A Student of Living Things
by Susan Richards Shreve
On This Page
Description
The Frayn family of Washington, D.C., is coping pretty well with twenty-first century realities of life'snipers, bomb threats, natural disasters, etc. Then, in the moment it takes Claire Frayn to dig for her umbrella, her politically outspoken brother Steven is shot down right next to her on the library steps. Steven's murder shatters the tightly knit Frayn family, and his sister Claire becomes determined to unravel the mystery of why her brother was killed. Searching for answers, Claire show more meets Victor, an enigmatic stranger who claims to know who killed Steven. Claire begins an unusual correspondence with the suspected assassin, but instead of uncovering the truth of her brother's death, she finds herself drawn to this man, and increasingly apprehensive about cooperating with Victor's plans to avenge Steven's death. A gripping family drama with an unusual love story at its center, this is an intimate portrait of grief, the futility of revenge, and the miracle of forgiveness. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
One April morning in a near-future Washington, D.C., Claire Frayn and her brother, Steven, leave for George Washington University, where she is a biology Ph.D. student (and mother of three-month-old Asa), Steven is a law student with a penchant for writing op-eds and their father is a professor of medicine; aunt Faith works nearby in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. They leave their parents and extended family arguing over Steven's latest piece: this one bashes the DOJ's enforcement of the Freedom for Democracy Act. It is a salvo in the "civil war" (as Claire describes it) that churns as U.S. homeland security tightens, and paranoia reigns. Steven is shot dead on the library steps; that same show more morning, Faith is fired. Claire, steps from Steven when he dies, slowly resumes daily life and metamorphoses like the insects that fascinated her since childhood. With Asa's father out of the picture, she slips into a cloak-and-dagger scheme with an alluring stranger to coax Steven's killer back to town. Shreve, author of 12 novels and more than two score children's books, is parsimonious with the opening plot points, but once the momentum shifts forward, just try to put this book down show less
One April morning in a near-future Washington, D.C., Claire Frayn and her brother, Steven, leave for George Washington University, where she is a biology Ph.D. student (and mother of three-month-old Asa), Steven is a law student with a penchant for writing op-eds and their father is a professor of medicine; aunt Faith works nearby in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. They leave their parents and extended family arguing over Steven's latest piece: this one bashes the DOJ's enforcement of the Freedom for Democracy Act. It is a salvo in the "civil war" (as Claire describes it) that churns as U.S. homeland security tightens, and paranoia reigns. Steven is shot dead on the library steps; that same show more morning, Faith is fired. Claire, steps from Steven when he dies, slowly resumes daily life and metamorphoses like the insects that fascinated her since childhood. With Asa's father out of the picture, she slips into a cloak-and-dagger scheme with an alluring stranger to coax Steven's killer back to town. Shreve, author of 12 novels and more than two score children's books, is parsimonious with the opening plot points, but once the momentum shifts forward, just try to put this book down show less
I got this book at a library book sale because I really enjoyed the cover. This is the first book I've read by Shreve, but not her first -- I'm surprised I haven't heard of her sooner, but I plan on reading more of her books.
This had the makings of a fascinating novel -- post 9/11, a violent tragedy, a mystery, love story, family secrets -- but instead it was lousy!
Melodramatic actions, contrived emotions, horribly unrealistic dialogue. The gimmick with the "lifeguard chair" just did not work. The character development was so pathetically thin.
In my opinion, an utter waste of a promising storyline, due to poor writing ability.
Melodramatic actions, contrived emotions, horribly unrealistic dialogue. The gimmick with the "lifeguard chair" just did not work. The character development was so pathetically thin.
In my opinion, an utter waste of a promising storyline, due to poor writing ability.
I got this book at a library book sale because I really enjoyed the cover. This is the first book I've read by Shreve, but not her first -- I'm surprised I haven't heard of her sooner, but I plan on reading more of her books.
Good storyline with a mystery element. Smart book!
From Publishers Weekly
One April morning in a near-future Washington, D.C., Claire Frayn and her brother, Steven, leave for George Washington University, where she is a biology Ph.D. student (and mother of three-month-old Asa), Steven is a law student with a penchant for writing op-eds and their father is a professor of medicine; aunt Faith works nearby in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. They leave their parents and extended family arguing over Steven's latest piece: this one bashes the DOJ's enforcement of the Freedom for Democracy Act. It is a salvo in the "civil war" (as Claire describes it) that churns as U.S. homeland security tightens, and paranoia reigns. Steven is shot dead on the library steps; that same show more morning, Faith is fired. Claire, steps from Steven when he dies, slowly resumes daily life and metamorphoses like the insects that fascinated her since childhood. With Asa's father out of the picture, she slips into a cloak-and-dagger scheme with an alluring stranger to coax Steven's killer back to town. Shreve, author of 12 novels and more than two score children's books, is parsimonious with the opening plot points, but once the momentum shifts forward, just try to put this book down. (On sale May 4)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. show less
One April morning in a near-future Washington, D.C., Claire Frayn and her brother, Steven, leave for George Washington University, where she is a biology Ph.D. student (and mother of three-month-old Asa), Steven is a law student with a penchant for writing op-eds and their father is a professor of medicine; aunt Faith works nearby in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. They leave their parents and extended family arguing over Steven's latest piece: this one bashes the DOJ's enforcement of the Freedom for Democracy Act. It is a salvo in the "civil war" (as Claire describes it) that churns as U.S. homeland security tightens, and paranoia reigns. Steven is shot dead on the library steps; that same show more morning, Faith is fired. Claire, steps from Steven when he dies, slowly resumes daily life and metamorphoses like the insects that fascinated her since childhood. With Asa's father out of the picture, she slips into a cloak-and-dagger scheme with an alluring stranger to coax Steven's killer back to town. Shreve, author of 12 novels and more than two score children's books, is parsimonious with the opening plot points, but once the momentum shifts forward, just try to put this book down. (On sale May 4)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. show less
post 9/11 NYC political assassin. brother of bio student
familyish
7.06
familyish
7.06
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
56+ Works 2,968 Members
Susan Richards Shreve is the author of twelve novels and a number of books for children. She is a professor at George Mason University and the president of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. She lives in Washington, D. C. (Publisher Provided) Susan Richards Shreve, born 1939, is a professor and author of more than twelve novels and children's books, show more including the children's series Joshua T. Bates. Shreve graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and taught at George Washington University, Bennington College, and Princeton University. Shreve became a writer while raising four children and working as a schoolteacher. One of her grown children, Porter Shreve, is now a published author. Shreve's works often focus on the integrity of her characters and parent-child relationships. She has won several awards for her writing including the Guggenheim award in fiction in 1980 and the Edgar Allan Poe Award, Mystery Writers of America, in 1988. Shreve served as the PEN/Faulkner Foundation presdient from 1985- 1990. Shreve lives in Washington, D.C. show less
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- A Student of Living Things
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 122
- Popularity
- 266,652
- Reviews
- 7
- Rating
- (3.52)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 2
