I read this with some hesitation. I had perused several of the more negative reviews and wondered if it was worth the investment of time. I am so glad I made a leap of faith. I will admit that for the casual reader, this piece might very well fall short. The characters are one-dimensional, the plot is focused to the point of tunnel vision and the action ebbs and flows in unpredictable waves of disconnect. Closer examination, however, reveals that the perceived shortcomings are exactly those things that make this novel a masterful look at the mind of a narcisist engaged in looking back through a lens of indignation and entitlement.
Grace's troubled childhood, defined in her mind by her father's suicide and her mother's subsequent break down, has taken its toll by the time she finds herself stranded on the lifeboat, and it is only after her rescue that she tells the story of her humble beginnings as well the events that led her to be adrift in the sea. When detailing her past, Grace's sense of immediacy in terms of escaping the life of relative poverty into which she was thrust when her parents "checked out" leads her to Henry. Henry is of wealth, and it is through coverage of his activities in a local newspaper that Grace first "sees" him. She knows at once that he is her ticket to the life of privilege to which she feels entitled. While her sister is a *gasp* "working girl" (making her way as a nanny), Grace sees herself as being above that and instead hatches a plan pulled straight from a popular fairy tale to ensnare the wealthy Henry. If we are to believe Grace, after the initial deceit is wrought she actually does fall in love with the man. There, however, is the rub--are we to believe Grace? Did Henry fall in love with her and pledge his everlasting commitment? Did he eventually, as her husband, lead her to a lifeboat, making a mysterious deal with the devil along the way? Was Grace completely in the dark as to those details? Were the two truly married? Her story is full of veiled pleas to take her at her word, and we, as readers, must make the decision to play along if we are to appreciate the enormity of her seemingly depthless self-deception. It is difficult, however, to decide whether or not even Grace believes what she puts forth as "gospel". Is she trying to convince us...or herself? Once the reader realizes that he has the ability to see beyond Grace's portrayal of her reality, the read becomes an exercise in discerning truth from fiction and separating what Grace would have liked to have happened from what truly happened. The realization that the entire piece is a diary of events presented to her lawyers (trying to exonerate her for events that took place on the lifeboat)gives us an "ah ha!" moment that will have you rereading in an effort to unravel what truly occured.
For me, the events in the lifeboat itself are secondary. While one could make a case for "man against the sea", for me it read more like a psychological case study into the mind of a woman desperate to come out looking more human than she had been. The circumstances are harsh, but the author doesn't dwell on those, and instead relates them dispassionately through Grace's recollections, which are full of "intent".
If you are looking for rich character development and a plot you can sink your teeth into (pun intended), this probably isn't the book for you. If, however, you are looking to think as you read--if you are ready to be challenged in an effort to understand the truth, then this is a MUST read.
