Outside the Lines (book review)

Outside the Lines

by Amy Hatvany

Imprint: Atria

Sub-Imprint: Washington Square Press

Format: Paperback

On Sale: 02/07/12

US Price: $15.00

CDN Price: $17.00

Pages: 384

From the publisher: A gripping novel about a woman who sets out to find the father who left her years ago, and ends up discovering herself.


When Eden was ten years old she found her father, David, bleeding out on the bathroom floor. The suicide attempt led to her parents’ divorce, and David all but vanished from Eden’s life. Since childhood, she has heard from him only rarely, just enough to know he’s been living on the streets and struggling with mental illness. But lately, there has been no word at all.


Now in her thirties, Eden decides to go look for her father, so she can forgive him at last, and finally move forward. When her search uncovers other painful truths—not only the secrets her mother has kept from her, but also the agonizing question of whether David, after all these years, even wants to be found—Eden is forced to decide just how far she’ll go in the name of love.

About the author: Amy Hatvany graduated with a degree in Sociology only to discover most sociologists are unemployed. Soon followed a variety of jobs - some of which she loved, like decorating wedding cakes; others which she merely tolerated, like receptionist.


In 1998, Amy finally decided to sell her car, quit her job, and take a chance on her passion: writing books. OUTSIDE THE LINES is her second novel written under the name Amy Hatvany, and she is the author of two others.


Amy lives in Seattle with her husband and two children and would love to hear from you...please visit www.amyhatvany.com.

My take:  Tender.  Beautiful.  Moving.  Heartbreaking and Heartwarming.   All adjectives that have been used to describe Outside the Lines.  All completely accurate and yet, not quite complete.  I wish I had the words to tell you how this book affected me; how much I enjoyed reading it.  I requested a copy of the book because the topic of a mentally ill father and the daughter who adored him resonated with me.  My father is not bi-polar.  But I did used to adore him as a child.   And while I never found him in such dire straights as Eden found her father David, I do remember how devastating it was to discover my own father's feet of clay.  That said, there is mental illness in our family and I really appreciated Ms. Hatvany's writing in both Eden AND David's voices.  I've never really thought about manic depression (Bi-polar disease) from the point of view of someone suffering from it so I appreciate the perspective Outside the Lines gave me.  This was a deeply moving book that explored family bonds in a family that is NOT perfect but in the end, is perfect for the people in it.  Add in an unexpected yet believable romance (unlike Harlequin type romances, this one rings true throughout) and I did stay up late a night or two, because I simply couldn't put the book down.  Well done Ms. Hatvany - this is a novel that will resonate with me for a long time to come.

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This review was sponsored by Simon and Schuster Publishing who provided the books for review and giveaway. I was not compensated in any way except for the complimentary book.