Yes, another audio book which I recently finished reading.
This time, it was outright a book which I borrowed from my local library. Picked it up merely by chance, because I was in the area, and it caught my eye. Looked interesting. Also, it was not what I usually read.
So I went ahead and gave it a chance, and was glad that I did.
It is an entertaining book. The characters are relatable, the situations also readily identifiable. Who among us hasn't struggled or dealt with crappy jobs and felt overwhelmed by bills, after all? Who among us hasn't struggled with the desire to produce much more than we seem to be doing?
SPOILER ALERT
SPOILER ALERT
SPOILER ALERT
Okay, so by now if you are still reading this, I have to imagine that you either are familiar with this story already, or perhaps you do not mind the spoilers. Please just don't say that you were not given advanced warning.
This is about Casey Peabody, a woman struggling in the world. Casey is living in the Boston area, although she has moved around a lot, even spending years in Barcelona with a former lover. Now, however, she finds herself struggling with her writing, and with her life more generally. She is trying to get by with a relatively low-paying job as a waitress, and without benefits. This is obviously not ideal, but becomes a real scare when she discovers a lump inside of her armpit and fears the worse. It might be cancer.
Throughout the book, Casey misses her late mother, whom she lost just a few years earlier. She desperately wishes she could have just one more conversation, although that is now impossible. Still, she almost has makeshift conversations with her in her mind.
One thing which King does that I appreciated as a reader was to juggle several themes at once. Casey is drowning in student loan debt, and just trying to make ends meet is a real struggle. Thus, King is able to reflect a grim reality in contemporary American society while not delving too deeply in the political divide. Yet, it definitely is a constant presence in the life of the main character.
Meanwhile, she is courted by two potential love interests, Oscar and Silas. Oscar is a significantly older man, a widower as well as an established writer with a family of his own. He seems to adore her, and on the surface, at least, seems to have everything she could want in a man. Also, he seems to exude stability, which is something which Casey is aching for in her life. Still, there is a disconnect between them, which she feels in a far more pronounced manner than Oscar. Ultimately, that dooms any potential for a long-term relationship between the two.
The other guy, Silas, is younger and feels more dangerous and unpredictable to her. Yet, there is electricity when she is around him, and so she cannot forget him even when she tries to. Also, he is struggling with an ordinary life, much like Casey herself. So he feels more relatable.
Overall, I thought that this was a solid read. I had never really heard of Lily King before, let alone read anything by her.
That has changed. And now, I might try and actively seek some of her stuff out in the future.
A good read, and I would recommend this book.
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