Review: The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian

Richard Chapman has agreed to host his brother's bachelor party.  He's ready for the typical bachelor party activities, even after hearing dancers have been hired for the event.  His wife, Kristen, and nine-year-old daughter spend the night in Manhattan, a girls night of sorts.

Then everything goes wrong.  The entertainment goes beyond dancing,  participants taking part in explicit sexual activity with the dancers. Richard comes close to breaking his marriage vows, but is able to resist temptation during an intimate situation in the guest room of his home. It only escalates from here; the dancers stab and kill their bodyguards, taking off into the night.

As if the shock of the incident isn't enough, Richard and Kristen's life goes spiraling out of control. Forced out of their home, now a crime scene, they are forced to deal with the after affects of what should have been a relatively harmless night.  Richard, an investment banker, is put on indefinite leave.  Despite being open with what transpired, his relationship with Kristen is on egg shells.  Unable to get over what nearly happened in the guest room, Kristen questions whether she can forgive Richard for what almost took place.

Meanwhile, Alexandra, one of the dancers,  is free for the first time in several years. A victim of the sex slave trade, she knows her "owners" are looking for her.  She just wants a chance at a free life,  both terrified and thrilled at her new-found freedom.

 

I honestly had no idea what to expect when I began this title. I’ve been a fan of Bohjalian’s writing for some time now and I always begin reading his latest novel with a completely open mind, ignoring any early reviews or opinions of said book.  When I started reading, I had no inclination or warning to the intensity of this read.

The novel alternates between the viewpoints of Richard and Alexandra. We follow as each of their lives unfold, both spiraling out of control.  Alexandra, abducted and sold into the sex slave trade as an early teen after her parents’ deaths. is a victim of a brutal slave trade.  I felt myself unable to feel anger for the acts she was involved in. A smart and beautiful young woman, she was forced into a horrific life.   Richard, too, lived a happy life before he lost all control.   The guilt and remorse experienced by each is so strong and pervasive that it’s almost tactile; Bohjalian has created characters so genuine and believable that readers can’t help but sympathize with their individual fates.

This book read like nothing like anything I’ve read recently. Don’t be surprised if you read it in one sitting. It is that intense.

Bottom line: This is an intense and highly emotional read. Given the subject matter, there are some pretty graphic scenes.  Note that these aren’t done to shock or disgust, but to add dimension and depth to the characters lives. Highly, highly recommended.