Alice's Review: He's Gone

Summary:  The Sunday morning starts like any other, aside from the slight hangover. Dani Keller wakes up on her Seattle houseboat, a headache building behind her eyes from the wine she drank at a party the night before. But on this particular Sunday morning, she’s surprised to see that her husband, Ian, is not home. As the hours pass, Dani fills her day with small things. But still, Ian does not return. Irritation shifts to worry, worry slides almost imperceptibly into panic. And then, like a relentless blackness, the terrible realization hits Dani: He’s gone.  As the police work methodically through all the logical explanations — he’s hurt, he’s run off, he’s been killed — Dani searches frantically for a clue as to whether Ian is in fact dead or alive. And, slowly, she unpacks their relationship, holding each moment up to the light: from its intense, adulterous beginning, to the grandeur of their new love, to the difficulties of forever. She examines all the sins she can — and cannot — remember. As the days pass, Dani will plumb the depths of her conscience, turning over and revealing the darkest of her secrets in order to discover the hard truth — about herself, her husband, and their lives together. ~ powells.com

Review:  Very rarely do I begin to write a book review when I am no further than halfway through.  He’s Gone is the kind of novel that makes its reader pause and think.  This novel is emotional and truthful, brave in ways I have a hard time comprehending.  And Dani is the epitome of that bravery.

I love when authors write from that place inside that is so honest and vulnerable; it almost hurts to read it because of the raw truth behind it.  It’s that place that makes you see your own weakness, the one you always hide because you are afraid of how others will see you.  I’m inclined to think that those writes do not have any fear in revealing these truths however I know that’s not true.  The truth is that they are incredibly brave to reveal these things in spite of their fears.  No one wants to admit how weak they are or that they made mistakes and wrong decisions.

Now that I have finished He’s Gone, I understand Dani, our protagonist.  Her story is one of amazing revelation and honesty.  I enjoyed every single second I was poking around in her head, dealing with her emotions and trying to grasp something that was always out of reach. 

He’s Gone is the story of the aftermath when Ian, Dani’s second husband, disappears.  She is left with little memory of that night and millions of questions.  Told in both the present and in reflection as to what brought her here, this novel is simply spectacular and a must read.  So do yourself a favor and run to the nearest bookstore and pick this on up. Be prepared to feel.  Ms. Caletti is a gifted writer and a natural storyteller. You can't but experience the anticipation and grief right along with Dani.  So, just go.  Seriously.  It's that good.

Final Take: 5/5