Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Sleepwalking in Daylight


Sleepwalking In Daylight by Elizabeth Flock (ARC) ~~


New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Flock has built a reputation for writing fiction that conveys the resiliency of the human spirit. In her novels, But Inside I’m Screaming, Me & Emma, and Everything Must Go, Flock poses tough questions about the complexities of life with characters that face difficult decisions. Now in her fourth novel, SLEEPWALKING IN DAYLIGHT, she returns with yet another strong characterization, adroitly entering the psyche of a mother and a daughter, both stuck at a crossroads in their lives and trying to cope with life’s disappointments.

Sam is a stay at home mom who seems to have it all: a beautiful home, successful husband, and three wonderful children, but beneath the surface lies a darker reality—she feels stuck at this stage in life and constantly wonders if this is all that life has to offer her. Cammy is Sam’s teenage daughter, battling depression and isolation. As Cammy spins out of control, exhibiting risky and dangerous behaviors, Sam misses her silent cries for help and in the end, SLEEPWALKING IN DAYLIGHT is the story of how a contemporary family deals with change and, ultimately, tragedy.

The story is told from the points of view of a mother and daughter - each alternating a chapter. The mother is at a crossroads in her marriage and her life, so wrapped up in her own problems that she misses the signs her daughter is in trouble. The daughter is struggling with finding herself after learning at a young age that she's adopted. She struggles with promiscuity and drugs, but how far will she take it? This is a beautiful story of a mother and daughter each trying to find their way - with an ending that left me in tears! Highly recommended!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just finished reading 'sleepwalking in daylight'. I thought it was excellent and also very sad. The mother and the daughter were dealing with such complex personal issues. The ending was heart breaking. I also read 'Me & Emma' a few months ago and did not realize it was the same author until I went on her website.

Anonymous said...

This book was amazing. She captures exactly how I feel in my marriage. I'm still reading it, and it really shakes me how many of the words in it I've said a million times.