The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud
The novel centers on Nora Eldridge, an elementary school teacher in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who once dreamed of becoming an artist. Now in her late thirties, she feels the bitter sting of unfulfilled dreams and is often referred to as the "woman upstairs" due to her quiet, unobtrusive existence. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she becomes enamored with the Shahid family—Skandar, a Lebanese scholar, Sirena, an Italian artist, and their son, Reza, who becomes one of Nora's students. As Nora becomes increasingly entangled in the Shahid's charismatic and sophisticated world, she is awakened to new emotions and ambitions, but this infatuation leads her down a path of passion, betrayal, and a reexamination of her own identity and desires. The novel is a deep exploration of the themes of art, womanhood, and the complexities of the inner life.
The 9487th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 2013
- Nationality
- American
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 253-310
- Words
- Unknown
- Original Language
- English
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This book is on the following lists:
- 23rd on The 20 Best Novels of the Decade (2010s) (Literary Hub)