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Book Review of The Guest Room

The Guest Room
reviewed on + 274 more book reviews


I'm a big Bohjalian fan, having read most of his books and having a few more on TRB pile, as I enjoy how he writes about social issues and injustices. Sorry to say this book was a little disappointing. He covers the sex-slave issue but so many of the conversations between Richard and wife were unrealistic. Even the dialogue with Alexandra was stilted as she was supposedly trained to serve educated clients but her English was that of a cartoon character. Took me a while (half of book) to get hooked in the story and then I finished it in a matter of hours. By the end, I wanted more! I appreciate the research Bohjalian does for all of his books. This one, however, was missing some depth....and anger. Richard's wife needed to go a little bat-sh*t crazy on him to make it real. And geez, WHY didn't they get rid of the damn blood-soaked couch the first day?!?!? Or throw a big blanket over it?? Just not real enough for me.