Book: The Almost Moon

Author: Alice Sebold

Review: This was an interesting read.  The book takes place within twenty-four hours, if you don't count the lifetime of flashbacks.  The main character, Helen, is called to her mother's house by her neighbor.  Her Mother has been housebound for years, it is later revealed that she was agoraphobic.  Helen's mother is obviously going downhill, and when it becomes clear that Helen will not be able to clean up after an accident she calmly suffocates her mother.  The interesting thing is that Helen almost convinces you that it was justified, and that she is not crazy.  It takes an interesting look at mental illness, as it seems her Mother and Father were both unstable, as is she, and possibly one of her daughter's as well.