Reflections of her past, and interactions with her husband, daughter and others, are contrasted with their lives in the present, as Molly looks on contemplatively, from the “Duration”, in The Late Lamented Molly Marx, by Sally Koslow.
Told in the first person by Molly, the book follows Molly, in the hereafter, as she looks down upon her family, and their interactions and reactions to her untimely death at the age of 35. There is an air of suspicion surrounding her death, and Molly, herself, doesn’t seem to remember the circumstances. The last she remembers, she was riding her bicycle through Riverside Park in New York City.
Was her death accidental? Was it a suicide? Was it murder? It is all conjecture.
Molly becomes wistful regarding the one person she is most concerned about, her four-year old daughter, Annabel, her beloved Annabel. She is concerned for her emotional welfare and well-being. Annabel was her reason for living, and Molly’s life revolved around Annabel.
She watches her plastic surgeon husband, Barry, also, and relives their marriage, from its beginning through her death. She acknowledges the flaws, and makes conscious decisions to take responsibility for some of the negative aspects of her life. But, taking responsibility from the afterlife does not reap rewards for those left behind.
What one needs to do is acknowledge their choices and take responsibility while they are still living. Life is about living and interacting, in the here and now, and not in the hereafter.
Family dynamics and the intimacies and intricacies of marriage are also thematic within the pages of The Late, Lamented Molly Marx. Sally Koslow weaves a story line, injecting it with details of an afterlife that holds mystery, yet is filled with positive aspects in an almost hypnotic manner. Her word visuals are vivid, her writing is concise, and at times poetic. I felt the ending was a bit rushed, but I still enjoyed the book.
The Late Lamented Molly Marx is a book that infuses life and death, death and the afterlife, the past, present and future together, from an unusual viewpoint.
April 12, 2012 – 20 Nisan, 5772
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A strange twist – the main character is dead and reviewing her own life.
Yes, strange, but a rewarding read.
What an interesting premise!
It was unique, Mama Zen, and I enjoyed the story.
I too like the premise..I will have to look for this one…
It is a good read, Michelle.
Thanks for bringing another intriguing book to our attention.
Thanks, for the visit, George.
Interesting perspective it seems. Do you feel you soon forgot the narrator was dead?
Hannah, at times I did forget, because the human flaws of life were so well captured through her.
Many thanks for reading and reviewing my book The Late, Lamented Molly Marx. Of all the books I’ve written, this one is closest to my heart.
Sally, Thank you for your visit. I can understand why it would be the closest to your heart. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and your unique perspective.