The Woman in the Window, A. J. Finn

HAPPY 2019 Y’ALLLLLLL. And A. J. Finn.

I’m going to try to do a better job of widening my book horizons this year. And getting through my ‘to read’ pile. Reading more. We got a lot to do. Thankfully I got several books for Christmas.

So we’re starting strong with A. J. Finn’s The Woman in the Window!

Who is this woman and what window? Great question. Let me explain.

Anna, our protagonist, used to be a child psychologist but due to her crippling agoraphobia now spends her days drinking, watching noir films, and spying on her neighbors. A little on the nose, but Finn makes it work.

The more we learn about Anna, the more tings get complicated. She and her husband are separated, their daughter is with him. There’s been an accident of some kind that requires her to see a physical therapist. Her own psychiatrist comes to her for their sessions.

So does her food, wine (lots of it) and everything else she needs. Finn’s thought of everything. Honestly, how did agoraphobes do it before the internet? But for things she can’t order online, Anna has her tenet living in the basement. He’s a bit of a mystery, bit of a suspicious person, but who am I to judge?

She fills her days helping other agoraphobes via the internet, playing internet chess, watching movies, mixing wine with her medication, and spying on her neighbors. Anna’s got a camera, a nice one, and uses it to keep tabs on everyone in the neighborhood.

Humphrey Bogart. My favorite noir icon.

So when a new family moves in and Anna thinks she witnessed a murder, we’re left wondering. Was it really a murder? Did Anna make it all up?

I’ll be honest with you, until about 2/3rds of the way through this book, I was unimpressed with Finn. Crazy, lonely woman who’s life is spiraling out of control. She’s drinking and she’s on medication. Then, she sees something, but no one believes her. Did I make it up? She asks herself. Who was this mysterious other woman who was murdered? She asks herself again.

Very very reminiscent of Girl on the Train. Or Woman in Cabin 10. Or a bunch of other stories.

Until we reach the end. Then holy crap. It gets cranked up to an 11 and everything we think we know is tossed on it’s head. A truly well done ending. My apologies for the quick judgement Finn.

Not very aligned with the rest of the book, but still rocked.

Did I love Anna? Not really. Could the story have done with some quicker pacing? I think so. Did I catch on toward the end? Kinda.

But still good. And creepy. And wild. Now I want to go rent a bunch of black and white films.

I’m thinking of doing one of those like, monthly reading challenges but I haven’t picked one yet. Do you have a favorite?

ALSO. OMG I FORGOT. My mom is amaze and got me a few months subscription to The Book of the Month Cluband my first book will be here soon! Can’t wait to get started!