THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS by Claire Messud

Claire Messud, The Woman Upstairs (Alford A. Knopf, New York 2013). 253 Pages.

Also available on Kindle, Nook and Audio CD.

Reviewed by Chuck Dayton

(NOVEL)

This author has written The Emperor’s Children among other books. She was noted in the New York Times book section as having written this current novel. It seemed interesting to me and I picked it up and read it. It came highly recommended from our bookstore, Prairie Lights here in Iowa City.

The main character in this novel is an elementary school teacher, Nora Eldridge, living in the upstairs room of what is essentially a rooming house. Nora’s life is changed by circumstances surrounding the Shahids, the family of a student in her class. The mother is from Italy and the father from Lebanon, presenting an exotic blend of culture and mores not experienced by Nora Eldridge in her past teaching experience. Nora is a frustrated artist and is asked by the mother to help her in her studio. She becomes quite entangled in the dynamics of this family after the Shahid’s little boy is bullied at school.

The plot becomes more and more complex as the novel moves along. Nora has interesting relationships with the boy and the mother of the family, eventually leading up to a somewhat surprising relationship with the father. You will need to read the book to see what that is. I recommend this book if you like stories of relationships, family dynamics, and surprises.