Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian

I wanted to include a 4th book this week, even though it is an adult novel. Chirs Bohjalian is one of my favorite authors, from Midwives on down. His books are full of thought provoking situations faced by everyday people and he is an adept wordsmith. I think Double Bind would be a great book to include along with a study of The Great Gatsby. This literary thriller explores mental illness and incorporates details from Gatsby into the story until the reader is left not quite sure what is real. 26-year old Laurel was brutally attacked while riding her bike through a forest. Her story appears to have ties to West Egg, home of Jay Gatsby. She now lives in Vermont where she works at a homeless shelter. Through one of the residents and his photographs, she is drawn into a fantasy world of The Great Gatsby. I'd have students read Gatsby first, followed by Double Bind. The combination would provide material for some deep study and comparison. I read this book last year, from the public library.