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The Double Bind
The Double Bind
Author: Chris Bohjalian
When college sophomore Laurel Estabrook is attacked while riding her bicycle through Vermont’s back roads, her life is forever changed. Formerly outgoing, Laurel withdraws into her photography and begins to work at a homeless shelter. There she meets Bobbie Crocker, a man with a history of mental illness and a box of photographs that he wo...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9781400031665
ISBN-10: 1400031664
Publication Date: 2/12/2008
Pages: 448
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 293

3.6 stars, based on 293 ratings
Publisher: Vintage
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

mnphotos1951 avatar reviewed The Double Bind on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 18
I had read many good reviews of this book, I was hopeing that I would not be disappointed. I was not - this is an excellent, excellent book. The author is a masterful storyteller, keeping you engrossed the entire time, giving away only a little information at a time, not revealing too much ahead of time. I don't want to say too much, it would give away too much of the story, all I can say is that you must read this book!
reviewed The Double Bind on + 275 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 12
This is a chilling tale, very well written, with a surprise at the end. it's a lot more intense than Bohjalian's other works and maybe shows his progression as an author. I recommend this book.
quiltgranny avatar reviewed The Double Bind on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
What a great novel! I can't say enough about how this book catches you up in the story line so you forget everything you ever knew about The Great Gatsby. I highly suggest you review the Great Gatsby before reading this book by Bohjalian, but it's not really necessary. And the twists and turns you'll follow makes you think you have experienced a double bind, too. Not to be missed if you are looking for great word crafting, mind bending, and/or light mystery.
reviewed The Double Bind on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
This was an insanely awesome book! I COULD NOT put it down until it was completely finished. And even then, I went back through to reread a few parts. I can't even put it into words how good this was - all I can say is "YOU'VE GOTTA READ IT!".
reviewed The Double Bind on + 186 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
A perplexing, astonishing book. Bohajlian takes some chances and doesn't disappoint.
Read All 56 Book Reviews of "The Double Bind"

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reviewed The Double Bind on + 57 more book reviews
I highly recommend this book. Chris Bohjalian is an outstanding storytellar, one of the best authors in circulation. His attention to detail, character development, unique and surprising plot lines, and more make his stories top notch. This story was captivating from beginning to end, and the ending was absolutely not at ALL what I was expecting. His stories are dark, and usually cringe-worthy, but not depressing. I have read several, and am a big fan.
noisynora avatar reviewed The Double Bind on + 130 more book reviews
Meh . . . really enjoyed the Buffalo Soldier, but this one kind of lost me. Yes, there was a twist at the end, but I kept asking myself in the middle of this book "is this really worth finishing?" Passed my "50 page test" in the beginning, but not by much. I don't know . . . I guess I would give one more of his books a try, but wouldn't necessarily recommend this one. No doubt he's a talented writer, but there were some story lines that just didn't come together for me.
overpricedshirt avatar reviewed The Double Bind on + 18 more book reviews
I really enjoyed the characters of The Great Gatsby being turned into real, live people in this book. I actually found myself questioning whether Fitzgerald's classic novel was based on a true story! Of course, I had to re-read Gatsby after so many years the second I was through with Double Bind. You'll probably want to do the same, so make sure you've got a copy on hand while in possession of this book.

On the negative side... I hate when I'm told ahead of time that a book or movie "has a twist at the end". My mind automatically goes into sleuth-mode and any "surprise" is figured out midway through. Which stinks, because I think the book would have been awesome otherwise. So, I'm sorry for throwing that out there along with a few other reviewers on this page, but the point is to let others know to STOP DOING THAT FROM NOW ON! Yes, M. Night Shaymalan, I'm talking to you.
reviewed The Double Bind on
The book was interesting, but the ending was seemingly abrupt.
reviewed The Double Bind on
Don't be fooled by the mild descriptions of violence in the beginning. Even though it is fairly well written, it gets darker and darker and creepier. I have a teenage daughter and I wish I hadn't read it!
Farmerswife avatar reviewed The Double Bind on + 52 more book reviews
I loved this book!! It's a psychological mystery that kept me guessing until the end. I could not put it down.


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