Finished 7-11-09, rating 3.5/5 , fiction, pub. 2004
I put my orange down and roll it around the plate. “You must have loved her very much.”
Ivan nods his head slowly. It reminds me of a child whom one asks, “Are you lost?” who is unable to answer, the admission too great to contemplate. He takes a sip of his water and then takes my hand in his. “No more than I love you.”
He should have said, “Ilove you more.” I understand that this is the deal in these situations.
Wednesday
Stella is an aromatherapist whose clients come to her London flat for treatment because Stella cannot step outside her building. She’s tried and fainted from a panic attack before reaching sunshine. When Ivan, the gas man, comes to work in her apartment she convinces him to stay and he moves in.
Things are going well. She has regular clients, she has her sister and nieces to visit her, George her cat to love her, and a good relationship with Ivan. At least until he shows up at the breakfast table wearing a gold bracelet with an inscription from an old flame and a new neighbor becomes too interested in George. Stella becomes paranoid about the old flame and the new neighbor. Is she just unhinged or is thre truth to her suspicions?
Stella’s jealousy leads her to ask her sister to follow Ivan and her insecurity leads her to extreme behaviour. Over the course of the week Stella finds just as many questions as answers and she feels her old, safe life slipping away.
This book is only 173 pages amd covers the span of five days. Stella is obviously a troubled woman, one that I wanted to shake a few times, but she was also a sympathetic character. The language was sparse, but beautiful and the book was a joy to read. I admit that I did not see the end coming. Which is part of my small problem with the book. The end seemed to come out of nowhere, with little warning. It felt a little off from the rest of the novel.
It was haunting and strange and I enjoyed it very much until the very end, which was a little lacking for me.
I picked this up because of the review over at Fleur Fisher reads. Sometimes I actually get around to reading books from my wishlist!
Stacy's Books 
What an interesting title for a book! I have to admit that the book sounds good to me, even if the ending disappoints some.
I still think it is an enjoyable book – better than average 🙂
I like the cover which seems to depict the sense of the book very well. I would like to know how the heck she convinced a cute utlitiy guy to move in! I’m usually trying to find a way to get them the hell out of our house – cute or otherwise.
This does sound interesting! You’ve got me really curious about Stella. And like Kathy, I want to know how she conviced the gas man to move in. LOL Great review, Stacy.
I do like the cover, too – and it’s ashame it wasn’t a great read for you, but we can’t win them all!
And since I enjoyed reading your review, I’m still curious. 🙂
Sassy
🙂
I’m sort of interested in the story, since she’s basically limited to her apartment, and I’d like to see how the author works with that.
I rated this a 3.5/5 (good) at the end of 2006, so it appears as if we are on the same page.
It’s always nice to hear I’m not completely out there is my reviews 🙂
I’m glad that you were able to cross one off of your wishlist!! Sounds like a great read…but I hate that when the ending lets us down!!
I remember this review also. It stuck in my mind. Sorry about the ending. Sometimes I just want to take a book and rewrite parts.
Well I’m glad you liked most of the book! I like a sudden, unexpected ending – to me it makes a change when so much of what we watch and read we know already what will happen – but they don’t always work for eveyone.
Maybe I said too much about what I didn’t like? I’d still recommend the book for a unique and quick read. And I would read this author again. Thanks for the recommendation!
I love the cover! Despite the ending, it sounds like a good read.