Perhaps no novel strikes my fancy so much as a well-written story of a character headed towards mental collapse (aka melt-down or nervous breakdown). I don’t know – maybe I’m awed by human vulnerability.
The Body of Christopher Creed is one such book, and a super-great one at that. I discovered it when New Jersey made it one of their books to read (it was more honorary than that but I don’t remember what they called it – “Book of the Year?”)
Sixteen year old Torey Adams’s story begins with the disappearance of a boy in his grade. The disappearance note reads too ambiguously to know if Christopher Creed ran away or committed suicide. From the outset, people want to point fingers if only to detract from the fingers pointing at them.
Haunted by his own past interactions with Christopher Creed, Torey sets out on a path to solve this disappearance, to understand it at least. Along the way he’ll get to know people better, learn of the horrible life Creed lived, and generally descend to emotional and mental depths nobody should have to go (but we often do).
If you’re a reader and you know me well, it’s a near-guarantee I’ve recommended The Body of Christopher Creed to you. You may not remember, or you thought I wasn’t serious, but go out and get this book – it’s amazing in so many ways.
