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MY REVIEW OF “OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES” BY ABBI WAXMAN
Kudos to Abbi Waxman,Author of “Other People’s Houses” for weaving such an intriguing and captivating story. This story has a “Peyton Place” feel, and I almost feel like a voyeur in these neighbor’s homes. Actually I have a front row seat.The genres for this story are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The story takes place surrounding a few neighbors homes. Within the main story are the stories of the neighbors involved.
Abbi Waxman describes her colorful cast of characters as complicated, complex, diverse, and confused. One of the central characters is Francis Bloom, a good hearted soul who loves to help other people. Frances drives all the kids from the block back and forth to school in a carpool. Needless to say, on a small block in a small community, everyone seems to be aware of everything. On this particular block Francis goes back to her neighbor’s house to pick up toilet paper holders that the daughter has forgotten to bring to school. When Frances enters the house she finds her neighbor Anne, embarrassingly busy, but not with her husband.
Can secrets survive in a neighborhood like this? When Anne’s husband, Charlie finds out about this, he throws her out of the house.
This has a major effect on all the characters in this story. Within each home, the characters have their own problems, happiness, sadness, hope and dreams.The children are discussed as well.
The author decribes each character in detail. Could this be similar to your neighbors?
I appreciate that the author brings up diversity, questions of self-worth and growth, depression, secrets, betrayals and adultery. On the other hand, there is the discussion of the importance of family, friends, neighbors, love, faith and hope.
I received this book as an Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.
