A Book Roundup for the Voyeur in All of Us
By Jamie Day
Fiction uniquely illuminates the human experience by illustrating our shared struggles, triumphs, and tribulations in imagined scenarios that feel quite real. We know what goes on in our own homes, but is it the same for the homes, apartments, and other dwellings around us? The voyeur seeks answers to that question and books give us a window, a way to peer into the hidden lives of our own friends and neighbors. We all come from neighborhoods not too dissimilar from the one depicted in my new novel, The Block Party, which features a community on a cul-de-sac with the residents in an escalating state of turmoil. To honor the novel's publication, I've curated a list, from the classics to contemporary, of seven neighborhood-themed books that peer into the lives of friends, neighbors, and those who live all around us.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Set in the progressive suburb of Shaker Heights, Ohio, this 2017 novel, which later became a Hulu mini-series starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, tells a gripping story against the backdrop of a tightly-knit neighborhood. When Mia Warren and her daughter, Pearl, a pair with a nomadic lifestyle and enigmatic past, arrive in town, their presence stirs up tensions, particularly with Elena Richardson, a staunch believer in maintaining order through following the rules. However, Elena quickly learns that even the most diligent planning and adherence to rules can't prevent disaster. Much like unseen embers in a fireplace, small, unnoticed conflicts and secrets can, if left unattended, ignite into a devastating blaze that consumes everything in its path.
What the Neighbors Saw by Melissa Adelman
The most beautiful homes sometimes harbor the darkest secrets, as Alexis and her husband, Sam are about to find out. Their new dream home in a swanky suburban DC neighborhood quickly turns into a nightmare when a handsome neighbor named Teddy is found murdered. As the investigation into Teddy's homicide gets underway, it doesn't take long for neighborhood tensions and simmering resentments to create a toxic stew of emotions. With the neighborhood becoming increasingly divided and friendships strained, Alexis must decide how far she is willing to go in order to protect her slice of the American Dream.
Little Children by Tom Perrotta
A picture-perfect suburban community serves as the backdrop for the story of Todd and Sarah—two lonely people grappling with dissatisfaction and unmet desires. Sarah, a stay-at-home mom, and Todd, a stay-at-home dad, both harbor dreams of a different life. The presence of a convicted sex offender disrupts the neighborhood’s tranquility, but it is Todd and Sarah’s affair that brings to the surface the hidden struggles within these families. Perrotta’s biting satire exposes the numerous contradictions of suburban life, revealing how societal expectations often clash with individual ambitions and desires.
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
The Couple Next Door is an unflinching thriller that explores a parent's worst nightmare. Anne and Marco left Cora at home alone, using a baby monitor to check on her, as their neighbors had requested a no-children evening. But when they return, they find the door ajar and Cora missing. The search for Cora reveals the undercurrent of tension in Anne and Marco’s marriage, and the lengths people will go to protect their families. This thriller put Shari Lapena on the literary map, where she's stayed for good reason.
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
While it’s not specifically about a neighborhood, this richly layered, multigenerational story revolves around the relationship between two siblings and their attachment to the grand old mansion where they once resided. When Danny and Maeve’s father dies, their step-mother casts them out of the Dutch House. And while the novel is a profound examination of memory, love, and loss, it also poignantly asks the question of what truly binds us— is it our homes, or is it the experiences we share in them that bring us together? And how can we best come to terms with the sense of loss that arises from letting go of the past?
Locust Lane by Stephen Amidon
An affluent suburb sets the stage for a gripping murder mystery involving three teenagers from influential and interconnected families who unite to shield their children from the truth. Suburbs, in general, with their two-car garages and playsets in every yard, create a striking contrast between the idyllic facade they present and the hidden dangers lurking beneath. These bucolic havens embody a lofty ideal, and those desperate enough to cling to the safety, security, and status they have attained will go to great lengths to safeguard their privileged lives. However, as the characters in this riveting thriller quickly discover, perfectly manicured lawns and neatly trimmed hedges cannot shield them from life's dark realities and cruel irony. When the supposedly safest haven of all transforms into a deadly trap, it becomes nearly impossible to avert our gaze, or in the case of Locust Lane, to stop eagerly turning the pages.
The Ice Storm by Rick Moody
The 70s were great for disco and dysfunction, as depicted in The Ice Storm. The story revolves around two families, the Hoods and the Williamses, who, during a Thanksgiving weekend, find themselves caught in a historic ice storm. Another tale of secrets behind closed doors, the novel explores various themes of suburban malaise, sexual exploration, and of course, as one might expect from the 1970s, a good bit of drug use. It should be no surprise that the ice storm serves as a potent metaphor for the characters' inner states.
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Jamie Day lives in one of those picture-perfect, coastal New England towns you see in the movies. And just like the movies, Jamie has two children and an adorable dog to fawn over. When not writing or reading, Jamie enjoys yoga, the ocean, cooking, and long walks on the beach with the dog, or the kids, or sometimes both.