3.5 Good tale well told. ( )

It's no secret how much I love Ketchum's writing, and he seems to have found a solid writing partner in McKee. In this, their second collaboration, I think they break new ground. While this isn't a "horror" novel, it's still horror. In an introduction to the book, Ketchum asks that the reader read the I'm Not Sam story, then give a bit of a break before reading the Who's Lily? short that follows it. I did and I'm glad I did. I walked away from I'm Not Sam not sure whether I liked it or not. But I thought about it overnight, then the next day, read the last part. And then I realized all the strengths of this story. Well done, Ketchum and McKee, well done. ( )

Disturbing. Perfect word to describe what the main character goes through. Perfect word to his wife's reaction at the conclusion. This whole novella was... disturbing. ( )

I don't know if anyone remembers, but a while back in the news, there was a situation that is the same premise as this book with a different circumstance.

It involved an old man who would go to a nursing home and have sex with his wife who had Alzheimers. They were legally married. But, the woman had diminished brain function. And if I remember, she didn't know who this man was a lot of the times. But yet, he felt that he had a right to have conjugal visits with her.

In I'm Not Sam, this takes an even darker turn when a husband and wife are faced with the wife becoming a "split personality" of a 5 year old girl.

As a child, she is uninhibited about her body, so acts like a little kid, running around naked, asking for help to bathe. Even though this is his wife, the husband is uncomfortable with this as he knows, in her mind, she is a child. For him to engage in any kind of marital act with her, even though they are married, was definitely a struggle that he faced.

I won't reveal any more than that, but, morally, ethically, even when a couple are married and have had a long and loving relationship, when does it become criminal? When does it cross the line of abuse?

Just for the record, In my book, both situations are creepy from the get go and the vulnerable person should be protected at all costs as they are not mentally able to give consent.

It's a difficult story, well told. Disturbing and unsettling. ( )

A good fast read. I went into this book thinking it was going to about something else. Basically this book is about your spouse becoming someone else mentally and one man's struggle to cope. Short, good read to pass the time. ( )