The basics: A novel (thanks, book cover!) about a woman in the thrall of her Zen master, as she attempts to emerge from said thrall. This is Blair Hurley’s first novel, and it shows a lot of promise. This plot is slow but tense, and while we meet Nicole (the protagonist) in a fairly extreme scenario, I found her very believable. She’s imperfect to the point of frustrating at times, but Hurley does a great job of exposing the source of Nicole’s flaws little by little. She also does excellent working exploring the nuances - and, sometimes, banality - of control and abuse.
I found this to be one of those rare books where the dialogue and interaction between characters was beautifully realistic. This one moves slowly, but I really enjoyed my time with it.
Read if you’re into: Atmospheric novels; settling deep into a character’s head and staying awhile; New York vs. Boston
Avoid if: You need more action than “Should I or should I not leave my cult-like Zen teacher?”
Favorite excerpt: “New York was full of gurus. Unlike Boston, provincial and suspicious, sunk deeply in its own traditions, New York was ripe for self-improvement, for transformation, for charismatic leaders. All you needed was the confidence to tell other people what to do.”
If you liked this, try: Mary McCarthy; Educated; I Am, I Am, I Am (Hurley’s writing style reminds me of the incredible Maggie O’Farrell)