On a cold, bleak winter day Josie Tyrell receives the one phone call that we all hope we never get: her boyfriend, Michael Faraday, is dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and she needs to identify the body. Josie is thrown into depression and confusion, trying to figure out why he would do this when they loved each other so much. The ensuing weeks reveal a side of Michael that Josie never knew as she searches for answers and becomes drawn into a twisted and parasitic relationship with his overbearing mother. Both women cling to each other and struggle to keep afloat through their grief.

Josie Tyrell is self-described poor white trash. She runs away from Bakersfield to L.A. at age 17. It's the early 80's and Josie immediately falls in with the burgeoning punk scene. She spends every night in the clubs and models at an art school during the day. She doesn't spend much time thinking about her life until she meets Michael Faraday, a student at the art school. Michael is a world away from Josie. He grew up the pampered son of a world-famous concert pianist. He drops out of Harvard to pursue his love of art and falls head over heels for Josie Tyrell. They create a place of their own away from her "trash" friends and his domineering mother. As the months pass however Michael falls deeper and deeper into a black hole and Josie is powerless. It's only after his death that she begins to learn the truth about Michael, his mother, and the life that led to his death.

The novel is written as a series of flashbacks but it works well. The author paints such a vivid picture with her words and images to the point that you can almost feel and smell as Josie is. Be aware however that this is not the most uplifting of novels. It is bleak, it is depressing, and the ending doesn't necessarily wrap everything up with a nice clean bow. Despite all that however it still has beauty, and passion and the will to keep going when the thing you loved most is gone. It's an impressive sophmore effort and the author should be proud.
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Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (September 18, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN: 0316182745
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