Let me start by saying Molly Divine Marx, the main character in Sally Koslow's book, The Late, Lamented Molly Marx, is someone I will NEVER forget. I was fascinated with her from the moment I learned the premise of the book - that she'd be dead during the reading. I was so heck-bent on reading this book, that when Sally suggested that either her Little Pink Slips or her With Friends Like These titles might be better suited to my 52 chick lit book challenge, I said (politely), "Nope. Gotta get my hands on Molly. I just have to." I was desperate.Back to the dead Molly Marx. I'm not spoiling anything here for prospective readers. The first line on the back cover of the book reads: The circumstances of Molly Marx's death may be suspicious, but she hasn't lost her sense of humor. And the opening sentence in chapter one reads: When I imagined my funeral, this wasn't what I had in mind. If you've never read a book in which the main character is dead, I recommend you do. It's quite an interesting ride.Reading a book with a dead main character put me in a precarious situation because I lose myself in books all the time - so I was pretty dead for the four days it took me to read this book. Not a hunched-over, flesh-eating zombie dead, not a spooky, scary ghost in the corner dead, but a dead person, nonetheless. I drove my carpools, fixed dinner, ate spoonfuls of Nutella when no one was looking, all while secretly pretending I was dead and on a quest with Molly to unravel the circumstances of her untimely death by the Hudson River. And I have to say, being dead was kind of fun. For one, Molly met very likable characters in the afterlife and she observed people and circumstances in her Earthly life with a quiet and frank sense of humor that made you feel it was okay, (I guess?) just a little bit, that she had passed on. Or at least, I read feeling a sense of acceptance that Molly had passed. Not that she deserved what had happened to her, but that the writer handled the prose in such a way that you found it okay to be reading about Molly's death.Except, of course, during those gut wrenching scenes with Molly's loved ones - especially Annabel, Molly's daughter, only four-years-old at the time of Molly's death, who played with a babydoll that wouldn't wake up. OUCH. Crying while reading some of the passages, I kept thinking of my own children and kept saying to myself, "Oh no, oh gosh, that's so sad, oh gosh, kill me now." As if I wasn't dead already.Lucky for me, Molly was spending her time in a place called the Duration, which allowed her to peek in on loved ones, even listen to their thoughts. This presented a delicious study in narrative point-of-view and for this reason, I highly recommend this book to writers of all genres. And for readers, this is something you should all discuss during book group. I have to believe any writer would find it challenging at times to tackle a storyline with a dead main character. This writer does it brilliantly.Okay, about that point-of-view. Let's see if I can tackle this accurately. And please, if I goof-up, leave a comment and let me know. Okay. Here's my take: Molly was the narrator of this story, told with a first-person "I" point-of-view. But because Molly was dead - she was also privy to other characters' thoughts - so she was also omniscient, something not typically found in first-person narratives because the main character is usually alive and unable to hear other people's internal thoughts. So this has to be a "first-person omniscient" story? Did I get that right? I hope so. Because the writer, Sally Koslow, might read this book review someday and she's a teacher of creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College - so I don't want to get this wrong or my grade might suffer! If reading Koslow's The Late, Lamented Molly Marx leaves you wanting more first-person omniscient, I recommend The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.The timing of this book in my personal life could not have been more meaningful. During the four days I was reading this book, I celebrated Ash Wednesday, a beautiful time in the Catholic church marking the 40 days before Easter, a time in which the faithful become especially aware of our own human mortality and the redemptive gift of life everlasting through Christ's death and resurrection. As I received the imposition of the ashes, the priest recited a passage from the third chapter of the Book of Gensis: Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. The following day was Valentine's Day and I was so grateful for my husband and children, to be alive with them to celebrate Valentine's Day, when Molly and so many others are denied the privilege. And today, as I write this book review, I have loving thoughts of my father-in-law who we miss very much, and who would celebrate his 91th birthday today if he was still with us. Although, I suspect, he is. Happy Birthday, Poppy.Thank you, Molly. For everything you taught me during the reading of this book. I was crying so hard at the beautiful closing of your story, my own daughter went and got my husband up from a nap telling him, "Dad, something's wrong with Mom. You better go check it out." And yes, I agree with you 100%, Molly, when you told your readers throughout the book this beautiful sentence, your mantra: I will always be Annabel's mother.Yes, Molly, you are.Go to my "Chick Lit Chit Chat" blog for a complete book review on this AWESOME book. URL: julievalerie.comDisclosure: A copy of the book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Wait huh? What just happened in the last 30 pages? I gave this book three stars because I "liked it". It wasnt anything spectacular, but it kept my attention. Molly Marx is murdered (sort of) in the park one day when she is on a bike ride. Her marriage is a wreck. Both parties cheating and pretending to be fine. She has a 3 year old daughter whom she loves. A comical semi-lesbian best friend and a possibly psycho sister. The book is told from Molly's perspective after she has died. I like to think that this is actually what the after life is like. Hanging out with others that have passed and occasionaly looking down on those left behind. The book also switches to the past to give you background information on Molly's life and how she ended up dead that day in the park. Honestly im still not 100% sure who killed her. So that kind of blows. I am pretty certain but I am going to read reviews until I find out for sure.
Do You like book Late, Lamented Molly Marx, The (2009)?
I really enjoyed this book!Read it in 3 days....kept me interested the entire time.
—aiesha
Great book! Mystery, romance, great story!
—hzroberts
