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From A to Zoe
Zoe Zimmerman wants a new start. So she does the logical thing: she moves to New York City. But when a man from her past finds her—and a lump in her breast—Zoe realizes that troubles can follow you no matter where you go and that you have to roll with the punches.
Thankfully, Zoe knows how to do just that. When she finds a rat in her new apartment, she doesn’t freak out—she figures out that he prefers Swiss cheese to mozzarella. And when the woman who offered her a job dies suddenly and Zoe finds herself a suspect in the murder investigation, she vows to frame whoever is trying to frame her.
With humor and spunk, "From A to Zoe" chronicles the adventures of one woman just trying to make it in New York. Whether she’s taking a taxi-driving lover from Guadeloupe, battling cancer, or solving the murder she’s being blamed for, Zoe doesn’t back down from the opportunities or challenges of modern life.
Take the mystery-solving pluckiness of Janet Evanovich’s characters, add a good dose of David-Sedaris-style humor, and you get Zoe Zimmerman, one of the most memorable personalities out there.
Thankfully, Zoe knows how to do just that. When she finds a rat in her new apartment, she doesn’t freak out—she figures out that he prefers Swiss cheese to mozzarella. And when the woman who offered her a job dies suddenly and Zoe finds herself a suspect in the murder investigation, she vows to frame whoever is trying to frame her.
With humor and spunk, "From A to Zoe" chronicles the adventures of one woman just trying to make it in New York. Whether she’s taking a taxi-driving lover from Guadeloupe, battling cancer, or solving the murder she’s being blamed for, Zoe doesn’t back down from the opportunities or challenges of modern life.
Take the mystery-solving pluckiness of Janet Evanovich’s characters, add a good dose of David-Sedaris-style humor, and you get Zoe Zimmerman, one of the most memorable personalities out there.
172 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 2015
13 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Marie-Jo Fortis
2Ìýbooks23ÌýfollowersBecause she fell in love with an older man who lived in the United States, Marie-Jo Fortis had to face tremendous familial opposition and machinations. But she did cross the Atlantic with her guy, faith in the future and little more than the clothes on her back. As a result she got the 3 M: marriage, Maïa (the daughter) and a small menagerie.
Ah, and a Master’s in English lit that came a few years after studying at l’Ecole du Louvre and La Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris. Her work has been published nationally and internationally in Freedom International, Poésie Première, Talus & Scree, and other periodicals. She also founded Collages & Bricolages, a literary magazine she edited for fifteen years.
Chainsaw Jane germinated from a couple of simple facts. She loves mysteries, for one. And she knows a tiny sixty-something woman who trims her own trees with a chainsaw. Plus, she reads Tarot. These elements led to the character of Chainsaw Jane. From that, a whole novel fermented.
Ah, and a Master’s in English lit that came a few years after studying at l’Ecole du Louvre and La Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris. Her work has been published nationally and internationally in Freedom International, Poésie Première, Talus & Scree, and other periodicals. She also founded Collages & Bricolages, a literary magazine she edited for fifteen years.
Chainsaw Jane germinated from a couple of simple facts. She loves mysteries, for one. And she knows a tiny sixty-something woman who trims her own trees with a chainsaw. Plus, she reads Tarot. These elements led to the character of Chainsaw Jane. From that, a whole novel fermented.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 1, 2017
As the father of three grown children, I very much enjoyed my immersion in Zoe’s world, which gave me insight into my daughters� lives (although, blessedly, they have not struggled with all that Zoe does). Still, Zoe’s smart, incisive assessments of her world, her artistic passions, and her fundamental resiliency reminded me much of my own.
Fortis spins a story that in less talented hands would come off as implausible, but she does so presenting such a multi-layered heroine in Zoe’s character that her believability is not ever fundamentally in question. Zoe is by turns wildly clever (with an acerbic edge), gritty and resolute, and tender and vulnerable. And can she ever turn a phrase!
Additionally, Fortis took up the challenge to narrate Zoe’s life from her own vantage point–which lent a great intimacy to Zoe’s story, and instilled a page-turning drive to see just WHAT could possibly come next. (No, you will not be able to anticipate the twists, nor the eventual cast of characters, much less what the collective impact of it all is on Zoe’s life.) Often first person narratives result in plodding journal-like entries, or undisciplined rambles, and From A to Zoe couldn’t be further from either. Underneath the spritely pace, the terrific wit, and the seemingly unchecked emotional revelations is Fortis� solid control (albeit undetectable to a reader who is not an author).
Very well done, and very enjoyable. Zoe is my new favorite redhead!
Fortis spins a story that in less talented hands would come off as implausible, but she does so presenting such a multi-layered heroine in Zoe’s character that her believability is not ever fundamentally in question. Zoe is by turns wildly clever (with an acerbic edge), gritty and resolute, and tender and vulnerable. And can she ever turn a phrase!
Additionally, Fortis took up the challenge to narrate Zoe’s life from her own vantage point–which lent a great intimacy to Zoe’s story, and instilled a page-turning drive to see just WHAT could possibly come next. (No, you will not be able to anticipate the twists, nor the eventual cast of characters, much less what the collective impact of it all is on Zoe’s life.) Often first person narratives result in plodding journal-like entries, or undisciplined rambles, and From A to Zoe couldn’t be further from either. Underneath the spritely pace, the terrific wit, and the seemingly unchecked emotional revelations is Fortis� solid control (albeit undetectable to a reader who is not an author).
Very well done, and very enjoyable. Zoe is my new favorite redhead!
February 7, 2017
I loved this little book. It lacks pretension. It's self-aware without being self-absorbed—artsy without the fartsy. It's beautiful with a healthy dose of the real—like Mona Lisa with a gap-tooth grin or The Birth of Venus with a mastectomy scar.
Zoe Zimmerman is a modern girl, a writer trying to slip the bonds of her small-town past in the middle of a seedy Manhattan that just doesn't give a damn, except sporadically, and then just enough to keep our girl plodding on. I've known Zoes in my life. Mostly I try to avoid them. They are, in the parlance of my adopted Southland, hot messes. They are hard to live with, but easy to love. They are too interesting for their own good.
This Zoe has a lump on her breast. She is trying hard not to think about it. Her married lover won't let her ignore it. He's one of the bonds she's trying to slip. As married lovers go, though, he's apparently one of the good ones. Doesn't hurt that he's a doctor. Be that as it may, Zoe is trying to make it on her own terms. She doesn't want the help that she needs.
Not to be ignored, life piles on, and before she knows it Zoe is a suspect in the murder of her boss. This is not nearly so upsetting as you might think after a cancer diagnosis. Trust me. I'm a two time cancer survivor myself. I know how this works. The author describes it like this:
"There are some strangely cozy, almost comforting moments in disease, at least for a writer. I live in another world, not a dynamic world, not a world of incessant movement, but a world of fatigue and medication, a fuzzed world of meditation."
There is a beauty and purpose down in that 'fuzzed world of meditation' from which it is difficult to rouse oneself—even in self defense.
There are a lot of lovely things in here. Fortiss displays genuine artistry in her writing. It is lyrical, painterly even, but not overwrought. There is minimal intrusion by the author. She doesn't explain too much—makes you feel good when you figure it out. For instance Zoe's brother's name is Ziegfried. So she says this about her rent-controlled apartment in New York:
“I share my palace with Ziegfried II. We had to get used to each other, and it didn’t take that long. Each night, he would come and cross the place at all speed, stop for a minute, look at me, mustache shivering and all, then cross the room again and hide. I started leaving a piece of Swiss cheese by his observation post. The first night he saw it, he looked at it, danced around it, smelled it, and left without even giving me a glance.�
So I love that she left it to me to figure out that Ziegfried II is a rat. I also love that this tells me quite a lot about Zoe, and about her relationship with her brother.
There is beautiful phrasing throughout. About waking up, she says, � � full of myopia and mystery and the remnants of a dream.� or about the comfort of her lover, �... the perfect asylum of his arms.� There are great extended similes: “The lady’s laughter started in melodic adagios and ended in a symphony for trumpets written by a musically challenged brat. It invaded her body to the point that she almost destabilized herself, despite her sensible shoes.� � with a touch of humor.
Really, I love Fortiss's deft pen. From A to Zoe looks like Chick-Lit, but in the end, for me at least, it is just Lit, and in the best possible way. If you're looking for standard plot points and a satisfactory resolution of Zoe's sundry difficulties, you're missing the point. Zoe is a character. This is a character study. Zoe is as challenging as she is challenged, and it's really not about how she succeeds, but rather how she tries. Five solid stars from me. This is as good a book as I've read in some time.
Zoe Zimmerman is a modern girl, a writer trying to slip the bonds of her small-town past in the middle of a seedy Manhattan that just doesn't give a damn, except sporadically, and then just enough to keep our girl plodding on. I've known Zoes in my life. Mostly I try to avoid them. They are, in the parlance of my adopted Southland, hot messes. They are hard to live with, but easy to love. They are too interesting for their own good.
This Zoe has a lump on her breast. She is trying hard not to think about it. Her married lover won't let her ignore it. He's one of the bonds she's trying to slip. As married lovers go, though, he's apparently one of the good ones. Doesn't hurt that he's a doctor. Be that as it may, Zoe is trying to make it on her own terms. She doesn't want the help that she needs.
Not to be ignored, life piles on, and before she knows it Zoe is a suspect in the murder of her boss. This is not nearly so upsetting as you might think after a cancer diagnosis. Trust me. I'm a two time cancer survivor myself. I know how this works. The author describes it like this:
"There are some strangely cozy, almost comforting moments in disease, at least for a writer. I live in another world, not a dynamic world, not a world of incessant movement, but a world of fatigue and medication, a fuzzed world of meditation."
There is a beauty and purpose down in that 'fuzzed world of meditation' from which it is difficult to rouse oneself—even in self defense.
There are a lot of lovely things in here. Fortiss displays genuine artistry in her writing. It is lyrical, painterly even, but not overwrought. There is minimal intrusion by the author. She doesn't explain too much—makes you feel good when you figure it out. For instance Zoe's brother's name is Ziegfried. So she says this about her rent-controlled apartment in New York:
“I share my palace with Ziegfried II. We had to get used to each other, and it didn’t take that long. Each night, he would come and cross the place at all speed, stop for a minute, look at me, mustache shivering and all, then cross the room again and hide. I started leaving a piece of Swiss cheese by his observation post. The first night he saw it, he looked at it, danced around it, smelled it, and left without even giving me a glance.�
So I love that she left it to me to figure out that Ziegfried II is a rat. I also love that this tells me quite a lot about Zoe, and about her relationship with her brother.
There is beautiful phrasing throughout. About waking up, she says, � � full of myopia and mystery and the remnants of a dream.� or about the comfort of her lover, �... the perfect asylum of his arms.� There are great extended similes: “The lady’s laughter started in melodic adagios and ended in a symphony for trumpets written by a musically challenged brat. It invaded her body to the point that she almost destabilized herself, despite her sensible shoes.� � with a touch of humor.
Really, I love Fortiss's deft pen. From A to Zoe looks like Chick-Lit, but in the end, for me at least, it is just Lit, and in the best possible way. If you're looking for standard plot points and a satisfactory resolution of Zoe's sundry difficulties, you're missing the point. Zoe is a character. This is a character study. Zoe is as challenging as she is challenged, and it's really not about how she succeeds, but rather how she tries. Five solid stars from me. This is as good a book as I've read in some time.
October 15, 2015
Marie-Jo Fortis� latest tale, From A to Zoe, is a rollercoaster ride around New York City, with more than most thirty-somethings could handle. Zoe Zimmerman, or Z-Z as she prefers, means “life� in Greek and it’s a premonition of what the central character must battle to persevere as she escapes a series of threats throughout Fortis� landscape.
A fleeting affair, a life-threatening prognosis, and a specious arrest -- or threat of -- are just some of the pressures Zoe encounters over the brief time period covered in the book. The first person point-of-view allows Fortis to put the reader behind Zoe’s perspective as she maneuvers around Manhattan, confronting lovers and enemies, cars and taxicabs, doctors and lawyers, in her journey to survive in an environment stacked against her. We meet a host of characters � some intimate, some fleeting, some nonsensical � and the reader may come away wondering if anyone could deter the cynical and determined Zoe.
The author, or should I say Zoe, makes extensive use of popular culture in her characterization of the people she meets, dropping names from cinema (Redford, Gere), music ( Nirvana, Spears, Beethoven), design (Versace, Klein), and politics (Bloomberg, Guevara, Jack-the-Ripper) to ply her opinion. Some references work nicely. For example, we can quickly grasp the visual of her boss, Terry Chancecastle, an Agatha Christie look-alike with a demeanor to match. Others missed the mark, for this reviewer, while the repeated head slapping with rolled-up newspapers could have used a reference to the 3-Stooges to complete the scene. Zoe, the character, would probably dismiss these inconsistencies, content instead with her own unfiltered snipes at doctors, lawyers, and detectives who deserve nothing less. She’s a quick learner, too quick at times, mastering her job in a few weeks, solving complex crimes in minutes, and flipping “below-the-waist acquaintances� in rapid succession. A product of a dysfunctional family, Zoe and her brother Zieg (not to be confused with her pet rat, Ziegfried II) bond during Zoe’s health and legal travails, while the younger Zimmerman prepares to throw his life away in route to a Tibetan monastery. Zoe is a passionate, intelligent livewire, who encounters more adversity in a few months than most could handle in a lifetime. She’s an angry patient, a determined writer and editor, and a cynical suspect, rarely exposing her softer side. Perhaps she has none and the single dimension is unfortunate, as it never lets the reader develop sympathy for the women who needs a break.
A fleeting affair, a life-threatening prognosis, and a specious arrest -- or threat of -- are just some of the pressures Zoe encounters over the brief time period covered in the book. The first person point-of-view allows Fortis to put the reader behind Zoe’s perspective as she maneuvers around Manhattan, confronting lovers and enemies, cars and taxicabs, doctors and lawyers, in her journey to survive in an environment stacked against her. We meet a host of characters � some intimate, some fleeting, some nonsensical � and the reader may come away wondering if anyone could deter the cynical and determined Zoe.
The author, or should I say Zoe, makes extensive use of popular culture in her characterization of the people she meets, dropping names from cinema (Redford, Gere), music ( Nirvana, Spears, Beethoven), design (Versace, Klein), and politics (Bloomberg, Guevara, Jack-the-Ripper) to ply her opinion. Some references work nicely. For example, we can quickly grasp the visual of her boss, Terry Chancecastle, an Agatha Christie look-alike with a demeanor to match. Others missed the mark, for this reviewer, while the repeated head slapping with rolled-up newspapers could have used a reference to the 3-Stooges to complete the scene. Zoe, the character, would probably dismiss these inconsistencies, content instead with her own unfiltered snipes at doctors, lawyers, and detectives who deserve nothing less. She’s a quick learner, too quick at times, mastering her job in a few weeks, solving complex crimes in minutes, and flipping “below-the-waist acquaintances� in rapid succession. A product of a dysfunctional family, Zoe and her brother Zieg (not to be confused with her pet rat, Ziegfried II) bond during Zoe’s health and legal travails, while the younger Zimmerman prepares to throw his life away in route to a Tibetan monastery. Zoe is a passionate, intelligent livewire, who encounters more adversity in a few months than most could handle in a lifetime. She’s an angry patient, a determined writer and editor, and a cynical suspect, rarely exposing her softer side. Perhaps she has none and the single dimension is unfortunate, as it never lets the reader develop sympathy for the women who needs a break.
November 21, 2015
Marie-Jo Fortis is as strong a writer as Zoe Zimmerman is a hilariously strong and loveable protagonist. I’m not normally a fan of adult fiction but this one is one I HAD to give a chance.
The storyline alone is enough to draw anyone in; a woman discovers she has cancer and now she’s got a bigger battle to deal with outside of relocating to NYC, outside of bumping into an ex that you’d rather live without, and of course there’s a murder mystery dropped into her lap. This story is full of joy and sadness, you will cry tears from laughter and sorrow. It’s amazing all bundled up in just a few hundred pages.
Zoe Zimmerman is a very great protagonist. She’s hilarious and provides a very unique voice of narration to the story. I enjoyed reading from her perspective and seeing the story play out from her point of view. Reading about a woman discovering that she has cancer could have become very dull and very depressing but Fortis took a comedic approach to the subject without bringing disrespect to the sensitivity of the matter.
As much as I enjoyed this book, one fact gnawed at me throughout the entire read which resulted in a 4 out of 5 star rating. That was the subplot—the murder mystery itself. I may be judging unfairly but I thought the murder plotline was a little bit much. Dealing with cancer is something that’s been written about hundreds of time so I understand that Fortis brought her own originality to the story but the cancer and a murder were such large plots it seemed like the book should have been split into two separate novels.
Don’t get me wrong, the murder was interesting but it came in suddenly and changed the story entirely. I was so focused on Zoe and her battle with cancer I felt like there wasn’t any time to transition to the murder as a reader, let alone for Zoe to realistically handle it without having a mental breakdown.
Regardless of my complaints, this book is written very well and is full of great characters, wonderful emotion, and hilarious comedy. I would recommend this book to any fans of chick-lit, comedy, and even crime novels. This is an especially great novel that recognizes the struggles brought on by sudden illness.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The storyline alone is enough to draw anyone in; a woman discovers she has cancer and now she’s got a bigger battle to deal with outside of relocating to NYC, outside of bumping into an ex that you’d rather live without, and of course there’s a murder mystery dropped into her lap. This story is full of joy and sadness, you will cry tears from laughter and sorrow. It’s amazing all bundled up in just a few hundred pages.
Zoe Zimmerman is a very great protagonist. She’s hilarious and provides a very unique voice of narration to the story. I enjoyed reading from her perspective and seeing the story play out from her point of view. Reading about a woman discovering that she has cancer could have become very dull and very depressing but Fortis took a comedic approach to the subject without bringing disrespect to the sensitivity of the matter.
As much as I enjoyed this book, one fact gnawed at me throughout the entire read which resulted in a 4 out of 5 star rating. That was the subplot—the murder mystery itself. I may be judging unfairly but I thought the murder plotline was a little bit much. Dealing with cancer is something that’s been written about hundreds of time so I understand that Fortis brought her own originality to the story but the cancer and a murder were such large plots it seemed like the book should have been split into two separate novels.
Don’t get me wrong, the murder was interesting but it came in suddenly and changed the story entirely. I was so focused on Zoe and her battle with cancer I felt like there wasn’t any time to transition to the murder as a reader, let alone for Zoe to realistically handle it without having a mental breakdown.
Regardless of my complaints, this book is written very well and is full of great characters, wonderful emotion, and hilarious comedy. I would recommend this book to any fans of chick-lit, comedy, and even crime novels. This is an especially great novel that recognizes the struggles brought on by sudden illness.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
August 8, 2016
I found this book very enjoyable, and more than meets the eye. It’s impressive that the author was able to take us through ordinary, and pivotal phases of a complicated woman’s life, including day to day romance issues, an accusation of murder, and a life changing diagnosis; but it is even more impressive that she took us through it using what I would consider a daring choice in narrative.
I found each page of this first person, present tense story a natural, compelling, and intimately revealing layer of the speaker’s character, one Zoe Zimmerman. This could have been an enjoyable story to follow through any number of lenses, but I applaud Fortis for having chosen to present it to the reader from inside Zoe’s skin, in real time, every step of the way.
I was first drawn in by Zoe’s cleverness, high-brow cheekiness—including well chosen allusions to art and literature for comparisons to Zoe’s situations, observations and relationships. These are very well written and bursting out of the pages, yet only hints of who Zoe Zimmerman turns out to be. Beyond all of the witty jabs at the world around her, seemingly in place to keep Zoe from going completely crazy and actually killing someone, there is a layer of shadows underneath—shadows of a lonely yet persevering woman whose dedication to the arts has led her into the depths of an ongoing struggle, in an unforgiving city called New York. When faced with a potentially terminal illness, we witness what seems an existential awakening—a liberation Zoe has always been on the point of—like a personal Bill of Rights which, having sat on the tip of her tongue for years, is finally formed and spoken, without filter or apology.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
I found each page of this first person, present tense story a natural, compelling, and intimately revealing layer of the speaker’s character, one Zoe Zimmerman. This could have been an enjoyable story to follow through any number of lenses, but I applaud Fortis for having chosen to present it to the reader from inside Zoe’s skin, in real time, every step of the way.
I was first drawn in by Zoe’s cleverness, high-brow cheekiness—including well chosen allusions to art and literature for comparisons to Zoe’s situations, observations and relationships. These are very well written and bursting out of the pages, yet only hints of who Zoe Zimmerman turns out to be. Beyond all of the witty jabs at the world around her, seemingly in place to keep Zoe from going completely crazy and actually killing someone, there is a layer of shadows underneath—shadows of a lonely yet persevering woman whose dedication to the arts has led her into the depths of an ongoing struggle, in an unforgiving city called New York. When faced with a potentially terminal illness, we witness what seems an existential awakening—a liberation Zoe has always been on the point of—like a personal Bill of Rights which, having sat on the tip of her tongue for years, is finally formed and spoken, without filter or apology.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
October 20, 2015
Zoe is a young woman with a lot going on, even for those living in NYC. For all her tribulations, I was relieved to see she also had many blessings. One of her lovers cares enough to support her health care needs (he is married and a father of a young child, but the author makes him sympathetic nonetheless). Another lover is just as supportive, and truly seems to love her. No cads in her bed. Zoe's brother is someone I would not mind as a brother. Together, they are sweet. Zoe wants to be a fiction writer--that may considered a curse. She is diagnosed with breast cancer--another obstacle to happiness, but she handles the ups and downs very well. Then, her boss is murdered and she is a suspect. Oh, and my favorite is the pet rat who adds comic relief to the tale. So, despite the possible downbeat trend, the mood is strong; Zoe is a survivor.
I would have enjoyed the story more if it had not been so packed with interior dialogue that no one should have to share. Our heads are often filled with nonsense that does not read well in fiction. Unless the zingers are true and witty, I'd rather not read chatter. Unfortunately, the story overflowed with it, and I cringed enough that many scenes lost their poignancy. Sometimes fiction is stronger from what is left out. A good editor willing to wield a red pen would help this work, which I think is a gem in the rough. Also, the murder mystery is not written to its potential. It is resolved too fast, and could use more twists, and turns.
February 7, 2017
The animated cover is lovely -- far too many e-books rely on dull stock images, or painfully fake Photoshop covers attempting to mimic reality. This cover has actual personality, and it’s unique to the contents of the novel. Great job.
Regarding the contents of the book…I confess that I lost interest as the story unfolded. A single woman in her 30s facing cancer is more than enough material for a book, so inserting the murder mystery element halfway through the novel seemed like a strange choice. By the end of the novel, I wasn’t won over by the murder plot, which lacked any verisimilitude, and often distracted from the heart of the story. Other distractions include gratuitously inserting politics into the narration (not hard to guess who was President when the book was written, and what the author thinks of him), and a few characters that are tossed in who don’t seem to serve a real purpose. I also think the novel could benefit from a few more rounds of proofreading. (Everyone is guilty of this, I know. Typos are a burden and some always manage to escape, even on your five thousandth re-read.) Aside from the typos, there also seem to be some continuity issues that crop up. Many of the similes and metaphors could’ve been trimmed, although I do realize that their excessive use was an intentional character choice.
Regarding the contents of the book…I confess that I lost interest as the story unfolded. A single woman in her 30s facing cancer is more than enough material for a book, so inserting the murder mystery element halfway through the novel seemed like a strange choice. By the end of the novel, I wasn’t won over by the murder plot, which lacked any verisimilitude, and often distracted from the heart of the story. Other distractions include gratuitously inserting politics into the narration (not hard to guess who was President when the book was written, and what the author thinks of him), and a few characters that are tossed in who don’t seem to serve a real purpose. I also think the novel could benefit from a few more rounds of proofreading. (Everyone is guilty of this, I know. Typos are a burden and some always manage to escape, even on your five thousandth re-read.) Aside from the typos, there also seem to be some continuity issues that crop up. Many of the similes and metaphors could’ve been trimmed, although I do realize that their excessive use was an intentional character choice.
October 16, 2015
"From A to Zoe" is a witty murder-mystery novel. Everything seems to go wrong for Zoe after she moves to New York City. The man she dumped isn't the only rat in her life. She discovers she has cancer. And then her boss is murdered, and she is the prime suspect.
This well-written book has great character descriptions--not your milk carton variety. It brings their personalities alive as well. For example, these:
"Some of his hair has gone on permanent vacation."
"Her face is that of an owl on heroin."
The writing itself is meticulous and descriptive. You will find many such lines of prose as the following:
"Early in the morning, the sky had on its gray, grouchy dress, to match the mood of New Yorkers. But now, it looks like a giant eraser is removing the gloom. Through the deletions here and there, I can see some yellowish patches, diverse facets of the shy winter sun."
It's all and well to have a well-crafted story, but you'll enjoy the plot as well, as Zoe tries to get some order to her crazy life.
This well-written book has great character descriptions--not your milk carton variety. It brings their personalities alive as well. For example, these:
"Some of his hair has gone on permanent vacation."
"Her face is that of an owl on heroin."
The writing itself is meticulous and descriptive. You will find many such lines of prose as the following:
"Early in the morning, the sky had on its gray, grouchy dress, to match the mood of New Yorkers. But now, it looks like a giant eraser is removing the gloom. Through the deletions here and there, I can see some yellowish patches, diverse facets of the shy winter sun."
It's all and well to have a well-crafted story, but you'll enjoy the plot as well, as Zoe tries to get some order to her crazy life.
February 23, 2016
Irreverent, imperfect, irresistible.
Zoe shares her meals with a marauding rat, her bed with a married man, her work with a menacing lynx, her head with a meandering mind, and her breast with a malignant growth, when she becomes a suspect in the murder of Agatha Christie�
No matter what you say in French, it always sounds like poetry. Marie-Jo Fortis has managed to do something similar with the English language, and the result is vividly engaging. An implausible murder, odd non-sequiturs, and gap-toothed Kindle formatting be damned. This quirky and witty novel, like the main character Zoe herself, has that je-ne-sais-quoi one can fall head over heels for.
Zoe shares her meals with a marauding rat, her bed with a married man, her work with a menacing lynx, her head with a meandering mind, and her breast with a malignant growth, when she becomes a suspect in the murder of Agatha Christie�
No matter what you say in French, it always sounds like poetry. Marie-Jo Fortis has managed to do something similar with the English language, and the result is vividly engaging. An implausible murder, odd non-sequiturs, and gap-toothed Kindle formatting be damned. This quirky and witty novel, like the main character Zoe herself, has that je-ne-sais-quoi one can fall head over heels for.
March 31, 2016
How would I classify this book?
It involves a murder, but it’s not a murder mystery.
Cancer rears its ugly head also, but nor is it a book about the illness.
No, this book is about a wonderfully snarky, feisty redheaded young lady named Zoe.
And I think Zoe defies classification.
I don’t want to give too much of the plot away, but I do love Lord Barney (the lynx).
I really enjoyed reading this journey through chaos.
The tale is told very well, and with so much humour that even the bits which should be sad simply aren’t.
A wonderfully witty read that left me wanting to read more.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
It involves a murder, but it’s not a murder mystery.
Cancer rears its ugly head also, but nor is it a book about the illness.
No, this book is about a wonderfully snarky, feisty redheaded young lady named Zoe.
And I think Zoe defies classification.
I don’t want to give too much of the plot away, but I do love Lord Barney (the lynx).
I really enjoyed reading this journey through chaos.
The tale is told very well, and with so much humour that even the bits which should be sad simply aren’t.
A wonderfully witty read that left me wanting to read more.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
November 8, 2024
The first time I read From A to Zoe was when it first came out maybe 10 years ago This was the second novel by marie jose fortis that I enjoyed. Her characters are brilliant. They are so vivid and they are comical. Fortis’s style and tone are so amusing so comical that I did laugh aloud while reading. The mystery for Zoe and its resolution are crafted well. The setting is New York City with a few mentions of Western Pennsylvania. This is a delightful read, even though it deals with the intense experience of a breast tumor. Incidentally, the author has been dealing with this sort of trauma and crisis now for several years even though when she penned the novel, she was not sick. It is an uplifting read in spite of its heavy downers, yes I think our author would say c’est la vie.
November 24, 2015
Zoe Zimmerman has just arrived in New York, but the fresh start she has promised herself seems doomed. Her apartment is a wreck, and inhabited by a rat. The affair she promised she would end just won’t die. She has no money and no job. Then she discovers a lump in her breast.
From A to Zoe is a fast-moving story written with a pace and verve which at times left me breathless. It has a number of story threads vying for the reader’s attention. A host of colourful characters people Zoe’s world, many with pseudonyms which are at times amusing but more often an outlet for and an illustration of Zoe’s zany sense of humour.
Zoe’s relationship with her brother is intriguing; I thought the writer got the sibling annoyance, banter and rough-housing perfectly balanced against the moments of intuitive accord and sympathy which existed between the two. However Zeig’s decision to become a Buddhist Monk seemed, at best, rather out of character, a somewhat tortured means to bring brother and sister to a shared depilatory experience; I could see where the writer was going and it was touching, but, in its context, it stretched credibility for me.
Several larger-than-life characters, a rat, a lynx and a sexy taxi driver all give vibrancy to the story but the most powerfully engaging element is the character of Zoe herself. Narrated in the first person, the reader is treated to what amounts to a stream of consciousness account of Zoe’s thoughts and feelings. She is bright and charismatic (also, we gather, rather beautiful, with an enviable mane of red hair), with an acerbic wit and a sense of humour which occasionally transcends the dry into the abrasive. Zoe is flippant and cynical, no sufferer of fools, self-confident and opinionated, always ready with a jibe or a joke.
This determined stoicism stands Zoe in good stead for the tragic twist which lies at the heart of this otherwise light and bright account of an aspiring writer in New York. Unfortunately it also desensitises it to a certain degree. Finding a lump, visiting the doctor, the indignity and distress of the treatment is an experience that will engage the sympathy of many people, especially the women towards whom this self-proclaimed ‘chick-lit� book is mainly aimed. But Zoe’s tendency to make witty rejoinders and see the absurd side of every situation masks the really human, heart-rending thread of the story. The biopsy procedure, for example, is described as farcical, rather than frightening, and Zoe refers constantly to her ‘boob�. Boobs are comedic, the stuff of coarse sexist jest, adolescent sniggers and exaggerated cartoons. There is something much more helpless, exposed about the tender flesh of a breast and I really wished that, just once, she would refer it this way. Don’t misunderstand me - she cries, she is devastated, she is afraid - but these pulpy and vulnerable aspects of her character are over-shadowed by her tough veneer and likely to be terminated with some witty non-sequitur to lighten the mood.
The least convincing and enjoyable facet of the book was the ‘murder-mystery� thread. The reader doesn’t get to know the victim sufficiently to care about her sudden demise. The case against Zoe is flimsy and implausible, so the involvement of the police department and a big city lawyer didn’t convince. All in all I considered it an unnecessary frill on a plot already well flounced with character and interest.
From A to Zoe is a fast-moving story written with a pace and verve which at times left me breathless. It has a number of story threads vying for the reader’s attention. A host of colourful characters people Zoe’s world, many with pseudonyms which are at times amusing but more often an outlet for and an illustration of Zoe’s zany sense of humour.
Zoe’s relationship with her brother is intriguing; I thought the writer got the sibling annoyance, banter and rough-housing perfectly balanced against the moments of intuitive accord and sympathy which existed between the two. However Zeig’s decision to become a Buddhist Monk seemed, at best, rather out of character, a somewhat tortured means to bring brother and sister to a shared depilatory experience; I could see where the writer was going and it was touching, but, in its context, it stretched credibility for me.
Several larger-than-life characters, a rat, a lynx and a sexy taxi driver all give vibrancy to the story but the most powerfully engaging element is the character of Zoe herself. Narrated in the first person, the reader is treated to what amounts to a stream of consciousness account of Zoe’s thoughts and feelings. She is bright and charismatic (also, we gather, rather beautiful, with an enviable mane of red hair), with an acerbic wit and a sense of humour which occasionally transcends the dry into the abrasive. Zoe is flippant and cynical, no sufferer of fools, self-confident and opinionated, always ready with a jibe or a joke.
This determined stoicism stands Zoe in good stead for the tragic twist which lies at the heart of this otherwise light and bright account of an aspiring writer in New York. Unfortunately it also desensitises it to a certain degree. Finding a lump, visiting the doctor, the indignity and distress of the treatment is an experience that will engage the sympathy of many people, especially the women towards whom this self-proclaimed ‘chick-lit� book is mainly aimed. But Zoe’s tendency to make witty rejoinders and see the absurd side of every situation masks the really human, heart-rending thread of the story. The biopsy procedure, for example, is described as farcical, rather than frightening, and Zoe refers constantly to her ‘boob�. Boobs are comedic, the stuff of coarse sexist jest, adolescent sniggers and exaggerated cartoons. There is something much more helpless, exposed about the tender flesh of a breast and I really wished that, just once, she would refer it this way. Don’t misunderstand me - she cries, she is devastated, she is afraid - but these pulpy and vulnerable aspects of her character are over-shadowed by her tough veneer and likely to be terminated with some witty non-sequitur to lighten the mood.
The least convincing and enjoyable facet of the book was the ‘murder-mystery� thread. The reader doesn’t get to know the victim sufficiently to care about her sudden demise. The case against Zoe is flimsy and implausible, so the involvement of the police department and a big city lawyer didn’t convince. All in all I considered it an unnecessary frill on a plot already well flounced with character and interest.
December 25, 2015
I read this book as part of a group reviewing "epic" novels; I didn't know exactly why anyone thought it fit into the category - it doesn't. It's advertised as a "chick-lit mystery," but that's also misleading. The mystery - a murder in which our heroine is a suspect - isn't introduced until halfway through the novel, and the book would have been better without it. The book is also pitched as a comedy in the genre of David Sedaris, but it's also not that - it isn't a funny book and I didn't laugh a single time or come across any elements that were really comedic enough to push this even remotely into Sedaris territory.
The book is really I think a plucky drama about a young woman coming to New York with dreams of becoming a novelist, who lands a publishing job, a love triangle and a breast cancer diagnosis, all in short order. As a spunky diary of events that range from encouraging to dreadful, as well as a journal of a young woman's daily life in New York, the book is pretty good. While I don't have any inside information, these events seem to be autobiographical. The mystery story is tacked on, as though someone told her she needed it, and selling this as a mystery novel just doesn't work. I'm all in favor of mixing a mystery story with these kinds of human elements - all the best mystery stories do that - but the mystery just cannot be introduced halfway through the book. This is so basic a rule of mystery writing I don't know how this mistake could have been made.
There is a lot here that doesn't work at all, in fact - Zoe lives in a apartment that has a rat, which she adopts as a pet. (New York rats are beyond disgusting.) The mystery is not only late in coming, but it is particularly thin and weak. The basis for suspecting Zoe as the murderer is so flimsy it's ridiculous to imagine anyone would take it seriously - no means or motive, but she has a rat for a pet and has been diagnosed with breast cancer, which has caused eccentric behavior - that's it: she's upset about having breast cancer so maybe she killed someone. If every eccentric in New York were a murder suspect, we'd have a lot of murder suspects! And while much of the New York ambience is nice, some of it verges on cliche, and there is too much of it. The author also works too closely with a thesaurus - "say" is a perfectly good word to use. This is the second indie novel in a row that I've read to use "ejaculate" repeatedly instead of "say" or "said".
So this is really two novels - a cheeky modern urban New York story, which works nicely, and a mystery novel, which is poor, a one or two star book at best. So average the two together for a four star rating.
The book is really I think a plucky drama about a young woman coming to New York with dreams of becoming a novelist, who lands a publishing job, a love triangle and a breast cancer diagnosis, all in short order. As a spunky diary of events that range from encouraging to dreadful, as well as a journal of a young woman's daily life in New York, the book is pretty good. While I don't have any inside information, these events seem to be autobiographical. The mystery story is tacked on, as though someone told her she needed it, and selling this as a mystery novel just doesn't work. I'm all in favor of mixing a mystery story with these kinds of human elements - all the best mystery stories do that - but the mystery just cannot be introduced halfway through the book. This is so basic a rule of mystery writing I don't know how this mistake could have been made.
There is a lot here that doesn't work at all, in fact - Zoe lives in a apartment that has a rat, which she adopts as a pet. (New York rats are beyond disgusting.) The mystery is not only late in coming, but it is particularly thin and weak. The basis for suspecting Zoe as the murderer is so flimsy it's ridiculous to imagine anyone would take it seriously - no means or motive, but she has a rat for a pet and has been diagnosed with breast cancer, which has caused eccentric behavior - that's it: she's upset about having breast cancer so maybe she killed someone. If every eccentric in New York were a murder suspect, we'd have a lot of murder suspects! And while much of the New York ambience is nice, some of it verges on cliche, and there is too much of it. The author also works too closely with a thesaurus - "say" is a perfectly good word to use. This is the second indie novel in a row that I've read to use "ejaculate" repeatedly instead of "say" or "said".
So this is really two novels - a cheeky modern urban New York story, which works nicely, and a mystery novel, which is poor, a one or two star book at best. So average the two together for a four star rating.
March 25, 2016
From A to Zoe was an interesting read. Zoe is an aspiring novelist new to the Big Apple. Life has been unkind to Zoe in New York so far. She has the crummy apartment, lack of success, and rat problems common to New York tropes. Although Zoe turns lemons into lemonade by befriending the rat, Zieg II.
Zoe is a determined, cynical, and somewhat sarcastic character. She goes through a host or travails in her story. She faces each of her battles with a sharp tongue and quick wit. The end of an affair, a life-threatening illness, new romance, suspicion of murder, "kid"-napping, and unemployment all await Zoe in this fast paced book. Zoe doesn't show too many emotions other than sarcasm and deflection.
I would have liked to get to know Zoe a bit better underneath her tough facade. The secondary characters, and yes that includes Zieg II, were interesting and helped guide Zoe through her woes. Her brother, Ziegfried, was just as a brother should be –somebody to argue with and somebody who is there when you need them most.
Fortis' uses her character well and passes light judgment on relevant political and social issues. Her use of pop culture is extensive and adds an interesting dimension to Zoe. Although Zoe's internal dialogue is the main crutch of the book it is also a tad overwhelming at times. At one point I had to turn back a page to remember who Zoe was answering after a lengthy internal monologue.
The murder mystery element comes in towards the middle of the book and had a lot of promise. However, we are never truly introduced to the victim and it is a shame because that connection would have made the storyline stronger. Although it is pretty clear who the culprit is, Fortis did a nice job of using the media portrayals to flesh more out of the storyline. It was comical to read the portrayals of the crime as opposed to what was actually happening. Clever!
All in all, From A to Zoe was a good read. It is a quick read with levity. Despite the serious nature of the tribulations, Zoe faces the book never takes a serious turn.
Zoe is a determined, cynical, and somewhat sarcastic character. She goes through a host or travails in her story. She faces each of her battles with a sharp tongue and quick wit. The end of an affair, a life-threatening illness, new romance, suspicion of murder, "kid"-napping, and unemployment all await Zoe in this fast paced book. Zoe doesn't show too many emotions other than sarcasm and deflection.
I would have liked to get to know Zoe a bit better underneath her tough facade. The secondary characters, and yes that includes Zieg II, were interesting and helped guide Zoe through her woes. Her brother, Ziegfried, was just as a brother should be –somebody to argue with and somebody who is there when you need them most.
Fortis' uses her character well and passes light judgment on relevant political and social issues. Her use of pop culture is extensive and adds an interesting dimension to Zoe. Although Zoe's internal dialogue is the main crutch of the book it is also a tad overwhelming at times. At one point I had to turn back a page to remember who Zoe was answering after a lengthy internal monologue.
The murder mystery element comes in towards the middle of the book and had a lot of promise. However, we are never truly introduced to the victim and it is a shame because that connection would have made the storyline stronger. Although it is pretty clear who the culprit is, Fortis did a nice job of using the media portrayals to flesh more out of the storyline. It was comical to read the portrayals of the crime as opposed to what was actually happening. Clever!
All in all, From A to Zoe was a good read. It is a quick read with levity. Despite the serious nature of the tribulations, Zoe faces the book never takes a serious turn.
March 25, 2016
The writing here has real voice, though a little too in-your-face for my liking. Zoe's relentless sarcasm and superiority make her a somewhat unsympathetic character. But she definitely IS a character—a testament to the skillful writing.
Zieggy II is great, and other zany characters fill out the story well.
I feel that the cancer plot gets lost a little in the mystery. Zoe seems to overreact to the inflated horrors of the initial biopsy and the prospect of losing her hair and then seems to underreact to the prospect of long, miserable, sickness-inducing treatments and possible death. I suppose this is just her character, but it runs the risk of trivializing the bigger struggles of cancer victims.
As for the mystery, it resolves too easily, as a result of deus ex machine
I also feel sorry for the lover at the beginning. Yes, he is in a marriage (of convenience) with a sick child he won't leave, and the whole situation is not ideal—and I don't support adultery—but Zoe drops him quite cruely because he dares discover her cancer, use his connections to get her good treatment (including paying for it), and then love her gently. How dare he? But again, the fact that I'm passionate about the issue and arguing about the actions of the main character—whose personality rebels against being "kept"—means that the characters feel real and the book made an impression—something not all books do.
The pacing is good overall, and the story has some original bits. The writing is mostly free of errors and quite colorful and creative, with clever metaphors, descriptions, and sassy turns of phrase.
WARNING: significant profanity and sexual situations.
*I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
Zieggy II is great, and other zany characters fill out the story well.
I feel that the cancer plot gets lost a little in the mystery. Zoe seems to overreact to the inflated horrors of the initial biopsy and the prospect of losing her hair and then seems to underreact to the prospect of long, miserable, sickness-inducing treatments and possible death. I suppose this is just her character, but it runs the risk of trivializing the bigger struggles of cancer victims.
As for the mystery, it resolves too easily, as a result of deus ex machine
I also feel sorry for the lover at the beginning. Yes, he is in a marriage (of convenience) with a sick child he won't leave, and the whole situation is not ideal—and I don't support adultery—but Zoe drops him quite cruely because he dares discover her cancer, use his connections to get her good treatment (including paying for it), and then love her gently. How dare he? But again, the fact that I'm passionate about the issue and arguing about the actions of the main character—whose personality rebels against being "kept"—means that the characters feel real and the book made an impression—something not all books do.
The pacing is good overall, and the story has some original bits. The writing is mostly free of errors and quite colorful and creative, with clever metaphors, descriptions, and sassy turns of phrase.
WARNING: significant profanity and sexual situations.
*I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
December 28, 2016
From A to Zoey. It's Chick Lit as the author makes clear. It's pithy and funny. I like the cover; it is very eye catching and lures potential readers and invites them to read. The author has an interesting way of saying things; she'll say something typical in a non-typical way, and this makes the narrative more interesting. The story gets muddled. At one point I was not sure if this book was about a woman’s battle with cancer, her struggle to survive in NYC, or a murder mystery. In the end, I decided it is a murder mystery colored with the challenges faced by a single woman in NYC.
I did find the main character to be a bit overdramatic. Sometimes while reading, I thought, “geez get a grip.� This histrionic tone did admittedly add color to the story. Her “roommate� was a bit over the top and gave me the creeps, but I guess it takes all kinds to make the world go around. I wonder if the author is telling us that NYC is so tough that a woman alone in the city will make friends with whoever she can, even a rat.
I asked my wife to give it a read as well to make sure I wasn't being overly critical and she said the murder mystery part of the plot reminded her of the Nancy Drew mysteries she read when she was a little girl. There was not much mystery; you could guess who committed the crime from the start. However, I did like how the author included what was in the press concerning the murder. She did a wonderful job showing how the story we read can be very different from what happens.
I did find the main character to be a bit overdramatic. Sometimes while reading, I thought, “geez get a grip.� This histrionic tone did admittedly add color to the story. Her “roommate� was a bit over the top and gave me the creeps, but I guess it takes all kinds to make the world go around. I wonder if the author is telling us that NYC is so tough that a woman alone in the city will make friends with whoever she can, even a rat.
I asked my wife to give it a read as well to make sure I wasn't being overly critical and she said the murder mystery part of the plot reminded her of the Nancy Drew mysteries she read when she was a little girl. There was not much mystery; you could guess who committed the crime from the start. However, I did like how the author included what was in the press concerning the murder. She did a wonderful job showing how the story we read can be very different from what happens.
July 9, 2016
This sparkling novel combines elements of "chick lit" with more "serious" themes (although I would argue that the much-maligned genre of "chick lit" is chock full of serious themes), as our heroine, aspiring author Zoe, or Z Z, faces down relationship troubles, cancer, and being framed for murder. That's a lot to fit into such a brisk read, but Zoe bounces irrepressibly from adventure to adventure, and the pace rarely feels rushed.
The book contains a lot of the goofy humor you would expect from an Evanovich novel, say, or something by Sophie Kinsella--Zoe has adopted a rat who, it turns out, has escaped from a lab, and during one rather absurd scene has to protect him from his erstwhile owner, for example--but it is also metaliterary in a somewhat unexpected manner (shades of Carrie Bradshaw??), as Zoe writes, among other things, about her writing and her rejection slips. The prose style is, as I mentioned above, sparkling, with lines like "In lieu of the Big Apple, right now I would much prefer a more sizable one, a red delicious, if possible," but also has a more "literary" feel than you often find in similar books, with the aforementioned metaliterary moments ("I digress, sure, but digression is what a writer does for a living") and Zoe's vivid use of metaphor and simile. Readers who just want candy may not appreciate it, but readers who are looking for chick lit for smart chicks are likely to enjoy this book just as much as I did.
The book contains a lot of the goofy humor you would expect from an Evanovich novel, say, or something by Sophie Kinsella--Zoe has adopted a rat who, it turns out, has escaped from a lab, and during one rather absurd scene has to protect him from his erstwhile owner, for example--but it is also metaliterary in a somewhat unexpected manner (shades of Carrie Bradshaw??), as Zoe writes, among other things, about her writing and her rejection slips. The prose style is, as I mentioned above, sparkling, with lines like "In lieu of the Big Apple, right now I would much prefer a more sizable one, a red delicious, if possible," but also has a more "literary" feel than you often find in similar books, with the aforementioned metaliterary moments ("I digress, sure, but digression is what a writer does for a living") and Zoe's vivid use of metaphor and simile. Readers who just want candy may not appreciate it, but readers who are looking for chick lit for smart chicks are likely to enjoy this book just as much as I did.
March 11, 2016
Reading From A to Zoe is a ride in a fast car with a fiery red-haired protagonist who produces rapid fire repartee, humorous unabashed self deprecation, and justifiable digs with her quick-witted, obstinate personality. Zoe puts on her hard hat as everything but the kitchen sink falls on her unsuspecting head. She deals with breast cancer, the breakup of a long relationship, and becoming a murder suspect with her usual aplomb. Outwardly, Zoe stubbornly steels herself for the worst life can offer by arming herself with humor to win a battle that seems unwinnable. Inwardly, she hunkers down within the thick walls of the fortress she has built around her emotions to weep and wait out the storm. The colorful characters that surround her gather their resources to help her with the fight, proving that her gift for loving deeply, but not too well, and her inate sense of justice have garnered their love and respect. Anyone who has the ability to gain the affections of a Lynx and an apartment rat and use her intelligence and sharp tongue to keep them from harm has my allegiance. It all sounds like a lot to resolve in one book, but the quick pace set by the writing style will have you turning the page.
May 21, 2016
From A to Zoe
A Novel
By Marie-Jo Fortis
3 Stars
Let me start right off by saying that my favorite part of this book is the Cover. It intrigued me, when I first saw it, and I was looking forward to reading this story. Author Marie-Jo Fortis, has crafted a story about a young woman in search of fame and fortune, who instead ends up wandering through life bouncing from letter to letter in my view. As I said, the cover was my favorite part of the book, as I went back to it five times, while reading the story.
The book its self is very well written, but the story simply was not for me. As this book was one assigned to me, as part of a review group, and knowing that there are readers who enjoy this type of story I opted for the neutral three star rating.
I received a copy of the book for the purpose of doing a non-reciprocal review as part of a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Review Group.
A Novel
By Marie-Jo Fortis
3 Stars
Let me start right off by saying that my favorite part of this book is the Cover. It intrigued me, when I first saw it, and I was looking forward to reading this story. Author Marie-Jo Fortis, has crafted a story about a young woman in search of fame and fortune, who instead ends up wandering through life bouncing from letter to letter in my view. As I said, the cover was my favorite part of the book, as I went back to it five times, while reading the story.
The book its self is very well written, but the story simply was not for me. As this book was one assigned to me, as part of a review group, and knowing that there are readers who enjoy this type of story I opted for the neutral three star rating.
I received a copy of the book for the purpose of doing a non-reciprocal review as part of a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Review Group.
June 7, 2016
From A to Zoe was a lot of story wrapped into a series of maze-like thoughts. The way Zoe thinks of every day things is really quite entertaining. The writing was good. The story was a little confusing at times. There are so many different directions in which the story goes that it was hard to determine the actual plot. One thing in particular puzzled me and stuck with me. How did Agatha, I mean Terry, know Zoe's address to send her the picture? I don't know why that little detail derailed me, but it did none the less. Overall it was an enjoyable read.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, non-reciprocal review.
August 5, 2016
Marie-Jo Fortis has written an original, wry, and off-beat novel that drew me in and held my interest right the way through the book. The trials and tribulation that befall ZZ, Zoe, are unexpected and unusual. I don't think I've read another book with the same subject matter dealt with in such a manner. Anyone who fears cancer and the consequences of it should read this, even if only to be amused by the alternative approach adopted by Zoe to her predicament. I liked the style of storytelling, the dialogue and found the story believable and well structured. A well deserved 4 stars.
January 16, 2016
I loved this book. Powerful, seamless writing. There is a murder in there somewhere but it’s the female protagonist Zoe Zimmerman - her bittersweet thoughts, natural actions and courage-under-fire personality - the way she is written that is incredibly beautiful. The plot moves along in predictable circles, but it’s the glimpse into Z-Z’s life that makes this a worthwhile read.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair, unbiased and non-reciprocal review.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair, unbiased and non-reciprocal review.
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