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A review by nikkihrose
The Stranger Behind You by Carol Goodman
3.0
This book has a fascinating premise, and certain parts of the plot I didn’t see coming.
That being said, many of the events I did loosely predict, which isn’t a bad thing – but I know it matters for some of you.
I think the thing that stuck with me most about this book was how much I hated one of the characters. I know I’m supposed to hate her, so that helps, but she seemed to feed into every rich white woman stereotype in regards to how she saw the world, saw herself, and thought about others beneath her. There were racist and privileged comments in nearly each of her chapters (alternating narrations) and while it was to prove a point and I know these people exist, it wasn’t necessarily what I enjoy reading about. But this is just a personal preference.
This book follows a journalist who is out to “take down” a sexual predator. Someone with power, who believes he cannot be stopped, and doesn’t care whom he hurts in the process. And yet this young journalist, Joan, is not afraid of him. Not until she gets assaulted, though, and doesn’t know who she can trust.
As she struggles to figure out her life with impaired vision and a potential brain injury, Joan continues to feel as though someone is watching her and messing with her – but she no longer knows if it’s just her. But it’s not. Not completely, anyway. The predator’s wife doesn’t believe the articles and is angry that her entire life has come down around her – and she wants revenge.
This book was captivating. It highlighted the #MeToo movement and showed it from all sides (reporters, perpetrators, victims, and those who don’t believe). It also, as mentioned previously, challenges other close-minded mindsets by demonstrating how absurd they can be in the moment.
TW: sexual abuse, sexual harassment, physical abuse, stalking, memory loss
That being said, many of the events I did loosely predict, which isn’t a bad thing – but I know it matters for some of you.
I think the thing that stuck with me most about this book was how much I hated one of the characters. I know I’m supposed to hate her, so that helps, but she seemed to feed into every rich white woman stereotype in regards to how she saw the world, saw herself, and thought about others beneath her. There were racist and privileged comments in nearly each of her chapters (alternating narrations) and while it was to prove a point and I know these people exist, it wasn’t necessarily what I enjoy reading about. But this is just a personal preference.
This book follows a journalist who is out to “take down” a sexual predator. Someone with power, who believes he cannot be stopped, and doesn’t care whom he hurts in the process. And yet this young journalist, Joan, is not afraid of him. Not until she gets assaulted, though, and doesn’t know who she can trust.
As she struggles to figure out her life with impaired vision and a potential brain injury, Joan continues to feel as though someone is watching her and messing with her – but she no longer knows if it’s just her. But it’s not. Not completely, anyway. The predator’s wife doesn’t believe the articles and is angry that her entire life has come down around her – and she wants revenge.
This book was captivating. It highlighted the #MeToo movement and showed it from all sides (reporters, perpetrators, victims, and those who don’t believe). It also, as mentioned previously, challenges other close-minded mindsets by demonstrating how absurd they can be in the moment.
TW: sexual abuse, sexual harassment, physical abuse, stalking, memory loss