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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
An urban psychiatrist with too many problems of his own., November 14, 2005
I've read several books by Kathryn Harrison and enjoyed all of them. That's why I was anxious to read this latest one. It's different in many ways although the sharp perceptions that characterize her work are surely there.
The setting is urban modern. The main character is a psychiatrist with problems of his own. Sometimes I thought he analyzed everything too much and his constant angst was off-putting. Other times I felt his inner pain. Mostly though, I just wanted to shake him and tell him to get on with his life.
And yet the story was interesting and I kept reading just to see what would happen. I read this book differently than I read her other books though. I found myself lightly skimming the passages where he went on and on in self analysis.
In the story, he's just gone to a 25th college reunion and discovered a startling secret. And he hasn't seen his twin brother in 15 years. And although he and his wife have a seemingly happy marriage, they just can't get over the loss of their young son who died in a tragic accident three years before. Stuff happens. Stuff that is interesting to read about. But I just couldn't really care about the characters.
Yes, the plot did hold my interest. But I really need more than plot to recommend a book. I need something more, something that Ms. Harrison displayed in "Poison", "The Binding Chair" and "Seal Wife". Therefore, although her fans might think she can do no wrong and love this book, I found it just didn't measure up to the standards she had already set for herself.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
So messed up...and so good!, January 11, 2008
This review is from: Envy: A Novel (Paperback)
Wow. Just...wow. There are so many crazy things that happen in this book, I don't even know where to begin!
The central character in "Envy" is William Moreland, a 47-year-old psychoanalyst who is dealing with a huge number of personal issues. Will's son died in a boating accident three years ago, and ever since then, he and his wife, Carole, have experienced sexual and emotional distance in their marriage. Will also has a twin brother, Mitch, who is a professional swimmer and hasn't been seen or heard from by anyone in the Moreland family for more than 15 years. To add to the drama, Will recently attended his college reunion, where he discovered enough evidence to make him believe that his college girlfriend, Elizabeth, may have given birth to his child many years ago. Topping it all off, Will is troubled by a series of erotic fantasies he's been having that involve his female patients. Obviously, this poor guy has a lot on his plate right now, and unfortunately for him, things just keep getting worse.
Although "Envy" is very interesting, I thought the pace of the novel slowed down a bit after a while, and everything dragged slightly until just after the halfway point, when BAM! Author Kathryn Harrison shifts the plot in a very unexpected direction that leaves readers with their mouths hanging open and scrambling to get to the end of the story. There is so much betrayal and so many twists and turns in this book, it's unbelievable. I don't want to give away the details, but if you're a big fan of shock-and-awe, you will not be disappointed!
It amazes me that Harrison was able to cram so many dramatic subplots into one novel and somehow manage to tie it all together so seamlessly. The story is exciting, and the book is full of many intriguing characters. The mood of the novel is one of a psychological conspiracy of sorts, which adds to the drama and suspense.
There are a few flaws with this novel. As I mentioned before, the plot slows down a bit in the first part of the book, but I think that only adds to the shock value as events unfold down the line. Also, there are so many amazing characters whose motivations are never completely revealed, especially those of Jennifer and Mitch. I think Harrison could write separate books on both of those characters if she wanted to.
I really, really enjoyed this book. It's gritty, sexual, slightly trashy, and a lot of fun to read. Well done!
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Lacking depth & character development, September 21, 2005
"Envy" is a hard book to pin down. In a nutshell, we have Will Moreland, a New York therapist who has elected to go to his college reunion. His wife Carole prefers to stay home since she does not know anyone and they are still feeling the emotional tug of the loss of their son, Luke. During the reunion, most people are more concerned with the whereabouts of his twin brother Mitch, a pretty famous long-distance swimmer, whom Will is estranged. After reading about some of his former collegiates, he comes across the bio of former flame Elizabeth and discovers that she has a daughter that could possibly be his. When he asks her, she justifiably balks at him.
He returns home, and seeks out a therapist of his own to discuss his intimacy issues with his wife, as well as his dark sexual fantasies, as they are starting to interfere with his effectiveness at his own practice. He is also having problems with the abandonment of his twin, who he has not seen since his wedding day. Mitch was born with birthmark that made him stand out to ridicule as a child. Will always felt guilt that his own face was not marred. Little does he know that the brother that he protected since childhood made a mockery of his devotion, as he slowly learns the truth behind Mitch's absence.
A new patient arrives in his office with her own intimacy issues. She is a student and seduces older men. When she relishes in telling him about her sex life in detail, it is evident that her next victim is going to be Will. After she makes an inappropriate move on him, he decides to terminate their relationship and refers her elsewhere. Soon, she is knocking down his door, insisting that he see her. When she disrobes, Will's own lack of willpower triggers a sexual escapade which he will forever wish did not happen, particularly when the patient reveals who she is.
Suddenly Will questions is own relationship with his wife, former lovers, his brother, and his parents. This really could have been a moving story, but I did not feel a connection in any way to the storyline - there was no real emotion, depth, or character development. The revelation of the student's identity is no surprise - anyone can se that coming. All told in a matter-of-fact manner, with little emotion, the story never has any clear resolution, nor any closure, making it a bit of a disappointment.
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