Review: a powerful, mind-bending literary marvel
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 28, 2014
There’s something so utterly compelling and “addictive” about Bonnie McKeating’s ‘Held Hostage’—I’m going out on a limb here when I say it’s the finest, most emotionally resonant novel I’ve read in several months. From the author’s writing, to the plot, to how the scenes and twists are sinewed with verisimilitude and woven seamlessly together—this book wins five stars in my opinion.In ‘Held Hostage’, James struggles with his own mental illness. Trapped in a mental health facility, James’ sole mission is to set free the facility’s prisoners—but there’s the rub: his paranoid schizophrenia does not exactly come to his aid in his “save the world” scheme, especially when that voice in his head, whom he calls Eve, fails to appear when he needs her most. What’s more, the implications of James illness is not always obvious to him—and often, to the reader, as well, which adds to this book’s charm—and when he meets Emily, you immediately feel he’s probably jumping down the rabbit hole.I highly recommend ‘Held Hostage’ to anyone who likes an utterly well-written, expertly crafted tale. What’s amazing about it is how the author—through the subtle shifts in her narrative—manages to mirror the instability of James’ mental health: sometimes you’re not sure if what you’re reading is part of James’ delusions or is actually what’s happening in real time. This mind-bending journey reminds me of ‘Shutter Island’, although Bonnie McKeating’s work stands out with its more compelling emotional gravitas. If you’re looking for a good read that will not only keep you entertained from start to finish, but also haunt you days after reading it, look no further. Get a copy of ‘Held Hostage’ today—read the first few chapters and see what I mean when I say skipping this one would be a huge loss for your own literary enrichment. A solid five-star rating for this one.