as always with Louise, scratch deep enough beneath the tenderly itching surface and you will reveal a multitude of complex layers.  It might be superficially about a psychotherapist kidnapped by her deranged patient, but the nature of her profession should tell you that there is much, much more to both of these key players and their backstories.  What Dr. Glass lacks in overly convoluted storyline it more than makes up for with its real objective: vivid detail and profound analysis.  It is deep, rich and utterly cerebral, and most of its wordiness is descriptive in nature.  This isn’t so much a story, but rather a psychological journey of grief, hate, self-loathing, judgement and remorse, as rationality is turned on its head by both antagonist and protagonist alike.  By the end, the lines are blurred between which of them is the real case study.  Its themes are intriguing ones, and each utterly worthy of the proportion of depth Louise affords them: as you can imagine, maternal filicide, Stockholm syndrome, self-harm and suicide are not issues to be brushed over lightly, nor frivolously used in the name of entertainment.  Be advised that there is profound attention given to each of these subjects, but also be assured that the author gives them the respect they are due.

As far as entertainment goes, I have to say that I enjoyed the book a great deal, as I have with all of Louise’s work, and read it in just a couple of sittings, utterly gripped; it is definitely another of those “just one more chapter” at two in the morning reads.  That said, don’t expect an easy ride; it is tough, intense and very bleak at times – as would befit its psychological drama genre.  I don’t think this was helped by what I know to be the author’s preferred present-tense narrative writing style, and again I found that problematic; I didn’t really feel that it suited the book, and there were odd occasions in which it felt a touch confused by itself.

The writing itself, though, not unexpectedly, is top drawer.  Once again, this writer has triumphed both creatively and educationally, and good luck to her.