Review: The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst
by Jenners • 02/14/2011 • 4 Stars, Fiction, Mystery/Thriller, N Titles, P Authors • 44 Comments
The Nobodies Album by Carolyn ParkhurstPublisher: Doubleday, 2010
Pages: 312
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Where I Got It: LibraryThing Early Reviewer Program
My Rating: 4 stars (Add to your TBR list)
The Nobodies Album could be classified as a mystery novel. After all, the plot hinges on whether novelist Octavia Frost’s son Milo killed his girlfriend Bettina. Milo isn’t just any old accused murderer though. He is a famous rock star—the lead singer for a group called Pareidolia. His arrest for the murder of Bettina is national news. In fact, Octavia finds out about the murder on a news ticker in Times Square. She doesn’t hear it from Milo directly because they’ve been estranged for the past four years. Dropping everything (including her new novel called The Nobodies Album), Octavia flies to San Francisco to help … yet she isn’t even sure if Milo will talk to or see her. We follow Octavia as she attempts to reach out to Milo and uncover the truth about Bettina’s murder.
However, there is much more going on in this book so that calling it a “murder mystery” doesn’t quite do it justice. Although the murder mystery propels the plot, there are several other story lines that I found just as compelling. We know from the beginning that Octavia and Milo are the only two surviving members of the Frost family, but we don’t quite know what happened to the other two members. Another mystery is what caused the estrangement between Milo and Octavia. As you read, Parkhurst doles out bits and pieces of information that provide answers to both of these lesser (but no less interesting) “mysteries.”
The other aspect of the book that I enjoyed were the excerpts from Octavia’s latest book, which is also called The Nobodies Album. The concept of the book is that Octavia is rewriting the ending of all her novels. Throughout the book, we get to read the original ending and then the revised ending. These little “breaks” from the main narrative were interesting and intriguing, and I enjoyed them quite a bit. I thought adding this aspect to the book was ambitious of Parkhurst; it wasn’t something she needed to do.
Another thing I liked about the book was the humor. I thought Octavia was pretty funny, and I was often amused by her thoughts. For example, she is constantly telling herself: “If this was a murder mystery, this is the part where I would talk to the doorman and discover the clue.” This kind of meta-narration (after all, this is a character talking about the writing of a murder mystery in a murder mystery)—as well as the fact that Octavia’s book and this book are both called The Nobodies Album—was appealing to me. It seemed to me like Parkhurst was having a little fun and challenging herself.
Before The Nobodies Album, the only book I’d read by Carolyn Parkhurst was The Dogs of Babel, which was a wonderfully different story of a widow attempting to teach his dog to talk in order to discover if his wife committed suicide or died in an accident. It was a memorable and unique book, and Parkhurst managed to pull off what seems like a quirky premise and make it powerful, real and affecting. I think she managed to do the same with The Nobodies Album. Rather than just writing a straightforward murder mystery, she dabbles around with metafiction. It was a fun little experiment, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
If you’re looking for a literary fiction book that can double as a murder mystery, The Nobodies Album would be a good choice. It has a sly sense of humor and contains some interesting experiments by the author. I definitely plan to go back and read Parkhurst’s second novel, Lost and Found.
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I read dogs of Babel and thought it was a good book. so this one sounds like it might be good too!
Oooh…I’m glad you liked Dogs of Babel. This is just as good.
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I like the idea of bits of humor appearing throughout a mystery. Sounds like a good read. Thanks for another great recommendation Jenners.
This author is really really good. I think you’d like her a lot.
This book has a lot of different layers and levels of things happening and I like the sound of it.
Yes! It has all sorts of layers and things going on. It was so interesting. I just love this author.
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I had no idea that’s what The Dogs of Babel was about! That actually sounds quite interesting. In fact, The Nobodies Album does as well. I’ve always avoided books involving murder, but I’m starting to think I might actually enjoy the ones that have an interesting story built around any gruesomeness that might occur.
The Dogs of Babel was sooooo good … as was The Nobodies Album. If you’re worried about gruesomeness, that shouldn’t be a concern with this book; it isn’t “that” kind of murder mystery.
This sounds like a good one – glad you enjoyed it so much. The only Parkhurst book I’ve read is Lost and Found which I really liked. That had a lot going on in it too. I’ll have to check this one out.
Now I have to read Lost and Found! She only has three books and that is the last I need to check out.
I’ve been curious about this one, and have the audio on my iPod. Nice review Jenners.
I would be interested in how it comes off on audio! Enjoy it.
This one sounds like one I might enjoy too.
I think you would. I really liked it. It was one of those where I stayed up late reading because I was liking it so much.
This sounds fun and I think I would like it. I especially like the “book within a book” idea. (seems like I’ve read something else that did that, too). Think this would work for the RIP challenge this fall or is it not really “mysterious” enough?
I didn’t find it very “mysterious” or “creepy” or “gothic” enough for the RIP challenge. But don’t let stop you from reading it!
this sounds like a really good novel.
It really was. It had so many different things going on. I gobbled it up over two nights.
sound good. Thanks Jenners.
I think you might like this one.
I like it! It sounds witty and I like the mystery aspect too.
It was a fun read. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for something involving but not too heavy. It has a great mix of emotion and humor that I enjoyed.
Hmm, not too sure about this one but I have to say your obvious enjoyment of the book is catching as is your describing it as having a sly sense of humour. I love the character names as well.
I really did enjoy it. I wasn’t sure what to expect so it was a real treat to find all these “extras” built in to what could have been a rather tired mystery story.
There is a lot going on in this book, and I have read several really great reviews of it as well. I like the sound of this book, and although it wasn’t your favorite bit, I think I would most enjoy the parts where she is rewriting the endings to her books. Great review, Jenners! You’ve convinced me that I need to read this one soon!
There is a lot going on in this book, which is what made it so fun to read. I actually really enjoyed the little rewrites of her endings. At times, I got involved in those stories and kind of wished Parkhurst would actually go and write the full novel. Who knows? Maybe she will someday.
..You know I have a weakness for murder mysteries…
love that cover too. And since I am shallow, that is important.
This is not your run-of-the-mill murder mystery though … I just want you to be clear on that! It is as much about the mother-son relationship and her writing as it is the murder. (Plus it isn’t too gory, which might be a negative for you. HAHA!)
i can do cerebral!
I seriously loved this book. Multi-layered, and so damned creative really. It also freaked me out because what happened to their family in Yosemite almost happened to our family in Yosemite, so that caused me to lay awake for a couple of nights. Powerful book.
Oh man … I could see that Yosemite part really hitting home then. That gives me the chills.
I thought it was so creative. I loved all the different stuff she did with the original endings and the new endings. And it was funny but so realistic and touching too. I’ll have to go back and read your review now that I’ve read it.
Haven’t read anything by her… This sounds as if it might be fun.
I really like her stuff. She really tries to do different things in her writing and it is a pleasure to read.
You read very interesting books! :–)
That is my goal as a reader.
Sounds like an author I need to check. Although when that might be, I couldn’t say.
Oh .. you can always find time for the good ones. Perhaps you could toss Joyce aside? HAHA!
I do enjoy humor sprinkled in my books. Sounds like I might like this one.
I think you might; I thought it was pretty good. I’d also highly recommend The Dogs of Babel.
I got this from LT too and you’ve made me very excited about it!
I think you’ll like it! I’ll be interested to see your thoughts about it.