The beginning of Leave Me by Gayle Forman raises intriguing questions. What does it take for someone to walk away from a family? What are the repercussions of walking away? However, the book then turns in a completely different direction, bringing plot lines to this book that I do not expect and that take it far from the original premise. It is still entertaining, but it is not the book I expect.
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2016/09/leave-me.html.
Reviewed based on a publisher's galley received through NetGalley
Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2016/09/leave-me.html.
Reviewed based on a publisher's galley received through NetGalley
The main character, Maribeth Klein, is a 44-year old working wife and the mother of mother of 4-year old twins. Her career is not going well, and she suspects that her best friend/boss is slowly replacing her. Her husband works long hours with little recompense and her adoptive mother is less than helpful in every situation. She suffers a heart attack and subsequent surgery, and begins to question the genetic link to heart disease since she is adopted with no information about her maternal or paternal health. When she is overwhelmed during her recovery with all that she has to do to keep life running smoothly, she decides to "run away" to Pittsburgh, the place of her birth. Surely a less drastic, more constructive solution might have occurred to her. Life is tough at times for everyone, but most of us muddle through. Maribeth selfishly made life much tougher for those she left behind. I found it difficult to comprehend how she could abruptly leave the twins, especially wanted and born after multiple IVF attempts and miscarriages. Her life in Pittsburgh is enhanced when she meet a troubled cardiologist. Their relationship began as doctor/patient and evolved, which is probably an ethics violation.
I expect Algonquin to set a high standard for the books they publish, so I was very disappointed. This is a book with an unlikeable character in a series of implausible situations.
I expect Algonquin to set a high standard for the books they publish, so I was very disappointed. This is a book with an unlikeable character in a series of implausible situations.
