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Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
The Odessey of Mrs. Naomi Billingsley by Sally Stevens follows the story of a middle-aged woman trying to find purpose and adventure in her life. Mrs. Naomi Billingsley indulges in delusional fantasies to escape the clutches of her mundane small-town life. She routinely visits her psychiatrist, Dr. Leonard Birnteller, and regales him with increasingly far-fetched stories that defy conventional wisdom. Meanwhile, Dr. Birnteller is trying to come to terms with his own problems concerning his unfaithful wife and lack of interest in his profession. However, as events around Mrs. Billingsley become more and more chaotic, including a blown-up barn and a shocking tragedy with her new neighbors, she slowly begins to have a firmer grasp of reality. On the other hand, Dr. Birnteller seems to lose control over his own life and take over the delusional tendencies of his eccentric patient.
The Odyssey of Mrs. Naomi Billingsley will make you laugh at the absurd situations the characters find themselves in while leaving you with a bittersweet ending so that you end up feeling sorry for them. Author Sally Stevens layers the narrative with a potent mix of tragi-comedy, melancholia, and surrealism, and you find yourself completely absorbed by a story that's as unpredictable as it's riveting. As a fan of the Coen brothers' movies, I loved the dark humor sprinkled throughout the pages. Mrs. Billingsley is bored, depressed, and delusional, maybe even borderline neurotic. But her outward persona is so sweetly charming and effervescent that every time she has interactions with other people, it creates situations that are absolutely hilarious to read. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
