With or Without You

Starred review from February 21, 2005
In Sanders's pulpy debut, Kamikaze Lust
(winner of a 2000 Lambda Literary Award), the author skewered stereotypes of porn stars and lesbians while scrutinizing perceptions of moral values. Her vibrant, vigorous second novel is a sendup of America's obsession with pop culture, B-list celebrities and prison life, peopled by a cast of lonely, desperate characters whose only fault is that they love too much. In the summer of 1987, 18-year-old Lillian G. Speck catapults to tabloid fame after she shoots and kills Brooke Harrison, a soap star she has long worshipped. Narrated by Lillian from prison, the novel is part journal, part suicide note and part psychological suspense story, tracing Lillian's path from poor little rich kid to killer. Neglected by her heedless parents, who are caught up in the drug excesses of the 1980s, Lillian is a child with sociopathic tendencies who is desperate for love and attention. Her story is artfully juxtaposed with that of Brooke Harrison's mother, who reveals the seamy side of a Hollywood inhabited by plastic people who have too much money and can't tell the difference between reality and fiction. In lyrical, potent prose, Sanders navigates the terrain of loneliness, obsession and desperation with the same skillful precision as her vulnerable, calculating protagonist. Agent, TK. Author tour.

April 15, 2005
In this latest novel from Sanders ("Kamikaze Lust"), Lillian Speck sits in jail, coolly recounting the events that have led to her awaiting trial for the murder of Brooke Harrison, soap opera star. Even though she meant to kill Brooke, Lillian is truly sorry this has happened, for she had loved and followed the star's career and personal life for most of her own life. What, then, caused Lillian to murder the person to whom she felt closest? This psychological "whydunit" provides a compelling and sympathetic look into the mind of an obsessed fan who can't quite explain what went wrong. Part coming-of-age story and part prison novel, the story explores the fragile relationship between celebrities and our fascination with their lives. Recommended for larger public libraries. -Kellie Gillespie, City of Mesa Lib., AZ

Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.