FICTION

The Red Car

by Marcy Dermansky
Liveright: Norton. Oct. 2016. 224p. ISBN 9781631492334. $24.95; ebk. ISBN 9781631492341. F
COPY ISBN
When Leah Caplan, an aspiring novelist, learns that Judy, her mentor and former boss, has died in an automobile accident, she boards a plane to California to attend the funeral. Upon arrival, Leah discovers that she has inherited her friend's red car—the car in which she died. As she reluctantly takes possession of the vehicle, Leah constantly hears Judy's voice in her head, advising her on to what to do next. The car terrifies her, seeming to have a life of its own, refusing to slow down on highways, and even appearing to repair itself after the accident. When Leah finds her old journal, hidden in the car she begins to reexamine the life she had left behind in California and its meaning to her in the present.
VERDICT Dermansky, whose previous novels Twins and Bad Marie focused on young women who make poor choices in the course of maturing, has done it again. Her latest explores the many unwise decisions of her heroine, offering no solutions but encouraging us to hope that things will get better. Readers won't be able to put this one down. [See Prepub Alert, 7/18/16; an ALA Buzz Book.]
Reviewed by Andrea Kempf, formerly with Johnson Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Overland Park, KS , Sep 01, 2016
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

FICTION

A Poisoner’s Tale
by Kemp, Cathryn
FICTION

She’s a Lamb!
by Hambrock, Meredith
FICTION

The Sirens
by Hart, Emilia
FICTION

Beach Vibes
by Mallery, Susan
FICTION

Elegy, Southwest
by Watts, Madeleine
FICTION

Happy Land
by Perkins-Valdez, Dolen
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?