Carolyn Ferrell

I usually don't gravitate towards books about missing people, kidnappings, abuse, etc, but this book seemed to have a certain special something to it - maybe this book would be worth all that negativity. Told in a unique format, this is the sad story of Fern, Gwin and Jesenia, teenagers kidnapped and held in a Queens house for a decade. More importantly, what happens after. Told in scattered chapters that somehow still make tons of sense with informative chapter titles, also including show more occasional photos. What I do appreciate about this narrative: it is not at all about the mysterious perpetrator - not wasting time making excuses for him. Also, the terrible horrible abusive atrocities are hinted at, but aren't entirely the focus. It's enough to let you know what these girls went through. It is far more about the resilience, memory, fortitude, persistence, survival and healing of these wonderful inspiring girls. They are linked through suffering and they remain linked afterwards. They are the ones that remain human after, and that is no small task. I like the writing skills here, and can't wait to see what Ferrell does in the next novel, which will hopefully appeal to me even more than these topics. But if I had to read these topics, this is the one I would prefer over other novels about abuse and kidnappings. It DID end up having that something special. Understandably, if you're not up for reading about such dark topics, Ferrell is certainly a writer to watch to see what she does in her next book. I will certainly be waiting. show less

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

“Soul Train” aficionado Fern, Prince devoteé Gwin, and precocious Jesenia have many things in common, including the decade the monstrous Boss Man holds them captive in his ramshackle house of torture. No one in the neighborhood knows any about this. And when rescue finally comes, there will be many questions . . . and far fewer answers.

Written in a style that feels largely analogous to stream of consciousness, the narrative ricochets between show more characters, places, and time with no warning of the switching for the reader. The result is as unsettling as the story itself.

Told largely from Fern’s point of view, the caroming story follows the three young women, showing each of their lives before and after their abduction and imprisonment at the hands of their sadistic captor. Although not explicitly described, the narrative clearly communicates the horrific torture and repeated rape endured by each of the three women.

It is not an easy story; rather, it’s one filled with trauma and cruelty laid bare before the reader. After turning the final page, readers are likely to find the women’s heinous nightmare continues to haunt them.

Loosely based on the true story of three Cleveland-area girls . . . Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Georgina DeJesus . . . abducted and held captive by Ariel Castro, the unfolding narrative of “Dear Miss Metropolitan” is an intransigent look at the psychological effects of the captivity and torture experienced by each of the young women as well as by the neighbors who insist they’d known nothing about the women being held captive in the “House of Horrors.”

The plot reveals the vicissitudes of before, during, and after the kidnapping; the character development is the ramifications of their captivity, shown in their will to survive, in their rapport with each other, and, ultimately, in their relationships with the wider world.

The brutal story is dark and disturbing, heart-wrenching and evocative. And, despite its baffling formatting quirks, readers will find the narrative well worth the effort.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Henry Holt and Company and NetGalley
#DearMissMetropolitan#NetGalley show less

My reaction to Miss Metropolitan was as fluctuating as Carolyn Ferrell’s writing style. At one point I found myself intrigued by the story and then, at the turn of a page, I was lost. I was particularly confused and thrown by the book’s title. What did I miss? I know Miss Metropolitan was a reporter, but she seemed such a minor character. Who was she really? I think I would have preferred a more straightforwardly written story. I would have enjoyed it more. On the other hand, the show more alternating stories told by the girls were disturbingly real. I’m from Cleveland and reading Miss Metropolitan, the real life story of Ariel Castro’s abduction of Amanda Berry, Michelle Knight, and Georgina DeJesus was never far from my mind. It’s frightening to realize that fiction can indeed be based on fact. show less

Carolyn Ferrell's latest book, Dear Miss Metropolitan, is, in a word, unexpected. From the first chapter, audiences are pulled into the narratives of three women who were kidnapped and held captive by "Boss Man" for years. On the surface, Fern, Gwin, and Jesenia are nothing alike, however as they spend more time together in captivity, they discover their similarities.

The story jumps around between their lives before the kidnapping, during their captivity, and after their rescue, allowing show more the readers to try and piece together the events in the same way that "Miss Metropolitan" (the journalist who lives across the street) does. Ferrell creates a narrative that gives a voice to the voiceless in a work based on the true story of 3 women from Cleaveland.

Some readers may find the writing style confusing or hard to digest, however, I found it delightful. While the subject matter is truly trauma-based, the way Ferrell develops the plot is inventive and brings the reader into the world of a PTSD patient. Ferrell uses a variety of narrative techniques, from newspaper clippings, poetry stanzas, and prose. Something I thought of when reading this book, was its similarity to an archive in a way. By varying the narrative types from chapter to chapter, it gives it more of a "found" feeling, and the pieces feel like they were carefully selected to create the overall story.

I found this book full of twists and turns and loved the way that Ferrell weaved the various time periods together. I also found the occasional moments of dry humor refreshing. As someone with their own history of trauma, it was nice to see a narrative that didn't always take itself so seriously.

Some obligatory trigger warnings just to be cautious of; sexual assault and abuse, physical abuse, mental illness, hospitalizations, pregnancy. This is not an easy read, but I found it very interesting. While I did listen to it, I am looking forward to seeing how this looks on paper.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Dear Miss Metropolitan will be available for purchase on July 6th. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf and see where it's available for purchase here. Also, be sure to check out Carolyn Farrell's profile on MacMillan's website!

I was lucky enough to be able to listen to this Advanced Reader's Copy through my partnership with NetGalley. All opinions are my own. show less