A review by sharonleavy
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 

Romy Hall is serving two life sentences and six years in Stanville Prison. Her crime? The murder of the man who began stalking her after he became obsessed with her at The Mars Room, the strip club where she worked. 

If you like female-led prison dramas you may like this. While I liked the way it went back & forth to Romys life before and during prison, some chapters were confusing to me because I wasn't entirely sure who was speaking until near the end and I had to go back and read them again. There are a few POVs going on here apart from Romy's - the main one being that of Gordon, an easily-led Prison teacher who ends up doing favours for the women. I absolutely hated the chapters from "Doc". 

There are moments of dark humour, but most of the characters are very unlikeable with the notable exception of Conan, the trans man who has ended up in the women's prison. Cracking ending, though.