Sunday, January 3, 2016

The Guest Room; Chris Bohjalian

The Guest Room; Chris Bohjalian
Doubleday - 2016

The Guest Room is a story about how bad designs can turn the lives of people upside down.

Richard Chapman is a family man from a lovely NYC suburb. He's an investment banker with a lovely wife (Kristin) and a nine-year-old daughter, Melissa.  When Richard's brother, Phillip, decides to get married, Richard convinces his wife to let him use their Westchester home for the bachelor party.  While Kristin and Melissa head to her mother's for the evening, the party is about to begin.

Strippers with bodyguards are not what Richard was expecting and before the evening is over (2) people are dead. The strippers turn out to be sex slaves from Armenia and are now on the run while Richard and his family are left to deal with the mayhem which ensued.  Richard's career and family life have fallen apart at the seams. How could things have gone so wrong so fast? Can the Chapman's marriage be saved?

The story is told from alternating POV by Richard, Kristin, Alexandra (one of the sex-slaves) and occasionally by Phillip and daughter Melissa.  All of the action happens in the first few pages with the remainder of the novel dealing with the aftermath of what has occurred. Alexandria's story is very compelling and at times heart-wrenching. She comes across as a victim and a very sympathetic character.   The characters are well-developed with a few coming across as quite despicable.  The nine-year-old daughter came across as a bit too mature at times (but in fairness, it's been many years since I've raised a nine-year-old).  The story is a fast-paced romp on the darker side of life.Another winner by a favorite author of mine.

Recommended

4.5/5 stars
(eGalley)

36 comments:

  1. This is definitely on my list! Now to make time to read it.

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  2. I've been eyeing this one and thinking I might like to read it. Sounds good.

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  3. The plot sounds interesting.

    I think that books of this sort are popular because they remind us how quickly life can get out of control.

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  4. I've enjoyed a couple of his but I've had a few misses too. I'll think about reading this one. Glad you liked it!

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    1. I'm not a fan of his historical fiction but, I love his contemporary fiction.

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  5. I really liked this one too - it went in a direction I didn't expect, which made me happy after wondering where it was possibly going to go right after the bachelor party.

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    1. I know what you mean. He did a nice job given all the action occurs in the first few pages LOL

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  6. I love his work too and am adding this to my wish list.

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  7. I've seen this book everywhere lately and it sounds interesting. Glad you enjoyed it and thank you for sharing it. Another book on the TBR list!

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  8. I love his books. I'll definitely be looking for this one!

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  9. A serious subject, Diane. Well worth reading...

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  10. Wow this sounds fascinating! I have about 3 Bohjalian books in my TBR, so what's one more? Right?

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    1. I do love his writing and definitely prefer his contemporary fiction to historical fiction. Hope you try this one.

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  11. On my list for after the TBR Dare ;-)

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  12. This one is on my anticipated wish list. I'm glad to see it meets the hype.

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    1. This seems like it will have a wide readership; hope u like it.

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  13. This sounds like a thriller almost. Haven't read anything by this author in a while but this one sounds very interesting.

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  14. I think I'd like this book! And yes, your life can change in a split second.

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  15. This sounds tantalizing! I need to read a book by this author in 2016! Happy New Year, Diane!

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  16. I've enjoyed a few of his books. This sounds like the characters have lots of trouble.

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  17. Reading about sex slavery is difficult. I don't know if I'd like this one but never say never. I still haven't tried this author!

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  18. Like you, I prefer his contemporary novels over his historical fiction. This one sounds like one I might enjoy.

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