I’ve reached the point where I need to compile a list of other books that are similar to the one I’ll be flogging to the lit agents and interns at publishing orgs. That’s going to be a bit difficult to define so I’d like to throw out some loose descriptions in hopes that some of you folks can tell me any published books these descriptions remind you of…
• Narrator is main character and is going into an institutional setting or a retreat community or other isolated environment. Pushed in by people saying how good it will be for narrator to be there. The people in that joint are gonna fix you right up and do marvelous things for you. Narrator hopes so.
• The place seems creepy, not Stephen King supernatural creepy but classic gothic novel creepy. Mary Roberts Rinehart creepy. Alfred Hitchcock maybe. But everyone’s so warm and welcoming at least on the surface. And Narrator has some self-doubts.
• As events unfold, we have reason to wonder if Narrator is an unreliable source and perceiving things in a distorted way. Suspicious, paranoid, distrusting. When the place is so obviously concerned with the well-being of all the clients / residents / participants. On the other hand maybe there really is something sinister afoot here.
Other themes present in this book that could add to overlappitude with other books:
The Narrator is concerned about retaining the right to decide and choose. It’s seen as paranoid suspicion.
There are Documents being prepared (legal or equivalent) and Narrator wants to see them. But he isn’t an expert in that field and it isn’t considered appropriate for a layperson to look at that stuff.
Narrator starts off disliked by the other clients/ residents / participants but gradually makes friends. Turns out some of the others have misgivings about this place.