I don't know if any of you saw the movie "Schindler's List" when it came out, but this book gives me the same funky feeling. It was well written, and to the best of my knowledge, a pretty accurate portrayal of child molesters and their prey. Yet, I just can't bring myself to say it was a GOOD book. It wasn't. It was horrifying because it's real.
******MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!******
Meredith has lived alone with her mom for that last three years in kind of a post-war happiness. She survived her father's sexual abuse, and now he's serving 9 years in prison for the damage he's caused her and other local kids. She's looking forward to her 18th birthday when she's free to... just free. Sadly, her world is rocked when her father is released six years early. Meredith is only 15, and her mom is elated to have her husband back and her family together again.
This book explores Meredith's feelings of love and hate for her father. While she wishes him dead, she still can't help but flashing back to times before the abuse when he was her hero. Wiess didn't explore her relationship with her mother as fully as I would have liked. In my opinion, her mother was more despicable than her father because she always put herself first.
You also see some of the aftermath of the abuse manifested in Meredith's relationships with others. She spends a lot of the time her father is away with another one of his victims, who's reactions differ from hers.
Overall, it was a gripping read. It was just about 200 pages, and could easily be read in one sitting. The way it's written in real time makes you feel like you are there with her. Wiess does overdo some of the repetitive fleeing scenes, but I didn't feel it detracted. And while the ending wasn't necessarily happy for all parties involved, it was satisfying, if not wrapped up a bit too perfectly.
I have read a couple by this author, and enjoyed her. (but like you said, how can you really say you *like* this book)
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