Monday, September 15, 2008

Book Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

I love to read fiction that allows me to really get inside a character’s head and gain a deeper understanding of some aspect of the human condition, even if it takes me to some disturbing places. In Living Dead Girl, Elizabeth Scott gives us an intimate portrait of Alice, a sexual abuse victim so terrorized by a kidnapper she’s been forced to live with from age 10 to 15 that she’s all but given up on life. When he sets his sights on a much younger girl, Alice sees her chance to escape her living nightmare of daily rape, beatings and starvation. But if she helps him as he demands, will she lose the last shred of human dignity she has left?

This is a heavy, heartbreaking novel, but one that reinforces my belief that the human spirit finds ways to triumph even in the face of great evil. Short and spare, yet powerful and moving, Alice’s story lingers long after the last page is turned.

Living Dead Girl is out now.

5 comments:

Darlene said...

I read another review of this recently. It sure does sound like something I'd like to read even though the subject matter sounds difficult. I too find it amazing what the human spirit can endure and keep on going. Great review Lenore.

Serena said...

this is the second or third review I have read of this book recently. It sounds like a good read.

Khy said...

Love this book. Elizabeth Scott at her best, I think.

Rachael Stein said...

i just read this book, and wow, it was so moving. even though Alice is just a shell of a person, she has the power to affect us so much. great review, mine's coming up soon.

Melissa Walker said...

I read this book and continue to be haunted, in a good way. I'm glad Elizabeth wrote it.