The Gretchen Question

Description

The Gretchen Question is a beautifully written story told from the first-person perspective of the main character, Roberta Chase. Roberta has just found out that her cancer has come back and is at a crossroads to tell her college-aged son Will, whom she has a very rocky relationship with recently due to the fact that she will not give him information on who his biological father is. This, along with her relationship with her best friend Grettie, makes up the plot for this book as we follow Roberta through the last days of her life.

I found the writing to be easy to follow and digest. The story, although not complex, was very raw and heart wrenching. The main character is likable enough, however, some of the scenarios she gets herself into are quite strange, and it would be easy to question her sanity throughout the book. There were some really great stories and details such as her mother’s Christmas letter and her son’s fear of throwing up in public. This was an excellent read that I had a hard time putting down.