I started reading the book Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter over a year ago. So many of my friends recommended Slaughter's work and I thought I'd start with a novel that had a lot of current buzz thanks to the streaming series. I picked the book up, read a little, and put it away. Sometimes it would be months between sessions. When I love a book, it can be dangerous. I won't stop reading until I'm finished. I'll forget to eat and drink. I don't need every book to enthrall me in that way but this was so far from compulsion to finish the book at all costs. I would read a chapter and then go months without picking it up again. I think I went into the book with my expectations too high and so it was almost guaranteed to be disappointing in some way.
I love the idea of this story. I am enthralled with the concept of something absolutely chaotic occurring and taking what you thought you knew about your mother being ripped away. I love the premise of finding out who this woman actually was, without her being able to tell you the truth at all. So why didn't I love the book? Well, to be frank, I absolutely hated Andrea. I felt no sympathy for her; I wanted to learn nothing about her. Laura's life before her daughter was captivating but the way Andrea bumbles through, continuously making terrible decisions, just left me feeling exhausted.
I was ready to DNF this book several times but here I am - I powered through it. It was not a bad book. I just wanted to love it so much more than I did. I would say give it a try, though. I may have hated Andrea so much it took me out of the novel but you may have a softer heart than I do. You may be able to pity her, or even root her on. I hope you do.
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