The Phantom of Fifth Avenue: The Mysterious Life and Scandalous Death of Heiress
Huguette Clark, by Meryl Gordon
(Grand Central), masterfully depicts the life and
times of one of New York’s most eccentric millionaires. Author
Meryl Gordon paints an exquisitely thorough portrait of
Huguette Clark, the centenarian heiress to the fortune of notorious
19th century robber baron William Andrews Clark. A total
recluse, Huguette was willing to shell out enormous sums of
money to satisfy her every whim, and chose to live tucked away
in a hospital, despite her perfect health, for the last 20 years of
her life. So what made Huguette, a woman whose family lived in
the limelight during one of the most turbulent eras in modern
history, pull away from society, and why should anyone take
interest? Perhaps it’s the unbelievable amount of money and
luxuries involved, the rich family scandals, betrayals, and strife . . . or maybe just
the colorful way in which Gordon directs the narrative. But whatever way you slice
it, you won’t want to put this book down.
Drunk Mom: A Memoir, by
Jowita Bydlowska, (Penguin Books), launches readers on a harrowing
journey alongside a full-blown alcoholic—who just so happens to also be a
new mom. Bydlowska dives headfi rst, revealing the nitty-gritty
details of her battle with the bottle after her son Frankie (Hugo)
is born, from endless blackouts and disastrous relapses to waking
up naked in hotel rooms and hiding mickeys of vodka in her
baby’s diaper bag. Bydlowska’s whirlwind prose and sharp, emotional
commentary expertly document the guilt, anxiety, and
overwhelming self-loathing that characterize life as an alcoholic,
and she utilizes her distinct style to capture every shocking,
heart-wrenching detail. She succeeds in humanizing her
almost inhuman experience, crafting an all too relatable narrative
from inside the mind of an addict. By the end, Bydlowska
has triumphed over her demons to remain sober and happy. For a glimpse into a
darker way of life, this memoir couldn’t be better.
Suspicion, by Joseph Finder,
(Dutton Books), marks another triumph for this New
York Times bestselling author. Protagonist Danny Goodman is just what his last
name suggests: a good man, one who singlehandedly is trying to
raise his teenage daughter, Abby, in the wake of his ex-wife’s
untimely death. But Danny is struggling fi nancially, and when a
notice comes in that he will have to pull Abby from her beloved
school unless he shows up with a hefty tuition check, he doesn’t
know where to turn. Enter the enigmatic Thomas Galvin, father
of Abby’s new best friend, who nonchalantly offers Danny a
$50,000 loan. With no other options, Danny accepts, and
within days he is thrust into a world of DEA agents, drug cartels,
and uncertainty at every step. Like any solid thriller, Finder has
crafted a real page-turner that will keep readers hanging on edge
as the plot twists and turns its way toward its unexpected conclusion. And despite
its 387 pages, it’s a quick read—the perfect book to get lost in as you soak up the fi rst
rays of summer sun this June.
Confessions of a Sociopath: A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight, by M. E. Thomas, (Crown), both confirms and attacks everything we thought we knew about one of
society’s most intriguing subsets of people. Part memoir, part guidebook, this indepth
look into the mind of the author, a diagnosed sociopath
writing under a pen name, unpacks the truths, myths, and stigmas
surrounding this often condemned psychological condition.
Thomas utilizes her unique life experiences as she explores
the hallmarks of sociopathy—aggression, lack of remorse, hunger
for power, charm, and impulsivity, among others—and, as
she points out, not all of those who exhibit these traits are violent,
evil criminals. In fact, many of these characteristics have
allowed high-functioning sociopaths to climb the ranks of success
in business, law, and politics. With each turn of the page,
Thomas' cogent arguments and concise personal anecdotes will
hook you deeper into her shocking way of life, leaving you to wonder whether or not
empathy is really all it’s cracked up to be.
