The Nobodies Album

It's been a VERY long time since I've read a book straight through, and I really haven't felt the need to see a book through in once sitting, but I could *not* put "The Nobodies Album" down. The central character of the story is Octavia Frost, a fairly successful author who has suffered a significant amount of family tragedy. As a result, she'sbecome both distant and painfully self-obsessed. She's on her way to submit her newest novel to her editor when she finds out that her son (Milo, a young musician) has been arrested for the brutal murder of his girlfriend. Octavia drops what's she doing and travels across the country to be by his side, even though he hasn't spoken to her in years, incensed by one of her novels. Once there, Octavia tends to Milo (and their broken relationship) the best she can, and in the process, learns *many* things not only about her relationship with Milo, but also the twisted foundations she has based her entire life on. "The Nobodies Album" is so many things- a murder mystery, a story of the tricky relationship between a parent and a child, a memoir about recovery after a devastating event, and a tale of a woman's second chance as the mother she never thought she could be. "The Nobodies Album" also has a somewhat mind-bending quality to it- sprinkled in between the chapters of Octavia and Milo's story are the final chapters of several of the books Octavia has written (all of them fairy creepy and tragic), followed directly by Octavia's attempts to "rewrite" these final chapters in a last-ditch effort to prove that the past does not define the future. Although the stories these "final chapters" are from are not presented to the reader in full, Carolyn Parkhurst gives just enough information to not only make these brief tales both accessible and engaging to the reader, but also strangely mesmerizing. I found myself wishing that several of these fictional books were actually out there, so I could read more. I'm NOT a fan of tragic stories- I read books to escape a bit, not to be drowned in suffocating heartbreak. I guess I'm fairly sensitive when it comes to issues of suffering and sadness. And when I read the synopsis for "The Nobodies Album", I was concerned it might be a rough read. But Carolyn Parkhurst is a brilliant and gifted writer, and the way she writes is almost poetic. She manages to lull the reader into the same strange calm that Octavia must force herself to feel in order to be present and useful to Milo at a time when he needs his mother the most. And in doing so, she discovers Milo has his *own* story to tell. At one point in the book, Octavia thinks to herself: "It's not frightening, the way I thought it might be. This is not a horror movie or a Halloween haunted house. It's the nucleus of a human tragedy. A life ended here, and the circumstances under which it happened - however wretched, however monstrous - should not be the focus." That quote says a great deal about this entire story. I highly

I thought this book was great. I loved the interspersed 'rewritten endings', I loved the characters of the mother and the son, and I seriously could NOT put this book down. Using the term 'mystery' to describe this book does not do justice to the strong character-driven plot of the novel.

Other reviewers have referred to the murder mystery as the central plot point and thus what the book is about. It isn't. The mystery is secondary, and the genius of this book is Parkhurst's ability to once again give us a wealth of characters, each of whom she makes mulit-faceted for the readers. Central is the writer, of course, and we discover her as layers and layers peel away. She, like all Parkhurst's characters is deliciously complex. The novels she has "written" and the reasons she wants to revisit them and the ways they relate to what we are learning about her life--Pure Delight. Character development, quirky and original plots, and simply beautiful writing are the prizes waiting for readers of Parkhurst. I adore all three of Parkhurst's books, and I recommend them with virtual applause.

Competence is sometimes the enemy of genius. Carolyn Parkhurst, author of The Nobodies Album, is much more than just a competent writer. She is way above that designation for she can light the reader on fire. She took me to a place I've rarely entered in literary fiction - a universe of ideas from which spring countless possible ways to make sense of our lives and losses. The Nobodies Album is about pondering those things said that might have been stated differently. Specifically, the protagonist, Octavia Frost, is a prolific author who is rewriting the last chapters of all her novels. Each final chapter - the original one and the rewritten one - tells us more about the writer's life and her spectacular griefs and losses. We enter a free-fall with her and watch her life wash away before our eyes. There is an alternate narrative going on in this novel at the same time as Octavia's chapters are being rewritten. This narrative is in the here and now and is about the author's estranged son, Milo. He is a famous rock star who has been accused of killing his lover in a drunken frenzy. Octavia immediately flies out to San Francisco to be with Milo despite the estrangement. We know early on in the book that Octavia has lost her daughter and her husband many years ago, but we are not privy to the details. We only know that Octavia has a fierce love for Milo, her 'difficult' child, and she has a visceral need to be with him during this trying time. The novel is a treasure house of ideas and mysteries. Many of the chapters about Milo and his life are followed by chapters from Octavia's novels and then her rewriting of these chapters. This is not an easy book to read but it is rich and satisfying and memorable as are the best books in a reader's life. It is fascinating to look back at the evolution of this book's journey from almost free-form fear and loss to the realization that there are things to hold on to, things to grasp for dear life. Octavia, at one point, discusses a woman who is building a 'mystery house'. She is a wealthy woman who has lost her husband and daughter. In her grief, she thinks demons are chasing her in her home and she hires workers to constantly build and add on to her house. "She believes that if the house she's building is ever completed, she'll die." In a sense, Octavia Frost's rewriting of her chapters is her way to keep working and hold on to life. Will she find peace and rest? I can only encourage you to read this novel, the best one I've read this year.

There's a lot going on in this book. The framework that sort of houses the multi-layered story is somewhat of a murder mystery. It's not the strongest part of the story (in my opinion) but definitely works to house the rest of the story: What's most important ... the relating and the relationships. Olivia Frost, a fairly successful author, has decided that her 8th novel should be new endings for her previous seven books. She's estranged from her rock-star son, until he's accused of murder, and they have tragedy in their family history. The details of their past, and snippets of each of the "alternate endings" are woven throughout the book. Reading the "endings" was like having short stories in the midst of a novel, and though I hated being jarred out of the main story, I really enjoyed those parts and as with most short stories, they were over just as I was wishing there was more. Parkhurst does grief and family dynamics so well. There are scenes between the mother and son that are so relatable to me, I felt she could have plucked them right out of my own dialog. There's darkness and sadness, and a little bit of humor. The writing is great, and as with Parkhurst's previous novels, she really creates atmosphere and emotion. It's a really fast-paced read. I enjoyed it immensely, and will now begin the wait for Parkhurt's next, and hoping it won't be a terribly long wait.