George asked her to write a ghost story

This book was written by Gillian Flynn, who you might all know from writing that book that nobody read, “Gone Girl”.  JK, I’m pretty sure everyone read it.  She actually wrote this book because George R.R. Martin (author of those other books that nobody read – A Song of Ice and Fire) asked her to write a ghost story.  It’s really short.  I think I read it in about an hour, which was pretty awesome.

We originally get introduced to the main character as a semi con artist.  Her job is giving hand jobs in the back of a medium’s office.  My favorite line in the world (so far) is in this book: “Books may be temporary; dicks are forever.”  She was talking about books because she was book swapping with one of her hand job clients.  I just love this line.  It really sets the tone for the book.  Also – she talks about hand jobs for the first few pages of the book, and she’s so matter of fact about it all.  It’s really refreshing.

Anyway, because of all the hand jobs, and how good she was at them, she basically gets carpal tunnel syndrome, and has to move to the “front of the house”, which is being a medium.  One day, a sad lady comes in with a sob story about how she thinks her son is possessed, and she’s scared of him.  Somehow she gets the main character to agree to come over and check it all out, which this con artist sees as a brand new job opportunity.  I won’t give away any more plot, but you’re guessing what’s really happening for the rest of the book.  I’d definitely recommend it, and like I said, it’s a really quick read.  Maybe don’t suggest it to your mom though, if she’s offended by liberal hand job talk!