Set the night on fire

Last Friday, I went to the Women and Children First book store to celebrate Libby Fischer Hellmann's latest novel: Set the Night on Fire.

I've put off writing about it because I don't know how to do so without seeming like a nervously excited 16-year-old fangirl.

Here goes.
I bought the book - regardless of my buying book ban to save my bank account - because I couldn't not. Set the Night on Fire is a stand alone novel in three parts: present - late 60's - present. I read through the sections trying to savor each one. In the present, a man gets out of prison and goes to reconnect with friends from 40 years ago. Meanwhile, those friends are being killed...but the daughter of one of the friends remains unscathed...for now.

There is a sketch guy on a fancy motorcycle that is trying to kill her and prison guy is trying to keep her safe. But why?

The second section delves into the past to answer that question. Having been born in the 80's, I really can't speak to the feeling of 1968-70, but I like the naively optimistic hubris - like almost all young people possess, but exaggerated at this time because the possibility of change was palpable - was depicted.

I wonder if it could happen now: a group of young people meeting each other and then deciding to make a go of it...together. Dropping out of college and all. There's conflict and love and growing up...and then more conflict. And pain. I'm not giving details. Just know that it is awesome.

Section three comes back around to the now, and the reader is going to get some answers. What keeps me reading Libby is not only the fast pace of her novels, but the fact that she gets you to care about her characters. By part three I was totally invested. But I'm NOT going to tell you what happens.

Overall, it was refreshingly interesting to chat with and listen to cool, accomplished, and intelligent people talk about books and writing and publishing and LIFE. I was the youngest one there, and I definitely respected my elders as their life experiences astound me. Sara Paretsky was there too. Writers writers all around.

Post wine, cheese, and book signing, I debriefed with the madre and it was decided that when we grow up she gets to be Sara and I get to be Libby.

Dibs. Now go read the book.

"We tried to change the world and the world ended up changing us."
Libby Fischer Hellmann...paraphrased