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With A Good Eye

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Luna Levi is an ordinary 19-year-old with extraordinary problems. Her mother's acting career is more important to her than the stage of real life. Her father struggles with PTSD as an ex-combat soldier and is equally MIA when it comes to his daughter. The Levis jump from financial crisis to financial crisis until in one-split second someone enters their lives and throws them into the biggest disaster of all. When Luna tries to warn her mother, she is pushed aside and it's the first hint that her mother has every intention of going full steam ahead with a partner who lies--about everything. This family drama is part crime fiction and part domestic noir. With A Good Eye will make you question: can you ever save anyone but yourself and do any of us ever really leave home?

"With a Good Eye is a powerful story about family, loss, and hope seen through the eyes of one young, resourceful woman, Luna Levi, who is trying to find her way. Gila Green paints a vivid portrait of a raw, urban Canadian landscape, as she delves into the Underworld as well as the inner world of her characters. Lyrical, wise and moving." Diana Bletter, author of A Remarkable Kindness

In prose that is tight, spare, and fast paced, Gila Green brings her main character, nineteen when the story begins, into adulthood. . . . By the end, there is a strong sense that this young woman will take matters into her own hands. Through a careful recounting of emotional development, Green leaves us convinced that life, and love, will win out.
--Thaddeus Rutkowski, author of Safe Colors

Gila Green's compelling new novel, With A Good Eye, is a unique Coming of Age story about the impact of parents' mental illness on the lives of teenagers. Set in Canada, the author deftly explores PTSD, narcissistic personality disorder, and antisemitism from the perspective of 19-year-old Luna Levi. Green provides a thought-provoking and poignant window into a dysfunctional family. It raises the question: Can you ever escape your family background? An engrossing read! -- Meryl Ain, Author of Shadows We Carry and The Takeaway Men

Gila Green has written a psychological novel with suspense, a bit of romance and a well developed main character, Luna Levi. Will Luna inherit something positive from the insecurity and neglect of her childhood? With her hamsa and with a good eye, Luna has become a strong, resilient woman who may, in fact, be able to move on with some hope for her future.  --Author, blogger and FoodieLit reviewer, Susan Weintrob

I enjoyed With A Good Eye. I grew up half between the UK and Canada so many of the references were nostalgic for me as well. Good character development and a story with strong nuances.
Philip Plowright 
Chair, Department of Design
Professor, Design Theory + Architectural Design
College of Architecture and Design, Lawrence Tech

ORDER With A Good Eye directly from the publisher.

Pre Order With A Good Eye on Amazon Kindle. 

Coming Soon: Audio format 


Amazon Release date: August 18, 2024
Publisher: AOS Publishing, Montreal

 

Discussion Guide for "With A Good Eye"

Introduction:

  • "With A Good Eye" delves into the journey of 19-year-old Luna Levi as she navigates the challenges of maintaining her household while her mother pursues her acting career and her father is mostly absent. Luna shoulders the responsibilities of managing finances, cooking, and cleaning for herself and her brother Ronen, all while grappling with the complexities of friendship, love, and troubling family dynamics.

Guidelines for Discussion:

  1. Character Dynamics:

    • Explore the relationships between Luna, Ronen, and their parents.
    • Discuss Luna's role as the caretaker of the household and the impact it has on her personal growth and relationships.
    • Analyze the dynamics between Luna and her best friend Aiden, as well as her boyfriend Ian, and how these relationships influence her decisions and experiences.

  2. Themes of Responsibility and Resilience:

    • Examine the theme of responsibility and the weight of adulthood placed on Luna at a young age.
    • Discuss Luna's resilience in the face of adversity and the strategies she employs to cope with her challenges.
    • Reflect on how Luna's experiences resonate with the struggles of "adulted" teens and the broader theme of coming of age.

  3. Family and Community:

    • Explore the portrayal of family dynamics in the novel, including themes of abandonment, reconciliation, and forgiveness.
    • Discuss the role of community support, including characters like Aiden's father Doron and Chef Angelo, in Luna's journey.
    • Reflect on the importance of chosen family and the bonds that transcend blood ties.

  4. Exploration of Conflict and Resolution:

    • Identify the various conflicts present in the novel, both internal and external.
    • Discuss how these conflicts drive the narrative forward and shape the characters' decisions and relationships.
    • Reflect on the resolution of conflicts and the lessons learned by the characters as a result.

  5. Leaving Home:

    • Explore the theme of "do any of us ever really leave home?" as reflected in the last chapter of the novel.
    • Discuss whether individuals can truly separate from their nuclear family or if they are forever influenced by it.
    • Reflect on Luna's journey and how her perception of home and family evolves throughout the novel.

Additional Resources:

Favorite Recipes from Book Characters
For more recipes check out my cooking page on IG and TikTok. 

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