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Still Missing |
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by Chevy Stevens
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PBR Book Review: (by- Linda )
What continues to come to mind about this book is the extraordinary pacing; it does not allow you to stop reading. Just as you sense a good breaking point is near, the author throws in a twist, surprise or revelation that makes you want to know more. The focus of the story is Annie, average young women who is abducted and held captive. The story is told through her voice as she talks to her psychiatrist. There are in two threads that eventually converge. Though flashbacks, Annie reveals the events and circumstances of her abduction, the thread other shows the present day and the emotional scars she carries. Her survival is not a secret.
What defines this book is her story; it's haunting, emotional and artfully crafted. This is an excellent choice for a book club that enjoys mysteries or anyone who likes a story with emotional pull. The descriptions of rape and sexual perversion in this book are graphic, not for the faint of heart or young reader. Wonderful debut novel.
Book Club Talking Points:
Annie, young career women is kidnapped and held captive by a sociopath and although the subject matter is not beautiful, the writing is. This author allows the reader to walk in Annie's shoes and know the true horror of her captivity and the long term consequences not only to her, but also the impact on her family and friends. There are some surprises and twists in the plot that club members will enjoy discussing as well as her captor's demented ways. 352 pages- St. Martin's Press (July 6, 2010) ISBN-10: 0312595670
Author Website: http://beatrizwilliams.com
*Discussion Questions
1.
The end of My Name Is Mary Sutter is both satisfying and surprising. What was your response to the conclusion of each character's story?
2.
Women's rights have greatly expanded since Mary's time, but do you believe that women are still limited by prejudice as to what they can or should do professionally? Do you believe men and women should have different roles or responsibilities within society?
3.
Beyond Mary, which character did you find the most interesting? Why? Which character did you find the least interesting?
4.
Blevens explains that he cannot accept Mary as an apprentice because of the Civil War. Do you believe he would have taken her on had the the war not begun? Why?
5.
As a woman and midwife, Mary has a particular kind of medical knowledge; Blevens and Stipp have another. What are the values and limitations of each? How does Mary eventually blend the two?
6.
Describe Mary and Jenny's relationship. What type of tensions exist? Consider the relationship from both women's perspectives.
7.
"From labor to death, she thought, despite every moment at the breast, every reprimand, every tender tousle of hair, every fever fought, every night spent worrying, it came to this: you couldn't protect your children from anything, not even from each other" (p. 43). Do you believe Amelia is right? What experiences from your own life make you feel this way?
8.
How is Dr. Blevens affected by his experiences during the Civil War?
9.
From Jake to Thomas to William Stipp, there is a wide range of male characters in the novel. What type of masculinity does each demonstrate?
10.
Have you ever struggled with the same kind of professional or personal obstacles that Mary does? How did you handle it? What did you learn from the experience?
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Book Summary |
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On the day she was abducted, Annie O'Sullivan, a thirty-two year old realtor, had three goals-sell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for dinner with her ever- patient boyfriend. The open house is slow, but when her last visitor pulls up in a van as she's about to leave, Annie thinks it just might be her lucky day after all. Interwoven with the story of the year Annie spent as the captive of psychopath in a remote mountain cabin, which unfolds through sessions with her psychiatrist, is a second narrative recounting events following her escape-her struggle to piece her shattered life back together and the ongoing police investigation into the identity of her captor.
The truth doesn't always set you free.
Still Missing is that rare debut find--a shocking, visceral, brutal and beautifully crafted debut novel.
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