Lisa Zeidner has had five novels and two collections of poetry published. I just finished her fourth novel, Layover, an intimate portrayal of a woman coping with a parent’s worst nightmare, the ensuing grief, and then betrayal. The protagonist is 41, a successful saleswoman married to a surgeon. During a business trip, she begins to unravel and drops out of her life for a month. The best aspect of the book is the depiction of the woman’s mindset, made more impressive in that Zeidner apparently has not suffered what the character has, at least not that I was able to find in web searches. It is a work of great imagination and extensive research. She uses many medical terms, but also a slew of pop references. I found the prose challenging. It is frequently fragmented, stream of conscious, but this may indicate a lack of concentration on my part rather than a fault of the author. Still, I was glad the edition I read was only 269 pages. I suspect Zeidner has a high IQ, a lot higher than mine. I think women would relate to the novel more than men, although it exhibits the existential angst all humans share. The characterizations are grounded in reality. This is a novel about life. Although few parents suffer what the main character has, all have imagined and been terrified by the thought of it. Zeidner has also had numerous stories, essays and reviews published in magazines of note. She teaches creative writing at Rutgers University. On a scale of five, I rate Layover 3.25.
Golfer Henrik Stenson had such a great year, his caddie, who earned 10% of the pro's take, bought a Ferrari. Nice work if you can get it.
I set up the floating book shop earlier than usual, 10:30, as I had a chore to attend to at 12:30, and I was rewarded for my effort. My thanks to the folks who bought books, eight of the nine in Russian. The weather was so pleasant I hated to leave. Thanks also to Toluna surveys, which added $20 to my paypal account.
As we were driving to my friend's doctor's appointment, she told me she'd had a job offer. Before the accident that led to her condition, she was a crackerjack accountant. Last night a limousine was sent to pick her up and drive her all the way to West Patterson, New Jersey and back, about an hour each way. Someone recommended her to a 37-year-old female entrepreneur who lives in a mansion high on a hill. The home includes extensive security and a panic room. My friend would live in the guest house. She is blown away by the offer but is afraid her condition wouldn't allow her to put in the time such a position requires. Some days she suffers crippling pain. She is close to 70.
Vic's 4th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/bszwlxh
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
Vic’s Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
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