New Fiction on the New York Times Best Sellers List (4/1/07)
by Mazie
Lionel Shriver changed her name from Margaret Ann when she was fifteen. She left North Carolina a long time ago and has lived in England most of her adult life. Her previous novel (her seventh), We Need to Talk About Kevin, concerned a mother's reaction to her son's violence at school (Columbine?). It was a major bestseller there and also won the 2005 Orange Prize for Fiction. While it only enjoyed modest success here, her name became more widely known.
While she claims her latest novel is not a thinly veiled autobiography, she admits to being haunted by her own past dilemma. She too had to pick one man over another. In Post-Birthday World she explores this question of what does the future hold if you choose this person or that person. After the first chapter the story splits into two alternating narratives, presented in alternating chapters. This book has garnered a lot of attention stateside and could become a book club favorite. There is a lot to talk about.
The other new titles are Daddy's Girl by Lisa Scottoline and What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman.
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