Book Review: Visible City by Tova Mirvis

Book: Visible City by Tova Mirvis
Genre: Literary Fiction
Rating:★★★☆☆
For: Review
From: Sent by the author

When the author herself approached me to review her book,  I couldn't pass up the chance. I remember years ago reading her book, The Ladies Auxiliary, which brings back memories of my first online bookish connections. It was one of the first books I remember reading for the online book group I joined. So much fun!

Anyway, this particular book is about a group of people living in a high rise in New York City. One of them, a young mother, is fascinated with watching her neighbors across the way through her window. Then, she ends up meeting them and things get interesting and entangled from there.

We see the points of view from many of the different characters. Not only the above mentioned young mother, but also her husband, the husband and wife who live across the way, their daughter, the ornery man in the building, the young mother's friend, and several more if I remember right. Each one of these characters is dealing with some issue or another. Dissatisfaction with life, a loss of a loved one, sadness, depression and etc. When their paths all cross, it sets in motion events that make things change for them all. Some for the better and some not so much.

I loved this book for its study in character development and personalities. It was fascinating to be a part of all their ups and downs and changes. Yet, at the same time, the story was sort of depressing for me. I don't know. I guess it makes me sad to think of people in real life dealing with such unhappiness, and coming to terms with it such drastic ways.

Bottom line: I completely enjoyed this view into these characters lives, though it did make me sort of sad.

Other Reviews:

The story becomes a journey as each character, unhappy in his or her own way, seeks refuge in the lives of others, assuming these others have it all figured out. From My Life in Books

As the neighbors’ paths continue to cross, the metaphorical walls behind which they hide fall away. From Book Page

(In an effort to get more response on my book review posts, I thought I'd try a new thing by asking a question pertaining to the book being reviewed. I guess if it works, I'll know soon enough!)

Question for my readers: Have you ever spied on your neighbors and wondered what their life is like? And think that perhaps it's much more perfect than your own?

Stay tuned tomorrow when the author, Tova Mirvis, answers my Authors Pick Five question: What five books are most important or influential to you?