The View From Here by Rachel Howzell is a psychological thriller, a strange and twisted and yet utterly recognizable (dare I say, even familiar) exploration into how every person’s individual “view from here” is colored, even skewed, by experiences from the past, anxieties and joys of the present, and hopes for the future. We see nothing clearly and without prejudice, and when faced with an especially difficult situation, our internal programming kicks into an even higher gear, demoting our powers of reason and promoting our fears and paranoias.
Protagonist Nicole is a vulnerable and yet resourceful woman, still dealing with the tragic loss of her parents as a child when she is suddenly hit by another life blow. Having relied more or less effectively on therapy, prescribed drugs, good friends, religion, and a loving (if too often absent) husband to get her through bad times, these aids fall short now and Nicole must figure out another way to get through the horror of loss and sorrow — or lose herself forever.
The View From Here is Gaslight turned up a notch by modern life, including current anxieties about having it all (baby, career, husband, good sex, great vacations, big screen TVs). Whereas in the movie Gaslight, the woman can only rely on her own resources to fight off impending insanity, Nicole must free herself from the too-freely prescribed medications and proffered therapies, stripping down to the basics of who she is — only then can she beat the demons at the door (and in her house). Nicole is a character over whom I both despaired and rejoiced, finding her alternately frustrating and inspiring, but ultimately thoroughly engaging, real, and unforgettable.
The View From Here was my first Kindle-exclusive book (not available in print) and I am happy to have found it. Although reading the novel was easy on my Kindle, I would have liked an author page, usually found at the end of print books, to satisfy my curiosity over the author of this wonderful book, as well as a table of contents to allow myself a map of where the book was taking me.
