Scan barcode
A review by tracystan
Sweet Lamb of Heaven by Lydia Millet
4.0
The premise of this book is that it's a thriller: a woman and child leave the emotionally abusive wealthy husband, he follows them from Alaska to Maine, and gets more threatening as the book progresses. And it is a thriller. But there's more to it than that.
When Lena is born, Anna starts to hear a voice, much like a running commentary in the background. When Lena starts to talk, the voice stops. When Lena is four, Anna decides to leave Ned, hiding her identity, and finds a rundown motel on the Maine coast. The straggling vacationers there become an ersatz family. Eventually Ned catches up, and the mind games begin.
This was beautifully written- the suspense builds up gradually, and though it has the climactic ending, the trip there does not follow the standard thriller formula. This was good story telling and believable characters combined with subtle social commentary, and a little hint of the apocalyptic. It reminds me of Donna Tartt, but with fewer pages.
If you like the nail biting predictability of the standard abusive husband goes after his runaway wife, this may not be your thing. But if you want a thriller to make you think, this is a good one.
When Lena is born, Anna starts to hear a voice, much like a running commentary in the background. When Lena starts to talk, the voice stops. When Lena is four, Anna decides to leave Ned, hiding her identity, and finds a rundown motel on the Maine coast. The straggling vacationers there become an ersatz family. Eventually Ned catches up, and the mind games begin.
This was beautifully written- the suspense builds up gradually, and though it has the climactic ending, the trip there does not follow the standard thriller formula. This was good story telling and believable characters combined with subtle social commentary, and a little hint of the apocalyptic. It reminds me of Donna Tartt, but with fewer pages.
If you like the nail biting predictability of the standard abusive husband goes after his runaway wife, this may not be your thing. But if you want a thriller to make you think, this is a good one.