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The Strange Case of Jane O
By Karen Thompson Walker

A brief recap of my long, gushing and somehow lost earlier review.

A fascinating exploration of memory and how it compares to reality. The novel alternates between the clinical notes of Jane's psychiatrist told in objective, analytical style, and Jane's letters to her young son which offer a more emotional, intimate perspective of her perplexing condition and her past experiences. There are many similarities between the two narratives, but also quite a few differences, some subtle, some, not so subtle, and through these variations we are invited to speculate on how reliable either narrative is.

This novel touches on so many ways that memory can be edited, warped, thwarted and revised, blurring the lines between personal truth and reality. I love stories that contain psychological and psychiatric study and this one captured my imagination from the first page. Even the metaphysical element somehow gave me pause for thought.

A suspenseful and compelling read that delivers an emotional and intellectual punch.

Publication Date: 6th March 2025
Thanks to #Netgalley and ##BonnierBooks for providing an eGalley for review purposes