Possible Pick: Blame by Michelle Huneven
Posted by: Rebecca Vnuk
When I finished reading Michelle Huneven’s Blame, the first thing I said to myself was, “This would make an excellent discussion title”. Why?
It’s got characters that are unlikeable, yet totally unsavory. It’s got secrets hidden in the past. It’s got contemporary, provocative issues to discuss. Huneven’s writing is intelligent and elegant.
Blame is the story of Patsy, who finds herself arrested on a third drunk-driving offense. She can’t remember a thing about what’s happened – and it’s bad. She’s killed a mother and daughter. Patsy spends 2 years in prison, but a large portion of the novel revolves around what happens to her life after her (albeit brief) sentence is served. Decades later, more details are revealed about what really happened the night of the accident, leading to a huge revelation – too little, too late?
Huneven tackles the prison scenes with such realism and no sense of sensationalism. After spending such intimate time with Patsy, and following her story through 20+ years of her life, I was captivated by this story, and could not wait to see how it all shook out.
The only issue you might have in using this title – it just came out this fall in hardcover, so you may want to put it on your “wait for the paperback” list, if your group would have a hard time getting it.
February 9th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
According to Amazon, the paperback will be available on April 27!!! Best of all, get it at your local book store then!
February 10th, 2010 at 8:44 am
I chose this title for my work bookclub and we are discussing it on 2/17. I am rather surprised that some people have told me they think it drags in the middle and that the tone is flat and uninteresting. Others, though, like me, found it difficult to put down. I chose it for that and because of the issues of guilt, responsibility, leading a worthy life. Who among us is not guilty of something? I think that’s why “let he who is without sin…” is so compelling to so many people. I’d love to hear other opinions about this book before my meeting next week.