Norma

I felt so-so about Norma by Sofi Oksanen. It involves a woman who has hair with supernatural properties – it grows abnormally fast, senses danger, seems to have a personality of its own, and more. Her mother has just committed suicide except events after her funeral makes Norma wonder if it was actually suicide. She’s also trying to figure out why her mom owed the mob money and what her role was in a hair extension black market, among other mysteries for which her mom left clues.

The book was well written with a fast paced narrative, but had gritty feel that wasn’t my favorite style. To be fair, the gritty vibe matched the plot which dealt with the black market and crime bosses. And the author integrated the real world and fantasy aspects superbly. But for me, it was almost too realistic and not enough of the fantasy escape I had thought it would be.