 "Any audio library will find this a popular lend" | 2009-09-18 |
| - Reviewed By mwbookrevw |
| Joy Fielding's STILL LIFE offers a powerful story narrated by Kymberly Dakin, a woman with many TV and Broadway credits to her name, and tells of a happily married, successful woman content with her life - until a car accident sends her into a coma. She can hear everything even though she can't communicate; and what she hears from her friends will change her perceptions and even lead her to question the nature of her accident. Any audio library will find this a popular lend. |
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 "3.5 Interesting, But Predictable" | 2009-09-08 |
| - Reviewed By nunyabizzness |
This was a pretty good book. The idea of hearing what is going on around while in a coma is eerie. However, while the plot is interesting enough, the story is quite predictable.
This a book worth reading. |
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 "A Popcorn Book--a Quick, Light, Delicious Snack of a Book" | 2009-09-07 |
| - Reviewed By carolirvin |
This is hours of entertainment. You will forget it almost immediately after reading it. You will certainly never want to reread it because the plot is everything. But if you want to lose yourself for awhile and follow a rollicking good thriller ride, this book delivers.
The author takes the premise that coma patients can indeed hear what is said to them. Casey is a victim of a hit and run. She is in a coma at a hospital. The only thing she can do is hear. No other sense is present. Plus she can't move a thing, not a finger or even blink her eyes.
The police suspect this was a murder attempt and when Casey hears this, every person who visits her, her husband, her sister, her friends, become suspects in the attempt on her life.
If Alfred Hitchcock were still around, he would have great fun making this into a movie. |
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| "Great concept, excellent execution!" | 2009-08-30 |
| - Reviewed By klmnca |
Joy Fielding has crafted a suspenseful novel in Still Life. I loved how the protagonist, even though mute, motionless and to all outwardly appearance manages to carry this story forward. The interplay between all the characters gives us the feeling of being the proverbial "fly on the wall". The conversations and behaviors observed by Casey when others think she is essentially a "still life" statue of herself, are telling. Casey's friends and family are not what she has always believed them to be and during her extended coma, she comes to understand who her real friends are, and whom she can't really trust.
The story is handled flawlessly. At first I thought the book would become dull, how long can a character remain comatose and still be an important part of a book, I wondered. I was quickly proven wrong, the book is a real page-turner and I found myself picking it up whenever I had even a few extra minutes to read. Pick up Still Life! If you enjoy a good suspense novel, you'll love this one! |
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| "BROKEN PROMISE" | 2009-08-29 |
| - Reviewed By User: AN3D3M8MJ07BQ |
Question#1: When is an accident not an accident? Answer: When a car going 50MPH is used as a murder weapon putting you into a state of dysphasia and paralysis that leaves you able to hear and understand what is going on around you but unable to move or communicate. Your condition literally makes you a sitting duck for another attempt on your life. But who would want you dead? Could it be your friend and ex-partner, how about your drug and alcohol addled sister or perhaps the nurse hired to care for you who it appears has designs on your husband? And what about your loving and devoted spouse.....the guy who insisted on a pre-nup to prove he had no designs on your big bucks in the event of a divorce? Sounds like a promising premise for a real nail biter of a book, but somehow STILL LIFE just doesn't measure up to that promise.
Previously this "handicapped protagonist threatened by an unseen killer" theme has worked pretty well in film noir movies like Sorry Wrong Number and Wait Until Dark as well as in recent books like the Jeffrey Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series. Unfortunately, STILL LIFE by Joy Fielding falls short in the suspense department and the mystery is miniscule. As for the suspects; well all I can say is that if you're a reader of thrillers then chances are you have met these stereotypical characters complete with their run of the mill motives in all of their previous incarnations at the hands of other authors.
I generally like Joy Fielding and several of her books like Don't Cry Now and Whispers and Lies are among my favorites in this genre. As for Still Life, it falls short in the areas of originality and suspense. 2 1/2 stars
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| "This is one spooky book!" | 2009-08-15 |
| - Reviewed By j-lith |
| Spooky, yes, and I absolutely loved it! A beautiful, happy, successful woman is hit by a car and plunged into a coma. In her hospital bed, she is unable to see, move, or communicate; however, she can hear everything--including conversation that convinces her that the accident was not an accident at all and there will be another attempt on her life. Can she break through the coma in time to save herself? This one will keep you up all night! |
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