This was my first read by Nat Cassidy and boy am I intrigued to see what this guy does in the future.
There’s no other way to put it: The story is Cassidy’s take on Judaism Vampires.
Now the story itself is excellent and the characters feel incredibly authentic and not paper thin bores. Ana and Reid with their one year old daughter Charlie win a penthouse Apt in Manhattan in a housing lotto.
After escaping a landlord who as Cassidy says in the foreword “a racist sexist piece of shit” believe me that is the TIP of how unbearable the character of Frank is. The apt at The Deptford at first seems too good to be true, but as the novel moves along the atmosphere and building itself as well as its tenants become more deranged.
At the core of this story though is a theme of Motherhood and Ana’s experiences/adjustments living in a wheelchair after a dance injury caused by a hemorrhage in her spine and the effects of childbirth worsened it.
The book follows her conceived thoughts and attitude about her daughter, her husband, depression, anger, her mother’s internalized gaslighting on what it means to be a mother to her own daughter.
On top of all of all this horrific other shit happening in the building.
The imagery in this book is not for the faint hearted and will lead to some being upset especially if they’re new mothers. Because the climax of the book will you leave some devasted but it also leaves with a feeling of hopefulness.
I really really enjoyed this book.