A review by sshabein
Edith's Diary by Patricia Highsmith

dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

At first, I wasn't sure about this one, but then I started to notice how Patricia Highsmith sows the seeds of unraveling in a subtle way. It takes the the idea of an unlikeable, unreliable narrator and makes it a story told close third person from the point of view of an anxious woman and her son. Her son is awful in a variety of ways (though he and his mother are often alike), her ex-husband selfish and distant, and Edith spins herself a midcentury fantasy alternative. It's a really interesting book, and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it.
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