Status
Available
Call number
Publication
New York : Ballantine Books, c2009.
Description
The circumstances of Molly Marx's death may be suspicious, but she hasn't lost her joie de vivre. Newly arrived in the hereafter, aka the Duration, Molly, thirty-five years old, is delighted to discover that she can still keep tabs on those she left behind: Annabel, her beloved four-year-old daughter; Lucy, her combustible twin sister; Kitty, her piece-of-work mother-in-law; Brie, her beautiful and steadfast best friend; and, of course, her husband, Barry, a plastic surgeon with more than a professional interest in many of his female patients. As a bonus, Molly quickly realizes that the afterlife comes with a finely tuned bullshit detector.As Molly looks on, her loved ones try to discern whether her death was an accident, suicide, or murder. She was last seen alive leaving for a bike ride through New York City's Riverside Park; her body was found lying on the bank of the Hudson River. Did a stranger lure Molly to danger? Did she plan to meet someone she thought she could trust? Could she have ended her own life for mysterious reasons, or did she simply lose control of her bike? As the police question her circle of intimates, Molly relives the years and days that led up to her sudden end: her marriage, troubled yet tender; her charmed work life as a magazine decorating editor; and the irresistible colleague to whom she was drawn.More than anything, Molly finds herself watching over Annabel - and realizing how motherhood helped to bring out her very best self. As the investigation into her death proceeds, Molly will relive her most precious moments - and take responsibility for the choices in her life.Exploring the bonds of fidelity, family, and friendship, and narrated by a memorable and endearing character, The Late, Lamented Molly Marx is a hilarious, deeply moving, and thought-provoking novel that is part mystery, part love story, and all heart.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member velocibadgergirl
Molly Marx is 35 years old, mother to beloved Annabel, wife to suspected philanderer Dr. Barry Marx. She's mostly happy, but by the time the novel starts, she's already dead, killed in a biking accident that might've been murder, might've been suicide, or might've been plain old bad luck.
The novel
As the mystery of her death is investigated and her family and best friend Brie struggle to come to terms with her loss, Molly revisits her own life and takes an honest look at her strengths and failings. Molly is no saint, she has made mistakes, but ultimately she was a good person and is an extremely likable and relatable protagonist. She only rarely feels sorry for herself, is often clever, and at times is laugh-out-loud funny. Not bad for a dead woman.
Every character in the book, from Molly's parents to the detective investigating her case to her daughter's nanny, is well-rounded and well-written. The pacing is fantastic, and the book is quite a page-turner. Until the last few chapters, I was desperate to find out the truth about Molly's death, but by the end it almost didn't matter. Her death had never been the point of the story, as even Molly herself realized. I won't give away the ending, but it made me a little teary, and wrapped the story up in the most satisfying way I could imagine. I loved this book, and heartily recommend it.
The novel
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interweaves scenes from Molly's past with scenes of her watching the family and best friend she left behind. Molly's ghostly powers and her visit to the afterlife -- known as the Duration -- are never overstated or presented in a cheesy way, and she is not able to haunt or interact with the living.As the mystery of her death is investigated and her family and best friend Brie struggle to come to terms with her loss, Molly revisits her own life and takes an honest look at her strengths and failings. Molly is no saint, she has made mistakes, but ultimately she was a good person and is an extremely likable and relatable protagonist. She only rarely feels sorry for herself, is often clever, and at times is laugh-out-loud funny. Not bad for a dead woman.
Every character in the book, from Molly's parents to the detective investigating her case to her daughter's nanny, is well-rounded and well-written. The pacing is fantastic, and the book is quite a page-turner. Until the last few chapters, I was desperate to find out the truth about Molly's death, but by the end it almost didn't matter. Her death had never been the point of the story, as even Molly herself realized. I won't give away the ending, but it made me a little teary, and wrapped the story up in the most satisfying way I could imagine. I loved this book, and heartily recommend it.
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LibraryThing member GoudaReads
Molly Devine Marx is dead (I'm not giving anything away; it's right there in the title) but not exactly gone. She's stuck in between life and the afterlife, watching over her innocent daughter, philandering husband, overly-involved mother-in-law, quirky sister, loving parents, possible lover, and
The book alternates between Molly's current observations from 'above' and flashbacks from earlier moments in Molly's life on earth. The mystery surrounding Molly's death serves as the story arc, but the real fun in this book comes from the characters. All of the friends and loved ones in Molly's life are fully formed and well developed. We get a good idea of who they are as people with all their assets and flaws, and also how they fit together and relate to each other to create Molly's social life, support system, and foundation. The added element of who-done-it adds spice to the story as we try to figure out which person (if any) could be capable of murder.
Overall, this was an entertaining, quick read. The ending was a bit too neat, but at the same time, I am happy to have learned how everyone and everything turned out in the end. A fun book that I'll be passing along.
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best friend as they come to terms with her untimely death and try to determine how she died. Was it murder, suicide, or simply an unfortunate accident? The book alternates between Molly's current observations from 'above' and flashbacks from earlier moments in Molly's life on earth. The mystery surrounding Molly's death serves as the story arc, but the real fun in this book comes from the characters. All of the friends and loved ones in Molly's life are fully formed and well developed. We get a good idea of who they are as people with all their assets and flaws, and also how they fit together and relate to each other to create Molly's social life, support system, and foundation. The added element of who-done-it adds spice to the story as we try to figure out which person (if any) could be capable of murder.
Overall, this was an entertaining, quick read. The ending was a bit too neat, but at the same time, I am happy to have learned how everyone and everything turned out in the end. A fun book that I'll be passing along.
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LibraryThing member bookwormygirl
Molly Divine Marx is dead!
But that's just the beginning of this book. Molly is in her "Duration". Duration= being able to see your friends, family, etc. and hear their thoughts, yet not be able to do anything to contribute to what they're thinking, feeling, etc. (a little reminiscent of The Lovely
The story starts at Molly's funeral and shows us how her husband, daughter, parents, sister and friends are all affected and are coping with her untimely death. Oh yea, and of course, the investigator who is handling her case and is trying to decipher whether her death was an accident, suicide or murder.
Through flashbacks we are able to read about Molly's relationships with her husband (who is quite the cheater and a very despicable character) and then there's Luke (the man that Molly was in love with). We are able to relive some of the best moments as well as some of the mistakes she made in her life.
I absolutely - hands down - adored this book. I thought Molly was such a lovely narrator. She was just so funny, likeable and so full of life - that it was sad to think that she was dead from the start of her story. Ms. Koslow's characters are well-developed and singularly distinct with little quirks and flaws that make them real. This is one of those rare books that draws you in and you feel as if you are experiencing it rather than just reading it.
Was Molly in such a slump in life that she couldn't find any other way out of her situation other than to kill herself? Or was she murdered? You'll have to read this gem of a book to find out - but I will warn you, this book isn't so much about solving a mystery as it is about relationships. I enjoyed this very much and I highly recommend it.
This book is scheduled for release on 5/19/09 - so mark your calendars as you will not be disappointed.
But that's just the beginning of this book. Molly is in her "Duration". Duration= being able to see your friends, family, etc. and hear their thoughts, yet not be able to do anything to contribute to what they're thinking, feeling, etc. (a little reminiscent of The Lovely
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Bones). With her guide "Bob" she is able to navigate through this new state of being and is able to flit from one person to another as they try to solve the mystery of her death.The story starts at Molly's funeral and shows us how her husband, daughter, parents, sister and friends are all affected and are coping with her untimely death. Oh yea, and of course, the investigator who is handling her case and is trying to decipher whether her death was an accident, suicide or murder.
Through flashbacks we are able to read about Molly's relationships with her husband (who is quite the cheater and a very despicable character) and then there's Luke (the man that Molly was in love with). We are able to relive some of the best moments as well as some of the mistakes she made in her life.
I absolutely - hands down - adored this book. I thought Molly was such a lovely narrator. She was just so funny, likeable and so full of life - that it was sad to think that she was dead from the start of her story. Ms. Koslow's characters are well-developed and singularly distinct with little quirks and flaws that make them real. This is one of those rare books that draws you in and you feel as if you are experiencing it rather than just reading it.
Was Molly in such a slump in life that she couldn't find any other way out of her situation other than to kill herself? Or was she murdered? You'll have to read this gem of a book to find out - but I will warn you, this book isn't so much about solving a mystery as it is about relationships. I enjoyed this very much and I highly recommend it.
This book is scheduled for release on 5/19/09 - so mark your calendars as you will not be disappointed.
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LibraryThing member ruststar
I couldn't get past the funeral for Molly Marx. After hearing every stinking detail of what each character was wearing, I just didn't care that she was dead, or why. The blurb for the book didn't make it seem like chick-lit, but it toally was, of the worst "everyboy else has done this" vein. The
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unique (sort of) premise was enough to make me interested in the book, but the characters nad tone of the book kept me from reading past the first couple of chapters. Show Less
LibraryThing member am64547
After dying under suspicious circumstances, thirty five year old Molly Marx finds herself in the Duration, an afterlife way station. While here, Molly discovers that she is able to keep track of those she left behind. As her friends and family attempt to unravel the mystery of her death, Molly also
A well written story, it is a little slow at the beginning but as the story continues, the characters and their relationships become much more developed and make the story more entrancing. The story intermingles the circumstances leading up to her death with the current life events of her friends and family and also provides a touching ending after the mystery has been solved.
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relives her past and the events leading up to her death. A well written story, it is a little slow at the beginning but as the story continues, the characters and their relationships become much more developed and make the story more entrancing. The story intermingles the circumstances leading up to her death with the current life events of her friends and family and also provides a touching ending after the mystery has been solved.
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LibraryThing member DianaCoats
Wonderful premise...it surprises me that not more others have done it after the success of "The Lovely Bones". I think the character development is what really holds the book together because it is not really a "who done it" but really more of a "who keep doing what to whom when you are no longer
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around to see" (supposedly) I enjoyed the read and will pass it among my large group of friends who read at work. This, in itself, is a stamp of approval to both storyline and writing style. Definitely, a thumbs up. I would read an effort from this writer again. Thanks again to LibraryThing and all the publishers participating in this program. As soon as I finish I start talking to my reader friends about the "new find"...I hope it helps. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookgirljen
I'd classify this novel as mommy lit with a dash of mystery and a generous helping of fantasy - a mix that works surprisingly well.
Molly Marx was a New York city mommy, with a doctor husband, a beautiful daughter, a career in magazines, and a comfortable apartment. However, an early death has left
I didn't think I would enjoy a novel like this - I'm not usually a fan of fantasy-type situations, and on the surface, the premise of a deceased woman telling her story seemed rather silly. But I enjoyed this book - the way the author handled the afterlife was very matter-of-fact, and not overdone at all. The mystery of how Molly died kept the plot moving forward at a fast pace. And the other characters were well developed, leading to a well-rounded story that was a pleasure to read.
Perhaps the ending came together a bit too tidily, and a little too sweetly. And the novel could probably have been a little shorter - it seemed to drag in some places. But overall, a good read that is definitely worth your time.
Molly Marx was a New York city mommy, with a doctor husband, a beautiful daughter, a career in magazines, and a comfortable apartment. However, an early death has left
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Molly in the Duration, where she looks down upon her friends and family, watching them deal with her death and hearing their thoughts as well as their words. Molly's views into her friends and family members lives are interspersed with Molly's own flashbacks on past events, telling the story of Molly, her marriage, and her relationships with her sister, her daughter, her best friend, and another special someone. It was interesting to see how all these different threads came together to converge on the circumstances regarding her death, of which we are not entirely privy to until the end of the novel.I didn't think I would enjoy a novel like this - I'm not usually a fan of fantasy-type situations, and on the surface, the premise of a deceased woman telling her story seemed rather silly. But I enjoyed this book - the way the author handled the afterlife was very matter-of-fact, and not overdone at all. The mystery of how Molly died kept the plot moving forward at a fast pace. And the other characters were well developed, leading to a well-rounded story that was a pleasure to read.
Perhaps the ending came together a bit too tidily, and a little too sweetly. And the novel could probably have been a little shorter - it seemed to drag in some places. But overall, a good read that is definitely worth your time.
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LibraryThing member hjjugovic
I read this book through the Early Reviewer program. The characters are just great, but the plot drags and I couldn't believe how long it took me to get through this relatively short book. I felt that the theme here is essentially identical to that in Lovely Bones, but that book did it better. This
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is not a bad read, but it's not great either. I would recommend Lovely Bones as an alternate read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kace
To begin, I really had my doubts about how much I could enjoy reading a book that followed a woman, Molly, from the moment of death. It's a bit depressing, to always realize you know the end, especially when you fall in love with that character, which is exactly what happened. I loved the character
Molly is a flawed and beautiful character, I found myself hoping that the beginning of the book began in dream sequence so that Molly could wake up and correct all that she did lament.
All in all a surprising and great read.
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of Molly, and though it was sad to realize I knew the tragic end of Molly from the get go, I simply could not stop reading the book. I can't recall ever reading a book where the back drop is some form of the ever after and the characters view more behind the scenes.Molly is a flawed and beautiful character, I found myself hoping that the beginning of the book began in dream sequence so that Molly could wake up and correct all that she did lament.
All in all a surprising and great read.
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LibraryThing member biblioholic29
On a rainy, February night, Molly Marx went for a bike ride along the Hudson river and there she died. Was it an accident? Suicide? Murder? It's the question her family, friends and Detective Hicks are asking themselves. In fact, it's the question Molly is asking herself.
She doesn't remember much
There have been other books written from the Afterlife, of course, but this one is unique for several reasons. The author, Sally Koslow, gives Molly new "powers" in the Duration. She is able to hear the thoughts of the living and she can blink from New York to Chicago in an instant. It's a clever device which allows us to know the thoughts of the other characters, while remaining a 1st person narrative. We're also given "flashbacks" to Molly's life, but unlike some other books, these aren't prompted by anything other than Molly herself. While Molly does have a guide to the afterlife, he's more like a mentor who helps her acclimate to her new surroundings.
The ending was poignant, and not at all what I expected. It left me thinking about my own life and the people who are important to me. If this was the author's intention, as I believe it was, then her ideas were realized.
She doesn't remember much
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of what happened that night. It's all too new. As she watches her loved ones from The Duration, she remembers the events in her life that led to her last few days on earth. There have been other books written from the Afterlife, of course, but this one is unique for several reasons. The author, Sally Koslow, gives Molly new "powers" in the Duration. She is able to hear the thoughts of the living and she can blink from New York to Chicago in an instant. It's a clever device which allows us to know the thoughts of the other characters, while remaining a 1st person narrative. We're also given "flashbacks" to Molly's life, but unlike some other books, these aren't prompted by anything other than Molly herself. While Molly does have a guide to the afterlife, he's more like a mentor who helps her acclimate to her new surroundings.
The ending was poignant, and not at all what I expected. It left me thinking about my own life and the people who are important to me. If this was the author's intention, as I believe it was, then her ideas were realized.
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LibraryThing member morrigirl
The world of Molly Marx is all expensive bistros, Upper East Side duplexes, high fashion, interior design, and weekends abroad. All of the primary characters are rich and beautiful; they have high end, well paying jobs and never want for anything. They are sexy, glamorous, and shallow as rain
The biggest offender is Molly herself. Molly is completely passive. In life she never acted on her own desires, choosing instead to allow others to act upon her. She married her husband, not because she loved him, but because he was the first man to ask her. She moved from Greenwich Village to the Upper West Side, not because she wanted to, but because her mother-in-law wanted them nearby. She had a child, not because she wanted to, but because her husband thought it was time. Indecisive and naïve, Molly is more comfortable allowing others to make decisions for her than taking the time to figure out what she really wants. She isn’t much different in death. Narrating the story as a disembodied spirit passing time in the Duration, Molly is able to watch over her nearest and dearest as they go about their lives, but is forbidden to interfere. She must remain passive, observing the aftermath of her own death, unable to ease the pains and shames it brings to light.
This makes Molly a problematic narrator. Though her voice is strong and punchy, her inability to act makes her a non-entity in her own story. More than once I wondered why Koslow chose to write this book in first person. She could have told the story just as effectively in third person for all the insight Molly’s perspective brings to the book. It’s difficult to invest in a character that spends her entire life and death acquiescing to others to such an extent that it robs her of her personality. And, though I’m willing to concede that might be the whole point, it doesn’t make for very absorbing reading.
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puddles.The biggest offender is Molly herself. Molly is completely passive. In life she never acted on her own desires, choosing instead to allow others to act upon her. She married her husband, not because she loved him, but because he was the first man to ask her. She moved from Greenwich Village to the Upper West Side, not because she wanted to, but because her mother-in-law wanted them nearby. She had a child, not because she wanted to, but because her husband thought it was time. Indecisive and naïve, Molly is more comfortable allowing others to make decisions for her than taking the time to figure out what she really wants. She isn’t much different in death. Narrating the story as a disembodied spirit passing time in the Duration, Molly is able to watch over her nearest and dearest as they go about their lives, but is forbidden to interfere. She must remain passive, observing the aftermath of her own death, unable to ease the pains and shames it brings to light.
This makes Molly a problematic narrator. Though her voice is strong and punchy, her inability to act makes her a non-entity in her own story. More than once I wondered why Koslow chose to write this book in first person. She could have told the story just as effectively in third person for all the insight Molly’s perspective brings to the book. It’s difficult to invest in a character that spends her entire life and death acquiescing to others to such an extent that it robs her of her personality. And, though I’m willing to concede that might be the whole point, it doesn’t make for very absorbing reading.
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LibraryThing member mholles
The reader doesn't really find out how Molly Marx died. Was it an accident, suicide or murder? In the end it didn't matter to me, and I don't think it mattered to Molly. Through Molly's narration the reader gets a good feel for her and for all the other characters. I really liked Molly, her friend
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Brie, the detective Hicks, and Delfina the nanny. Having the story narrated by Molly after she died was an ineresting twist. Show Less
LibraryThing member doxtator
This review will contain some spoiler information.
The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow is a dramatic, gossipy novel running on murder mystery steam. The story is told from the first person narrative of Molly from the Duration, a sort of way station prior to the (still) unknown afterlife.
The author does a brilliant job of describing the characters and their relationships between Molly and each other as well as giving generally short, precise, and captivating descriptions of everyday things, from clothing, jewelry, to lunches eaten, and more. It is these catchy, clever interactions that are the groundwork of the novel, and that need to be enjoyed as the reader progresses toward the end because the mystery surrounding Molly’s death is dealt with rather quickly at the end, with a lot of drama of how it happened, and very little given to other aspects and repercussions that the reader might have favored.
If this novel were strictly a murder mystery, the reader would be left a touch dissatisfied, but the story’s depth of characterization, description and the emotions of the characters left behind to grieve and heal are the bread and butter of what this book is about, and it is the bulk of the novel, not the reveal, that makes it well worth reading. In fact, I would almost recommend peeking to see the outcome so you could enjoy the intricate pathways of the novel with foreknowledge.
It was definitely a book that was difficult to put down, and I’d recommend making sure you have enough time on your plate before starting it.
The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow is a dramatic, gossipy novel running on murder mystery steam. The story is told from the first person narrative of Molly from the Duration, a sort of way station prior to the (still) unknown afterlife.
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Molly died under suspicious circumstances and she watches her loved ones, and not-so loved ones, as an invisible soul who can only observe. The reader is privy to Molly’s thoughts, observations, opinions, and moments of recollection as she recounts events that happened prior to her death. Although the energy of the novel comes from the whodunit aspect, it is really the clever and descriptive narrative that holds the story together. The author does a brilliant job of describing the characters and their relationships between Molly and each other as well as giving generally short, precise, and captivating descriptions of everyday things, from clothing, jewelry, to lunches eaten, and more. It is these catchy, clever interactions that are the groundwork of the novel, and that need to be enjoyed as the reader progresses toward the end because the mystery surrounding Molly’s death is dealt with rather quickly at the end, with a lot of drama of how it happened, and very little given to other aspects and repercussions that the reader might have favored.
If this novel were strictly a murder mystery, the reader would be left a touch dissatisfied, but the story’s depth of characterization, description and the emotions of the characters left behind to grieve and heal are the bread and butter of what this book is about, and it is the bulk of the novel, not the reveal, that makes it well worth reading. In fact, I would almost recommend peeking to see the outcome so you could enjoy the intricate pathways of the novel with foreknowledge.
It was definitely a book that was difficult to put down, and I’d recommend making sure you have enough time on your plate before starting it.
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LibraryThing member picoultfan
I just finished this book last night. I loved it! The character are all well written, and you really feel like you've gotten to know them. Molly was an excellent character. The premise of the book was very interesting. At first I was confused how Molly didn't know her killer, but it all makes sense
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in the end. Excellent read! Show Less
LibraryThing member stephivist
Molly Marx is dead. As she watches the people she loves from the Duration (a sort of pre-afterlife stopping point), the reader is privy to her thoughts and impressions. The story is motivated by a who-done-it question—was it murder, suicide, or accident—that Molly herself doesn’t quite know
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the answer too, but the biggest draw of the book is the character development that leaves the reader invested in the outcome. Show Less
LibraryThing member nbturner
I liked this novel much better than "Little Pink Slips" - the characters, although a bit cliched, are more developed and the narrative device, in which Molly's untimely death allows her to look upon the lives and thoughts of her friends and family, is interesting. A readable, although longish,
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story with engaging characters and fun details of life on Manhattan's upper West Side. Show Less
LibraryThing member AquariusNat
This novel was a blending of chick lit and mystery . Molly Marx is a young wife and mother that is recently deceased . As she looks down from"The Duration" , waiting to go to heaven , she is allowed to observe her friends and family . Molly also gets to watch the detective work on her case . By the
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end Molly finally starts to remember how she died . Its a really interesting premise . There is alot of humour and some teary-eyed scenes . I enjoyed this story very much . Show Less
LibraryThing member ethel55
Molly Marx is buried in Jersey, about six exits from an IKEA. What an interesting final resting place for someone who worked in design! Koslow has created an interesting heroine in Molly Divine Marx, and instead of jumping on the zombie bandwagon, has created a clever place, somewhere between
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heaven and hell, called the Duration. Molly's guide in the Duration is Bob, and he explains that she can still view the lives of her small daughter, husband, family and friends but must obey the "rules", or she won't be able to peer into their lives anymore. The story moves between Molly's life as she lived it and the lives of the ones she loved after her death. "The Late, Lamented Molly Marx" is truly about the mystery of her life and the choices she made as well as trying to solve the mystery of her death. Show Less
LibraryThing member rainbowdarling
The story of Molly Divine Marx is really very interesting. Usually a death is something worth crying over in a book, but because Molly has been dead since the first page of the book, it's not news to the reader and therefore doesn't evoke the same emotion as what would have happened had she died at
I really enjoyed the characters in this story. They're presented how Molly remembers them, and as time goes on, they change through her heightened perception. Each character, even the ones who we're theoretically supposed to dislike, is complicated and completely human.
The story felt slow to start and that made it hard to get into, by by page 100, I felt like I was flying through the story, and the book was over almost before I realized. Even though we never find out who was the cause of Molly's death (though the reader is given enough tidbits to develop a hunch), the book does end with a feeling of closure.
One thing that did bother me was that Molly seemed to constantly put her own personality (which is constantly touted throughout the story) on the backburner, both in her memories of when she was living and in her time in The Duration. She just wasn't the fiery, lively person who she kept professing that she was, and that left some of the comments about her a little bit flat.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It's a keeper.
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some point after we started to get to know her.I really enjoyed the characters in this story. They're presented how Molly remembers them, and as time goes on, they change through her heightened perception. Each character, even the ones who we're theoretically supposed to dislike, is complicated and completely human.
The story felt slow to start and that made it hard to get into, by by page 100, I felt like I was flying through the story, and the book was over almost before I realized. Even though we never find out who was the cause of Molly's death (though the reader is given enough tidbits to develop a hunch), the book does end with a feeling of closure.
One thing that did bother me was that Molly seemed to constantly put her own personality (which is constantly touted throughout the story) on the backburner, both in her memories of when she was living and in her time in The Duration. She just wasn't the fiery, lively person who she kept professing that she was, and that left some of the comments about her a little bit flat.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It's a keeper.
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LibraryThing member Ambrosia4
An interesting take on life-after-death, Molly looks in on the people she loved from the Duration. Unlike most chick lit, I think this really had something to say other than "let's all dress up and fret about boys". I respect that, because while those books can be fun, there is way more to life
Having two simultaneous story lines naturally revolving around her time of death, Molly reflects on whether she made the right choices involving her heart. This isn't simply "does he like? what if he doesn't?", this is more about how the choices we make reflect the people we are. And Molly was indecisive, but she was trying to be a better, more resolute person, up to the end.
The ending is both a clear cut resolution and an inconclusive realist's fantasy. You know from the beginning what's going to happen in the end, but the journey to get there was worth it. A quick, sweet read, although I disagree with others characterizing this as a mystery, I would even quibble over chick lit. While it is women's literature, romance is the centerpiece. While there are mysteries, this is not the compelling plot point.
Recommended for those looking for something to read about real love and the hardships thereof, not that movie romance stuff.
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than that, no?Having two simultaneous story lines naturally revolving around her time of death, Molly reflects on whether she made the right choices involving her heart. This isn't simply "does he like? what if he doesn't?", this is more about how the choices we make reflect the people we are. And Molly was indecisive, but she was trying to be a better, more resolute person, up to the end.
The ending is both a clear cut resolution and an inconclusive realist's fantasy. You know from the beginning what's going to happen in the end, but the journey to get there was worth it. A quick, sweet read, although I disagree with others characterizing this as a mystery, I would even quibble over chick lit. While it is women's literature, romance is the centerpiece. While there are mysteries, this is not the compelling plot point.
Recommended for those looking for something to read about real love and the hardships thereof, not that movie romance stuff.
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LibraryThing member nyiper
I liked Molly immediately so to find her departed on the first two pages made me curiously worried about where we were going in this story! However, Molly continued to be appealing as the main character as she did her other-worldly-dashing-about, observing the thoughts and actions of her family and
And just how could this possibly end if my real wish was for Molly to just wake up and be back in her actual life, working things through to some conclusions? Fortunately, there was an epilogue to help straighten things out.
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friends as the detective searched for the mysterious reason/cause of her death. Mixed in are the Molly's descriptions of her life as it was lived at defining moments along the way. And just how could this possibly end if my real wish was for Molly to just wake up and be back in her actual life, working things through to some conclusions? Fortunately, there was an epilogue to help straighten things out.
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LibraryThing member roseysweetpea
I would like to start out by saying, that originally, I wasn't sure this was my type of book but was interested in the premise. As the story progressed, feeding you tidbits of Molly’s life and her time in the Duration, I was slowly pulled in. At first I wasn’t exactly sure where the story was
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going or what the overall point was. But I have to say that Sally Koslow’s character development was phenomenal. I really felt like I knew these characters. I knew which I would be friends with, identify with, and the ones that I would hate. I even felt the confusingly simultaneous emotion of love and hate for one of them. By the end of the book I was almost in tears and feeling that the authors view and description of life and the hereafter are both interesting and comforting. Even after death, Molly grows as person and so do the people who used to be a part of her life. It was a wonderfully well rounded story and I hope we see many more books from Sally Koslow. Show Less
LibraryThing member theepicrat
The Late, Lamented Molly Marx was as charming as its cover implied with a smart and bubbly humor. I had fun with shadowing Molly as she relived memories and watched people in her life move forward. The "mystery" behind her death stayed more in the background - it was present, but it was hardly the
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major hook. Yes, I did wonder who killed her, but I was more curious about Molly herself. She proved to be an amusing narrator, and her life was anything but boring and run-of-the-mill. The Late, Lamented Molly Marx was far from being serious, although there are some interesting food for thought. Simply put, I just enjoyed being along for the ride! Show Less
LibraryThing member sschleicher
This is a great book to get lost in. It is at times funny and witty but then becomes serious too. What an interesting idea - to have the main character 'visit' her family after an untimely death.
LibraryThing member Micheller7
The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow has an interesting premise - it alternates between her pre and post life, that is before and after her mysterious death. The twist is she can see (and even read the minds of) the important people in her life from her vantage point in the "duration." So
Helped by her duration guide Bob, Molly describes a fun cast of characters: her cheating ladies man husband, a plastic surgeon to the rich; her mother-in-law, whose son can do no wrong; her fritzy twin Lucy; her bi-sexual best friend; her perfect handsome, lover; and of course the black detective, hoping to solve the case of Molly's death - you get the idea.
A little on the order of Elinor Lipman, this Jewish themed novel is a "who done it" without the who, a comic romp you will surely enjoy.
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Molly tells the whole story and Koslow pulls it off, although I had the feeling something like this has been done before. Helped by her duration guide Bob, Molly describes a fun cast of characters: her cheating ladies man husband, a plastic surgeon to the rich; her mother-in-law, whose son can do no wrong; her fritzy twin Lucy; her bi-sexual best friend; her perfect handsome, lover; and of course the black detective, hoping to solve the case of Molly's death - you get the idea.
A little on the order of Elinor Lipman, this Jewish themed novel is a "who done it" without the who, a comic romp you will surely enjoy.
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Language
Original publication date
2009-05-19
Physical description
365 p.; 26 inches
ISBN
0345506200 / 9780345506207
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