The Life You’ve Imagined
Release date: 2010 / 334 pages
Synopsis (from the back cover): In high school, Cami and Anna were as close as they could be. Now, years later, both have returned to the hometown to face the people they have left behind…
First Sentence: The taxicab exhaust curls up around me like a fist.
Review: Although I didn’t love this novel, I did find the premise quite engaging. The narrative courses through four characters, changing perspectives with each short chapter. The characters are each decidedly not living the life they imagined — except possibly my favorite character, Amy, who the author described in the supplemental as intially conceived as “a plot device.” However, all four characters are living lives under various delusions, of love, mostly, but also that one thing — a relationship, a career, an addiction — can be enough to sustain a life.
I think even though first person was used throughout the novel, within every character’s chapter, I never felt as if I could fully get to know them. When Riggle first conceived of this work, Anna was originally the main character; however, I found her distance from her mother and her inability to define why she was able to leave a career and life she had worked so hard to create to be frustrating. Cami’s decision to live with an abusive, alcoholic father was baffling and not fully explored, nor was her relationship with her ex-boyfriend who needlessly appeared once at the beginning only to break up with her. Maeve, Anna’s mother, was a mostly sympathetic character and although she was delusional about her absent husband, she was quite clear-minded regarding why she did not enjoy her current employment or living situation. Amy was the most confident and most proactive of the characters, which is why I was rooting for her throughout, even if I believed her fiance was less than she deserved.
So, do I recommend this character-driven novel? Somewhat. I did enjoy the setting since I grew up in Michigan and recognized many of the small towns described. And, while the short chapters were disorienting when the perspective switched so quickly from character to character, the novel did read very quickly as a result. So, while I do not recommend this as a book club pick, I think many readers (women) would find it a pleasant companion.
Interested? Drop me a comment and I’ll choose a winner before the weekend!
For other reviews, check out the following sites:
Thursday, August 19th: Sara’s Organized Chaos
Monday, August 23rd: Lisa’s Yarns
Thursday, August 26th: The Book Faery Reviews
Thursday, August 26th: Reading at the Beach
Wednesday, September 1st: Rundpinne
Thursday, September 2nd: Helen’s Book Blog
Wednesday, September 8th: Book Club Classics!
Monday, September 13th: All About {n}
Wednesday, September 15th: Thoughts From an Evil Overlord
Tuesday, September 21st: Book Addiction
Thursday, September 23rd: Confessions of a Bookaholic
I enjoyed this one more than you did, but I’m glad you identified with at least one of the characters!
I’d like a “pleasant companion”…please add me to the drawing.
Renee
What an interesting title. It certainly sounds like a book that would interest me. Thanks for this chance.
The story sounds like real life to me. I would like a chance to get a copy of this book.
-Thanks.
Thanks so much for the review and the offer!
Sounds like a good read! I’d love to be entered!
Although it doesn’t sound like it would be my favorite book, I do think I’d like to give it a try. Thanks for the honest review and the giveaway!
I’m sorry that this book didn’t work better for you but I do appreciate you sharing your thoughts as part of the tour.
This sounds like a good read and I would love to be entered.
Thanks for the chance.
I’d give this book a try–I spent quite a bit of time in small Michigan towns throughout my childhood and would welcome a “pleasant companion.” Please enter my name into the drawing.