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Mary B. (St Paul, MN)
One's Company
One's Company is a very interesting book. The premise is certainly unusual, replication of the television show Three's Company, set and characters. The main character's obsession, in the present, of the 70's sitcom is over the top. As the first person narrative goes on we discover more about the main characters motivations and her traumatic past. Though I found the story sad and depressing, it was so well written I continued to find out how it ended. I'm glad I did.
WDH - KY
Different But Sad
I am glad I read this book. It was a very different view on the aftermath of tragedy along with the impact of winning the lottery. Opposites - the first brought pain, fear, anger and sadness into her life while the second afforded an opportunity to completely escape into a world that she created and controlled. That world was isolated and lonely which was a different kind of pain. Would recommend.
Jennie R. (Highland, CA)
Like nothing I've read before…
One's Company is certainly a unique story. Bonnie's story stirred up so much compassion in me. After an unhappy childhood, Bonnie experiences a traumatic incident as a young adult. The tv show 'Three's Company' is a comforting saving grace as she recovers from the trauma, but Bonnie becomes obsessed with the show and the characters. Fast forward a couple of years…Bonnie hit a huge jackpot winning the lottery. With the money, she decides to have a Three's Company city built, just for her. She plans to live there and experience life as each character, one by one. The detail she puts into planning are impressive, but as the project progresses, Bonnie becomes less and less in touch with reality. I won't spoil the whole story for you, but some of the events that take place will leave you wondering how much is real and how much is a product of Bonnie's increasingly fragile mental state.
Laura S. (Medford, OR)
The Depths of Loss
One's Company is a wild ride into the aftermath of loss and trauma. Exploring just how far personal madness can go when one both isolates and receives no care/therapy after devastating traumas. At first it felt depressing, and then I couldn't put it down.
Jessica F. (Revere, MA)
Bizarre...In A Good Way
Wow! This was like nothing I have ever read. A completely bizarre story that kept me turning the pages just to see how it would end. I enjoyed the nostalgic feeling of the "Three's Company" vibe. In fact, I watched the show a few times while I was reading the book.
I think readers who enjoy psychology would be interested in this read. There is a lot to unpack here!
I don't think the book is "meaty" enough for a strong book club discussion, but it will definitely satisfy anyone who is a fan of "Three's Company".
Overall, I did enjoy the book - mostly because it was so bizarre!
Joanne J. (Franklin, MA)
Somewhere in Time Meets Ottessa Moshfegh
One's Company, Ashley Hutson's debut novel reminded me of the romantic movie Somewhere in Time and Ottessa Moshfegh's novel Eileen albeit for disparate reasons. True, One's Company is not a romance, but Hutson's careful adherence to detail in creating her world resembles the verisimilitude -- in fashion and speech--sought by Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve) in order to successfully travel through time. Hutson's delineation of the characters and settings in One's Company resembles Moshfegh's depiction of the main characters in Eileen, but Hutson's complex characterizations are strictly her own, physically and emotionally built upon background and incidents in the narrative.
Readers who appreciate dark humor, dense narrative, and farcical situations will love this novel.
Melissa U. (Jackson, NJ)
One's Company
Entertaining and quirky!
Sarah M. (Lancaster, PA)
Not What I Expected
Based on the description of this book, I didn't think I would like this novel; however, I am glad I read it. It is an imaginative and well-written story, and it was a page-turner for me. The main character, Bonnie, immerses herself in a fantasy world as a way to cope with trauma and loss in her life. The author spares no detail in her descriptions of this imaginary world. Although the concept is far-fetched, the story leaves the reader with many issues to ponder: mental illness, withdrawal from society, relationships, and loss. This was not a light read, and I'm not sure it would be popular with book clubs, but if you like a dark topic, this may be the book for you.