How often can a story, a tragedy, a tale of the darkest valleys and warmest peaks, be expressed so uniquely? The series of diary entries require a level of commitment to story and character, but this commitment is certainly merited. Other reviews will expound upon the various struggles of the family and the sisters, how interludes of pain and pleasure are never as cookie-cutter as we would love to believe. However, what I find most impressive in this epistolary novel is the way the stories are interwoven. You have to follow the crumbs and nothing is ever revealed too hastily or too melodramatically (a pitfall of many works that touch on tragic families). Even more, Why She Left Us is a sound meditation on love. From the 'piercing eyes' of one man to the Byronic qualities of another, the author seems quite adept at chronicling how love can bring us to our knees in both reverence and resignation. Furthermore, the psychic distance of the epistolary approach allows the reader a sort of fly-on-the-wall perspective, one that delivers a level of 'realness' that is quite refreshing. All in all, this novel is complex and rewarding, the type of puzzle you want to figure out, but that you have no problem savoring along the way. Kudos! ( )

It was the summer of 1985, and Betsy as the oldest of three sisters, was still young and inexperienced. However, she was longing to love someone and to be loved in return, when Wayne entered her life. Quiet, painfully shy, and lacking in proper social skills, he came across as a shady person to others because he was unable to look anyone in the eye. At the same time, while Betsy was desperately seeking the love and approval of a mother who never wanted her in the first place, events totally beyond her control claimed Betsy as their victim.

In the wake of these catastrophic events, those who were left behind are unable to cope with the enormity of her absence. Why She Left Us is written as a series of diary entries, the events seen through the eyes of several different people. But at its center, Why She Left Us by David Dennis is a love story that chronicles a romance that transforms the lives of two people who, for too brief a period of time, experienced the greatest happiness they had ever known.

After experiencing minor trouble getting into the story because of the multiple points of view, as well as the shifts back and forth in time from the summer of 1985 to the winter of 1986, I really started to enjoy this book. My difficulty with reading the story only lasted for the first couple of chapters or so, and then I got into the style of writing and was completely drawn into the story. I have to say that while reading this book I found exactly three characters to be entirely likable - the rest were characters that I became infuriated with, and wanted to slap or shake some sense into - figuratively, of course - at various points in the story.

Overall, I found this book to be truly haunting and give it an A! Why She Left Us by David Dennis does contain strong language, implied sexual situations and drug usage, and is not for the faint of heart. However, I do recommend this book to others and look forward to reading more from David Dennis in the future. ( )

How often can a story, a tragedy, a tale of the darkest valleys and warmest peaks, be expressed so uniquely? The series of diary entries require a level of commitment to story and character, but this commitment is certainly merited. Other reviews will expound upon the various struggles of the family and the sisters, how interludes of pain and pleasure are never as cookie-cutter as we would love to believe. However, what I find most impressive in this epistolary novel is the way the stories are interwoven. You have to follow the crumbs and nothing is ever revealed too hastily or too melodramatically (a pitfall of many works that touch on tragic families). Even more, Why She Left Us is a sound meditation on love. From the 'piercing eyes' of one man to the Byronic qualities of another, the author seems quite adept at chronicling how love can bring us to our knees in both reverence and resignation. Furthermore, the psychic distance of the epistolary approach allows the reader a sort of fly-on-the-wall perspective, one that delivers a level of 'realness' that is quite refreshing. All in all, this novel is complex and rewarding, the type of puzzle you want to figure out, but that you have no problem savoring along the way. Kudos! ( )

"Why She Left Us" is a beautiful and exceptional literary read. Told, in the first person, through 5 different points of view, it is the story of a deeply dysfunctional family and of a young woman, victimized by unrelenting psychological abuse, who reaches for the stars and, for a short time, is transported.

Dennis weaves this tale exquisitely through the characters' writings, keeping the reader enthralled wondering first of all which one is the "she" who leaves, and, more importantly, what eventually happened to tear her world apart. From the opening passages of Monica's Memoirs, I was hooked and had a hard time putting this book down. Dennis' writing is flawless and his characters are so real and complex, I felt I could almost reach out and touch them. The end is dramatic and surprisingly touching. There were tears in my eyes, for sure.

Thank you, Mr. Dennis, for a truly remarkable reading experience. This is one read I will not soon forget.
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