Someone Is Watching by Joy Fielding
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, despite the fact that the protagonist, Bailey Carpenter, is brutally raped in the beginning (a daring plot premise for Fielding to undertake). In fact, I wasn’t sure I’d want to keep reading, given the subject matter, but I did, and despite a bit too much internal dialogue (I’m crazy/I’m not crazy/I’m definitely going crazy), Fielding does a credible job of building the story with empathy, understanding, and occasionally, humor. Much of that can be attributed to her niece, Jade, who becomes a very big part of Bailey’s life, along with her mother (half-sister to Bailey), Claire, who swoops in to save the day. There’s also a pothead, unemployed actor brother, Heath, a married lover, and half-siblings suing both her and Heath for their inheritance of their father’s estate. All in all a fast-paced read, and if I figured out a few things before the end, it didn’t spoil the book for me. 4.5 stars.
She’s Not There by Joy Fielding
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is my second Joy Fielding novel in a week, which tells you that A) I enjoyed the first one (Someone is Watching) and B) her books are fast-paced, easy reads. She’s also very good at developing characters beyond the cardboard cutout. In She’s Not There, Fielding hops from Present Day to 15 Years, 10 Years, 5 Years ago etc. so if that’s not your thing, this book isn’t for you. But it’s done well, not in a jarring sort of way, and it all blends nicely. Even so, the end is a bit predictable and Fielding does like a repetitive motto for her protagonist (in SIW, it’s “I’m not Crazy,” here it’s “It’s all my fault, everything is my fault.”) and that can wear a bit thin. Still, there are worse ways to spend a couple of afternoons and I’ll read Fielding again, sooner rather than later.
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