SV Moms Book Club: Testimony, by Anita Shreve

Silicon Valley Moms Book Club Discussion: Testimony, by Anita Shreve

I can't recall having read a book in which I was so glad that I was not at all similar to any of the characters.  Anita Shreve's characters in Testimony are so deeply imperfect and flawed that they are actually quite real and rather human.  Multiple times I was screaming in my head "No! Don't do it! Don't have that affair/don't say that/don't go there."  And of course, the character proceeded to create a storm of trouble and conflict. 

Let me back up a bit; I loved this story. The plot was amazingly rich and realistic.  I could have been reading this story in a newspaper it was so modern and real.  The characters were diverse and hearing their individual voices gave the story the depth it needed to be taken seriously. I like that the story discussed the issues of teenage drinking in the ways that a few different characters consumed alcohol.  Sienna reportedly drank a lot, often.  Silas only turned to alcohol after the shock of finding his mother having an affair, using alcohol to escape and self medicate only one time, but that one time was enough for tragedy.

As the child of a parent who was a law enforcement officer (oh heck, my mommy was/is a cop!)  you grow up learning to question even the victim of an event because it is important to get all sides before making a judgment or decision about blame, responsibility or punishment.  It is made clear to the reader from the perspective of Rob Leicht and Laura, Sienna's roommate that she was overly and often inappropriately physical with people, dressed in a seductive and possibly slutty manner and thrived on the attention of young boys.  She also drank heavily.  Also, she was only fourteen years old.  Her credibility and integrity were questioned by those who came into contact with her even before the scandal.

I really like the notion that a chain of unlikely events can be set in motion with one single decision made in an instant and can have persistent and negative consequences on many lives for a long time.   It is an interesting thing to ponder that all of us in this world are somehow responsible for each other and can somehow indirectly shape the life of someone else without any malicious intention or thought. 

Shreve really hit it out of the park with Testimony.  Plot. Suspence. Death. Sex. Videotapes. Alcohol. Teens.  Scandals. Blame.  Affairs.  This story has many dimensions of intrigue.  The potential reality of this story made it a real page-turner.

Comments

[Medyum]

Thanks for so much info and insight into the book

[celebrity]

Thanks for so much info and insight into the book