A Hypnotic Exploration of Memory and Obsession
The intoxicating pull of nostalgia, the fragile nature of grief, and the human yearning for second chances—‘The Anything Room’ by Lonnie Busch is a beautifully crafted novel that blends psychological drama, speculative fiction, and mystery.
Martin Moffett wasn’t searching for magic, just a fresh start, when he moved into a small bungalow in South St. Louis. But what he finds is astonishing: a tiny, boarded-up room that serves as a portal to the past. Through The Anything Room, Martin sees his late wife, Noreen—he can watch her, hear her, even relive their love. Yet, no matter how many times he steps through, one painful truth remains: he can never change her fate. He’s not alone in this discovery. His son, Kenny, is drawn in, chasing his own lost love, while Falco, a man already under the room’s spell, issues a warning—”The past isn’t a place to live. It’s a place to let go.” As the weight of truth sets in, Martin must make a choice…close the door forever, to stop chasing ghosts, and to start living again.
With an elegant command of language and a deft hand at suspense, Busch delivers a story that is emotionally searing and profoundly thought-provoking. His prose is mesmerizing—fluid, evocative, and laced with a dreamlike melancholy. Each scene pulses with quiet tension; every emotion is rendered with aching clarity. The characters are beautifully complex, their pain and desires etched with such authenticity that they feel tangible. The novel’s structure seamlessly weaves between reality and illusion, keeping readers engrossed until the final, heart-wrenching conclusion.
For those who revel in literary fiction that combines psychological depth with an air of the uncanny, ‘The Anything Room’ is an unmissable gem—a triumph of storytelling. It is an elegy to love and loss, a meditation on the passage of time. Busch does not simply tell a story; he crafts an experience, one that lingers long after the last page is turned. 5 Stars all the way!
