Bellevue Square by Michael Redhill is a mind-bending novel that delves into themes of reality versus perception, mental illness, and the blurred lines between truth and delusion. The story follows Jean Mason, a bookstore owner in Toronto, who becomes obsessed with finding her doppelganger, Ingrid Fox, leading her on a journey through Bellevue Square and into the depths of her own psyche. The narrative is filled with twists and turns, creating a sense of uncertainty and intrigue as readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride through Jean's mind.
The writing style of Bellevue Square is described as beautifully written, poignant, and relevant, with a touch of humor that adds depth to the storytelling. The author, Michael Redhill, crafts a complex narrative that keeps readers on their toes, challenging them to question what is real and what is a figment of Jean's imagination. The novel is praised for its portrayal of mental illness, the intricacies of the plot, and the clever use of an unreliable narrator, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
High triggers for mental illness, violence, and themes of death.
From The Publisher:
From Giller Prize-winning author Michael Redhill comes a literary thriller about a woman who fears for her sanity-and then her life-when she learns that her doppelganger has appeared in a local park.
Jean Mason has a doppelganger. She's never seen her, but others swear they have. Apparently, her identical twin hangs out in Kensington Market, where she sometimes buys churros and drags an empty shopping cart down the streets, like she's looking for something to put in it. Jean's a grown woman with a husband and two kids, as well as a thriving bookstore in downtown Toronto, and she doesn't rattle easily-not like she used to. But after two customers insist they've seen her double, Jean decides to investigate.
She begins at the crossroads of Kensington Market: a city park called Bellevue Square. Although she sees no one who looks like her, it only takes a few visits to the park for her to become obsessed with the possibility of encountering her twin in the flesh. With the aid of a small army of locals who hang around in the park, she expands her surveillance, making it known she'll pay for information or sightings. A peculiar collection of drug addicts, scam artists, philanthropists, philosophers and vagrants-the regulars of Bellevue Square-are eager to contribute to Jean's investigation. But when some of them start disappearing, she fears her alleged double has a sinister agenda. Unless Jean stops her, she and everyone she cares about will face a fate much stranger than death.
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About the Author:
MICHAEL REDHILL is a Giller Prize-winning novelist, poet and playwright. He is the author of the novels Consolation, longlisted for Man Booker Prize; Martin Sloane, a finalist for the Giller Prize; and most recently, Bellevue Square, winner of the 2017…
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