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Book Review: Still Life by Joy Fielding

April 7, 2009 by Darlene

Still Life by Joy Fielding is her newest book in a long line of bestsellers. I’ve been reading her novels for years and always enjoy them. This one started out slowly for me but then got going and I couldn’t put it down last night until I finished it.

Casey is a woman who has the world by the tail. She’s beautiful, rich, has her dream job and her dream man. So, her day starts as normally as always and she’s out having a nice lunch with her two best friends. She’s talking about wanting to start a family and she’s excited. She leaves to get on with her day and whammo! ~she gets hit in the parkade and worse the driver leaves her there for dead.

Sometime later Casey wakes up. She’s in the dark but she can hear things all around her-doctors, nurses, her friends, Warren-her husband. She’s talking to them but nobody is hearing her or answering her. What is going on? Listening in she learns she’s in a coma! So her days unfold with her wavering between hearing tv programs and thinking it’s real life to actually listening in on her family and friends when they visit. Eventually the hospital can do no more for her and her husband takes her home along with a nurse and a therapist. The doctors say that she could recover fully in time~they just don’t know.

The story takes off when Casey comes home. The police detective for her case visits. He’s not convinced that this wasn’t a deliberate act against Casey. Inside her mind, Casey is screaming~someone tried to kill me!!! But who? Ultimately that’s what it boils down too~who hates Casey enough to kill her? Listening in on the conversations around her Casey is caught in a terrifying ordeal of learning who wants her dead and not being able to do a thing about it.

I enjoyed this book although not as much as some of her other titles. Still it was a good read. As I said the beginning was slow for me but it did finally take off and I was hooked. It’s an interesting concept though. Just imagine yourself in a coma not being able to communicate yet hearing everything around you. Kind of scary if you ask me. This isn’t really one of those fast-paced thriller type books, but one that keeps you wondering just how it’s going to come to a conclusion. Something kind of light yet satisfying. I’m already looking forward to what Joy Fielding comes up with for her next exciting novel!

This book was released by Random House Canada on March 24, 2009 and check out Joy Fielding’s website here.
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Filed Under: 100+ Reading Challenge 2009, 2009 ARC Reading Challenge, 2009 Book Reviews

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennsbookshelf says

    April 7, 2009 at 7:06 pm

    Wow..sounds like a great book. Thanks for the review, Dar!

  2. bermudaonion says

    April 7, 2009 at 7:13 pm

    The premise of this book does sound really interesting.

  3. Jo-Jo says

    April 7, 2009 at 7:34 pm

    Wow this sounds like an intense read. I just couldn’t imagine being in that situation. The first thing that popped in my head when I saw your post, is that this book looks just like The Keeper of Light and Dust. Interesting. Thanks for the great review Dar.

  4. Sandy Nawrot says

    April 7, 2009 at 7:44 pm

    Fielding’s books are always entertaining, although not always memorable. I’ve picked up her books, and thought “I’ve read about this character before” but hazy on the details. This definitely is a different style of book than she normally writes, even though she is pretty good at featuring strong women.

  5. Blodeuedd says

    April 7, 2009 at 8:03 pm

    It does sound really scary, my worst nightmare.

    And now I am wondering what will happen 🙂

  6. Missy says

    April 7, 2009 at 8:08 pm

    Sounds good…I have liked some of Joy Fielding’s past novels, so I may give this one a try! Great review!

  7. Toni says

    April 7, 2009 at 8:29 pm

    Hey Dar.. nice review. I seriously can’t imagine being in a coma and being aware of things…It does sound scary indeed!!

  8. Wanda says

    April 7, 2009 at 11:47 pm

    It does sound like an interesting concept and hey, would you look at that … now I know what people were talking about — two books, same cover! Freaky!

  9. Melody says

    April 8, 2009 at 12:19 am

    Sounds intense! I haven’t read anything by this author yet, which book would you recommend me to read for starter? 🙂

  10. Janel says

    April 8, 2009 at 12:51 am

    Whoa, that sounds like a creepy situation to be in! I can’t imagine only being able to listen to what people are saying and not being able to communicate. Thanks for introducing me to this book!

  11. Dar says

    April 8, 2009 at 12:55 am

    Jenn, Kathy, it was pretty good.

    Jo-Jo, how pathetic is that. I never even noticed that it looks like the same head in both those photos. lol.

    Sandy, I’ve always liked her books. She seems to be able to go from kind of a family type story to a thriller type. I like that. I agree that not all of them are memorable but they’re easy reads I think.

    Blodeuedd, yup, that would be one of my worst nightmares too.

    Missy, thanks:)

    Toni, it would be scary hearing everything around you but not being able to be heard. I think it would drive a person crazy.

    Wanda, I know. I never even noticed the cover before. What a dozo I am. lol.

    Melody, I would recommend Heartstopper for a first read. It was good.

  12. Trish says

    April 8, 2009 at 1:51 am

    I’ve never read anything by her, but sounds really intense (don’t usually read “intense” books). I’m listening to one right now on the way to and from work and it has me all in knots! (Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag–or something)

  13. Melissa says

    April 8, 2009 at 2:15 am

    Sounds like an interesting book. I’ve never read anything by Felding. Do you have any recommendations to start out with?

  14. JoAnn says

    April 8, 2009 at 11:46 am

    This sounds good! I’ve never read Fielding…would you recommend starting with this?

  15. Melissa says

    April 8, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    Oh, and by the way, I have given you an award. You can pick it up here: http://www.melissas-bookshelf.com/2009/04/lets-be-friends-award.html

  16. Luanne says

    April 8, 2009 at 2:05 pm

    I agree – the premise was really good. I enjoyed this one a lot more than Charley’s Web.

  17. Joy says

    April 8, 2009 at 2:10 pm

    Oh my – scary and frustrating, indeed! I wasn’t too thrilled with the last one I read by her, but this one has me intrigued – even though you say it’s not fast-paced.

  18. Dar says

    April 8, 2009 at 2:39 pm

    Trish, this one isn't intense really. At least not for me. I found it kind of suspenseful but not really a thriller'ish type book.

    Melissa & JoAnn, I would start with Heartstopper. It's a really good one and it's out in paperback now and for sure the library would have copies.

    LuAnn, I liked it better than Charley's Web too but I do wish she had added a little more thriller to this one. It would have made it perfect.

    Joy, what was the last one you read? I find the premise of this one really intriguing but it did miss that thriller element for me which I missed.

  19. Staci says

    April 8, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    I love the storyline but that would be horrible to be in a coma, not being able to communicate, but knowing and hearing everything going on around you. Why do I feel like her husband is the bad guy here? Guess I won’t know until I read the book right? Thanks for yet another book to add to my TBR list!!

  20. Joanne says

    April 8, 2009 at 5:52 pm

    Sounds great! I love Joy Fielding, I’ve always enjoyed reading her books because they are so hard to put down.

  21. Ladytink_534 says

    April 8, 2009 at 8:41 pm

    Oh the whole idea of being in a coma and being aware scares me. Sounds like a neat story though!

  22. naida says

    April 8, 2009 at 10:20 pm

    I havent read this author before, but I have heard good things. great review! I always enjoy fast paced thrillers.
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

  23. Literary Feline says

    April 9, 2009 at 1:53 am

    I really want to read something by this author. I have one of her other titles on my shelf waiting to be read. Maybe I should pick that one up soon and give it a try.

    Still Life does sound good! Thank you for the great review, Dar.

  24. Serena says

    April 9, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    I love the concept of this novel…it reminds me of the movie “awake” with Hayden Christensen and Jessica Alba, although that movie is about “anesthetic awareness,” as opposed to being able hear in a coma.

    You should check out the movie if you haven’t. It’s pretty good.

  25. Jenny says

    April 9, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    What a unique perspective from which to write. Sounds very interesting. Thanks.

  26. Kristi says

    April 10, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    Good review – I have seen Joy Fielding books around, but have never tried one. Will have to find one the next time I go to the library. Is there one you would recommend?

  27. Dar says

    April 13, 2009 at 2:52 pm

    Staci, it was creepy and you know I can’t tell you who the bad person is. lol.

    Joanne, I agree. I found her a few years back and have read her since. I just enjoy her style.

    Jen, it is freaky thinking about being in a coma and just not being able to communicate. Kind of reminds me of those dreams where you wake up screaming and no sound is coming out.

    Naida, Jenny, thanks 🙂

    Wendy, thanks. Which of her books do you have on your shelf?

    Serena, I’ve not seen that movie but I’ll check it out for sure. Sounds good.

    Kristi, I’d start with Heartstopper. It’s out on paperback now too which is great and the library should definitely have it.

  28. Joy says

    April 14, 2009 at 12:31 pm

    In answer to your ? – I read Charley’s Web (3.5/5) and prior to that Mad River Road (3/5). Those are “good” and “just okay” ratings, which isn’t bad, but I think I expected her writing to be like I remembered it (really good). For no particular reason, I hadn’t read any of her books for years and years.

  29. Ladytink_534 says

    April 16, 2009 at 5:38 am

    Oh I HATE those dreams. When someone’s after you and when they grab you, you can’t scream or you can’t hardly make any sound at all. I had throat problems as a kid a LOT (strep throat three times a year, etc.) so I know what it feels like not being able to speak more than a whisper too…

  30. Anna says

    April 24, 2009 at 12:41 am

    Ooh…this one sounds good. I noticed right away the similarities in the 2 covers. I helped that the cover for The Keeper of Light and Dust is in your sidebar. 😉

    –Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

  31. Dar says

    April 25, 2009 at 9:20 pm

    Joy, I’ve only read Charley’s Web, not Mad River Road although it’s on my shelf. I liked a lot of her older stuff that wasn’t thrillers too. So far, in a thriller, Heartstopper was one of my favorites.

    Anna, lol-I felt like a duffus for not noticing that right off since I even had both of the books right in front of me.

    Jen, those dreams are the worst. You can feel yourself screaming as you wake up but no sound is coming out. Gives me the chills thinking about it.

  32. Diane says

    May 17, 2009 at 5:29 pm

    I like Joy Fielding, and thought this one was pretty good.

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