Sonder: Janie's Story

By Maureen Morrissey

Downtown New York City in the 1970’s and 80’s is a dark and dangerous place for Janie Thompson.

Her indifferent parents give her little guidance, and leave her artistic older brother, the only person who truly loves her, no choice but to run away while he is still in high school. The combination of neglect and abandonment leave Janie reeling, not a good situation for a teenage girl in those days. Her working-class Queens neighborhood offers too many opportunities to fail, and several of her closest friends fall victim. The reader meets and comes to care for these characters and feel Janie's pain.

Janie needs to get away and moves to Greenwich Village to attend New York University. The village and the Lower East Side in the 70's and 80's are both exciting and scary, and Janie embraces it all.

But her doubts follow her and derail her trajectory. She finds herself falling deep into rabbit holes and unequipped to claw her way out. The people Janie meets, all of whom are on their own journey through that time and place, offer her paths forward. Some of those paths take her further down and some offer better opportunities.

The title of the book, "Sonder", is based on a word coined in the Dictionary of Urban Sorrows. It is defined as a realization that every person you pass by has an entire life as complex as your own, a story you will never know; that is, unless you stop and engage. Janie calls herself “a solitary part of a million-piece jigsaw puzzle whose cover picture she could not see.” If she can truly “see” the people around her and learn from them, she might be able to survive.

Part 1 tells the story of Janie's early life, introducing her parents, brother and close friends as well as the neighborhood and schools she attends. This sets up Janie's character for what is to come. Part 2 follows Janie to downtown NYC and into and out of trouble. Part 3 shows Janie maturing and coming to understand herself better.

Reviews from readers say it best.
"This was a thoughtfully written book with a message for all. The layers of stories in this novel were not only enjoyable and thought-provoking to read, but shifted the way I see the people in my periphery as I walk through life. Highly recommend!"
This was a really enjoyable and interesting read! I particularly liked how Morrissey added side story lines for other characters. It has a bit of "Humans of New York" flair, and through those stories I learned a lot about New York City history which I found fascinating."
"Janie is a relatable character, and through her struggles it's easy to see how anyone can easily slip into dangerous and self destructive behavior. This book allows the reader to understand and empathize with folks going through difficult patches, and we root for Janie as she manages to turn her life around with small daily triumphs.I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one!"
"First, I have to say that I LOVE the word Sonder. What a brilliant word and a brilliant title for a book. Janie is such a strong and courageous character. You will ache for her to find peace and comfort in her life. The author does a great job of immersing you in the time period and the ups and downs of Janie's life. Janie's journey is not easy, but it does show us that we can overcome if we keep putting one foot in front of the other. What is happening in our life now doesn't need to define our life in the future."
"This is a well-written story that explores the obstacles many children have to face as they navigate through life. The story is told through the generally positive perspective of the protagonist who doesn't fully understand the dangers that keep popping up all around her. I found the book gripping and truthful. This is an enjoyable and thought-provoking book."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maureen Morrissey
• Release date: Feb 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215530559

Maureen Morrissey

Maureen Morrissey is a writer, retired educator, wife/mother/grandmother/ daughter/auntie/dog mommy, avid reader, photographer, traveler, blogger, and most recently, half-marathon runner. In her spare time, she volunteers at animal shelters and investigates the quality of rooftop bars in New York City, her hometown. Oh, and she loves concerts, museums and Broadway shows, too.Maureen began writing her first novel, Woven: Six Stories, One Epic Journey, the day after retiring from teaching fourth grade, in the middle of the pandemic. Housebound, and with the mind-space and time, finally, to dedicate to the undertaking, she dove in to a daily routine of researching, composing and revising Woven; finishing the first draft in Autumn and indie-publishing in December 2020.She is published a second novel, Sonder: Janie’s Story, in March 202w and her third novel, Seeing is Believing, in June 2023