Inside

Inside (2012) by Alix Ohlin. In this novel, Ohlin traces the intersecting lives of four people. Each has his or her own story to tell, and their stories only touch briefly. Anne is an aspiring actress, Grace is her therapist, Mitch is Grace's ex-husband, Tug is a man Grace finds on a ski run after he has attempted suicide. More than anyone, this is Grace's book, for it starts and ends with her. As the book opens, Grace is cross-country skiing and comes across a man lying on the ground. Around his neck is a rope, and it is apparent that he has tried to kill himself. Being the type of person she is, Grace tries to help him, and ends up in a relationship with him. His name is Tug. Anne is a patient of Grace, who is a psychotherapist, and the book spends many pages following the story of Anne -- how she takes a homeless girl into her apartment, how she works on her acting skills, how she eventually finds moderate success in Hollywood. I found the book interesting, but I didn't feel that there was enough tying all the characters together to make it a coherent novel. It was more like a series of linked short stories, some more interesting than others. The book provided diversion, but it was hardly a life-altering event. I would not seek out other works by this author. Grade: B