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A review by lauren_soderberg
The Body Double by Emily Beyda
3.0
3.5 stars
“There is something half remembered there, some other name, the contours of a profile glimpsed in a dark mirror, a bad dream disappearing back into the muddy depths of sleep...”
Emily Beyda’s 'The Body Double' features a nameless protagonist, who finds her sense of self—and her sanity—slipping away, as she dives deeply into impersonating a famous Hollywood actress. Her only contact with the outside world is the mysterious Max, whom she both loves and fears. And there is also the specter of Rosanna, the diaphanous starlet whom the protagonist is trying to imitate. And as she delves further into Rosanna's world, and begins to impersonate her in public, many questions begin to arise.
This is a deftly written noir that constantly challenges the reader’s perceptions and understanding of the events being portrayed. It’s opaque, almost annoying so, but the opacity works for this particular narrative, because it hinges on a slow unraveling of facts. In some places, the novel is perhaps a little overambitious and convoluted, but there are also moments of suspenseful brilliance.
If you’re a fan of suspense and plot ambiguity and fluidity of interpretation, this is a great read. You have to work for it, but the payoff is worth it.
“There is something half remembered there, some other name, the contours of a profile glimpsed in a dark mirror, a bad dream disappearing back into the muddy depths of sleep...”
Emily Beyda’s 'The Body Double' features a nameless protagonist, who finds her sense of self—and her sanity—slipping away, as she dives deeply into impersonating a famous Hollywood actress. Her only contact with the outside world is the mysterious Max, whom she both loves and fears. And there is also the specter of Rosanna, the diaphanous starlet whom the protagonist is trying to imitate. And as she delves further into Rosanna's world, and begins to impersonate her in public, many questions begin to arise.
This is a deftly written noir that constantly challenges the reader’s perceptions and understanding of the events being portrayed. It’s opaque, almost annoying so, but the opacity works for this particular narrative, because it hinges on a slow unraveling of facts. In some places, the novel is perhaps a little overambitious and convoluted, but there are also moments of suspenseful brilliance.
If you’re a fan of suspense and plot ambiguity and fluidity of interpretation, this is a great read. You have to work for it, but the payoff is worth it.